Inside the Hacker’s Mind: How IT Leaders Can Stay Ahead of Cyber Threats with Z7’s Zack Aleksic

In this episode, Tonya sits down with Zack Aleksic, Founder and CTO of Z7 Solutions, to explore the evolving battlefield of cybersecurity—and what it really means to lead when attackers are already inside the walls. With more than 30 years of experience designing mission-critical infrastructure for government, defense, and enterprise organizations, Zack brings a rare dual perspective: a former teenage hacker turned cybersecurity leader. From his early days exploring IRC servers and system vulnerabilities to his work now leading modernization and operational resilience programs, Zack has seen the threat landscape from every angle. He joins Tonya to pull back the curtain on what’s really happening behind the headlines—from attackers embedding themselves in networks for months to the quiet discipline it takes to shrink “dwell time” and build a culture of vigilance that sticks. This conversation is a wake-up call for any IT or security leader navigating the tension between innovation and risk—and a reminder that leadership in cybersecurity starts with curiosity, not fear. Together, they dig into what every IT leader should be thinking about in 2025 and beyond:Why attackers aren’t just breaking in—they’re staying hidden and learning your environmentThe human factor: how to turn employees from your biggest risk into your strongest defenseThe right cadence for penetration testing (and why once a year isn’t nearly enough)How to communicate cyber risk in board language—impact, dollars, downtime, and trustThe practical first step for leaders who know their security posture isn’t where it should beWhat the rise of AI-driven exploits means for the next generation of cybersecurity strategy Important Links:Https://app.technologymatch.com/solutions/z7-solutions-cybersecurity-servicesHttps://app.technologymatch.com/solutions/z7-solutions-cybersecurity-awareness-trainingHttps://www.linkedin.com/in/zaleksic/