The SOC Is a Ticking Clock featuring Anthony LaForte

The cybersecurity industry has spent decades throwing bodies at the same three problems: too much noise, not enough context, and not enough budget. AI didn't create those problems, but it's about to make ignoring them dangerous. Recorded at RSAC Conference 2026, Nate and Lior sat down with Anthony LaForte, Director of Cyber Operations at an HR and benefits tech company protecting the financial and health data of millions. Anthony came up through forensics, malware reverse engineering, and SOC leadership at McKesson, where a mentor told him on day one that a wrong move here means someone dies. That reality never left him, and it shapes everything about how he thinks about security, risk, and what it means to lead in a world where attackers are automating faster than defenders can adapt. Impactful Moments: 00:00 – Introduction 03:22 – Attacker mindset shapes every decision 05:00 – AI lowers attacker barriers, raises ours 10:18 – "If you screw up, people die" 11:45 – 200,000 alerts tuned down manually 15:10 – 800 alerts, one real threat hidden inside 17:00 – Vulnerability management is broken everywhere 22:10 – Security was a point-in-time decision 27:45 – Strategy and judgment belong to humans 34:20 – 25% back? He'd mentor his team 42:05 – "I don't think there'll be a SOC in five years" Interested in being a guest or want to recommend someone? Reach out to us at [email protected]