From crimping cables to advising the French Minister of Defense—Dave Chronister’s journey is unreal!

Step into the world of cybersecurity with Dave Chronister, a trailblazer whose career spans decades of groundbreaking achievements. As the founder of Parameter Security, Dave has helped organizations across heavily regulated industries protect their technology, data, and reputation through cutting-edge strategies. He also launched ShowMeCon, a premier InfoSec conference known for its hands-on training and top-tier speakers. From building one of the largest exchange server deployments to advising global leaders, Dave has been featured on CNN and CNBC for his expertise. Join us as he shares his journey from a small-town IT tech to a global cybersecurity icon, blending technical mastery with insights on business, AI, and creating impactful conferences. You won’t want to miss this!

1. People and Speakers

• Dave Chronister: Cybersecurity expert, founder of Parameter Security, creator of ShowMeCon.
• Chris REal0day: Co-interviewer or participant in the conversation with Dave Chronister.
• French Minister of Defense - Mentioned as a speaker at a conference where Dave Chronister was a keynote speaker.

2. Companies and Organizations

• Parameter Security: Cybersecurity firm founded by Dave Chronister.
• ECCouncil: Organization offering certifications like CEH and facilitating cybersecurity training.
• EuroPol: European Union's law enforcement agency, involved in cybersecurity collaborations.
• FBI: U.S. federal law enforcement agency, referenced in cybersecurity operations.
• Fortinet: Cybersecurity company mentioned in the context of speaker quality.

3. Conferences

• ShowMeCon: InfoSec conference organized by Dave Chronister.
• Def Camp: Cybersecurity conference held in Bucharest, Romania.
• Positive Hack Days (PHDays): Cybersecurity conference held in Moscow, Russia.
• Black Hat: Leading business-focused cybersecurity conference.
• DEF CON: Grassroots hacking conference focused on InfoSec enthusiasts.
• RSA Conference: Government-focused cybersecurity conference.

4. Certifications and Courses

• CISSP: Certified Information Systems Security Professional, taught by Dave Chronister.
• CEH: Certified Ethical Hacker certification, taught by Dave Chronister.
• Security Plus: Foundational cybersecurity certification taught by Dave.

5. Pop Culture References

• Animal House: Mentioned as the basis for Mizzou's party reputation.

6. Books

• Find Your Why by Simon Sinek - A book that helps individuals and organizations discover their purpose and align their actions accordingly​
• Traction by Gino Wickman - Focused on the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) framework, helping businesses gain clarity and improve execution​
• Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman and Mark C. Winters - Explores the relationship between visionaries and integrators in business, emphasizing the need for complementary roles to drive success​
• Value-Based Fees by Alan Weiss - A guide for service-based businesses on pricing based on value delivered rather than hours worked​
• Vivid Vision by Cameron Herold - A book on creating a clear and compelling vision for businesses and teams to rally around​
• Who Not How by Dan Sullivan - A book on delegating effectively and focusing on what you do best by surrounding yourself with the right people​
• Living the Best Year Ever - A book with worksheets and tools for setting and achieving personal and professional goals
• The Home MBA - A curated list of books for learning business fundamentals

Want to start your own pentesting consultancy/business? Listen how ApolloGuard created their own pentesting company, offering high-value services in a competitive market.

The podcast explores the journey of Daniel Amidon and Pujan Shah, co-founders of ApolloGuard, a cybersecurity company specializing in offensive security. Daniel shares his transition from being a self-taught hacker mentored in vulnerability research to becoming a cybersecurity entrepreneur. Pujan highlights his path from studying computer science and working in various industries like healthcare and venture capital to co-founding ApolloGuard. Their partnership is built on complementary skills: Daniel’s technical expertise and Pujan’s operational and strategic vision. Together, they emphasize the importance of proactive security measures and building trust with clients.

The discussion also dives into how ApolloGuard operates, blending technical depth with business agility. They share insights on starting a pen-testing firm, from leveraging existing networks for early clients to addressing the gap between compliance-driven testing and meaningful security solutions. The founders stress the value of persistence, innovation, and relationships in growing a security company while staying true to their mission of providing high-quality, actionable insights to clients.

Guests
Pujan Shah - Co-Founder & CEO
Daniel Amidon - Co-Founder & CTO

Company
ApolloGuard Website
Hackers to Founders Website - https://HackersToFounders.com

Books Mentioned

1. Your Next Five Moves - Patrick Bet-David
2. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck - Mark Manson
3. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey
4. The Four Hour Work Week - Tim Ferriss
5. The Obstacle Is the Way - Ryan Holiday
6. Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell

Businesses Mentioned

1. DEFCON - Hacker & InfoSec Conference
2. StockX - Website to buy rare shoes