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Meet the Founder
Cybersecurity recruitment connecting top talent with organizations in entertainment/media, banking, and cybersecurity nationwide.
Your dedicated resource for premier cybersecurity recruitment. We connect top talent with exclusive job opportunities in leading organizations across entertainment/media, banking, and the broader cybersecurity industry nationwide.
Register your profile now to view all available roles.
Your Cybersecurity Support Hub is the operational side of the business—incident runbooks, phishing guidance, and security support content.
90+ comprehensive runbooks for AWS security incidents, Tenable alerts, and GuardDuty findings with detailed remediation steps.
Step-by-step procedures for identifying, analyzing, and responding to phishing attacks and email-based threats.
Need cybersecurity talent? We provide pre-vetted, certified professionals ready to protect your organization. Contract, contract-to-hire, and direct placement options available.
✓ SOC Analysts ✓ Security Engineers ✓ Pen Testers ✓ GRC Experts ✓ Cloud Security
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Have a question? We're here to help. Reach out to the DADavisDesign: Cyber Defenders support team.
DADADavisDesign: Cyber Defenders exists to connect proven cybersecurity talent with organizations that need dependable, real-world defenders. We focus on practical skills, strong communication, and role-fit — not buzzwords.
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🛡️ Mission
DADADavisDesign: Cyber Defenders exists to connect proven cybersecurity talent with organizations that need dependable, real-world defenders. We focus on practical skills, strong communication, and role-fit — not buzzwords.
🏢 Industries We Focus On
🎯 What You Can Expect Here
🧠 Built From Real Cybersecurity Experience
The Founder brings hands-on cybersecurity experience with organizations including Discovery, Inc (Warner Bros Discovery), The Knot Worldwide, Crown Castle, and NBC Universal. That background shapes a recruitment approach grounded in real operations, incident response reality, and what hiring managers actually need.
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Owner & Principal Consultant
After two decades in the industry, I saw a recurring problem: talented security professionals being overlooked because they lacked years of experience for "entry-level" roles, or didn't check every box on job descriptions filled with requirements that could realistically be learned in weeks on the job.
I founded DADavisDesign: Cyber Defenders to bridge that gap — connecting companies with skilled, motivated cybersecurity talent and giving professionals a real pathway into the industry. Because potential shouldn't be measured by checkboxes.
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Starting a career in cybersecurity can feel overwhelming. Focus on fundamentals first: networking basics, operating systems (especially Linux), and security concepts. Consider entry-level roles like SOC Analyst, IT Support with security focus, or Junior Penetration Tester. Build a home lab, participate in CTF competitions, and contribute to open-source security projects to gain practical experience.
Beginner Career PathAlready in IT? You're closer than you think. Leverage your existing knowledge of systems, networks, and troubleshooting. Start by taking on security-adjacent tasks at work: vulnerability scanning, access reviews, or incident documentation. Get Security+ certified to validate your pivot, then specialize based on your interests—cloud security, threat hunting, or GRC.
Career Change IT ProfessionalsStand out in a competitive field by sharing your knowledge. Write blog posts about what you're learning, engage on LinkedIn and Twitter/X with security professionals, contribute to community projects, and present at local meetups. Document your home lab projects on GitHub. Employers notice candidates who demonstrate passion beyond their day job.
Networking Professional Growth1. Explain the CIA triad.
Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability—the foundation of security. Give examples: encryption for confidentiality, checksums for integrity, redundancy for availability.
2. What's the difference between encryption and hashing?
Encryption is reversible (with a key), hashing is one-way. Encryption protects data in transit/rest; hashing verifies integrity and stores passwords.
3. Walk me through how you'd investigate a phishing incident.
Isolate affected systems, preserve evidence, analyze email headers and links, check for credential compromise, search for lateral movement, remediate, document findings, report.
4. What's your process for staying current with threats?
RSS feeds, Twitter/X security community, threat intel platforms (VirusTotal, OTX), vendor blogs, CISA alerts, conferences, podcasts, hands-on labs.
5. What is the difference between a vulnerability, a threat, and a risk?
Vulnerability = weakness in a system. Threat = potential danger that could exploit a vulnerability. Risk = likelihood and impact of a threat exploiting a vulnerability.
6. How would you explain a security risk to a non-technical executive?
Use business terms, not technical jargon. Focus on impact: revenue loss, reputation damage, regulatory fines. Use analogies. Quantify when possible.
7. What's the difference between IDS and IPS?
IDS (Intrusion Detection System) monitors and alerts. IPS (Intrusion Prevention System) monitors, alerts, AND blocks malicious traffic. IDS is passive; IPS is active.
8. Describe the incident response lifecycle.
Preparation → Identification → Containment → Eradication → Recovery → Lessons Learned. Know NIST or SANS frameworks and be ready to walk through a real example.
9. What is defense in depth?
Layered security approach—multiple controls at different levels (network, host, application, data, user). If one layer fails, others still protect. Examples: firewall + EDR + MFA + encryption.
10. How do you prioritize vulnerabilities for remediation?
Consider CVSS score, asset criticality, exploitability (is there a known exploit in the wild?), exposure (internet-facing vs internal), and business context. Not all "criticals" are equal.
Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions. Be ready for: "Tell me about a time you disagreed with a security decision," "Describe a situation where you had to explain a technical risk to non-technical stakeholders," and "How do you handle pressure during an active incident?" Have 3-4 stories ready that showcase problem-solving, communication, and calm under pressure.
Behavioral Soft SkillsShow genuine interest and assess fit: "What does your incident response process look like?", "How does security collaborate with development teams?", "What's the biggest security challenge you're facing?", "What tools does the team use daily?", "How do you measure success for this role?", "What does career growth look like on your security team?"
Interview StrategyCompTIA Security+ — The gold standard for breaking in. Vendor-neutral, widely recognized, covers fundamentals. Required for many government/DoD roles.
CompTIA Network+ — Consider this first if networking is weak. Security builds on networking knowledge.
(ISC)² CC — Certified in Cybersecurity. Free exam voucher available, good entry point to the (ISC)² ecosystem.
CySA+ (CompTIA) — Defensive security, threat detection, SOC analyst focus.
PenTest+ (CompTIA) — Offensive security basics, penetration testing methodology.
CEH (EC-Council) — Well-known but consider alternatives. Check if employer specifically requires it.
AWS Security Specialty — Essential if working in cloud environments. Highly valued.
Azure Security Engineer — Microsoft shops value this heavily.
CISSP — The "MBA of security." Required for many senior/management roles. Broad coverage, 5 years experience required.
OSCP — Hands-on penetration testing. Extremely respected, proves practical skills. Challenging 24-hour exam.
CISM/CISA — Management and audit focus. Great for GRC and leadership paths.
GIAC certs (SANS) — Expensive but excellent. GSEC, GCIH, GPEN highly regarded.
Entry Level (0-2 years)
SOC Analyst: $55,000 - $80,000
Junior Security Engineer: $65,000 - $90,000
IT Security Specialist: $60,000 - $85,000
Mid Level (3-5 years)
Security Engineer: $95,000 - $140,000
Penetration Tester: $90,000 - $130,000
Cloud Security Engineer: $110,000 - $160,000
Senior Level (6+ years)
Senior Security Engineer: $140,000 - $190,000
Security Architect: $150,000 - $220,000
CISO: $200,000 - $400,000+
Location: SF Bay Area, NYC, DC metro pay 20-40% more (but higher cost of living). Remote roles often pay based on company HQ location.
Industry: Finance, healthcare, and tech typically pay highest. Government offers stability + benefits but lower base pay.
Certifications: CISSP holders earn 15-25% more on average. Cloud certs (AWS/Azure) increasingly valuable.
Clearance: Active TS/SCI clearance can add $20,000-$40,000 to offers in government contracting.
Research market rates on Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, and Blind. Factor in total compensation: base + bonus + equity + benefits. Don't give a number first—let them anchor. Highlight certifications, clearance status, and specialized skills. Be prepared to walk away. Get offers in writing before giving notice. Consider negotiating signing bonus, remote flexibility, or professional development budget if base salary is firm.
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DADavisDesign: Cyber Defenders - Staffing & Placement Management
Generate professional invoices for employers based on approved timesheets.
Partner with DADavisDesign: Cyber Defenders for your cybersecurity staffing needs.
To submit job requests, please register as an employer partner. This allows you to track your submissions and communicate directly with our team.
Tell us about the role, skills needed, timeline, and budget. We'll review within 24 hours.
Our team identifies qualified candidates from our pre-vetted talent pool. We verify certifications and conduct initial interviews.
We present 2-3 top candidates with resumes, certifications, and our assessment. You interview your favorites.
Once you select a candidate, we handle all paperwork and get them started. We remain your point of contact throughout.
We specialize exclusively in cybersecurity roles. Our recruiters understand the difference between a SOC Analyst and a Security Engineer.
Every candidate's certifications are verified through official channels. No inflated resumes.
Qualified candidates presented within 48-72 hours for most roles. Urgent needs addressed same-day.
If a placement doesn't work out within the first 30 days, we'll find a replacement at no additional cost.
Submit a role or contact us to discuss your needs.
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DADavisDesign: Cyber Defenders staffing documentation and templates.
Percentage of candidate's first-year base salary. Industry standard ranges from 15-25%.
| Level | Salary Range | Fee % | Example Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level SOC Analyst I, Jr. Security Analyst |
% | $9,000 | ||
| Mid Level SOC Analyst II, Security Engineer |
% | $17,100 | ||
| Senior Level Sr. Security Analyst, Sr. Engineer |
% | $27,000 | ||
| Lead / Principal Security Lead, Principal Engineer |
% | $36,300 | ||
| Manager / Director Security Manager, Director of Security |
% | $50,000 | ||
| Executive / CISO CISO, VP of Security |
% | $62,500+ |
⚠️ These are templates only. Have an attorney review before use.
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