In this episode of Bytes of Experience, Bo Wandschneider and Dana Sanderson sit down with Kevin Paul, Director of Cybersecurity at Cybera, whose unconventional path—from computer science to SWAT operator to cybercrime investigator—now shapes how he leads cybersecurity strategy for Alberta’s research and education sector. Kevin shares how policing gave him a rare, full‑spectrum view of cyber incidents: from threat actors on the dark web to the victims dealing with real‑world consequences. That experience now informs how he approaches triage, speed of response, and the importance of collaboration in higher education. The conversation explores: Why triage and rapid decision‑making —core policing skills—are essential in cybersecurity operations. The realities of higher‑ed governance, and why pre‑agreed authority and practice matter during fast‑moving incidents. Nation‑state and foreign‑actor risks, including how legitimate student credentials sometimes become initial access points. Why the perimeter is dead, and why detection and automated response are now the real battleground. Cybera’s shared SOC initiative, built directly from member CIO priorities. A groundbreaking partnership with Australia’s ARNet, enabling a follow‑the‑sun SOC model and shared detection IP across continents. How this work ties into national efforts like CANSOC, and why Canada needs a unified future-state vision for cybersecurity. Why people and processes—not platforms—are the real gold in cybersecurity. This episode is a deep dive into the future of shared security, global collaboration, and the evolving threat landscape facing higher education. Book Mentioned: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss

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