Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago
Recorded live at FIRSTCON26 in Denver, Colorado, this episode of FIRST Impressions, interviews Tim Brown, CISO-in-Residence at Team8 and former CISO of SolarWinds, following his opening keynote at the conference.
Drawing on his firsthand experience leading SolarWinds through one of the most significant cyber incidents in recent history, Tim offers an honest and deeply personal conversation about what happens after the headlines fade.
Topics discussed include: How Team8 partners with a global community of CISOs to identify security challenges and launch innovative cybersecurity startups; the realities of leading an organization through the SolarWinds incident, from the initial crisis response to years of recovery; the often-overlooked human impact of major cyber incidents, including prolonged stress, burnout, and the emotional toll on security teams; lessons learned and more!
Tim closes with an encouraging message for incident responders: while crises are never easy, they are also opportunities for growth. The experiences gained through responding to difficult incidents can shape stronger leaders, stronger teams, and ultimately a stronger cybersecurity community.
Recorded live at FIRSTCON26 in Denver, Colorado, this episode of FIRST Impressions, interviews Tim Brown, CISO-in-Residence at Team8 and former CISO of SolarWinds, following his opening keynote at the conference.
Drawing on his firsthand experience leading SolarWinds through one of the most significant cyber incidents in recent history, Tim offers an honest and deeply personal conversation about what happens after the headlines fade.
Topics discussed include: How Team8 partners with a global community of CISOs to identify security challenges and launch innovative cybersecurity startups; the realities of leading an organization through the SolarWinds incident, from the initial crisis response to years of recovery; the often-overlooked human impact of major cyber incidents, including prolonged stress, burnout, and the emotional toll on security teams; lessons learned and more!
Tim closes with an encouraging message for incident responders: while crises are never easy, they are also opportunities for growth. The experiences gained through responding to difficult incidents can shape stronger leaders, stronger teams, and ultimately a stronger cybersecurity community.
