Ever wondered about the path that leads someone to work on the communication network of Air Force One? Our guest, John Breth, has done just that, and he's here to share his journey from the military to the cybersecurity field. With a career spanning roles as a network and security administrator at a Tier 1 ISP, and now a well-known content creator, John's journey is a thrilling blend of education and experience. As we reminisce about personal experiences, from Prime binge-watching to study plans and Vermont fall-time hobbies, we highlight the importance of maintaining technical skills, even in a vendor role. Our conversation takes us deep into the complexities of network engineering, which demands a well-rounded skill set and often requires us to wear multiple hats, particularly in smaller companies. We explore the critical role of cybersecurity in ensuring compliance with regulations, and we discuss the need for an active defense methodology to mitigate cyber threats. Wrapping up this intriguing chat, we delve into the implications of the SolarWinds hack, the increasing importance of coding and automation in cybersecurity, and provide some useful tips for those looking to get their foot in the door of this field. Finally, we spotlight the value of cybersecurity certifications and the role they can play in enhancing your career. Whether you're a seasoned professional or an aspiring newbie, John's unique insight is bound to spark your interest and perhaps, inspire your own path in tech. A big thank you to our show sponsor: Unimus! Interested in a device agnostic NCM software to streamline and automation configuration management for your entire network? Check out Unimus! https://unimus.net/ More from John: Twitter:  https://twitter.com/JBizzle703 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CYBERINSIGHT This show was recorded October 5th, 2023. We are now on TikTok! - https://www.tiktok.com/@artofneteng Cables2Clouds! https://www.cables2clouds.com Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/artofneteng​ Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/artofneteng/ ​Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/artofneteng Join the group on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/artofneteng/ Check out our website https://artofnetworkengineering.com​ Merch Store – https://artofneteng.com/store Join the Discord Study group – https://artofneteng.com/iaatj