Summary
Trained vs. Ready: Building Cyber Readiness as a Team
In this episode of the SCOOP Cyber podcast, host Steven Cooperman talks with David Etue, CEO of Cyberbit, about the difference between being trained and being ready. David has built and run security operations centers around the world, and he explains why individual skills and certifications are only the cost of admission. Real readiness comes from teams that can communicate, collaborate, and adapt under pressure.
The conversation covers how Cyberbit’s cloud-based, live-fire cyber range lets SOC teams practice against real attacks using real tools like CrowdStrike and Splunk, with nothing to install. They dig into findings from the Cyberbit Readiness Report 2026, the first quantitative study of its kind. It draws on three years of exercise data from hundreds of customers across the Cyberbit and RangeForce platforms. The report shows that readiness is built, not hired, and highlights the risk of depending on one or two “rock star” analysts. David also explains how after-action reports and a continuous readiness cycle help teams focus on their real skills gaps. The episode closes with practical advice for SOC leaders on how often to run exercises and how to frame readiness as a business-risk conversation that gets budget.
Download the Cybernit Readiness Report 2026
Speakers
President of SCOOP Cyber with 20+ years of experience in public sector sales across Fed Civilian, DoD/IC, and SLED. Expertise spans sales, contracting, legal and compliance, and strategic alliances with a track record of building high-performing, trust-driven teams.
Chief Executive Officer
Cyberbit
David Etue, Chief Executive Officer, Cyberbit. David Etue is CEO of Cyberbit, a cybersecurity training and skills assessment platform focused on defensive team readiness. He joined Cyberbit through its acquisition of RangeForce, where he served as President and CEO. With more than 20 years at early-stage and mature companies, he previously served as CEO of Nisos and held leadership roles at Fidelis Security and General Electric. He is a member of the Forbes Technology Council, a Senior Fellow at the National Security Institute’s Cyber and Technology Center, a Certified Information Privacy Professional and a Certified CISO.
