BLACKMERE CASE STUDY:

Cyber Vulnerability & Threat Engineer​

​

Client Overview:

Our client, a dynamic and employee-centric Fortune 1000 company, places a high value on cybersecurity and actively invests in state-of-the-art security infrastructure. As a large, highly regulated organization, they sought a Cyber Vulnerability and Threat Engineer to strengthen their threat detection and response capabilities. 

Challenge:

The client needed a skilled Cyber Vulnerability and Threat Engineer to lead vulnerability identification and response efforts, manage threat intelligence, and work closely with cross-functional cybersecurity teams. The role required a candidate with:

• 4+ years of experience in vulnerability scanning, ideally with Tenable.

• SOC monitoring experience, with the ability to operate within a 24/7 security environment.

• Strong Linux or SIEM administration skills, particularly with Splunk.

• Experience in onboarding and tuning security log data and expertise in using security frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK and the Cyber Kill Chain.

Additionally, the role called for a professional with excellent collaboration skills to work with threat hunters, incident responders, and forensic analysts. Given the highly regulated, high-trust environment, the ideal candidate needed to exhibit both technical expertise and the ability to foster trust and camaraderie within the team.

​

Solution:

Blackmere Consulting utilized its extensive cybersecurity recruitment experience to identify candidates who were both technically adept and aligned with the client’s collaborative, growth-oriented culture. Recognizing the unique blend of technical and interpersonal skills required, we developed a targeted recruitment approach.

Our approach involved:

1. Targeted Search for Vulnerability and Threat Experts: We focused on candidates with strong vulnerability management and threat detection backgrounds, emphasizing experience in SOC monitoring, vulnerability scanning, and cloud security. Candidates familiar with key tools like Tenable, Splunk, and EDR solutions were prioritized.

2. Assessment of Collaboration and Trust-Building Skills: Understanding the client’s emphasis on team trust and camaraderie, we assessed candidates’ interpersonal skills and ability to work cohesively with cross-functional cybersecurity teams. This ensured we identified candidates who could integrate smoothly and foster a collaborative culture.

3. Evaluation for Alignment with Security Culture and Growth Mindset: To match the client’s security-first culture, we sought candidates with a proactive approach to continuous learning, including staying current with emerging threats and vulnerability trends. We also highlighted the client’s support for professional development, attracting individuals eager to advance their skills through training and certifications.

Result:

Blackmere successfully placed a Cyber Vulnerability and Threat Engineer with the technical skills, leadership capabilities, and team-oriented mindset essential for this high-impact role. This individual’s experience with SOC operations, vulnerability scanning, and SIEM administration enabled them to immediately contribute to the client’s threat detection and mitigation efforts.

In the first few months, the new hire:

• Led critical vulnerability response exercises, providing in-depth analysis to key stakeholders and coordinating responses across cybersecurity teams.

• Actively engaged with the threat intelligence team to monitor emerging threats, analyze threat actor tactics, and enhance the organization’s defensive posture.

• Implemented optimizations to the SIEM platform, improving detection accuracy and minimizing false positives, which led to increased operational efficiency.

• Collaborated with InfoSec teams on tuning cyber defense tools and implementing best practices in threat detection, bolstering the client’s ability to identify and respond to vulnerabilities in real time.

• Strengthened the incident response process, supporting triage, containment, and remediation efforts to minimize potential impact on operations.

​

Impact:

With Blackmere’s placement of a skilled Cyber Vulnerability and Threat Engineer, the client has significantly enhanced its threat detection and response capabilities. The new hire’s expertise and leadership in vulnerability management have empowered the client to safeguard critical infrastructure better and maintain an agile, proactive stance against evolving cyber threats. This placement has reinforced the company’s security-first culture, promoting team trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

​

Key Takeaways:

• Blackmere’s targeted recruitment approach allowed the client to secure a candidate with the precise mix of technical skills and collaborative mindset needed to lead and elevate the cybersecurity team.

• Our focus on assessing both technical and interpersonal competencies ensured a successful integration, fostering a high-trust, collaborative security environment aligned with the client’s values.

• Blackmere’s understanding of the cybersecurity landscape and the client’s security culture allowed us to deliver a candidate who has made an immediate and lasting impact on their vulnerability management program.

​