Can You Handle Incident Response? Patterson Cake Tells the Truth

Cybersecurity incidents don't wait for business hours, and neither do incident responders. In this episode of Authentically Cyber, Kathy Chambers sits down with Patterson Cake, Director of Incident Response at Black Hills Information Security, to pull back the curtain on one of cybersecurity's most demanding careers. Patterson shares what incident response really looks like beyond the headlines, including: • What an incident responder actually does • The pressure of responding to active cyber attacks • Why stress and burnout are common in the field • Practical ways to manage the mental and emotional demands of the job • Advice for anyone considering a career in incident response Whether you're exploring cybersecurity careers, already working in security operations, or simply curious about what happens when organizations are under attack, this conversation offers an honest look at the people behind the response. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction 2:38 The Challenge of Incident Response 4:09 Why Patterson chose Incident Response 6:01 The traits of a good incident responder 7:45 What’s changed in IR in the past few years 11:33 Why IR can be a stressful career 15:20 Good questions to ask during your interview 18:00 The IR team and what you should ask 20:17 Signs you need to take a break 22:35 How working out helps Patterson with stress 25:15 What you can do to stick to your health goals 27:25 The importance of being around people 31:54 Self check on your health 34:05 How to connect with Patterson 👍 If you enjoyed this interview, subscribe for more conversations with cybersecurity professionals sharing the real stories behind their careers. #Cybersecurity #IncidentResponse #CareerInCyber #SOC #BlueTeam #AuthenticallyCyber #BlackHillsInfoSec #BHIS