Last week on HACKERverse® TV, we had the chance to sit down with Zachary Hyde, a freelance direct response copywriter with one of the most unconventional backgrounds you’ll ever hear. From Ranger deployments in Iraq to negotiating with terrorists to accidentally flashing a core router in Kandahar, Zachary’s journey into cybersecurity and copywriting is anything but ordinary.
What stood out immediately was his candor about communication. Zachary admitted he was never “the technical guy” but quickly realized that cybersecurity wasn’t just about firewalls and routers; it was about people, urgency, and the ability to persuade. His perspective was shaped by life-or-death consequences in the field: the wrong tool not showing up didn’t just mean lost data, it meant lives lost. That urgency is what drives his obsession with selling better in cybersecurity today.
Throughout the conversation, Zachary challenged some of the industry’s long-standing myths, particularly around sales tactics. He called out the outdated reliance on FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt), reminding us that doomsday scenarios don’t persuade buyers in today’s market. Instead, he argued, persuasion occurs through storytelling and a shared vision. As he put it, “Vision drives decision.”
He also didn’t hold back on the role of copywriting. For him, copy isn’t about buzzwords or over-polished corporate speak. It’s about telling a story that feels as human as talking to your kids at bedtime, or swapping stories over a beer. And while AI is reshaping the way vendors operate, Zachary was clear: automation is helpful, but it will never replace the ability to connect, persuade, and create trust through story.
The conversation eventually circled back to what really matters for cybersecurity vendors: breaking down walls with buyers. Stop pretending to be perfect. Stop hiding behind jargon. Show flaws, show transparency, and lean into the human side of the story. Buyers don’t want to hear that you’re “unhackable.” They want to know what happens when things go wrong and how you respond.
For us at the HACKERverse®, Zachary’s perspective hits home. Proof matters more than promises, and the ability to communicate real value, clearly and authentically, is what drives change in this industry.
Stay tuned for the next episode of HACKERverse® TV as we continue spotlighting voices pushing cybersecurity forward in bold, human-centered ways.
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