Welcome to another episode of "Splunk Smartness," where we explore how Splunk Education can revolutionize your approach to problem-solving and learning Splunk. I’m your host, Callie Skokos, and today we’re joined by Patrick Tatro, Security Advisor and Splunk Administrator from Wisconsin. Patrick, it’s great to have you here!
Patrick Tatro: Thanks, Callie! Excited to share my experiences and hopefully inspire a few folks along the way.
Callie: Patrick, I hear you have quite the interesting life outside of work, managing a forest and practicing bow hunting. Can you tell us a bit about that?
Patrick: Absolutely! I manage about 100 acres of forest here in Wisconsin, focusing on keeping the ecosystem healthy by targeting invasive species like Buckthorn. It’s challenging but rewarding, especially when I get to use the wood in my sauna. I like to compare it to coding or using Splunk; it's all about managing resources creatively and effectively.
Callie: I love that comparison! Now speaking of Splunk, how did you initially get into using it?
Patrick: My journey with Splunk started back in 2019 when I was supporting a customer with their vulnerability scanning architecture. I found the existing tools weren't up to the task, so I got totally immersed into learning and understanding Splunk. I started with free online training courses, attended an app developer bootcamp at .conf, and just dedicated myself to learning, much like how I learned bow hunting. I've used all of Splunk's education resources, from online training to instructor-led courses and reading books to dive deep from beginner to advanced levels.
Callie: Wow, so the training helped you learn which of the Splunk products?
Patrick: I use Splunk Cloud and Splunk Enterprise Security mostly. These tools allow me to manage and analyze data efficiently, which is critical in both my corporate role and my consulting work for K-12 education.
Callie: It’s so great that you’ve found incredible value from Splunk. How do you incorporate Splunk into your work with schools and private companies?
Patrick: In K-12, I help schools analyze their data to better assess their needs and guide them on security. For smaller companies, I offer a group membership to a private consulting group, which includes one-on-one sessions. Splunk’s APIs help automate much of the onboarding and management process, making everything more streamlined.
Callie Skokos: That’s incredibly innovative. You’ve mentioned the powerful insights Splunk offers. Can you expand on that?
Patrick: One of the biggest insights is confidence in data handling. With Splunk, as long as you can get the data into the system, the only limit is your creativity. For example, in cybersecurity, instead of “asking” the tool to identify problems—which often misses the root cause—Splunk allows me to integrate data from various sources into a single dashboard, providing a comprehensive view and deeper context to security events.
Callie: It sounds like Splunk has really transformed how you approach security. Have you taken any more Splunk training recently?
Patrick Tatro: Yes, I attended the Data Science Bootcamp at .conf24. It was a fantastic introduction to machine learning and really highlighted the opportunities for applying the technology and concepts within Splunk. I also participated in the Boss of the SOC competition and learned a lot from team collaboration there.
Callie Skokos: Incredible. So, I imagine you have a few Splunk certifications?
Patrick Tatro: I do—I’m certified as a Core User, Power User, Splunk Cloud Admin, Splunk ES Admin, and Cyber Defense Analyst. These certifications have been crucial in building a robust understanding of what Splunk can do.
Callie Skokos: That’s great. Do you engage with other Splunk users to share best practices and get new tips and tricks?
Patrick Tatro: Yes, I’m very active in the Splunk Community. I use the Slack channels and find the resource-sharing and Q&A immensely helpful. It’s a community-driven platform, and the support from other users, especially the Splunk Trust members, consistently boosts my confidence in using Splunk effectively.
Callie Skokos: As you look to the future, where else do you think Splunk can take you?
Patrick Tatro: I’m really interested in either becoming a full-time Splunk Consultant or an App Developer—or possibly both. The goal is to continue leveraging Splunk to create solutions that make data actionable and insightful, not just for myself but for clients across various industries.
Callie Skokos: Patrick, it’s been fantastic hearing about your journey and how Splunk has played a role in it. Thanks so much for joining us today.
Patrick Tatro: Thank you, Callie. I appreciate the opportunity to share my story!
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That's it for today's episode of "Splunk Smartness." Thank you all for tuning into "Splunk Smartness." We'll be back next time with more insights on how Splunk can enhance your tech skills and career – and help you make your organization more resilient. Until then, stay smart and keep Splunking!
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