"This Is Fine" with Hunter Strategy

Hunter Strategy

Welcome to "This Is Fine" with Hunter Strategy, because who doesn't need another podcast, right? But hold on, this isn't your typical corporate spiel. "This Is Fine" dives deep into Cloud security and agile methods, but with a twist of humor, sarcasm, and a sprinkle of dad jokes. Instead of boring PDFs, we bring lively discussions to life, offering a peek behind the curtain at our quirky team. Join us for a roller coaster ride through tech talk and more. Trust us, it's going to be fine... probably!

  1. 3d ago

    Team Death Spiral

    Your product is getting worse, not better, and everyone's too busy bailing water to notice the boat isn't even the problem. Hunter Strategy's Greg Vanore, Scott Hiland, and Jeff Segal break down the Team Death Spiral: the slow, often invisible slide from a healthy team into one buried in tech debt, low morale, and busted trust. They get into why "tech debt" is the wrong word to bring into a leadership conversation, what it actually means when a team isn't allowed to lead, and why more money or headcount rarely saves a struggling team. Spoiler: the fix usually has nothing to do with the budget.Episode Chapters: 00:00 Understanding the Team Death Spiral 03:30 Identifying Warning Signs 07:18 The Role of Leadership in Preventing the Spiral 13:36 Communication and Team Dynamics 18:03 Tech Debt: A Deeper Dive 21:50 The Necessity of Automation in Agile Development 22:49 Challenges in Team Automation and Ownership 25:14 Leadership's Role in Preventing Team Death Spirals 27:11 Effective Communication and Empathy in Leadership 29:31 Balancing Fun and Seriousness in Team Dynamics 30:11 Empathy Towards Non-Human Factors 34:54 Navigating Difficult Conversations with Stakeholders 37:18 Understanding Profitability and Team Efficiency 39:09 The Importance of Maintenance Over Replacement 48:02 Agency and Resource Allocation in High-Performing Teams 54:48 The Impact of Resources on Team Performance

    Team Death Spiral

  2. Aug 6

    Security Clearance Processes

    Security clearances are confusing enough on their own - facility clearances, personnel clearances, safeguarding, network access - and the rules rarely work the way people assume. In this episode, Matt Triner talks with Sean Blackman, co-founder and CEO of Nooks, about the real bottlenecks holding companies back from classified work, including the "chicken and egg" problem of needing a clearance to win a contract and a contract to justify a clearance. They dig into why building your own SCIF can take two years before a network is even touched, and why "go get a prime to sponsor you" is too often the only advice small businesses get. Sean explains what Nooks is actually solving: shared, subscription-based access to secure facilities around the country, and why he sees this as a national scaling problem, not just a paperwork one. If you're a founder, contractor, or engineer weighing whether classified work is worth pursuing, this conversation lays out what to expect and where to start. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Overview 05:01 Introducing Nooks: Classified Infrastructure as a Service 08:01 The Challenges of Scaling in the Classified Marketplace 11:57 The Role of Nooks in Solving the Access Problem 19:56 Solving the Dual Use Problem: Defense and Intelligence 22:52 The Timeframe for Security Clearances and Network Access 28:42 The Role of Commercial Solutions for Classified 33:57 Challenges and Opportunities in the Classified Marketplace 39:52 Advice for Companies Entering the Classified Space

    Security Clearance Processes

  3. Jul 30

    How to Determine Materiality in a DFIR Situation

    What actually makes a cybersecurity incident "material" - and who gets to decide? In this episode of This Is Fine, host Matt Triner sits down with Lee Kim (IANS Faculty and Practicing Law Institute member) and Jake Williams (VP of R&D, Hunter Strategy) to break down materiality in digital forensics and incident response. They cover the legal definition of materiality, the SEC's share-price test from TSC Industries v. Northway, and why the call should sit with counsel rather than the forensics firm. The conversation also digs into practical guardrails: documenting decisions in real time to avoid hindsight bias, building scenario-based frameworks before an incident hits, and where large language models do (and very much don't) belong in forensic work. A grounded, occasionally profane look at a topic every incident responder eventually has to wrestle with. Episode Chapters:  00:00 Introduction to Digital Forensics and Materiality 04:12 Understanding Materiality 10:45 Regulatory Frameworks and Materiality 15:32 Establishing Materiality in Incident Response 23:20 Understanding Materiality in Forensics 28:13 The Role of Stakeholders in Defining Materiality 35:37 The Future of Materiality and Regulatory Changes 41:09 AI's Role in Forensics and Materiality

    How to Determine Materiality in a DFIR Situation

  4. Jul 23

    NAICS Abuse

    Most companies exploit the NAICS system to unfairly skew government competition and few realize how deep the abuse runs. In this eye-opening episode, cybersecurity and government contracting experts Kevin Belanga, Chief Growth Officer at Hunter Strategy, and John Czaika, VP, Strategic Initiatives at Hunter Strategy, unpack how misclassifying NAICS codes can block small businesses, inflate costs, and even land shell companies lucrative contracts meant for true small firms. Discover how industry insiders manipulate NAICS classification for competitive advantage, sometimes unintentionally and often intentionally, and learn practical strategies to spot, challenge, and prevent these abuses. We also break down how government agencies, industry players, and watchdogs can work together to ensure fair play, safeguard small business opportunities, and uphold the integrity of federal procurement. Whether you’re a small business aiming to protect its opportunities or a government professional committed to transparency, this episode reveals the behind-the-scenes tactics that shape the federal marketplace and how to fight back.Episode Chapters: 00:00 Understanding NAICS Codes 02:38 Implications of NAICS on Government Contracts 09:24 NAICS Abuse and Its Consequences 15:59 Challenges in NAICS Classification 22:05 Understanding NAICS Codes in Contracting 27:47 The Role of Contracting Officers 33:26 Challenges in Contracting Oversight 39:12 Balancing Competition and Accountability 43:46 Navigating Acquisition Strategies

  5. Jul 16

    Secure Firmware Development for Embedded Systems

    Most of us don’t realize just how deeply embedded systems and firmware influence our daily lives — from medical devices to cars, factories, and even space tech. But as these critical systems become more interconnected and complex, so do the security risks. In this episode, cybersecurity veterans Jake Williams and Mick Douglas unpack the real-world challenges of secure firmware development and why it can’t be an afterthought anymore. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Secure Firmware Development 02:26 Defining Firmware and Embedded Systems 03:52 Challenges in Firmware Security 08:03 Industry-Specific Trade-offs in Firmware Development 13:56 Building Security into Firmware from the Ground Up 22:24 Secure Firmware Updates and Supply Chain Risks 23:11 Understanding Firmware Updates in IoT Devices 31:14 Security Standards for Embedded Devices 40:52 The Future of Liability and Standards in Embedded Systems

  6. Jul 9

    Government Contract Types 101

    On this episode of This is Fine, host Matt Triner sits down with guests John Czaika, VP, Strategic Initiatives of Hunter Strategy, and Kevin Belanga, Chief Growth Officer of Hunter Strategy, to break down the fundamentals of government contract types. John walks through how risk shifts across fixed-price, time-and-materials, and cost-reimbursement contracts, while Kevin brings the industry-side perspective on bidding, compliance, and common misconceptions. Together they trace the policy pendulum from Better Buying Power 1.0 through 3.0 and why the government increasingly favors firm fixed price. They close with practical advice for smaller companies entering the space, most notably to build strategic partnerships early and get comfortable understanding your own costs. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Government Contracting Fundamentals02:26 Types of Government Contracts05:28 Understanding Risk in Contracting08:20 Business Development and Contract Types11:04 Government's Perspective on Risk13:56 Common Misconceptions in Government Contracting24:06 Navigating Government Contracting Challenges25:10 Misconceptions in Government-Industry Communication27:39 The Role of Market Research in Contract Types37:10 Advice for Small Businesses in Government Contracting

    Government Contract Types 101

  7. Jul 2

    Why Purple Team is the Team of the Future

    This episode explores why purple teaming is becoming a smarter security strategy, with host, Matt Triner, speaking alongside guests Jordan Lazo, Gabriel Abdalawad, and Jake Williams from Hunter Strategy. They break down the difference between red, blue, and purple teams, and explain how collaboration helps organizations improve detections and reduce blind spots. The conversation also covers why purple teaming is especially valuable for less mature organizations that need to build stronger security foundations. Overall, the guests argue that sharing tactics, testing detections, and closing gaps creates more practical security than working in silos. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Cybersecurity Teams 01:00 Defining Blue, Red, and Purple Teams 03:19 The Philosophy of Purple Teaming 07:57 Real-World Examples of Detection and Exploitation 12:55 Building a Purple Team in Less Mature Organizations 18:39 The Importance of Detection Engineering 23:49 Understanding Decay and AI Solutions 29:53 Cloud Security: Risks and Responsibilities 31:17 Documentation Challenges in Cloud Implementations 37:54 The Case for Purple Teams 44:24 Strategies for Implementing Purple Teams

    Why Purple Team is the Team of the Future

  8. Jun 25

    The Future of Cyber Warfare: Trends and Predictions

    Cyber warfare is often misunderstood and this episode explains why it’s usually a supporting act rather than the main event in modern conflict. Jake Williams and Bryson Bort break down how cyber operations differ from kinetic warfare, why attribution and battle damage assessment are so difficult, and why political and strategic limits often matter more than the technology itself. You’ll also hear how adversaries use low-cost, scalable cyber campaigns to create disruption without triggering direct escalation. Overall, it’s a sharp look at how cyber tactics are reshaping future warfare and global security. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Cyber Warfare 05:16 The Role of Cyber in Modern Warfare 07:51 Stuxnet: A Case Study in Cyber Warfare 10:52 Legal Definitions and Warfare 16:17 The Complexity of Cyber Operations 17:50 Investment in Cyber Capabilities 22:10 The Future of Cyber Warfare 27:06 Ethics and Cyber Warfare 33:51 Predictions for Future Conflicts 41:30 Educating on Cyber Warfare

    The Future of Cyber Warfare: Trends and Predictions
See All (33)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to "This Is Fine" with Hunter Strategy, because who doesn't need another podcast, right? But hold on, this isn't your typical corporate spiel. "This Is Fine" dives deep into Cloud security and agile methods, but with a twist of humor, sarcasm, and a sprinkle of dad jokes. Instead of boring PDFs, we bring lively discussions to life, offering a peek behind the curtain at our quirky team. Join us for a roller coaster ride through tech talk and more. Trust us, it's going to be fine... probably!

Information