"This Is Fine" with Hunter Strategy

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 p...

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 pu...

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...

Cybersecurity Challenges in Internet of Things (IoT) Devices IoT isn't just smart bulbs and garage door openers, it's the badge scanner at your office door, the sensors on a wind turbine, the x-ray machine at your hospital, and the PLC system running a manufacturing floor. The attack surface is enormous, and most of it was never built with security in mind. In this episode, host Matt Trine...

Unlock the future of cybersecurity in the Department of Defense with insights on the latest tools, frameworks, and strategies transforming network monitoring. Most agencies are still relying on outdated processes—are you prepared for the shift toward automated, real-time risk assessments? In this episode, Dan Beller, Director of Cloud Solutions at Hunter Strategy, and Chris Sowards, GRC expert, re...

Most organizations overlook the secret ingredient to cybersecurity success: culture. In this eye-opening episode, cybersecurity veterans Russell Eubanks and AJ King reveal how building a strong security culture isn’t just good practice, it's essential. They share powerful stories demonstrating what a thriving security culture looks like and how it can prevent costly breaches. Discover why alig...

In this episode of "This is Fine," AJ King, Alex Sharpe, and Jake Williams delve into the complexities of the Zero Trust framework and its overlay against NIST 800-53 R5. They explore the philosophical and practical aspects of Zero Trust, emphasizing its role in modern cybersecurity. The discussion highlights the challenges and strategies for implementing Zero Trust, particularly in gove...

In this episode of This is Fine , cybersecurity experts AJ King, Joshua Marpet, and Jake Williams dive into the complexities of pen testing. They explore why standardization is crucial for effective testing and how misconceptions can lead to security gaps. Discover the importance of proper scoping to focus on high-impact areas and why a pen test should simulate real attack scenarios. This discussi...

Most organizations dramatically underestimate how quickly offensive cyber techniques evolve—and how crucial stealth and rapid detection truly are. In this episode, Jake Williams, a cybersecurity veteran, joins Hunter Strategy’s AJ King and Jordan Lazo to expose the real tactics behind cyber warfare—and how your organization can keep pace. Discover why the myth of complex, Hollywood-style attacks i...

Most organizations overlook a simple truth that could save them millions: understanding when and how to choose between monolithic, modulithic, and microservices architectures. This episode reveals a practical framework to make those calls confidently, impacting security, scalability, and team throughput. Greg Vanore and Scott Hiland break down these concepts with relatable analogies, offering clar...

Unlock the secrets of securing government systems in the cloud and avoid costly pitfalls with guests Dan Beller and Michael Christopherson. Discover insider strategies for seamless, compliant, and secure cloud migration. Learn the subtle differences between commercial clouds and GovCloud environments, and why they matter for your project's security. Perfect for government IT leaders and cloud...

In this episode of "This is Fine," we dive into the complexities of time management in software, infrastructure, and security. We explore how time zones, political changes, and system synchronization impact software development and security operations. The discussion highlights the challenges of maintaining consistent time across distributed systems and the importance of using standardiz...

Welcome back to This is Fine - the podcast all about navigating the complex world of government technology and cybersecurity. Today’s guest is a true pioneer in government software development: Bryon Kroger. As co-founder of Kessel Run, the Department of Defense’s first software factory, Bryon proved that government agencies can develop and deliver software with the speed and agility of Silicon Va...

In this episode of ‘This Is Fine’, Matt sits down with Harold Smith III, the CEO and Founder of Monkton, to discuss the complexities of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. They cover the program's role in government acquisition and the challenges small businesses encounter in navigating the contracting world. Matt and Harold explore the advantages of SBIR for both small business...

On this episode of "This Is Fine," we dive into the controversial Windows 11 recall feature and its implications for privacy and security. Our host, Matt Triner, CEO of Hunter Strategy, along with expert guests Jake Williams, VP of Research & Development at Hunter Strategy, Jennifer Lee, Partner at Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP, and Andrew King, CISO at Hunter Strategy, dissect...

On this episode of "This Is Fine," we delve into the critical topic of software supply chain security with our guests Jessica Sweet, Supply Chain Expert, and Dan Beller, Director of Cloud Engineering, at Hunter Strategy. We explore the vulnerabilities and risks tied to the software supply chain, including malicious software insertion and open-source vulnerabilities. We'll uncover... Common Risks,...

On this episode of "This Is Fine," we dive into the cutting-edge world of Artificial Intelligence and its pivotal role in cyber threat detection. Our host, Matt Triner, is joined by special guests Matt D’vertola, the Applied AI Lead at Hunter Strategy, and Andrew King, the CISO at Hunter Strategy. Together, they explore: Predictive Analytics, Automated Response Systems, The Future of Cybersecurity...

On this episode of "This Is Fine," we explore insider threat mitigation strategies for small-to-medium sized businesses. Often at a disadvantage due to limited resources, these companies can face unique challenges in effectively detecting and preventing insider threats. We'll help to provide effective strategies to help bridge this gap and safeguard your organization.  Joining us is...

On this episode of "This Is Fine," we tackle securing mobile applications for military use with security expert, Harold Smith III. Harold, Co-Founder & CEO of Monkton (a secure mobile app provider) and owner of the MATTER IDIQ, joins us to navigate the complexities of NIAP Certification for military apps.   We'll uncover...  Challenges,  Best Practices, and Solutions   ...for dep...

On today’s special episode of “This Is Fine”, we unpack the very recent global CrowdStrike outage. CrowdStrike is an industry leading cybersecurity company that provides endpoint detection and response (EDR) software. On the morning of July 19th, 2024, CrowdStrike released a faulty update that impacted Microsoft Windows systems, leading to a widespread outage in industries varying from the airline...

This week, we're exploring a topic at the intersection of cloud services and national defense: FedRAMP Equivalence. New requirements introduced by the DoD CIO may bring significant changes for cloud vendors eager to supply the Defense Industrial Base.  We are joined by our special guest, Alex Trafton, Senior Managing Director from Ankura Consulting. Alex’s core focus is on regulatory and compl...

In this episode, we explore Cyber Fusion Centers and how they deliver measurable impact to your organization's security posture. We’re joined today by our very own Andrew (AJ) King, Chief Information Security Officer, and Joel Cabrera, Director of Security Operations to discuss the impact our cyber fusion center has for our clients.   AJ and Joel break down the core components of a successful...

Today’s episode takes you on a (somewhat procedural) ride through the world of government security authorizations. Matt Triner and Chris Sowards, a GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) expert at Hunter Strategy, break down the Authority to Operate (ATO) process using a relatable analogy: buying a car. Just like how buying a car is a decision that involves cost, efficiency and risk, the governmen...

Welcome to "This Is Fine," the podcast by Hunter Strategy where we tackle key issues in technology and security within Department of Defense (DoD) networks. This week, we're focusing on Continuous Monitoring and Risk Assessment in DoD Networks.  Our guests are Dan Beller, Director of Platform Engineering at Hunter Strategy, and Chris Sowards, a GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance)...

Today’s episode dives deep into the world of federal RFPs, specifically the pros and cons of technical challenges compared to traditional proposals. Join our guests from Hunter Strategy, including Kevin Belanga, Chief Strategy Officer, and Jeff Segal, Chief Technology Officer, along with Kevin Long, Vice President of National Security Solutions group, Highlight. Together, they untangle the differe...