Strategic security initiatives keep piling up while hiring cycles stay brutally slow. If you’re a mid-market CISO, you know the impossible choice: burn out your team or blow the budget on hires you can’t afford year-round. The math doesn’t work. A mid-level security engineer costs $120K to $150K annually before benefits and overhead. Then add […]
Close Cyber Skills Gaps Fast in 2026 with On-Demand Talent Read More »
At Kalles Group, we created Smart Cookies for one reason: To give security and technology professionals a space for honest, grounded conversations where tools, trends, and frameworks meet real-world experience. Smart Cookies are in-person events held quarterly in the Seattle area. Focused around topics in the spheres of security and technology, they bring a blend
5 Reasons Why You Should Be at the Next Smart Cookies Event Read More »
Companies talk about building strategies or upgrading security all the time. However, even well-meaning companies that plan for new initiatives or refine their security measures sometimes do not include their people from the get-go. A well thought out plan or advanced tech only succeeds if your team has true ownership and adds their spark. When
Employee Empowerment: The Foundation of a Strong Business Read More »
Change is an ongoing, organization-wide practice that drives innovation and competitive market placement. To constantly evolve, iterate, and adjust is to manage a competitive edge — making change a daunting yet necessary undertaking. Change management is a dexterous process. Managing change across operations requires emotional intelligence, situational awareness, data analysis, a campaigning attitude, and a
Developing a framework for operational change management Read More »
With the rise of remote work culture, businesses are faced with new challenges, including increased cybersecurity risks. As companies transition to remote work models, they open themselves up to potential vulnerabilities that can compromise sensitive data and lead to devastating cyber attacks. It’s essential that companies understand the risks and take steps to mitigate them
Is remote work a cybersecurity risk? Read More »
Everyone has been talking about AI, and for good reason! AI is currently revolutionizing nearly every industry. The technology has the potential to streamline collaboration, increase productivity, and help people get the information they need right when they need it. Exciting, right? The analogy: A shiny new sports car I recommend deploying a new AI
User enablement: Driving safe adoption of new AI technologies Read More »
At the start of a new job, employees are often flooded with new technologies to learn. Maybe it’s a file sharing program they’ve never used before, or an unfamiliar task management system that seems more like a labyrinth than a guide. One day, it will all make sense — hopefully sooner rather than later. Technology
The new hire experience: What every technology leader should know about learning paths Read More »
As staff continue to work in remote locations while others return to in-person workspaces, the approach to learning needs to accommodate a hybrid environment. If planned intentionally and with the use of a variety of technology resources, organizations can continue to deliver engaging and inclusive learning opportunities through hybrid learning. What is Hybrid learning all
How to unlock the secrets of Hybrid Learning Read More »
Do you love your job, or do you get heartburn Sunday night, knowing that Monday is coming soon? Either way, why is this? Of course, there are dozens of factors involved in why we are, or are not, satisfied in our jobs, and one of them is empowerment. According to Wikipedia, ’empowerment refers to measures
Four ways to empower your employees Read More »
Discover the 5 scary small business statistics to put spotlight on. Don’t let these haunting trends spook your entrepreneurial dreams. Learn more now and take action! The SBA defines a small business as an enterprise having fewer than 500 employees. According to data from the SBA’s Office of Advocacy, there are 33.1 million small
5 scary small business statistics to watch Read More »
[Updated] The Scrum Guide generally describes the Scrum Master role as one of teaching, coaching, facilitating, and removing impediments. Working towards being a “good” Scrum Master doesn’t guarantee the desired results anymore. As complex projects multiply and new technologies emerge, the Scrum Master role has to be about effectiveness. Part of being an effective Scrum
What it really takes to be a SCRUM master Read More »
