Tech Talks Daily

Can businesses still rely on cybersecurity strategies that were designed for a very different threat environment?
In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I speak with Matt Knell from ESET about why many managed service providers and businesses are being forced to rethink what effective cybersecurity looks like in 2026. As cybercriminals become faster, more sophisticated, and increasingly powered by AI, many of the approaches that once provided reassurance are struggling to keep pace.
Matt shares why the idea of "good enough" security is becoming increasingly difficult to defend. While endpoint protection remains an important part of any security strategy, he explains why technology alone is no longer enough. Organizations must continually review, update, and strengthen their defenses rather than assuming that yesterday's protections will be sufficient tomorrow.
Our conversation explores the lasting impact of ransomware and the lessons businesses continue to learn from high-profile incidents. From major retailers to global manufacturers, attacks are creating operational disruption, financial losses, and reputational damage on a scale that few organizations would have imagined a decade ago.
We also discuss one of the industry's most persistent challenges: the cybersecurity skills gap. Finding experienced security professionals remains difficult, while retaining talent has become equally challenging. Matt explains how managed detection and response services are helping MSPs extend their capabilities without having to build and maintain large security operations teams.
AI naturally plays a major role in the discussion. While cybersecurity vendors use AI to improve threat detection and response, attackers are also leveraging the technology to accelerate and sophisticate phishing campaigns, social engineering, and other forms of cybercrime. Matt explains why businesses must remain realistic about both opportunities and risks.
Another theme throughout the episode is the growing expectation that cybersecurity should be treated as a business issue rather than purely an IT concern. Regulations, cyber insurance requirements, supply chain scrutiny, and customer expectations are all increasing pressure on organizations to demonstrate stronger security practices and greater resilience.
We also discuss ESET PRIVATE and why more organizations are seeking security services tailored to their specific operational needs. Rather than relying on a standard package, many businesses are looking for solutions that align with their industry requirements, compliance obligations, risk profile, and long-term objectives.
Finally, Matt reflects on the conversations emerging from ESET's recent partner conference and shares his perspective on the topics shaping cybersecurity priorities for the coming year. AI, resilience, compliance, and business education continue to dominate discussions as organizations look for practical ways to strengthen their defenses.
If you're an MSP, IT leader, business owner, or anyone responsible for protecting digital operations, this episode offers a timely look at the challenges facing organizations today and the steps many are taking to prepare for what comes next.
Is your organization still relying on security strategies designed for yesterday's threats, or have you adapted to today's cyber risks?

Have we become so used to data breaches that we no longer stop to think about what they actually mean for the people affected?
In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I speak with Simon Pamplin, CTO at Certes, about why cybercrime remains one of the biggest threats facing businesses and consumers alike. While headlines about ransomware attacks and data breaches appear almost every day, Simon argues that too many organizations are still treating cybersecurity as a technology problem rather than a business risk with real human consequences.
Our conversation begins with a simple but powerful question. Why are so many companies still focused on protecting networks when attackers are really after the data itself? Simon explains why traditional perimeter-based security approaches are struggling in a world where information moves between cloud environments, devices, applications, and partners far beyond the boundaries organizations once controlled.
We also discuss the personal cost of cybercrime. Behind every breach announcement are real people whose financial records, personal details, healthcare information, and digital identities may have been exposed. Simon shares why the impact often extends far beyond resetting a password, creating financial, emotional, and reputational consequences that can last for years.
Another major theme is the growing concern about quantum computing and the rise of harvest-and-decrypt attacks. While fully realized quantum computing may still be in the future, cybercriminals are already collecting encrypted data with the expectation that future technology will eventually unlock it. Simon explains why businesses need to think about protecting sensitive information today rather than waiting for tomorrow's threats to become reality.
The conversation also examines the growing pressure from regulations such as GDPR, DORA, and NIS2. With larger penalties and increased regulatory scrutiny, organizations are facing greater accountability for how they handle and protect customer information. Simon argues that trust has become one of the most valuable assets a business can possess and one of the easiest to lose.
Of course, no cybersecurity discussion would be complete without addressing AI. We explore how AI is making attacks faster, cheaper, and more accessible while also creating opportunities for defenders. Simon shares his thoughts on why businesses must rethink long-held assumptions and prepare for a future in which cybercriminals can automate many techniques that once required significant expertise.
Throughout our discussion, Simon returns to a consistent message. Attackers target data because it has value. Organizations that focus their efforts on protecting that data, wherever it travels, will be in a far stronger position than those relying solely on traditional defenses.
If you are responsible for cybersecurity, risk management, compliance, or digital transformation, this episode offers a timely discussion of what businesses should prioritize as threats continue to evolve. Customer trust becomes harder to earn and easier to lose.
When the next breach makes headlines, will it simply be another news story, or will it be a reminder that every piece of stolen data belongs to a real person whose life could be affected?

What is the office actually for?
It's a question that many organizations are still wrestling with as they balance flexibility, collaboration, employee expectations, and business performance. At Cisco Live, I sat down with Christian Bigsby, Senior Vice President of Workplaces at Cisco, to discuss how the role of the workplace is changing and why measuring success by attendance alone may no longer make sense.
Christian shares how Cisco has rethought the relationship between people, place, and technology, bringing together teams that traditionally operated separately to create a more connected workplace experience. Rather than focusing on how many employees are in the office, the conversation centers on the outcomes that become possible when people come together with purpose.
We explore how hybrid work has reshaped workplace strategy, why employee experience has become a business priority, and how organizations can create environments that support collaboration, innovation, learning, and culture. Christian also explains why flexibility should not be viewed as a perk but as an important part of helping employees do their best work.
The conversation also looks at the growing role of AI in workplace operations. From forecasting occupancy and improving space utilization to helping organizations make smarter decisions about resources and services, AI is helping workplace leaders respond to a level of variability that traditional operating models were never designed to handle.
Along the way, Christian offers thoughtful insights on leadership, trust, organizational culture, and why the future workplace may have more in common with a dynamic service than a fixed location.
If you've ever wondered whether the future of work is about where people work, how they work, or why they come together in the first place, this conversation offers plenty to think about.
What do you believe makes a workplace valuable in 2026, attendance, experience, outcomes, or something else entirely?

What happens when the newest users on your network aren't people at all?
At Cisco Live, I sat down with Aruna Ravichandran, SVP and CMO for AI, Networking, and Collaboration at Cisco, to discuss a shift that could change how organizations think about networks, operations, and AI over the coming years.
For decades, enterprise networks have been built around human behavior. People work predictable hours, take holidays, and generally follow familiar patterns. AI agents are different. They work continuously, analyze information around the clock, and increasingly act as digital teammates that can help organizations monitor, troubleshoot, and improve operations at a scale that would be impossible for humans alone.
During our conversation, Aruna explained why AI is no longer just an application discussion. As organizations deploy more digital teammates, networks must support a new type of user that never sleeps, never stops learning, and can help identify issues before employees even arrive at work. We explore Cisco's vision for AgenticOps, the role of Cisco Cloud Control as a unified command center, and how AI-driven operations are helping reduce complexity for teams already overwhelmed by alerts, dashboards, and operational overhead.
Aruna also shared her perspective on one of the biggest challenges facing the industry today: trust. While the technology is advancing rapidly, organizations need confidence that their digital teammates can make reliable recommendations and support critical operations without removing human oversight. That balance between automation and accountability sits at the heart of Cisco's approach.
We also discuss why domain expertise still matters in the age of AI, how Cisco is drawing on decades of networking experience to build purpose-built models, and why the next few years may see every IT professional supported by an expanding team of digital coworkers.
If you've been wondering how AI will move beyond chat interfaces and become part of everyday operations, this conversation offers an interesting look at where networking, automation, and AI are heading next.
How many digital teammates do you think you'll be working alongside in the next few years, and what tasks would you trust them to handle first?
 
 
Useful LInks
Anurag Dhingra's blog
DJ Sampath's blog
Aruna's LinkedIn post re. The AgenticOps stats she mentioned
Press Release

Have you ever wondered whether the skills that build a company are the same skills needed to scale it?
In today's episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Hadi Moussa, the newly appointed CEO of Oyster, the global employment platform helping businesses hire, pay, and support talent in more than 180 countries. The conversation comes at a fascinating moment for the company, following founder Tony Jamous' decision to step into the Executive Chairman role and hand over the CEO position from a place of strength rather than necessity.
What makes this leadership transition particularly interesting is that it challenges many assumptions about founder succession. Rather than waiting for investor pressure, market turbulence, or burnout, Tony recognized that the next chapter of Oyster's growth required a different operational skill set. Hadi shares what he learned from a succession process that centered on mission alignment, alongside leadership assessments, case studies, and extensive feedback.
We also explore Hadi's own journey from Lebanon to leadership positions at Facebook, Airbnb, Deliveroo, Coursera, and now Oyster. His personal experience of leaving home to pursue opportunity has given him a deep connection to Oyster's mission of making global employment accessible regardless of geography.
The discussion moves beyond leadership transitions and into the future of work itself. As artificial intelligence reshapes hiring, productivity, and workforce structures, Hadi explains why he believes there is a real risk that AI could concentrate opportunity within a handful of established technology hubs. He shares Oyster's vision of using technology to more broadly distribute opportunity, enabling companies to access talent wherever it exists while maintaining trust, compliance, and human support.
We also discuss what businesses continue to underestimate about managing distributed teams at scale. From culture and communication to trust and compliance, Hadi argues that remote work success requires far more than technology alone. Companies must be intentional about how they build relationships, create alignment, and support employees across borders and time zones.
For founders and business leaders, this episode offers thoughtful lessons on self-awareness, leadership evolution, and knowing when a company's needs may outgrow the strengths that originally built it. It is a conversation about growth, opportunity, and the difficult decisions required to put mission ahead of personal attachment.
How should leaders know when it is time to pass the baton, and can AI help create a more globally distributed future of work rather than concentrating opportunity in a few select places? Share your thoughts and join the conversation.