In this AI AMA webinar, First Focus AI Strategy Lead Jack and host Brendan Ritchie answer some of the most common questions business leaders are asking right now, including:

✅ How to prepare your business for AI adoption
✅ Data governance and AI security best practices
✅ Reducing AI tool sprawl and shadow AI
✅ Measuring AI ROI and identifying quick wins
✅ Real-world AI case studies delivering results
✅ AI agents, automation and productivity gains
✅ Copilot vs ChatGPT – which is right for your business?

The discussion draws on First Focus' own AI journey, lessons learned from internal deployments, and practical experience helping organisations implement AI successfully.

Whether you're just starting your AI journey or looking to scale existing initiatives, this session provides practical guidance on governance, adoption, security, and measurable business outcomes.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Welcome & Webinar Overview
01:04 – How First Focus Adopted AI Internally & Lessons Learned
03:53 – What Does an AI Strategy Lead Actually Do?
07:44 – Why the Traditional MSP Model Is Changing in the AI Era
13:35 – AI Readiness: Data Governance, Security & Preparation
20:33 – Managing AI Risk, Shadow AI & Tool Sprawl
33:34 – Measuring AI ROI & Finding High-Impact Use Cases
43:28 – Real-World AI Case Studies, AI Agents, Automation & Copilot vs ChatGPT

🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS

• AI success starts with clear business problems, not technology selection.
• Data governance remains the foundation of effective AI adoption.
• Shadow AI is often reduced by providing employees with secure, approved AI tools.
• Quick wins and iterative improvements drive stronger adoption than large transformation projects.
• Organisations should target measurable ROI and focus on practical productivity gains.
• Internal knowledge assistants are among the most common and impactful AI use cases.
• AI champions within teams accelerate adoption and innovation.
• Security, governance, and user enablement are just as important as the AI platform itself.
• Copilot, ChatGPT, and other AI platforms each have strengths depending on business requirements.
• AI initiatives should be assessed based on outcomes, scalability, and business value rather than hype.

A $2.5 million cybersecurity penalty has changed the conversation around cyber risk in Australia.

In this episode, we unpack the ASIC vs FIIG case, what actually happened during the cyber attack, and why regulators are now holding businesses accountable for cybersecurity preparedness.

We discuss:

• What led to the FIIG data breach

• Why ASIC imposed such a significant penalty

• The cybersecurity controls FIIG allegedly lacked

• Why incident response planning matters

• What Australian SMEs should do now

• How cyber governance expectations are changing

If your business handles sensitive customer data, this conversation is essential viewing.

💬 What’s your biggest cybersecurity concern right now? Let us know in the comments.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations on cybersecurity, business risk, compliance, and technology strategy.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to the ASIC vs FIIG Case
01:10 – What Happened During the Cyber Attack
03:20 – How Malware Entered the Organisation
05:05 – Why ASIC Imposed a $2.5M Penalty
08:10 – Missing Cybersecurity Controls Explained
11:40 – The Importance of Incident Response Planning
15:30 – What Australian Businesses Must Do Next

A week ago, the news broke that First Focus and Integris are joining forces to build the global managed AI and IT services provider for small and mid-sized businesses. In this conversation, recorded in Chicago, First Focus CEO Ross Sardi sits down with Integris CEO Rashaad Bajwa to go behind the press release.If you are a First Focus client, the takeaway is short. You keep the local team you already work with. You gain a much deeper bench of specialists, round-the-clock security cover from people who are awake when you are asleep, and faster access to AI use cases proven across a global SMB customer base. Nothing is being taken away. A lot is being added.In this episode, we cover:

• Why First Focus and Integris are the right fit, after years of running parallel playbooks on opposite sides of the world
• How the integration will actually work, and why local teams stay local
• Why scale matters more than ever in the age of AI, and how the combined business will run experiments across both markets
• Ross's new role as Chief Innovation Officer with global responsibility for AI product
• What changes immediately for clients in Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines
• Why the New Zealand market in particular stands to benefit
• A get-to-know-you segment with Ross and Rashaad

The partnership is pending regulatory approval. More on growth plans, active acquisitions and what comes next is covered in the second half of the conversation.Subscribe for more conversations on managed services, cybersecurity and how AI is reshaping the way SMBs work.Chapters:00:00 News of the partnership and what we are covering00:38 Meet Rashaad Bajwa and the Integris story03:01 Why First Focus and why Australia and New Zealand06:22 What the partnership will actually look like09:15 Pending regulatory approval and the planning window10:31 AI is a big part of this conversation13:33 Ross's new role as Chief Innovation Officer16:25 Why MSP owners are joining rather than going alone19:31 What ANZ and Philippines customers gain23:09 What this means for the New Zealand market24:50 Staying innovative as the business scales30:42 Get to know Rashaad: rapid-fire questions35:14 Get to know Ross: rapid-fire questions42:12 Closing thoughts: only upside