AI rollouts are everywhere—but why do so many fail before they even get off the ground? 🤔 In this episode of SharePoint Focus, Brendan Ritchie, Mia Tait (First Focus M365 Practice Lead), and Alyssa Blackburn (AvePoint) unpack why most AI proof of concepts don’t deliver results and how SharePoint can help set your business up for success.From government Copilot pilots that missed the mark, to the hidden risks of "confetti licenses," and the critical role of clean, well-governed data—this conversation covers the real-world lessons you need to avoid wasted investment.

We’ll explore:

✅ Why defining clear outcomes is non-negotiable

✅ The importance of data governance and ROT (Redundant, Obsolete, Trivial) cleanup

✅ Training, adoption, and why ease of use matters more than hype

✅ Measuring AI ROI with real-world examples

✅ How to roll out Copilot and AI in stages for lasting success

Whether you’re testing Microsoft Copilot, looking at AI pilots, or trying to avoid wasted spend, this episode will give you the insights to make your AI strategy stick.

In Episode 3 of SharePoint Focus, we’re tackling one of the trickiest balancing acts in Microsoft 365: enabling smooth collaboration without creating security risks.🔹 In Episode 1, we discussed the Privacy Act and why data government in SharePoint matters.🔹 In Episode 2, we looked at preparing your SharePoint environment for AI and reducing storage costs.🔹 Now in Episode 3, we’re getting practical — with real-world tips for sharing and collaboration, plus a look at how poor sharing habits can quickly turn into serious security breaches.👩‍💻 Joined by Alyssa Blackburn (AvePoint) and Mia Tate (First Focus, M365 Practice Lead), we explore:- The fine line between secure and open sharing in SharePoint and Teams- Practical tenant-wide and site-level settings to protect your business- The dangers of oversharing links and folders (and why “request access” drives everyone mad)- Real audit insights: what businesses get wrong again and again- How user education, smart policies, and tools like Guard & Policies + Insights make a difference- Why the new Privacy Act means staff training on data security isn’t optional anymoreThis episode will help you set up SharePoint sharing that is secure, but still collaborative.0:00 – Intro0:40 – Collaboration vs Security: Finding the Balance2:00 – Tenant-Wide Settings & Governance Basics5:30 – The Delicate Balance: Don’t Over-Lock or Over-Open8:00 – Why Individual Permissions Are a Nightmare10:20 – Link Sharing vs Folder Sharing Explained13:40 – Using Guard & Policies + Insights for Better Oversight15:00 – How Poor Sharing Habits Lead to Security Breaches19:00 – Real-World Oversharing Mistakes & AI Risks (Samsung Case)23:30 – Training, the Privacy Act & Why Ongoing Education Matters26:40 – Wrap-Up & Episode 4 Teaser

If you caught Episode 1 of our SharePoint series, you’ll remember we explored why changes to the Privacy Act — along with a rapidly approaching AI-powered future — have put SharePoint data governance back in the spotlight. We also touched on the growing link between good governance and AI readiness for Microsoft 365.In Episode 2, M365 pros Alyssa Blackburn and Mita Tait shift the focus from 'why' to 'how'. This time, it’s about rolling up your sleeves and getting SharePoint (and the rest of your Microsoft 365 environment) in shape for AI tools — while also tackling one of the biggest hidden budget drains in modern business: cloud storage costs.00:00 – Introduction: Privacy Act, AI Readiness & Storage Costs01:06 – Why Data Readiness Matters Before AI02:25 – Step One: Consolidating & Mapping Your Data04:08 – Tools We Use: AvePoint, Opus & Microsoft Purview06:00 – Moving from ‘Set & Forget’ to Ongoing Governance08:28 – Shared Accountability & User Involvement in Permissions10:00 – Reviewing & Filtering Data for Retention Decisions12:25 – Managing File Types, Archives & Duplicates14:05 – Why the Overwhelm Is Normal (and How to Tackle It)16:22 – The Rising Cost of Storage in M365 & SharePoint20:07 – The 680TB Version Control Shock Story23:38 – Real-World Savings: $1.3M in Year One25:48 – Proactive vs Reactive Data ManagementPlease follow us on LinkedIn! We’d love to be part of your professional network, and it helps us stay closer and share insights that matter to leaders like you: 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-focus-it/

Welcome to our new mini-series 'SharePoint Focus'. Over the next six episodes, M365 pros Mia Tait McIntyre and Alyssa Blackburn will join host Brendan Ritchie to share practical tips to help you get clarity, get compliant, and get SharePoint working for your business.In this episode, Mia Tait (M365 Practice Lead - First Focus) and Alyssa Blackburn (Program Manager - AvePoint) discuss what the recent reforms to the Australian Privacy Act mean for businesses of all sizes, and how SharePoint can help you stay compliant, secure, and AI-ready.🔐 What you’ll learn in this episode:- What’s changed in the Privacy Act (1988) and the 2024-2026 amendments- How the new laws impact small to mid-sized businesses (including fines & legal risk)- Why storing personal information in SharePoint now comes with stricter obligations- How to use SharePoint to enforce access controls, retention policies, and data loss preventionCHAPTERS:0:00 – Introduction: Why SharePoint and data governance matter0:49 – Meet the guests: Mia Tait & Alyssa Blackburn1:22 – Why focus on data governance in SharePoint now?1:36 – Privacy Act changes in late 20242:16 – The rise of cybercrime and why privacy laws matter5:16 – Key Privacy Act updates: Small businesses now included6:31 – The real-world impact of data breaches (Optus, Medibank, Qantas)8:12 – Heavier fines and revenue-based penalties explained10:03 – Start with a data stocktake: Knowing what you have10:57 – Data retention rules: Only keep what you need13:38 – Building a risk and value framework for your data14:56 – New breach notification requirements for businesses17:44 – Privacy Act timeline: What’s active now vs. 2026 updates19:38 – The importance of transparency and trust with customers21:10 – Directors’ responsibilities and civil penalties23:52 – Why SharePoint governance is crucial for AI readiness25:05 – Understanding ROT data: Redundant, Obsolete, Trivial26:48 – Using tools to manage and clean up data30:09 – Risks of bad data: Poor decisions and AI errors32:53 – How bad data kills adoption of AI tools34:55 – Simplicity for end users: The Alyssa Blackburn Scale of Complexity36:40 – Wrap up: Privacy, governance, and preparing for AIPlease follow us on LinkedIn! We’d love to be part of your professional network, and it helps us stay closer and share insights that matter to leaders like you: 👉https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-focus-it/

Is your team maximising AI in sales, or is it just adding to the noise? In this episode, Harriet Mellor joins us to break down why most sales teams fail when adopting AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot. From poor prompts to bland, generic content, we explore the real reasons AI under delivers and exactly how to fix it. Learn how to use AI strategically to enhance trust, personalise messaging, and focus your efforts on the right prospects. Whether you’re in B2B sales, marketing or leadership, this episode is packed with practical insights to cut through the hype and use AI where it actually matters. At Business Focus, we cut through the noise to bring medium-sized businesses the most relevant, actionable insights. We understand your challenges and we deliver clear, strategic solutions to help you grow faster. If you want to stay ahead of the curve with the tools, tech and thinking that are shaping the future of business, don’t miss out. We’d love to be part of your professional network, LinkedIn helps us stay closer and share insights that matter to leaders like you: 👉https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-focus-it/ If you’re part of a mid-sized organisation with 50+ people and want to explore how the right technology partner can empower you, your team, and your business click here to learn more: Managed Service Provider | Managed Services | Australia-wide Don’t forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell to keep ahead of what’s next. Chapters: 00:00 If you're in marketing or sales, this is for you 00:35 AI Tools in Sales: Pros and Cons 02:20 How to Prompt and Train AI to Sound Human 04:15 Creating Valuable, Trustworthy Content with AI 06:10 Using Intent Data and Lead Scoring Effectively 09:00 Sales Automation: Triggers, Emails, and Action 14:30 Do You Really Need AI? Strategic Use vs Overkill 16:30 Connect with Harriet to talk more about sales

Is your LinkedIn strategy driving real results, or just ticking boxes? In this practical episode, Harriet Mellor from Your Sales Co joins us to unpack what it really takes to turn LinkedIn into a powerful sales engine. Whether you're in marketing, business development, or sales leadership, this is your blueprint for cutting through the noise and generating meaningful conversations.🔹 The top mistakes most teams make on LinkedIn🔹 Why Sales Navigator isn't always the silver bullet🔹 How to build a personal brand that drives leads🔹 Crafting high-converting LinkedIn campaigns (without wasting budget)🔹 The importance of knowing your ICP and building fit-for-purpose lead magnets🔹 How to scale engagement without sounding roboticIf you're ready to move beyond the spray-and-pray approach and start building a scalable, high-conversion sales strategy on LinkedIn, this episode is for you.

In the final episode of our Cyber Horror Stories series, Matt O’Kane is back to walk us through a real-world ransomware incident that tested a business’s cyber resilience strategy.In this episode, we cover:🔹 How malware was introduced through seemingly safe software🔹 The critical role of ‘Assume Breach’ in early detection🔹 What effective containment and recovery look like in practice🔹 The importance of culture, complexity, and compliance in building cyber resilience🔹 How leadership and teams typically respond during high-pressure incidentsThis case study offers practical insights for IT leaders, executives, and anyone responsible for cybersecurity in their organisation.

Welcome back to Part 2 of our Cyber Horror Stories series with incident response expert Matt O’Kane. In this episode, we dig into a real-world story from the pandemic era, when a marketing manager, a BYOD MacBook, and a fractured workplace relationship led to a messy cyber security and IP theft incident.Matt also walks us through the forensic dead-ends, poor device management, and missed logging opportunities that left this company exposed.📌 Topics we cover:- Why unmanaged devices are a ticking time bomb- The hidden value of M365 compliance features- What data is actually worth protecting- Why good cybersecurity starts with being organised