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The Business Behind Your Business is the go-to podcast for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and anyone looking for practical business ideas and strategies. Hosted by Paul Sweeney, each 15–30 minute episode dives behind the scenes of real businesses to uncover the challenges, solutions, and strategies that drive success.

Whether you’re exploring how to make money, launch a new venture, or scale your existing business, our expert guests share actionable insights on entrepreneurship, marketing strategies for small business, financial planning, leadership, and more.

From start-up tips to advanced business strategy, we bring you the tools and advice you need to build a thriving business — one smart decision at a time.

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Is Your Business Really Safe in the Age of AI?

October 26, 2026

Technology keeps businesses running, but it can also create risks that are easy to overlook. As AI becomes part of everyday work, protecting your business is no longer simply an IT issue. It comes down to how your people use technology, what information they share, and whether they know how to recognise something that doesn't look right.

In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, Paul Sweeney speaks with Lara Hamilton, Director of IT Services at Help Desk Realty, about the connection between cybersecurity, AI and people. Lara explains why even the best technology can't protect a business if employees aren't properly trained, and why education should be one of the first steps in strengthening your cybersecurity.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why cybersecurity is a people issue as much as a technology issue
How employees can unintentionally expose business information when using AI
Why AI policies and regular employee training are increasingly important
How urgency can be used to encourage people to make risky decisions
Why you should verify unusual financial or sensitive requests before acting
How multi-factor authentication, software updates, encryption and access controls help reduce risk
What employees should do immediately if they click on something suspicious or a potential breach occurs

Cybersecurity can feel overwhelming, particularly for small and medium business owners who aren't IT experts. But protecting your business doesn't have to mean fixing everything at once. As Lara explains, a series of practical safeguards, combined with better training and clearer processes, can create a much stronger defence. The important thing is to start, keep reviewing your approach and make sure your team understands the role they play in protecting the business.

Lara Hamilton is the Director of IT Services at HelpDesk Realty, a division of Tectonic. HelpDesk Realty provides specialized IT and help desk support for real estate and property management organizations.

With over 15 years of experience in multifamily and affordable housing technology, Lara helps housing organizations keep their systems running efficiently, their staff supported, and their compliance on track.

As a speaker and thought leader, Lara makes complex topics such as AI adoption, risk management, and compliance automation approachable for business audiences.

www.teamtectonic.com/divisions/helpdesk_realty

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