Business Focus

First Focus

If you’re part of a mid-sized organization with 50 to 300 people, this podcast is for you. Business Focus is a dedicated platform for exploring valuable tools in the business world, offering top-quality insights for anyone eager to enhance and push their professional performance or that of their team to the next level. Stay updated with the latest trends and updates alongside elite professionals from diverse sectors and industries, ensuring you're always at the forefront of innovation.

  1. The Hidden Dangers of SharePoint: How to Encourage Collaboration Without the Security Risks

    8月25日

    The Hidden Dangers of SharePoint: How to Encourage Collaboration Without the Security Risks

    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

    27 分钟
  2. Use SharePoint Like a Pro: Managing Data Governance, AI Readiness, and Cloud Storage Costs

    8月11日

    Use SharePoint Like a Pro: Managing Data Governance, AI Readiness, and Cloud Storage Costs

    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/

    27 分钟
  3. 7月28日

    SharePoint Data Governance & The Privacy Act: What You Need to Know

    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/

    38 分钟
  4. Why AI in Sales Fails Most Teams (And How to Fix It)

    6月29日

    Why AI in Sales Fails Most Teams (And How to Fix 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

    16 分钟

关于

If you’re part of a mid-sized organization with 50 to 300 people, this podcast is for you. Business Focus is a dedicated platform for exploring valuable tools in the business world, offering top-quality insights for anyone eager to enhance and push their professional performance or that of their team to the next level. Stay updated with the latest trends and updates alongside elite professionals from diverse sectors and industries, ensuring you're always at the forefront of innovation.