Data Before AI

Everyone wants AI. But most companies are skipping the step that determines whether it works or blows up in their face. Alex Ryals, CISO and SVP at MicroAge, has seen it from every angle — customer, reseller, distributor, and vendor. His message is simple: get your data in order first, or Copilot will expose every permission mistake you made in the last 20 years.In this episode:00:05 — Alex's journey across all four sides of the tech channel03:47 — Why he chose smaller and broader over bigger and specialized10:53 — How a CISO balances "move fast" with "stay safe"14:02 — Shadow AI is already happening inside your company19:21 — Why hands-on AI experimentation is a security strategy25:51 — MicroAge at 50: bankruptcy, reinvention, and survival29:53 — Why data hygiene must come before any AI investment33:30 — The first move every leader should make with AI todayIf your company is anywhere near an AI decision, this one is for you. Subscribe, and drop your biggest AI challenge in the comments.Links & ResourcesMicroAge: https://microage.com/Cybersecurity Deciphered: https://www.youtube.com/@CybersecurityDecyphered#DataBeforeAI #CybersecurityAI #AIGovernance #ThinkAIPodcast #MicroAge