Podcast
Tech for Business
Hosted by Computer Integration Technologies (CIT) · EN
Overwhelmed by technology acronyms? Stressing about cybersecurity? Join team members from CIT and their guests as they discuss technology for small to medium businesses.
15episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Weekly AI News Recap
2w ago00:53:01Tap to summarizeKelsey talks with CIT President and CEO Kyle Etter about recent AI releases like GPT 5.4’s native computer control, Gemini 3.1 updates, and the shift from chatbots to agentic AI that can navigate business systems and complete real work. They discuss why IT infrastructure must now include AI governance, identity, logging, permissions, and emerging liability and insurance considerations for “digital teammates,” noting early examples like insured voice agents. Kyle advises deploying narrow, task-specific agents with strong guardrails, human-in-the-loop checks, and layered QA/security agents to reduce risk. They also cover preventing shadow AI by providing authorized business licenses, training staff to manage agents, and why ROI is increasingly driven by integrating agents into existing software and data workflows, including analysis and data cleanup.00:00 Welcome and AI Shift00:50 GPT 5.4 Computer Control03:16 Governance and Liability06:31 Designing Digital Workers12:05 Risks and Guardrails18:35 Jobs and Agent Managers23:34 Stopping Shadow AI26:04 Training and First Use Cases28:51 AI Licensing ROI29:35 Software Over Hardware30:26 Agents Deliver Value33:57 Data Cleanup With AI36:58 Conversational Analytics40:34 Automations Built Faster43:34 Governance And Guardrails44:27 Capture Ideas With Tools48:29 AI To Do Assistant52:03 Wrap Up And Resources
Transcribe →
AI Live Chats: Show Me the ROI
Apr 800:27:11Tap to summarizeIn this third LinkedIn Live AI chat, Kelsey and Todd discuss how to define and prove AI ROI, arguing many AI projects fail due to poorly defined returns beyond simple time-savings. They distinguish AI activity from AI value, stressing goal-driven, iterative adoption and measurable milestones executives and CFOs can trust—typically cost savings (growth without headcount) or revenue impact (more leads, faster launches, higher win rates). They walk through ROI approaches for practical scenarios including SOP creation and searchable copilots, marketing email HTML generation, new-hire self-serve process help, AI-assisted RFP drafting, job descriptions and onboarding templates, automated revenue-report narratives, customer success call recaps, contract review prep, and meeting-to-action-item pipelines, emphasizing reduced rework, fewer dropped tasks, better decisions, improved customer satisfaction and retention, and lowered legal and operational costs.00:00 Live Chat Kickoff00:14 Defining AI ROI01:39 Activity Versus Value02:33 Proving ROI to CFOs04:19 Measuring After the Fact06:04 ROI Scenario Challenge06:42 SOPs and Process Consistency09:36 Marketing Email Automation10:49 Onboarding and New Hire Support12:53 Sales RFP Drafting13:58 HR Docs and Consistency15:44 Finance Reporting Summaries18:55 Customer Success Recaps20:27 Legal Contract Review22:06 Meeting Actions and Accountability24:00 Todd’s ROI Tips26:02 Wrap Up and Next Episode
Transcribe →
AI Live Chats: The Prompt Doctor
Mar 2400:30:18Tap to summarizeIn this LinkedIn Live episode, host Kelsey and Todd discuss how to improve AI workflow results by moving beyond vague prompts like “write me a marketing email” and using an iterative approach. Todd shares the CRIT framework (Context, Role, Interview, Task), recommends prompting AI to ask clarifying questions one at a time, and stresses specifying desired outputs such as a Word document, table, or executive summary. They demo a prompt-building tool called Prompt Cowboy and discuss using screenshots or PDFs to extract, simplify, or reformat information, including translating legal documents into plain English. The conversation highlights governance concerns such as AI memory, paid vs. unpaid tools, and avoiding sensitive data like PII, employee information, financials, and health details. Todd also mentions agents for specialized compliance use cases and a voice tool called Whisper Flow for capturing ideas while away from a keyboard.00:00 Welcome and Setup00:55 Why Prompts Fail01:49 CRIT Prompt Framework04:10 Handling Complex Requests05:50 Prompt Cowboy Demo07:58 Iterative Prompting Tips10:32 Screenshots and Privacy16:23 Everyday Business Use Cases19:04 Saved Prompts Debate26:44 Agents and Compliance27:53 Wrap Up and Voice Tools30:05 Outro and Next Episode
Transcribe →
Tech insights from GENIANS
Mar 1800:28:44Tap to summarizeKyle (CEO & President at CIT) and Brett (VP of Technical Sales at Genians) join us to discuss recurring and emerging security challenges, including protecting the inside of the network, visibility into who and what is connected, and meeting audit requirements in regulated industries like credit unions and manufacturing. They discuss how VPN zero-days and compromises render perimeter-only defenses insufficient, emphasizing network access control (NAC), device trust policies, alerts, segmentation, and zero-trust principles such as least privilege. They note many organizations lack accurate asset inventories and are surprised by the number of connected devices, including rogue or unmanaged equipment. For prioritization, they recommend starting with core best practices (firewalls, EDR, MFA) and moving toward NAC and ZTNA-style remote access as VPN risk increases. They also cover budget and complexity barriers, product overlap, analysis paralysis, and practical AI adoption examples like Slack AI and Microsoft Copilot for search.Learn more about Genians: https://www.citsolutions.net/about-computer-integration-technologies/partners/genians/00:00 Security Challenges Today01:18 Inside Network Threats03:14 VPN Zero Days Defense04:13 Why Problems Persist08:40 Prioritizing Security Steps10:50 Budget and Complexity Barriers13:34 Hidden Devices Discovery18:05 Common Missteps and Overlap19:48 Practical AI Use Cases24:08 Action Steps and Wrap Up
Transcribe →
AI Live Chats: Enhancing Business Operations
Mar 1100:43:54Tap to summarizeIn the first AI Live chat on LinkedIn, Kelsey interviews CIT President and CEO Kyle about how he uses Claude Code as an agent-based executive assistant running locally on his MacBook. Kyle describes building MCP connectors into business systems like Halo (ticketing/PSA), NetSuite (financials), email, and team chats, plus using “skills” that load only when needed to save tokens and cost. He explains how he prompts in plain language while the AI helps build the setup, and shares examples like generating daily “morning” and end-of-day recaps, creating customer health summaries, and quickly producing spreadsheets to identify inactive customers by correlating invoicing and support data. They discuss rapid shifts in AI-assisted coding, data quality checks, ROI, and how AI may transform roles more than replace them.00:00 Welcome And Setup00:47 CEO Nighttime AI Habits01:45 Building A Local Agent03:44 Daily Workflow With Claude05:11 Plain Language Development07:37 Claude For Everyone08:54 Skills And MCP Explained14:19 AI Writing Software Shift16:59 Productivity ROI Examples19:56 Quick Hit Use Cases20:55 Voice Notes to Tasks21:19 Instant Customer Checkins23:14 Reengaging Stale Accounts26:21 Access Permissions and Data Quality28:07 Validating AI Outputs29:28 Cost Value and Key Users31:44 Daily Recap Replacing Dashboards33:37 Agents and the Future of Work36:05 Replacing vs Transforming Roles41:35 Adoption Advice and Wrap Up
Transcribe →
South Korea's Basic AI Act
Mar 400:21:52Tap to summarizeHuman Oversight, Transparency & What It Means for Global AI RegulationIn this episode, Todd (COO & CISO) and Nate (Director of Cybersecurity) to discuss South Korea’s new AI Basic Act and what it signals for AI regulation globally. They outline the law’s focus on guardrails such as mandatory disclosure when AI is used, clear labeling of AI-generated content, human oversight in high-impact areas (like healthcare and critical infrastructure), and explainability around how AI-driven decisions are made. The conversation compares South Korea’s approach as a middle ground between the EU’s stricter governance (EU AI Act) and the US’s current emphasis on innovation and some AI deregulation, while noting the US has limited election-related rules around deepfakes. They discuss real-world risks like AI errors in allergen data, misleading or harmful AI content, and business impacts including compliance pressure, the importance of human validation, and maintaining an inventory of where AI is used to address “shadow AI.” They also note that South Korea’s fines appear relatively small compared to EU-style penalties, and that broader impact will depend on enforcement and how regulations evolve over the next several years.00:00 AI Regulation Kickoff00:26 South Korea AI Act Basics01:17 Transparency and Labeling Rules02:22 Elections and Deepfakes03:21 Real World Risk Examples04:39 Global Approaches EU US Korea05:41 How Global Rules Shift07:20 US Policy Tensions and Lawsuits09:00 Business Compliance and Fines10:10 Explainable AI in Banking11:16 Regulated Marketing Disclosures13:23 Shadow AI and Inventories14:33 Explainable AI Expectations14:46 Disclosure and AI Skepticism15:50 AI in Customer Delivery16:29 Code Risk and Accountability17:18 Hallucinations in Compliance18:03 Human in the Loop18:59 Leadership and Validation19:50 High Stakes Decisions20:59 Regulation and Enforcement21:34 Wrap Up and Next Episode
Transcribe →
Master Prompting: Strategies for Success
Feb 1800:33:49Tap to summarizeCEO & President Kyle and Graphic Designer & Brand strategist Kelsey explore how prompting has evolved from using AI like a “smarter Google” to structured strategies that deliver sharper, less generic results.They break down the CRIT framework (Context, Role, Interview, Task), share why detailed context reduces hallucinations, and explain how prompt libraries and model memory speed up repeatable work. The conversation also dives into context engineering with tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot and Google Workspace Gemini to make AI outputs more relevant and secure.Plus: common prompting mistakes, model comparisons, multimodal inputs, and how to onboard teams without losing brand consistency.Listen now to level up how you work with AI.00:00 Prompting Then vs Now: From “Smarter Google” to Strategic Skill 00:39 Why AI Sounds Vanilla: Averages, Models & AI Slop 01:33 Prompt Engineering & the CRIT Framework 02:35 Interview-Style Prompts: Fewer Hallucinations, Better Results 04:10 Garbage In, Garbage Out: Treat AI Like a New Hire 05:04 Let AI Help Write Prompts + Tools & Libraries 07:08 Why One-Liners Fall Flat (Contractor Analogy) 07:55 From Prompts to Systems: Templates & Model Memory 11:21 Context Engineering: Files, Memory & Workplace Data (Copilot/Gemini) 13:27 Over-Prompting: Context Limits & When to Reset 16:26 Set Outcomes, Don’t Micromanage 18:22 Smarter Models: Gemini & Claude Need Less Steering 19:06 Claude Opus vs ChatGPT: Speed vs Detail 20:27 Multi-Model Workflow: Use Each for Its Strength 21:20 Why New Models Feel Smarter 22:11 Ask AI to Improve Your Prompts 24:42 Planning Mode: Structured Builds & AI Interviews 26:13 Training Teams: Frameworks, SOPs & Safe Experimentation 31:47 Multimodal & Voice Prompting (Gemini’s Edge) 33:15 Wrap-Up & What’s Next
Transcribe →
Navigating AI Models: Finding the Right Fit
Feb 1100:37:04Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we are joined by Cole, a Power Platform Developer, and Kelsey, a Graphic Designer and Brand Strategist, to discuss the key differences between various AI models. The conversation emphasizes the importance of trial and error, context, and the specific needs of different departments within a business. We also touch on the practical applications of GPT, Copilot, and other tools, and explore how businesses can better align their AI strategies. Tune in for a deep dive into AI utilities, effective prompting, and strategic decision-making to boost your business productivity and efficiency.00:00 Introduction to AI Models00:27 Differences Between AI Models01:14 Practical Applications and Preferences03:05 AI Tools and Their Use Cases04:22 Choosing the Right AI Tool08:20 Memory and Context in AI15:24 Effective Prompting and Tone20:10 Building Context in AI Conversations22:26 Balancing Business Tools and Employee Preferences23:40 Understanding the Gap Between Business and Personal Tool Use24:20 Tailoring Tools to Department Needs25:55 The Importance of Pilot Programs for AI Tools28:48 Governance and Safe Use of AI Tools30:58 The Creative Process of Using AI Tools34:22 Effective Communication with AI Models37:04 Conclusion and Future Discussions
Transcribe →
Growth through Modern File Storage
Feb 400:43:25Tap to summarizeJoin Jason & Nate for an in-depth discussion on the evolution of file storage and compliance in the commercial furniture industry. They delve into the practical implications of technology on business outcomes, especially focusing on the compliance and security components crucial for industry standards like CMMC. They explore the benefits of cloud-native solutions like Ignite for file storage, addressing common pitfalls with traditional on-premise servers, and the importance of optimizing IT resources to drive business efficiency. Learn about scaling amidst mergers and acquisitions, compliance requirements, and how modern IT infrastructures can support design and business innovation. Tune in for expert insights and practical advice on navigating the complex landscape of technology, security, and compliance.Resources:Learn more about CMMC: https://www.citsolutions.net/demystifying-cmmc-elevating-cybersecurity/Explore AI leadership: https://www.citsolutions.net/ai-leadership-workshop/Register for Tech Con: https://www.citsolutions.net/tech-con/registration/Aura Rendering: https://www.citsolutions.net/solutions/contract-furniture/rendering-services/00:00 Introduction and Podcast Kickoff00:44 Importance of Compliance and Security01:22 Technology's Role in Business Outcomes03:15 Challenges with Traditional IT Infrastructure03:50 Impact of COVID on IT Strategies05:51 The Shift to Cloud Solutions08:22 File Storage Solutions for Design Firms12:23 Compliance and Cybersecurity Concerns13:27 Evaluating Total Cost of Ownership17:31 Choosing the Right File Storage Platform23:56 Compliance Requirements and CMMC27:12 Access Control and Compliance27:26 Data Residency and Overseas Collaboration28:09 Government Compliance and FedRAMP28:41 Third-Party Providers and Compliance29:42 Government Clouds and Employee Screening30:11 Importance of Compliance in Business30:39 Simplifying IT Management32:20 Scalability and Mergers33:58 Acquisition Challenges and Solutions34:46 File Storage and Migration Tools35:21 Industry Mergers and Platform Management39:24 Specialized IT Services for Dealerships42:02 Closing Remarks and Future Events
Transcribe →
Level up your Security
Jan 2800:26:36Tap to summarizeIn this series episode of our Tech for Business podcast, join Todd, COO and CISO, and Nate, Director of Cybersecurity, as they discuss the evolving cybersecurity landscape for 2026. They explore the critical importance of transitioning to Zero Trust architecture, managing identity tools beyond Microsoft Active Directory, and leveraging cloud-based solutions. Discover insights on the roles of non-human IDs, implications of AI advancements, and the significance of fundamental security measures like endpoint protection and network segmentation. Learn how organizations can proactively prepare for future cybersecurity challenges, integrate modern IT infrastructure, and stay informed about regulatory changes. Don't miss the actionable tips on maintaining robust security in an ever-changing technological environment.00:00 Introduction to 2026 Security Trends00:52 The Future of Identity Management07:59 The Role of AI in Cybersecurity13:53 Legislation and Compliance in 202619:22 Low-Hanging Fruits for Cybersecurity in 202626:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Transcribe →