ECI Pulse

AI agents are multiplying fast, but who's governing them? In this episode, Julius Damato, Director of Microsoft Modern Work & AI Solutions at ECI, unpacks two new Microsoft licenses built specifically for the agentic AI era: Microsoft 365 E7 and Agent 365. Julius breaks down what's in each SKU, why the bundled pricing makes sense as Microsoft price increases loom, and how Agent 365 t...

What does it actually take to move AI from a talking point to tangible business value in a private equity portfolio? In this episode, ECI's Executive Director Dean Hill sits down with Valérie Legat, Managing Director and Head of Digital at Astorg, to explore exactly that. Valérie shares how Astorg has built two structured AI workstreams across more than 25 portfolio companies — one focused on...

In Part 2, the conversation picks up as we shift from strategy into execution, with a focused discussion on passwordless security and modern identity solutions. Building on the foundation from Part 1, this episode dives into how passwordless authentication fits into an AI driven workplace, why it is becoming a critical component of enterprise security, and what organizations need to consider when...

As businesses race to adopt AI, one critical question keeps coming up: how do you scale innovation without opening the door to new security risks? In Part 1 of this conversation, we lay the foundation. The discussion focuses on how organizations are approaching AI adoption today, the realities of data governance, and why security must be considered from the very beginning rather than as an afterth...

Episode 2 – AI in the Crosshairs: Threats, Trends, and Tactical Response In this episode of Cyber Frontlines , Jeff Schmidt, CEO of ECI, and Jonathan Brucato, Director of Security Operations at ECI, examine the double-edged nature of artificial intelligence in today’s cybersecurity landscape. As AI becomes more powerful, it’s being used both to defend and to attack—raising urgent questions about g...

In this episode of Cyber Frontlines , Jeff Schmidt, CEO of ECI, and Jonathan Brucato, Director of Security Operations at ECI, explore the foundational role of cyber hygiene in today’s threat landscape—and why it’s more than just awareness training. They discuss: The evolving nature of phishing attacks and the value of phishing simulations Why continuous employee training is essential for building...

Part 1 – Beyond Passwords: MFA Mandates and the Rise of Passkeys In this debut episode of Cyber Frontlines , Jeff Schmidt, CEO of ECI, and Jonathan Brucato, Director of Security Operations at ECI, dive into the shifting cybersecurity landscape, focusing on the move away from traditional passwords toward more secure, user-friendly authentication methods. They explore: The growing mandate for multi-...

Welcome to the ECI Pulse, where we break down the latest trends shaping the business world. In this special two-part series, Jeff Schmidt, CEO of ECI, and Rich Itri, Chief Innovation Officer, dive into the fascinating world of AI and its impact on business efficiency, workforce adaptation, and the balance between automation and human expertise. In this episode, Jeff and Rich explore the latest tre...

Welcome to the ECI Pulse, where we break down the latest trends shaping the business world. In this special two-part series, Jeff Schmidt, CEO of ECI, and Rich Itri, Chief Innovation Officer, dive into the fascinating world of AI and its impact on business efficiency, workforce adaptation, and the balance between automation and human expertise. In this episode, Jeff and Rich dig into the real-worl...

Welcome to ECI Pulse, our exciting new podcast series! In this episode, Julius Damato, Director of Microsoft One Workplace and AI Solutions at ECI, recaps day three of Microsoft Ignite 2024 and provides insights on the latest announcements from Microsoft. This episode focuses on the exciting enhancements to Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Agents, Copilot Studio, and Microsoft Loop. Discover how the...

Welcome to ECI Pulse, our exciting new podcast series! In this episode, Julius Damato, Director of Microsoft One Workplace and AI Solutions at ECI, recaps day one of Microsoft Ignite 2024 and shares his insights on the latest announcements from Microsoft. Tune in as Julius discusses his top five highlights from the first day, with a focus on compliance, governance, and security.

Welcome to ECI Pulse, our exciting new podcast series! In this episode, Julius Damato, Director of Microsoft One Workplace and AI Solutions at ECI, recaps day two of Microsoft Ignite 2024 and provides insights on the latest announcements from Microsoft. Julius discusses developments in SharePoint, Azure AI, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, and Power Platform.