Tech Insights with Alisha Christian

Most of us have been managing passwords for decades, and most of us are still getting it wrong. In this episode, Alisha Christian sits down with Mercury IT's cybersecurity expert Chris to cut through the noise on one of the most overlooked areas of business security.  They cover why password length now matters more than complexity, why your browser is the worst place to store credentials, and...

Before the team of 50, before two ISO certifications, before two decades of client relationships — there were just two young guys in IT who believed they could do things better. And they had the courage to actually try. In this episode, host Alisha Christian sits down with Mercury IT co-founder AJ to hear the story behind the company. AJ was 27 when he and business partner Luke, just 21 at the tim...

A single believable story can do more damage than a thousand dodgy emails. We sit down to untangle misinformation vs disinformation and why that difference matters when you’re trying to protect people, money and reputation. From clickbait headlines to “credible” reposts, we talk about how false information spreads across digital platforms in Australia, and why even well-meaning sharing can create...

How criminals are using AI to scale familiar fraud! Think you can still spot a scam by bad grammar and odd phrasing? That edge is gone. We sit down to map how AI has supercharged classic fraud—making phishing emails flawless, internal chat messages feel authentic, and even voicemails sound exactly like your CFO. The twist? These same tools can help you work smarter, if you build the right guardrai...

AI can supercharge prospecting and polish your outreach, but it won’t replace the handshake that earns real trust. We sit down with Mercury IT’s Chief Sales Officer, Sally-Ann, to unpack how sales and marketing teams can move faster with ChatGPT, Copilot, and chatbots while keeping relationships at the centre of every deal. We start with the practical wins: speeding up lead identification, draftin...

A landmark privacy ruling just raised the bar for every Australian organisation handling personal data. We walk through the Australian Clinical Labs case—from the Medlab acquisition and the rapid breach that followed to the court‑affirmed penalties—and spell out what “reasonable steps” now look like when sensitive health and financial records are involved. The lesson is not abstract: legacy system...

The festive rush is a gift to scammers: more shopping, more parcels, more “urgent” messages. We unpack the most common cons hitting inboxes and phones right now and show you how a short pause and a few simple checks can save your money and identity. From fake storefronts promoted through social ads to parcel “held at customs” texts, we explain how to verify senders, match domains, and trace your o...

Curiosity, clear thinking, and a calm plan can beat even the smartest phishing email. We sit down with Trent, a cybersecurity analyst at Mercury IT, to map a practical path from the help desk to a rewarding security career, showing how real client problems, steady mentorship, and daily learning build the right instincts. If you’ve ever wondered whether certifications or degrees matter more than ex...

Think backups will save you from ransomware? We pull back the curtain on how modern extortion really works, why downtime drags on for weeks, how reputational damage multiplies the cost, and where legal obligations kick in long after systems are back online. From there, we dig into the new reality of MFA: the gaps left in non‑Microsoft apps, fatigue attacks that turn push prompts into an open door,...

The AI revolution is here, and it's already reshaping how businesses operate—whether you're aware of it or not. In this eye-opening conversation with cybersecurity expert Chris Haigh , we explore the startling reality that approximately 70% of employees are currently using AI tools without their company's knowledge or approval. We dive deep into the cybersecurity implications of thi...

The cybersecurity landscape is evolving at breakneck speed, demanding ever-greater vigilance from organisations of all sizes. Our latest deep dive with cybersecurity expert Chris reveals three critical threats that will shape the digital battlefield in 2025. We begin by dissecting the SharePoint zero-day crisis that sent shockwaves through the security community. This sophisticated attack targeted...

Sally-Ann brings three decades of tech industry wisdom to this enlightening conversation about her journey from 1980s London to her current role as Mercury IT's Chief Sales Officer. Drawing from eight years with the company and her extensive career, she offers a candid look at how the industry has transformed, especially for women in technology leadership.    The conversation explores how Mer...

Chris Haig , our Chief Information Security Officer, explains the new SMB 1001 certification designed specifically for small to medium businesses in Australia.  This affordable, user-friendly certification provides a practical approach to cybersecurity with different levels of protection that build upon each other like karate belts. • SMB 1001 was developed by CyberCert and Dynamic Standards Inter...

Cyber threats continue to evolve at an alarming rate, and for small to medium businesses without dedicated security teams, the landscape can feel overwhelming. Mercury IT's Chief Information Security Officer, Chris Haigh , cuts through the complexity to deliver practical guidance that business owners can immediately implement to protect their operations. The conversation opens with a frank di...

Your digital spring cleaning is long overdue. When was the last time you thought about what happens to all those customer records from 2015? Or those staff CSV exports you created for the Christmas party three years ago? Data hygiene might sound like a mundane topic, but as our cybersecurity expert Martin reveals, it's the cornerstone of modern business security. The fundamental principles ar...

Cybersecurity isn't just for the big players anymore. In this enlightening conversation, cybersecurity experts Chris and Martin break down Australia's Essential 8 framework - revealing why these eight categories of technical controls have become the gold standard for business protection across the country. The duo dismantles the dangerous myth that small businesses aren't on hackers...

Uncover the technology trends that will define the year 2025, as we promise you a deep exploration into the future of artificial intelligence and beyond. Chris, our Chief Information Security Officer, and Martin, our Head of Cyber Security, guide us through the transformative journey of agentic AI, a groundbreaking technology that transcends traditional machine learning to serve as a digital assis...

Ever wondered how a school-network-hacking enthusiast becomes a Solutions Architect? Dive into the interesting journey of James from Mercury IT, as he sheds light on Copilot, the game-changing virtual assistant that's revolutionising business operations. We explore how Copilot, with its integration into business systems, isn't just another AI tool but a strategic partner in streamlining...

What is the true cost of a cyber breach? Today, we uncover the financial and emotional tolls that ransomware attacks can inflict on businesses. Join cybersecurity expert Chris Haigh as he shares compelling real-life examples, like the Robin Hood ransomware attack, and clears up common misconceptions about cyber insurance. Chris also provides practical, immediately actionable cybersecurity measures...