What does it really take to move AI from endless experimentation into something that creates real business value? In this episode, I sat down with Tom Alexander, Head of Innovation and Transformation at CrossCountry Consulting, to talk about why so many organizations still struggle to turn AI ambition into meaningful outcomes.

Tom works closely with executive and CFO teams that are either unsure where to begin or frustrated that early AI efforts have not delivered what they hoped for. We talked about why this is rarely just a technology issue. In many cases, the real blockers are ownership, change management, weak alignment across the business, and a failure to connect AI initiatives to the problems that matter most.

One of the big themes in our conversation was the need to treat AI as an enterprise-wide program rather than a collection of isolated tools. Tom shared how leaders can focus on business processes first, identify where automation can genuinely improve performance, and avoid getting distracted by hype. We also unpacked the growing accountability challenge around AI, including who should own it, how stakeholders can align, and why strong foundations in data, governance, and training matter so much.

This episode is packed with practical takeaways for anyone trying to make sense of AI adoption inside a business. If you are trying to figure out where to start, how to scale, or how to avoid another stalled initiative, there is a lot in here for you. After listening, I would love to hear your thoughts. How is your organization approaching AI, and where do you think most businesses are still getting it wrong?

Useful Links

• CrossCountry website
• Connect with Tom Alexander on LinkedIn
• Field Notes podcast

Is the endpoint still just a device, or has it quietly become one of the most important control points in modern enterprise security?
Recording live from IGEL Now And Next in Miami, I sat down once again with Darren Fields for what has become an annual check-in on how fast the industry is really changing. And this time, the conversation feels very different.

Over the last 12 months, the discussion has moved well beyond traditional endpoint management. From global supply chain pressure driven by AI demand to rising hardware costs and unpredictable refresh cycles, the assumptions that once shaped endpoint strategy are starting to fall apart. Darren shares how organizations are now being forced into difficult decisions, absorb rising costs, delay investment, or rethink the model entirely.

We also explore how that shift is changing the conversation at the leadership level. What was once seen as a procurement decision is increasingly being reframed as a resilience strategy. Extending hardware life, reducing dependency on supply chains, and maintaining operational continuity are becoming just as important as performance and cost.

Security, of course, sits at the center of it all. With the majority of breaches still originating at the endpoint, Darren highlights how organizations are starting to rethink where they focus their efforts. Rather than focusing solely on data centers and cloud environments, there is growing recognition that control, visibility, and enforcement must occur at the edge.

The conversation also touches on the reality of modern cyber threats. From constant attack attempts to incidents that leave organizations offline for weeks, the challenge is no longer just restoring systems but restoring access. And that shift has major implications for how recovery and continuity are designed moving forward.

We also look at the growing convergence of IT and OT, the role of contextual access, and the balancing act between stronger security and user experience. With organizations at very different stages of their journey, there is no single path forward, but there is a clear sense that change is already underway.

So as the pace of technology, risk, and demand continues to accelerate, one question remains. Are organizations adapting fast enough, or are they still relying on models that no longer reflect the world they are operating in?

What do you think, are we finally seeing a shift toward treating the endpoint as a strategic priority, or is there still a gap between awareness and action?

What does it really take to move from talking about Zero Trust… to actually making it work in the real world?

Recording live from IGEL Now And Next in Miami, I caught up with John Walsh for what has now become something of a tradition, our third conversation together, and one that reflects just how much has changed in the last 12 months.

When we last spoke, the focus was on securing the edge and rethinking security through a preventative lens. This time, the conversation has expanded from IT to OT, from devices to platforms, and from theory to real-world implementation across manufacturing floors, healthcare environments, and government organizations.

John shared how IGEL is increasingly being adopted as a global standard across both IT and operational environments, bringing new challenges and new insights. From kiosks and signage on factory floors to shared workstations in hospitals, the need for persona-based and now context-aware access is becoming far more than a technical concept. It is shaping how organizations think about identity, risk, and control at scale.

We also explored how the idea of the "adaptive secure desktop" is evolving beyond traditional VDI thinking. Instead of static devices, the focus is shifting toward environments that respond dynamically to the user, their role, their location, and the level of risk in that moment. It raises an important question. How do you deliver that level of control without introducing friction for the user?

AI inevitably entered the conversation, but not in the way many might expect. Rather than focusing on features, John highlighted the acceleration of threat velocity. The time between vulnerability discovery and exploitation is shrinking rapidly, and with AI amplifying that speed, traditional detection and response models are struggling to keep up. The implication is clear. Security strategies need to shift toward prevention and control, not just reaction.

We also touched on emerging challenges around agentic AI, non-human identities, and the need to apply Zero Trust principles beyond people to machines. As organizations begin to explore these new models, questions around identity, access, and guardrails are becoming more complex and more urgent.

And throughout the conversation, one theme kept coming back and reducing complexity while increasing control. Whether it is through immutable operating systems, centralized policy enforcement, or contextual access, the goal is to simplify the environment while strengthening security outcomes.

As organizations continue their journey toward modernization, one question remains: Are we still layering new technology onto old models, or are we ready to rethink how access, identity, and control are delivered from the ground up?

What do you think, is Zero Trust finally becoming real at the endpoint, or is there still a gap between strategy and execution?