Cyberattacks destroy small businesses every day — but what if cybersecurity was finally attainable? Small business cybersecurity, AI risk management, and digital trust — this episode reveals how SMBs can finally achieve attainable cyber defense through smarter IT foundations and human-first strategies.
In this episode of The Digital Shift, we sit down with Sam van Dalen, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Attainable Security, a firm redefining cybersecurity for small and medium businesses. With over a decade of IT and cybersecurity experience, Sam’s mission is simple: protect the backbone of the economy — small business owners — from digital collapse.
From ransomware stories to the role of AI in modern defense, Sam shares real-world strategies for building trust, improving IT foundations, and developing responsible AI policies. He also reveals how their Cybersecurity Posture Assessment gives SMBs a clear roadmap to protection and why doing right by others drives every decision they make.
Key highlights from this episode:
🧠 Why most SMBs aren’t ready for cybersecurity until their IT is fixed
⚠ 60% of small businesses close within 6 months after a breach
🤖 The hidden dangers of AI misuse and shadow IT
📈 Building trust with skeptical clients through education and transparency
🛡 The “IT-first” approach to long-term cyber resilience
💌 Dungeon Masters Guide to Digital Defense — creative cybersecurity awareness done right
If you’re a small business owner, IT professional, or cybersecurity consultant, this episode will transform how you think about cyber readiness, AI risk, and trust-based growth.
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🧑 Today’s Guest Information:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samtheitguy/
Website: https://www.attainablesecurity.io/
⏱ Timestamps
00:00:00 – Introduction & Attainable Security Mission
00:08:10 – Why SMBs Struggle Most After Cyberattacks
00:09:54 – Day-to-Day of Running a Two-Person Cyber Firm
00:16:00 – Using LinkedIn to Build Local Cyber Awareness
00:21:25 – AI Hype vs. Cybersecurity Hygiene
00:22:22 – AI Policies & Shadow IT Controls
00:24:22 – Cybersecurity Posture Assessment Overview
00:27:00 – Delivering SMB-Focused Security Roadmaps
00:30:20 – Integrity & “Do Right By Others” Culture
00:31:55 – Why IT Foundations Come Before Cyber Maturity
00:33:09 – Blending IT & Security for SMB Readiness
00:34:06 – Overcoming Skepticism & Building Trust
00:35:15 – Educational Content & Value-First Strategy
00:37:06 – Dungeon Masters Guide to Digital Defense
00:41:59 – AI-Generated Risks & Compliance Blind Spots
00:44:30 – Responsible AI Adoption Vision
00:51:00 – Geographic Focus: Florida, Texas & Nationwide Reach
00:54:01 – Special Discount Offer for Podcast Listeners
#TheDigitalShift #Cybersecurity #SMB #SmallBusiness #AI #CyberDefense #Ransomware #CyberRisk #Trust #DigitalTransformation #TechPodcast
