Rochester Business Connections is the local side of Real Business Connections, featuring real conversations with business owners, entrepreneurs, leaders, and community builders from Rochester, NY and the surrounding region.
Hosted by Ben Albert, each episode pulls out the stories, lessons, struggles, relationships, and wisdom behind the people building businesses close to home.
We talk networking, entrepreneurship, marketing, leadership, personal growth, resilience, human behavior, and what it really takes to grow something meaningful in the real world.
Local stories. Real business. Hard-earned wisdom from the people making moves in Rochester and beyond.
This feed is JUST ROCHESTER BUSINESS CONNECTIONS EPISODES. To listen to all of our episodes from "Real Business Connections," search 'Real Business Connections' on your podcast player, or head to www.RealBusinessConnections.com
Cybersecurity Expert: Stop Doing THIS Before You Get Hacked w/ Chris Sirianni (RBC #153)
Rochester Business Connections Episode #153 with Chris Sirianni of IT Insights of Rochester.
What actually happens when your computer suddenly says you’ve been hacked? How can you tell whether an email is legitimate or phishing? And with AI changing everything, are scams about to get even harder to spot?
Chris launched IT Insights of Rochester in 2019 and has grown the company to support more than 90 businesses, earning recognition as #68 on the Greater Rochester Chamber’s 2025 Top 100 list.
In this episode, Chris breaks down cybersecurity without the technical jargon. Ben and Chris talk browser hijacking, phishing emails, how scammers actually gain access to accounts and devices, multi-factor authentication, password managers, and the simple precautions both individuals and businesses can take to better protect themselves.
They also explore the rapidly changing role of AI. Chris shares how IT Insights uses AI as a workforce multiplier, how businesses can use emerging technology to become more efficient, and why the human side of customer service is one area he does not want AI to replace.
Whether you’re a business owner trying to protect your company or simply someone who has wondered, “Should I click this?”, this conversation offers practical ways to become smarter, safer, and more intentional with the technology you use every day.
Timestamps:
[00:00] Ben’s Computer Gets “Hacked”
[01:58] Meet Chris Sirianni
[03:43] What IT Companies Actually Do
[05:20] AI as a Workforce Multiplier
[09:20] Can Scammers Control Your Computer?
[10:44] What Happens When You Click a Sketchy Link?
[11:36] Protecting Yourself From Phishing
[13:48] Passwords, Firewalls & Antivirus
[15:07] Is AI Making Things Better or Worse?
[16:08] Building With AI
[19:23] What AI Should Never Replace
[21:07] Using Technology to Scale
[22:35] Growing Beyond Rochester
[26:11] Cybersecurity Essentials
[28:20] Cybersecurity Tips for Everyone
Key Takeaways:
• “I view AI as purely a workforce multiplier.” ~ Chris Sirianni
• If you’re not expecting something from somebody, it’s probably not real. ~ Chris Sirianni
• “Multifactor authentication isn't a silver bullet, but it's going to take away 98% of those threats.” ~ Chris Sirianni
• “If you're trying to grow, technology becomes absolutely essential.” ~ Chris Sirianni
• “I would never replace the customer service side with any kind of AI service.” ~ Chris Sirianni
• “Security is not just a one and done thing. It's a culture you have to build.” ~ Chris Sirianni
Keep In Touch with Chris Sirianni:
Website: (https://itinsightsroc.com/)https://itinsightsroc.com/ (https://itinsightsroc.com/)
Email: info@itinsightsroc.com
LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/it-insights-of-rochester/)https://www.linkedin.com/company/it-insights-of-rochester/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/it-insights-of-rochester/)
—
Follow Balbert…
Facebook: www.facebook.com/realbusinessconnections (http://www.facebook.com/realbusinessconnections)
Instagram: www.instagram.com/realbenalbert/ (http://www.instagram.com/realbenalbert/)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/)
Website: https://www.realbusinessconnections.com/ (https://www.realbusinessconnections.com/)
–
RBC is made possible by www:// (https://balbertmarketing.com/)balbertmarketing.com/ (http://balbertmarketing.com/)
-
This feed is JUST ROCHESTER BUSINESS CONNECTIONS EPISODES. To listen to all of our episodes from "Real Business Connections," search 'Real Business Connections' on your podcast player, or head to www.RealBusinessConnections.com
19 Jan 2026
This Corporate VP Quit to Build an 8-Figure Business w/ Eric Winegard (RBC #152)
Ben Albert interviews Eric Winegard, a former VP, about transitioning to entrepreneurship and building an eight-figure marketing business.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
