A pen test won’t save your business if the cleaner unplugs your backup server. We dig into Purple Resilience with Aris Zinc Group's Lizzie Christiansen and Michelle Carn to show how true operational strength blends cyber defense with people, process, and supply chain readiness. From tailgating and propped warehouse doors to vendor failover and business continuity drills, we share the simple fixes and smarter tests that keep small and medium enterprises running when things go wrong.
We talk through real scenarios that reveal where risk hides: friendly staff who hold doors open, outdated binders no one reads, third‑party providers that pass audits but fail under pressure. You’ll hear how to coordinate red and blue teams through a neutral “green” layer, why independent testing matters, and how to convert findings into clear playbooks your team can actually use. We also unpack ESG as everyday behavior—safety, inclusion, and ethics that reduce exposure and build trust—not a buzzword or a dusty policy.
AI takes center stage too, but with nuance. Lizzie argues AI should be an and, not an or: great for formatting policies, compliance monitoring, and surfacing signals, but never a replacement for professional judgment or local context. We examine pitfalls like automated CV floods and contract drafting without legal review, then outline where AI can genuinely help SMEs gain time without taking on new risk. Along the way, we explore regulatory shifts such as Fair Work and AML obligations, plus lessons from major outages, and why Australian SMEs can compete globally by tightening culture, process, and supplier assurance.
Walk away with a punch list: schedule short scenario drills, verify vendor failovers, enforce badges and no tailgating, modernize contracts, and adopt two tools that save time and shrink exposure. If this conversation helps you spot even one blind spot, share it with a peer who could use a stronger safety net. Follow, rate, and leave a review to help more business owners build resilience that actually works.