The Pentagon is preparing to enforce the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements for small businesses, with compliance becoming mandatory in contracts starting November 10, 2025. Nearly 500 organizations have already achieved Level 2 certification, and the Defense Department is actively surveying small businesses to assess their readiness for these new standards. This initiative is expected to extend beyond Department of Defense contractors, potentially influencing other federal agencies and international partners to adopt similar cybersecurity measures.
Recent reports highlight a concerning rise in cybersecurity threats, particularly in mobile attacks and ransomware incidents. According to the Verizon 2025 Mobile Security Index, 85% of organizations have reported increased mobile attacks, with 38% identifying AI-powered ransomware as a growing concern. Despite the widespread use of generative AI tools, only 17% of organizations have implemented specific security measures to counter AI-assisted attacks. Additionally, a report from Sophos indicates that 58% of retailers impacted by ransomware opted to pay the ransom, with the median demand doubling to $2 million.
The episode also discusses the withdrawal of a controversial MIT Sloan paper that claimed 80% of ransomware attacks involved artificial intelligence, following criticism from cybersecurity experts. This incident underscores the issue of "AI-washing" in the cybersecurity sector, where unverified claims are made to attract attention. MSPs are advised to scrutinize such claims and focus on proven security practices rather than hype-driven narratives.
For Managed Service Providers and IT decision-makers, the key takeaway is the importance of compliance and foundational cybersecurity practices. As the CMMC requirements loom, MSPs should consider developing readiness packages and tightening documentation processes. Additionally, the ongoing rise in lawsuits related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) highlights the need for businesses to prioritize compliance as a critical aspect of risk management, reinforcing that effective cybersecurity and legal compliance are essential for sustainable operations.
Four things to know today
00:00 The Cyber Threats Are Real — But It’s Not AI Geniuses, It’s the Same Old Tricks Getting Smarter
05:05 MIT’s Big AI-Ransomware Claim Falls Apart — Turns Out the Data Didn’t Hold Up
07:09 The Pentagon’s Rolling Out CMMC — and Small Businesses Are Feeling the Pressure on All Fronts
10:27 Everyone Wants to Be Your Platform — New MSP Tools from Cisco, Barracuda, and WatchGuard Show Why
This is the Business of Tech.
Supported by: https://saasalerts.com/mspradio/
💼 All Our Sponsors
Support the vendors who support the show:
👉 https://businessof.tech/sponsors/
🚀 Join Business of Tech Plus
Get exclusive access to investigative reports, vendor analysis, leadership briefings, and more.
👉 https://businessof.tech/plus
🎧 Subscribe to the Business of Tech
Want the show on your favorite podcast app or prefer the written versions of each story?
📲 https://www.businessof.tech/subscribe
📰 Story Links & Sources
Looking for the links from today’s stories?
Every episode script — with full source links — is posted at:
🎙 Want to Be a Guest?
Pitch your story or appear on Business of Tech: Daily 10-Minute IT Services Insights:
💬 https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/businessoftech
🔗 Follow Business of Tech
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28908079
YouTube: https://youtube.com/mspradio
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Ruthie's Table 4
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.