Cybersecurity Expert: I've had CEOs crying... 'Do I have to sack 500 employees?'

Most business owners think cybersecurity is something they'll deal with later. The reality is, you're already a target, and the threat landscape in 2026 is unlike anything we've seen before. Ahmed Khanji is Founder and CEO of Gridware Cybersecurity, an award winning cybersecurity business. He recently stated that after 17 years in the industry, he's never been more worried. AI powered tools are now finding security vulnerabilities in minutes that used to take teams of PhDs a full year to uncover. Meanwhile, businesses are still operating without basic protections, hoping insurance will save them when things go wrong. In this conversation, Ahmed shares what actually happens when a business gets hacked, why the 10 to 100 employee range is the most vulnerable, and the five essential actions every business owner needs to take right now to avoid becoming another victim on the dark web. He explains: Why 2026 is the most dangerous year for cybersecurity he's seen in nearly two decades How businesses actually get hacked, and why it's usually embarrassingly simple Which businesses are most at risk, and why healthcare tops the list Why cyber insurance isn't the safety net most business owners think it is The danger zone for businesses with 10 to 100 employees, and why they're the easiest targets How AI is being weaponized by threat actors, and what tools like the Mythos model mean for global security Why building your own software with AI might be exposing your business to catastrophic risk The uncomfortable truth about your data: it's already out there Five practical actions you can take in the next few weeks to stop being an easy target If you've been putting off cybersecurity because it feels expensive, complicated, or unlikely to affect you, this episode will change how you think about risk. The question isn't if your business will be targeted. It's when. Timestamps: Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:42 The AI-Powered Threat: Why 2025 Is Different 00:05:46 Is This Just Marketing Hype? 00:08:11 How Businesses Actually Get Hacked 00:10:52 The Ransomware Nightmare: When CEOs Cry 00:17:34 The Cat and Mouse Game: Are We Losing? 00:19:23 The Insurance Trap: Why Coverage Isn't Enough 00:21:26 Industry Risk Rankings: Who's Most Vulnerable? 00:29:36 The 10-100 Employee Danger Zone 00:32:22 The Mythos Model and AI Security Tools 00:34:09 The Vibe Coding Problem: Building Without Security 00:37:25 Your Data Is Already Out There 00:42:16 Five Essential Actions to Protect Your Business 00:46:48 Closing Thoughts and Resources We're just getting started! Subscribe for more conversations with founders, operators, and their advisers. Ahmed Khanji: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmed-khanji/ Gridware Cybersecurity https://gridware.com.au At The Top Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@atthetopwithben Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atthetopwithben/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/at-the-top-with-ben/ Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/show/1GTjCXqdQzQtZ33idMpQgo?si=C5gNvXDZSkWdxBz-mW13AA Apple Podcasts: http://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-the-top/id1893782299