Access Point: Weekly News Roundup For Midmarket IT Executives – May 9, 2025

Access Point is a weekly roundup of major tech news for midmarket IT executives on the go.

In this week’s roundup: Accenture’s CEO falls victim to a deepfake scam; how supercomputers are disrupting disease diagnoses; a former NFL athlete applies his tactics for success on the field to success in business; how to master LinkedIn, and more news for midmarket IT leaders.

Data Breach Lawsuits Took A $155M Toll On Businesses In Less Than A Year: Report

Cyber breaches can be costly for companies. A new report from Panaseer, provider of cybersecurity posture management solutions, found that U.S. organizations have shelled out nearly $155 million for class-action lawsuits related to data breaches between August 2024 and February 2025.

Alafia’s AI Supercomputer Disrupts How Cancer, HIV, And Other Diseases Are Diagnosed

Powerful diagnostic AI requires powerful AI-capable hardware. Florida-based Alafia is a company that makes a supercomputer, AIVAS, which is designed to support AI that promises to diagnose cancer, HIV, and other diseases with unprecedented speed and accuracy.

10 Ways Former NFL Linebacker-Turned-Entrepreneur Sam Barrington Says Leaders Can Overcome Obstacles

Drafted by the Green Bay Packers and a player with the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, Sam Barrington’s rise to athletic superstardom was ended by several injuries. Here is how having a “growth mindset” not only helped him persevere as an entrepreneur, but how IT leaders can use it for career success.

State Of Midmarket IT For 2025, From AI To The Economy: Gartner

Midmarket IT executives share their thoughts on the economy, their priorities for the year, how they are connecting with executive management, their use of AI, and more.

Master LinkedIn With These 10 Moves, Social Media Expert Says

Social media expert Richard Bliss offers 10 ways professionals can master LinkedIn by familiarizing themselves with the site’s algorithms and how to “start acting with purpose on LinkedIn,” to put your content in front of business prospects and customers.

Despite DEI Pushback, Women Tech Leaders Say They Are ‘Thriving.’ Will That Change?

President Donald Trump and his administration have moved to stop many diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, leaving some wondering if the pushback will have a negative impact on women’s presence and happiness in industries like technology, where they have been historically underrepresented and often faced hostile working conditions.

Accenture: What We Learned When Our CEO Got Deepfaked

Last May, someone pretending to be an attorney set up a video call between Accenture CEO Julie Sweet and the company’s finance head to discuss an unpaid invoice.