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The Blog

Short reads on AI and automation, IT and managed services, and the occasional personal reflection.

Your Company's I.T. Maturity: Where You Sit on the Curve
Your Company's I.T. Maturity: Where You Sit on the Curve
Most companies sit somewhere on a curve from 'I.T. is something we deal with when it breaks' to 'I.T. is a planned part of how we run.' Knowing where you sit is useful.
The AI Inside Job
The AI Inside Job
Most AI rollouts fail before the software gets a fair chance. The technology works. The people around it don't buy in.
What Happens When the Laptop Does Not Come Back
What Happens When the Laptop Does Not Come Back
A laptop bag gets left on a train. The drive was not encrypted and there was no way to wipe it. Two controls keep a lost device costing you hardware and nothing more.
MFA on Email Is Not Enough
MFA on Email Is Not Enough
MFA on email blocked the attacker. The same password with no MFA on cloud storage let them in for two days. Why MFA belongs everywhere, and which method to use.
Shadow I.T.: The Software You Do Not Know Your Team Is Using
Shadow I.T.: The Software You Do Not Know Your Team Is Using
Ask any owner to list every app their company uses. The real list is always longer. How to find shadow I.T. and bring it under control without a crackdown.
Twenty-Five Years Ago, I Made Popcorn at Union Station
Twenty-Five Years Ago, I Made Popcorn at Union Station
One of my first jobs in Chicago was making popcorn at Union Station. Twenty-five years later I went back and bought a bag. What that taught me about the long game.
I Use AI to Swim
I Use AI to Swim
Booking the pool was the most annoying part of my swim routine, so I pointed AI at it. The skill worth building is noticing the chores that run on a schedule.
The Wi-Fi Password Nobody Has Changed in Years
The Wi-Fi Password Nobody Has Changed in Years
That password on the sticky note has not changed since the router was installed. Former employees still have it, and they are on the same network as your server.
Your Backup Says Green. That Does Not Mean It Works.
Your Backup Says Green. That Does Not Mean It Works.
A backup had been failing silently for seven months. The dashboard showed green the whole time. Why green is not the same as recoverable, and what to check.
Finding My People as a Business Owner
Finding My People as a Business Owner
Before I joined EO, I thought asking for help meant I had not figured things out. I was wrong. What Forum changed for me.
What an Annual I.T. Review Should Actually Cover
What an Annual I.T. Review Should Actually Cover
Every annual review turns up the same surprises: software nobody uses, accounts for people who left, a backup that quietly stopped working. Here is what to check.
I Found Out I Was Dyslexic at 44
I Found Out I Was Dyslexic at 44
A speech therapist suggested I get tested. The diagnosis explained a lot, and it changed how I work and how I run my business.
The Email That Almost Cost $47,000
The Email That Almost Cost $47,000
The email looked perfect, one letter off from the real vendor's domain. How business email compromise works, and how to train your team to catch it.
The Hidden Cost of Free Tools
The Hidden Cost of Free Tools
A law firm sent court documents through a free PDF tool for almost a year. The terms of service gave that data away. Here is how to avoid the trap.
The Google Cloud Billing Incident
The Google Cloud Billing Incident
I assumed our credit card limit would protect us from a runaway API bill. It did not. Here is what actually stops the meter.
Optimism Over AI Fear
Optimism Over AI Fear
Staying optimistic is hard work. Turning negative comes easy. Why I still look for the news nobody watches.
Key Person I.T. Risk
Key Person I.T. Risk
In most small companies the I.T. knowledge lives in one person's head. That is one resignation away from a crisis.
Family First Is a Scheduling Decision
Family First Is a Scheduling Decision
Family first is not a slogan. It is a fixed block on my calendar, same as a client meeting. Here is why that is good for the business too.
Secure Offboarding: Close the Door When People Leave
Secure Offboarding: Close the Door When People Leave
A former employee kept full access for four months after leaving. Nobody meant for it to happen. That is exactly the problem.
Too Small to Be a Target
Too Small to Be a Target
A 30-person company assumes it is too small to be a target. That assumption is the target.