Author Archives: John Neibel

Business Interrupted: The Disaster Your Co-Managed IT Partner Should Be Planning For

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Power outages. Ransomware. Server failures. Natural disasters.

These disruptions don’t wait for a convenient moment—and when they strike, your internal IT team can be quickly overwhelmed.

That’s where co-managed IT proves its value. Your co-managed partner shouldn’t just be assisting with day-to-day operations—they should be actively preparing your business to survive and thrive through the unexpected.

Backups alone aren’t enough. If your systems go down and your team can’t access tools, files, or communicate with clients, even a small disruption can turn into a serious business failure.

Co-Managed IT Is About Continuity, Not Just Support

Most internal IT teams are stretched thin. They’re great at handling tickets, managing users, and putting out fires. But what about disaster recovery planning? Cloud redundancy? Compliance audits? Off-site failovers?

That’s where your co-managed partner comes in.

A true co-managed IT provider extends your team’s capabilities by proactively helping you:

  • Design a business continuity plan
  • Implement off-site backups and cloud infrastructure
  • Test and simulate disaster recovery scenarios
  • Ensure remote work readiness
  • Maintain compliance with industry standards

Backup vs. Business Continuity: Don’t Confuse the Two

Too many businesses think “our data is backed up” means “we’re protected.” Not quite.

  • Backups restore your data.
  • Continuity ensures your business keeps running—even when disaster strikes.

A well-coordinated continuity plan developed between your internal IT staff and your co-managed partner answers questions like:

  • How fast can we recover our key systems?
  • Where can our employees work if the office is offline?
  • Which platforms and data are mission-critical?
  • Who leads the recovery process on both sides?

And it includes:

  • Verified, encrypted, off-site backups
  • Clearly defined RTOs and RPOs
  • Remote access infrastructure
  • Redundant hardware and cloud failover systems
  • Annual disaster recovery testing

If your current co-managed provider isn’t driving these conversations, they’re just a help desk—not a strategic partner.

Real Disasters. Real Impact.

These aren’t hypothetical scenarios:

  • Wildfires in California destroyed entire offices—some had no off-site recovery in place.
  • Flooding in the Southeast wiped out local servers—weeks of billing and records lost.
  • Ransomware hit thousands of small businesses—many discovered their backups had never been tested.

These are the exact moments your co-managed IT partnership should shine. If they aren’t ready, you’re exposed.

Questions to Ask Your Co-Managed IT Provider Now

Don’t wait until a disaster forces you to scramble. Sit down with your provider and ask:

  • How quickly can we recover from a ransomware attack?
  • Are our backups encrypted, tested, and stored off-site?
  • What’s our plan if a fire or flood takes down the building?
  • Can we stay compliant if disaster disrupts operations?
  • Is our remote work environment resilient enough to handle sudden disruption?

If your co-managed IT provider can’t confidently answer these, it’s time to reevaluate.

Co-Managed IT Is More Than Extra Hands—It’s Your Disaster Insurance

You can’t prevent every storm, outage, or breach. But you can make sure your business doesn’t miss a beat when they happen.

A good IT partner helps your internal team.
A great one empowers them with enterprise-grade continuity planning.

Want to see how resilient your business really is?

🛡️ Book a FREE Network & Continuity Assessment
Let’s make sure your next disaster doesn’t turn into your biggest disruption.
👉 [Insert Link]

Business Interrupted: The Disaster Your Co-Managed IT Partner Should Be Planning For

Power outages. Ransomware. Server failures. Natural disasters.

These disruptions don’t wait for a convenient moment—and when they strike, your internal IT team can be quickly overwhelmed.

That’s where co-managed IT proves its value. Your co-managed partner shouldn’t just be assisting with day-to-day operations—they should be actively preparing your business to survive and thrive through the unexpected.

Backups alone aren’t enough. If your systems go down and your team can’t access tools, files, or communicate with clients, even a small disruption can turn into a serious business failure.

Co-Managed IT Is About Continuity, Not Just Support

Most internal IT teams are stretched thin. They’re great at handling tickets, managing users, and putting out fires. But what about disaster recovery planning? Cloud redundancy? Compliance audits? Off-site failovers?

That’s where your co-managed partner comes in.

A true co-managed IT provider extends your team’s capabilities by proactively helping you:

  • Design a business continuity plan
  • Implement off-site backups and cloud infrastructure
  • Test and simulate disaster recovery scenarios
  • Ensure remote work readiness
  • Maintain compliance with industry standards

Backup vs. Business Continuity: Don’t Confuse the Two

Too many businesses think “our data is backed up” means “we’re protected.” Not quite.

  • Backups restore your data.
  • Continuity ensures your business keeps running—even when disaster strikes.

A well-coordinated continuity plan developed between your internal IT staff and your co-managed partner answers questions like:

  • How fast can we recover our key systems?
  • Where can our employees work if the office is offline?
  • Which platforms and data are mission-critical?
  • Who leads the recovery process on both sides?

And it includes:

  • Verified, encrypted, off-site backups
  • Clearly defined RTOs and RPOs
  • Remote access infrastructure
  • Redundant hardware and cloud failover systems
  • Annual disaster recovery testing

If your current co-managed provider isn’t driving these conversations, they’re just a help desk—not a strategic partner.

Real Disasters. Real Impact.

These aren’t hypothetical scenarios:

  • Wildfires in California destroyed entire offices—some had no off-site recovery in place.
  • Flooding in the Southeast wiped out local servers—weeks of billing and records lost.
  • Ransomware hit thousands of small businesses—many discovered their backups had never been tested.

These are the exact moments your co-managed IT partnership should shine. If they aren’t ready, you’re exposed.

Questions to Ask Your Co-Managed IT Provider Now

Don’t wait until a disaster forces you to scramble. Sit down with your provider and ask:

  • How quickly can we recover from a ransomware attack?
  • Are our backups encrypted, tested, and stored off-site?
  • What’s our plan if a fire or flood takes down the building?
  • Can we stay compliant if disaster disrupts operations?
  • Is our remote work environment resilient enough to handle sudden disruption?

If your co-managed IT provider can’t confidently answer these, it’s time to reevaluate.

Co-Managed IT Is More Than Extra Hands—It’s Your Disaster Insurance

You can’t prevent every storm, outage, or breach. But you can make sure your business doesn’t miss a beat when they happen.

A good IT partner helps your internal team.
A great one empowers them with enterprise-grade continuity planning.

Want to see how resilient your business really is?

🛡️ Book a FREE Network & Continuity Assessment
Let’s make sure your next disaster doesn’t turn into your biggest disruption.
👉 https://go.scheduleyou.in/ydgAXWJHb?cid=is:~Contact.Id~

Your Phone Is Being Watched — And You Might Not Even Know It

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Think your phone is secure? Think again.

Your smartphone is your lifeline to clients, emails, bank accounts, passwords, and business conversations. But here’s the unsettling reality: tracking your phone—and everything on it—is shockingly easy. And it doesn’t take a sophisticated hacker to do it.

From jealous exes to disgruntled employees to cybercriminals targeting your company, anyone with the right app or phishing link can spy on your messages, monitor your location, or access sensitive data—without you ever knowing.

For business owners, that’s more than an invasion of privacy. It’s a threat to your entire operation.

📲 How Phone Tracking Actually Works

Phone tracking isn’t some Hollywood-level hack. Most of the time, it’s disturbingly simple. Here’s how it’s done:

  • Spyware Apps: Installed secretly to log calls, texts, GPS, and even turn on your mic or camera.
  • Phishing Links: One tap on a malicious email or SMS can install tracking software silently.
  • App Permissions: Many apps ask for way more access than they need—and run location services in the background.
  • Stalkerware: Disguised as system tools or utility apps, it hides in plain sight and avoids detection.

These tools are often legal to purchase, marketed as “monitoring” or “parental control” apps—but they’re commonly misused.

⚠️ Why Business Owners Should Be Seriously Concerned

Let’s face it—your phone is a mobile vault.

Think of what’s on it:

  • Sensitive client communications
  • Banking access
  • Stored credentials
  • Internal documents and photos
  • Employee and customer data

If someone gains access to your phone, they could walk right into your business systems—no firewall or brute force required.

📉 The average data breach costs U.S. small businesses $120,000.
(Source: Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report)

That breach could start from the phone in your pocket.

🕵️ Is Your Phone Being Tracked? Watch for These Signs:

While spyware is designed to stay hidden, there are red flags:

  • Rapid battery drain
  • High mobile data usage
  • Phone feels hot while idle
  • Strange apps or unfamiliar icons
  • Weird background noises during calls
  • Frequent crashes or freezing

One issue doesn’t confirm spyware, but if you notice multiple symptoms, it’s time to investigate.

🔐 How to Stop Phone Tracking (Before It’s Too Late)

If you suspect your phone’s been compromised, act fast:

  1. Run a Mobile Security Scan
    Use a trusted mobile antivirus or anti-spyware app to detect and remove threats.
  2. Review App Permissions
    Disable location, microphone, and camera access for apps that don’t need them.
  3. Update Your Phone’s OS
    Many security vulnerabilities are patched in routine updates. Don’t ignore them.
  4. Do a Factory Reset (If Needed)
    If spyware can’t be removed, wipe your device clean and reinstall only trusted apps.
  5. Strengthen Access Controls
    Enable biometrics and multifactor authentication for all important apps and logins.

🧠 Your Phone Is a Business Asset—Treat It Like One

As a business owner, your phone isn’t just personal—it’s your mobile command center. And that means securing it isn’t optional—it’s critical.

Cybercriminals are always looking for easy entry points. And nothing’s easier than an unsecured smartphone that’s always online, always nearby, and often overlooked.

✅ Take the First Step: Get a FREE Network Risk Assessment

We’ll help you evaluate your digital security—including mobile vulnerabilities—so you can keep your business, your team, and your clients protected.

📅 Schedule your FREE IT Risk Assessment today

The Compliance Blind Spot: What You Don’t Know Can Cost You

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Think compliance is only for big corporations? Think again.

In 2025, regulatory agencies are cracking down on all businesses—especially small and midsized ones. If you’re collecting sensitive data, processing payments, or handling customer information, you’re already in the compliance game—whether you like it or not.

And if you’re not playing by the rules? It could cost you tens—or even hundreds—of thousands of dollars.

🔍 Why Compliance Is No Longer Optional

Regulatory bodies like the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are now laser-focused on data protection and consumer privacy.

And they’re not just issuing warnings anymore—they’re issuing fines, and lots of them.

⚖️ Which Regulations Apply to Your Business?

Here are three major regulations that most small businesses don’t realize apply to them—until it’s too late:

1. HIPAA – Protecting Health Information

If you handle protected health information (PHI)—even indirectly—you must comply with HIPAA.

Recent updates now require:

  • Encryption of all electronic PHI
  • Regular risk assessments
  • Staff training on data privacy and security
  • A documented breach response plan

💸 Case in point: A small healthcare clinic was hit with a $1.5 million fine in 2024 after a ransomware attack revealed inadequate data safeguards.

2. PCI DSS – Handling Credit Card Payments

If you accept credit or debit cards, you’re on the hook for PCI compliance. That means:

  • Secure data storage
  • Ongoing network monitoring
  • Encrypted transmissions
  • Tight access controls

💸 Noncompliance fines? As high as $100,000 per month, depending on the issue and how long it’s been unresolved.

3. FTC Safeguards Rule – Financial Data Protection

If you collect any kind of consumer financial data, you’re expected to:

  • Create a formal security plan
  • Appoint someone to manage your program
  • Conduct regular risk assessments
  • Use multifactor authentication (MFA)

💸 Failure to comply can cost up to $100,000 per incident—and $10,000 per person held responsible. That’s not a typo.

💣 Real-World Fallout from Compliance Failures

One small medical practice thought they were too small to be a target—until ransomware locked their files.

  • $250,000 fine from the HHS
  • Weeks of downtime
  • Loss of patient trust and revenue

They weren’t just out money. They were nearly out of business.

✅ 5 Steps to Stay Compliant (and Protected)

  1. Perform Regular Risk Assessments
    → Know where your weak spots are—before hackers or regulators find them.
  2. Strengthen Security Measures
    → Use encryption, firewalls, endpoint protection, and MFA.
  3. Train Your Team
    → Your people are your first line of defense. Make sure they’re prepared.
  4. Create a Response Plan
    → What happens if you get breached? Plan now, not later.
  5. Work with Compliance Experts
    → Don’t go it alone. Partner with IT and compliance professionals who know the landscape.

🚨 Don’t Wait Until You’re Fined to Take Compliance Seriously

Compliance isn’t just about avoiding penalties—it’s about protecting your reputation, your data, and your business’s future.

🎯 Ready to See Where You Stand?

We offer a FREE Network & Compliance Assessment to help uncover gaps in your current security and compliance posture.

It’s quick. It’s painless. And it could save you thousands.

👉 Click here to schedule your FREE Compliance & Security Assessment

The Hidden Cost of “Cheap” IT — Especially in a Co-Managed Environment

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Why Cutting Corners on IT Support Can Undermine Your Internal Team (and Your Business)

If your business has an internal IT team, co-managed IT support can be a smart, scalable way to extend your capabilities without overloading your staff. But be careful: not all co-managed IT providers are created equal.

A low-cost co-managed agreement might seem like a win at first—affordable monthly pricing, supplemental support, a few extra tools. But dig deeper, and you’ll often find those “budget” providers are quietly cutting corners, leaving your internal team exposed, overwhelmed, and under-supported when it matters most.

Here are five hidden pitfalls we see time and time again with cut-rate co-managed providers—and how they can sabotage your IT operations and bottom line.

1. Security Gaps That Put Everyone at Risk

Your internal IT team might have a solid foundation, but true cybersecurity takes layered protection—and budget co-managed partners often stop at the basics.

We’ve seen providers install bare-minimum antivirus, skip multi-factor authentication, and offer zero guidance on endpoint security or user awareness training. That leaves your internal team holding the bag when something goes wrong—and in today’s cyber landscape, it’s only a matter of time.

Worse, without advanced protections, your cyber insurance claims could be denied. A good co-managed partner should strengthen your security posture, not leave it up to chance.

2. Incomplete Backup Strategies That Leave Data Unprotected

Your IT team might be backing up critical servers—but what about Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, CRMs, and third-party SaaS apps?

Most budget MSPs ignore those platforms entirely or rely on the default retention policies. That’s a disaster waiting to happen. Even worse, many don’t offer immutable backups—a non-negotiable for ransomware resilience and cyber insurance compliance.

In a true co-managed model, your partner should complement your backup efforts with comprehensive coverage and regular testing, not guesswork.

3. Unexpected Fees That Break the Budget

Budget co-managed IT providers often advertise low monthly rates—but then charge extra for after-hours support, on-site visits, or even emergency escalations. This creates friction, slows response times, and forces your team to think twice before calling for help.

That’s the opposite of what co-managed IT is supposed to be.

Look for a partner who offers predictable, flat-rate pricing and acts like a true extension of your team—not a metered vendor.

4. “Not Our Job” Mentality Around Vendor Support

When your team needs help troubleshooting phones, internet, or printers, a good co-managed provider should jump in—not point fingers.

Many cheap providers refuse to work with third-party vendors or charge extra just to coordinate on your behalf. That leaves your in-house team stuck in the middle, chasing down support for tech they didn’t even implement.

We believe in full-stack support. If it touches your network, it’s our job to help fix it—period.

5. No Strategic Oversight, No IT Roadmap

The most damaging shortcut of all? Lack of leadership.

Inexperienced co-managed providers often push tasks to junior techs without offering any real IT strategy. That leaves your internal team without a sounding board for big-picture decisions or long-term planning.

With the right co-managed partner, you should expect:

  • A dedicated technical account manager
  • Proactive reviews of your cybersecurity, compliance, and backup posture
  • Strategic guidance for future upgrades, projects, and budgeting
  • Collaborative planning—not reactive firefighting

Bottom Line: Co-Managed IT Should Make You Stronger—Not Weaker

Your internal IT team is already juggling a lot. A true co-managed IT partner should make their job easier, provide peace of mind, and cover the gaps—not create new ones.

If your co-managed support feels more like a cost center than a force multiplier, it’s time for a second opinion.

Want to know what your current co-managed agreement might be missing?
Let us take a look—for free.

We’ll review your environment, evaluate your risks, and provide honest feedback to help you strengthen your internal team with the right support (not just cheap support).

👉 Click here to schedule your FREE Network Assessment

Windows 10’s End-of-Life Countdown: The Real Price Of Waiting To Upgrade

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Support ends October 14 , 2025—every day you delay costs more than you think.

“We’ll Handle It Later” Is A Budget Killer

Post-EOL, Microsoft stops issuing security patches and bug fixes. That leaves you footing the bill for every vulnerability, crash, and compatibility snag. The longer you stay on Windows 10, the higher the hidden costs:

Hidden CostWhy It Hurts Now—not Just Later
Security GapsUnpatched systems are hacker magnets. One breach can wipe out years of profit (and your reputation).
App & Device IncompatibilityPopular CRMs, accounting suites, printers, and security tools are already dropping Windows 10 support. Lost function = lost revenue.
Productivity DrainsSlow boots, random crashes, and “hang-ups” steal 10–15 minutes per employee per day. Multiply that by payroll—ouch.
Emergency UpgradesRush hardware orders + after-hours IT labor = 30–50 % premium over planned projects.
Compliance RisksHIPAA, PCI-DSS, and other mandates require supported, secure OSs. Fines and lawsuits dwarf upgrade costs.

Smart Companies Are Acting Now

  1. Inventory & Audit – Identify which PCs can make the jump to Windows 11 and which need replacement.
  2. Consolidate & Streamline – Retire redundant software, tighten licensing, and trim support overhead.
  3. Strengthen Cybersecurity – Pair the OS upgrade with multi-factor auth, next-gen AV, and robust backup testing.
  4. Plan The 2025 IT Budget – Spread hardware purchases across quarters to dodge supply-chain spikes and cash-flow stress.

Your 4-Step Action Plan

  1. Run Compatibility Checks – Confirm CPU, TPM, and RAM meet Windows 11 requirements.
  2. Test Critical Apps – Verify each line-of-business tool runs flawlessly in the new environment.
  3. Order Hardware Early – Laptops and desktops still face lead-time fluctuations. Secure your stock while prices are stable.
  4. Partner With Proven Pros – Our team handles scheduling, data migration, and user training—so you skip downtime and surprises.

Don’t Wait To Panic In October

A smooth, budget-friendly transition takes planning time that’s disappearing fast. Book your FREE Network Assessment now—we’ll map the exact devices, apps, and security gaps to fix before Windows 10 turns into a liability.

👉 Schedule here: https://go.scheduleyou.in/hI54VnWs?cid=is:~Contact.Id~

Upgrade on your terms, not in crisis mode.

Out of Office, Out of Luck: How Your Auto-Reply Can Hand Hackers the Keys to Your Business

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It’s almost vacation time. You set your out-of-office auto-reply and start dreaming about beaches, road trips, or conference breaks. Your inbox begins to quietly respond on your behalf:

“Hi there! I’m out of the office until [date]. For urgent matters, please contact [Name] at [email address].”

Sounds helpful, right?

Unfortunately, it’s also exactly what cybercriminals love to see.

That friendly auto-reply can quickly become a hacker’s roadmap — giving them everything they need to time an attack, impersonate your team, and trick someone into clicking, wiring money, or handing over sensitive credentials.

Why Hackers Love Out-of-Office Replies

Even a short, well-meaning message can contain:

  • Your full name and title
  • How long you’ll be away
  • Who’s covering for you (with their email!)
  • Internal roles or team structure
  • Travel info or conference details

This creates two major risks:

1. Timing Advantage: Hackers now know you’re unavailable — meaning you won’t be checking your inbox or spotting fraud.
2. Targeting Precision: They know exactly who to impersonate and who to manipulate (often someone with access to money or sensitive files).

From there, it’s phishing and Business Email Compromise (BEC) 101.

How These Attacks Typically Play Out

  1. Your OOO message hits a malicious inbox.
  2. A hacker spoofs your identity — or your listed backup.
  3. An “urgent request” is sent to someone in your office:
    • A wire transfer to a vendor
    • Login credentials for a system
    • Sensitive client documents
  4. The team member, moving fast and trusting the name they recognize, follows through.
  5. You return from vacation to a fraud incident and financial loss.

Who’s Most at Risk?

If your organization includes frequent travelers — especially executives, sales teams, or remote staff — and someone else is managing their communications (like an admin or assistant), the risk doubles.

Admins are often:

  • Fielding requests from multiple contacts
  • Authorized to send payments or access files
  • Trusting senders they think they recognize

One realistic-looking spoofed email can be all it takes.

How To Protect Your Business from OOO Exploits

The solution isn’t ditching auto-replies — it’s using them more strategically and reinforcing your security posture. Here’s how:

✅ 1. Keep OOO Messages Vague

Don’t list backup contacts unless absolutely necessary. Keep location or itinerary details out of the message.
Better:

“I’m currently unavailable. I’ll respond as soon as I return. For urgent matters, please contact our main office.”

✅ 2. Train Your Team to Verify Everything

  • Never fulfill urgent requests involving money or credentials over email alone.
  • Always confirm requests through a second channel — phone, text, or in person.
  • Assume urgency = red flag.

✅ 3. Enable Email Security Protections

  • Use anti-spoofing tools (like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC).
  • Implement advanced spam filters and BEC threat detection.
  • Segment email access and use role-based permissions.

✅ 4. Turn On MFA Across the Board

Multifactor authentication makes it much harder for attackers to access inboxes, even with stolen passwords.

✅ 5. Work with a Proactive IT & Cybersecurity Partner

A co-managed IT partner should be actively monitoring for:

  • Suspicious login attempts
  • Unusual email behavior
  • Phishing campaigns
  • Credential compromise alerts

If your current provider isn’t flagging threats while your team is offline, they’re not doing enough.

Want to Vacation Without the Cyber Risk?

Your OOO message shouldn’t become an open door for hackers. Our team helps businesses build layered security systems that work — even when your team is away.

Book a FREE Security Assessment Today
We’ll assess your email configurations, review vulnerabilities, and show you how to keep things locked down while you’re off the grid.

📩Schedule a call

Because your vacation should start with a plane ticket — not a phishing attack.

7 Critical Questions Internal IT Teams Should Be Asking Their Co-Managed IT Provider Every Quarter (But Probably Aren’t)

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If your only touchpoint with your co-managed IT provider is when something breaks — or once a year at contract renewal — it’s time to rethink the relationship.

Technology doesn’t sit still, and neither do the cyber threats targeting your business. That’s why quarterly check-ins with your co-managed partner aren’t optional. They’re essential.

But here’s the problem:
Most internal IT teams don’t know what to ask. Or worse — they don’t realize what their co-managed provider should be proactively bringing to the table.

That’s why we’ve built this cheat sheet. These 7 questions should be part of every quarterly conversation — to ensure your internal IT efforts are backed by a partner who’s not just filling gaps, but actively driving business continuity and security.

1. What Vulnerabilities Have You Identified in Our Environment?

Your co-managed provider should always have a pulse on your infrastructure. Ask them:

  • Are there systems that still need patching?
  • Is antivirus or EDR up-to-date across all endpoints?
  • Have there been any red flags or near misses in the last 90 days?

You don’t want to discover a vulnerability after it’s been exploited. A proactive partner brings this to the table before you even ask.

2. Have Our Backups Been Tested Recently — And Are We Backing Up the Right Data?

You might have local backups. You might have cloud. But if your co-managed provider hasn’t tested recovery in the last quarter, that’s a problem.

Make sure they’re answering:

  • When was our last full restore test?
  • Are we covering mission-critical systems and cloud data?
  • Are backups stored securely off-site?
  • What’s our RTO/RPO — and has that changed?

Your backups are only as good as your ability to restore them — fast.

3. Are End-Users Following Security Best Practices?

Even the best internal security stack can be undone by human error.

You should be reviewing:

  • Unusual login attempts or shadow IT behaviors
  • Whether MFA is enforced company-wide
  • Whether end-user phishing training is current and effective
  • Who clicked what — and how quickly it was caught

A good co-managed IT partner helps coach your team and close the human loopholes.

4. How Is Our Network and System Performance Trending?

Your internal team already fields enough tickets. Let your co-managed partner help solve the root causes:

  • Are recurring slowness or outages being logged?
  • Are we hitting capacity on any hardware or SaaS licenses?
  • Is there an optimization opportunity we’ve overlooked?

Better performance = fewer tickets and a more productive team.

5. Are We Still Compliant With Industry Regulations and Cyber Insurance Requirements?

Your compliance burden doesn’t disappear just because you share IT responsibilities.

Ask your partner:

  • Are we up to date on HIPAA, PCI-DSS, SOC 2, or state-level laws?
  • Have policies or frameworks changed since last quarter?
  • Are we aligned with evolving cyber liability insurance requirements?

A strong co-managed partner helps keep you audit-ready and legally covered.

6. What IT Investments or Upgrades Should We Be Planning For?

You don’t need surprises. You need foresight.

Get insight into:

  • Licensing renewals or software nearing end-of-life
  • Hardware replacement timelines
  • Security tools worth budgeting for
  • Any project recommendations for Q2/Q3

If your partner isn’t helping you plan ahead, they’re not helping you grow.

7. What Cybersecurity or Tech Trends Should Be On Our Radar?

The right co-managed IT partner isn’t just filling support tickets — they’re thinking like a CIO.

Ask:

  • Are we falling behind on any emerging threats or standards?
  • Are there automation, cloud, or AI tools we should consider?
  • What are similar companies doing that we’re not?
  • Where could we be more secure — or more efficient?

It’s their job to keep your internal team competitive, not just reactive.

If You’re Not Having These Conversations, That’s a Red Flag 🚩

If your co-managed IT provider can’t clearly and confidently answer these questions — or worse, if they never bring them up — it’s time to reevaluate the partnership.

Co-managed IT isn’t just a help desk extension. It’s a strategic alliance. You need a partner who helps you stay ahead of threats, avoid outages, reduce internal workload, and scale smart.

✅ Want a 2nd Opinion?

We offer FREE Security Assessments designed specifically for co-managed IT environments. Whether you want to benchmark your current provider or validate your internal practices, we’ll show you exactly where you’re solid — and where you’re exposed.

🔍 Click here to book your free assessment today.

Let’s get your next quarter off to a smarter, safer, and more strategic start.

Out of Office, Out of Luck: How Reactive IT Can Wreck Your Summer (and Your Business)

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It’s a sunny June morning. Half your team is on vacation. The other half is juggling coffee shop Wi-Fi and spotty hotel connections.

And then it happens:

  • Your system crashes.
  • The printer won’t print.
  • Shared files vanish into the void.
  • A phishing email just slipped past your filters.

You call your IT person… but they’re out of office, too.

Now what?

Your business stalls. Your team scrambles. And your vacation just got hijacked.

Sounds dramatic? Maybe.
But unrealistic? Not at all.

Summer is Great for Vacations — Terrible for Reactive IT Support

Most business owners underestimate how much tech quietly holds everything together… until it all breaks. And when your only IT resource is on PTO, you’re stuck.

That’s the fatal flaw of reactive IT support:
It works fine — until it doesn’t.

The “Just call Bob if something goes wrong” approach might get you by during slower seasons, but summer? That’s when it all hits at once:

  • Servers still overheat.
  • Hardware still fails.
  • Hackers don’t take vacations.

And when no one’s available to respond, downtime and damage pile up — fast.

Reactive IT = Playing Catch-Up While Firefighting

If your IT plan is built around fixing things after they break, you’re signing up for:

  • Costly downtime while you wait for help
  • Security breaches slipping through unnoticed
  • Minor glitches turning into major repairs
  • Zero support when your “go-to” person is MIA

It’s not just inconvenient. It’s a liability — especially in June, when vacation calendars are packed and remote work is the norm.

Proactive IT = Peace of Mind, Even from a Beach Chair

A proactive IT partner doesn’t wait for disasters — they prevent them.

They monitor your systems around the clock, apply updates before vulnerabilities are exposed, and ensure your business keeps running… whether your team is on-site or on a surfboard.

Here’s what you get with a proactive approach:

  • 24/7 monitoring and maintenance
  • Security updates before you’re vulnerable
  • Regular backups and tested recovery plans
  • A team of experts (not just one person)
  • Predictable costs with fewer tech surprises

No more scrambling. No more waiting. No more “out of office = out of luck.”

The Real Cost of Waiting Until It Breaks

Downtime can cost small businesses hundreds to thousands of dollars per minute. And if it’s a cyberattack? You could be looking at permanent reputational damage on top of financial loss.

Reactive IT doesn’t just cost money — it creates chaos.

Don’t Let Tech Trouble Crash Your Summer

This summer, protect your business and your PTO.

Let us assess your current setup and show you how a proactive IT strategy keeps your operations running smoothly — no matter where your team is.

🔍 Book Your FREE Network Assessment Here
We’ll identify your vulnerabilities and map out a plan to keep your systems secure, stable, and stress-free.

How DFW Business Leaders Can Eliminate Costly IT Headaches with Co-Managed IT Support

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When your systems go down, everything grinds to a halt—productivity, communication, revenue.

It’s not just inconvenient—it’s expensive.

Just ask MGM Resorts. During a major cyberattack last summer, their systems collapsed: room keys stopped working, casinos shut down, and online bookings vanished. The result? Millions in losses.

For midsized businesses in Dallas/Fort Worth, the same risks apply—just on a smaller (but no less painful) scale.

Whether it’s downtime from internet outages, nonstop help desk tickets, or cybersecurity gaps, one thing’s for sure: your business can’t afford IT problems.

Why Internal IT Teams Are Struggling

Even with an in-house IT department, many businesses face:

  • Overworked tech staff
  • Delayed upgrades and maintenance
  • Poor cybersecurity hygiene
  • Reactive (instead of proactive) support

That’s where co-managed IT services come in. We don’t replace your IT team—we enhance it.

What Is Co-Managed IT?

Co-managed IT is a hybrid support model where your internal team partners with a specialized IT provider (like us) to:

  • Offload repetitive tasks
  • Strengthen cybersecurity
  • Gain access to enterprise-grade tools
  • Get proactive strategic guidance
  • Scale support as your business grows

You keep control. We add bandwidth, expertise, and peace of mind.

Quick Health Check: Is Your IT Really Supporting Your Business?

Run through this checklist and see how your current IT setup stacks up:

✅ Are tech issues resolved quickly, or does downtime drag on?
✅ Does your team have access to enterprise-level tools and monitoring?
✅ Are updates, patches, and backups handled proactively?
✅ Is there 24/7 threat detection—even on weekends and holidays?
✅ Does your IT roadmap align with your business growth strategy?
✅ Are employees trained to spot phishing and cyber risks?
✅ Are projects delivered on time and within budget?
✅ Do you receive regular reports on network health and security?
✅ Is your internal IT team supported—or just constantly putting out fires?

If you answered “no” to more than a couple, it’s time to rethink your approach.

Why DFW Businesses Are Turning to Co-Managed IT

Here’s how a co-managed IT partner can transform your business:

🚀 Reduce IT Overload – Offload patching, ticketing, monitoring, and other day-to-day tasks
🛡️ Boost Cybersecurity – Implement advanced threat detection, compliance tools, and endpoint protection
📈 Scale Without Stress – Adapt your IT infrastructure to growth without adding full-time hires
🎯 Gain Strategic Insight – Tap into deep expertise in cloud, networking, compliance, and security
💡 Enhance Efficiency – Free your internal team to focus on high-value initiatives

Ready to Eliminate IT Problems for Good?

If your internal IT team is overwhelmed, or you’re tired of recurring tech issues, co-managed IT could be the solution you’ve been looking for.

📞 Schedule a FREE 15-minute discovery call to see how we can reduce your IT headaches, strengthen your cybersecurity, and help your business grow—without the chaos.

👉 Book your call now or call us at 214-550-0550 to get started.

🕵️‍♂️ Shadow IT: The Hidden Security Threat Inside Your Business

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Posted May 21, 2025 by John Neibel

Your team might be using apps and tools that your IT department doesn’t even know about. It’s not sabotage. It’s Shadow IT — and it’s quickly becoming one of the biggest cybersecurity risks for businesses today.

🚨 What Is Shadow IT?

Shadow IT refers to any technology—apps, cloud services, software—that employees use without approval or oversight from your IT department.

It often looks like this:

  • Employees saving documents in personal Google Drive or Dropbox accounts.
  • Teams using unapproved tools like Slack, Trello, or Asana to collaborate.
  • Staff installing unauthorized messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram on company devices.
  • Marketing departments experimenting with AI tools and automations without verifying their security.

They’re trying to get work done faster. But without knowing it, they’re opening the door to massive security vulnerabilities.

🔓 Why Shadow IT Is So Dangerous

When your IT team can’t see it, they can’t protect it. And that’s when trouble begins.

Here’s what Shadow IT can cause:

  • Unsecured data sharing – Sensitive information could be exposed in personal cloud apps.
  • Unpatched vulnerabilities – Unauthorized software may miss critical security updates.
  • Compliance violations – Tools outside your approved tech stack could trigger HIPAA, GDPR, or PCI penalties.
  • Malware exposure – Fake productivity apps can carry ransomware, spyware, or ad fraud.
  • Credential theft – Apps without MFA make it easier for attackers to hijack employee accounts.

🧪 Real-World Example: The Vapor App Scam

In March, over 300 malicious apps were found on the Google Play Store, disguised as health and utility tools. They’d been downloaded over 60 million times — bombarding users with invasive ads, stealing credentials, and even rendering phones unusable.

These apps weren’t on company-approved lists — yet they ended up on devices anyway.

This is the real-world risk of Shadow IT: employees install seemingly helpful tools that turn out to be Trojan horses.

🙋‍♀️ Why Do Employees Use Shadow IT?

Usually, they’re not trying to break the rules. They’re just trying to:

  • Be more productive
  • Avoid clunky, outdated company software
  • Save time while waiting for IT approval
  • Or… they simply don’t realize it’s risky

Unfortunately, good intentions don’t stop bad consequences.

✅ How to Take Control of Shadow IT

Stopping Shadow IT requires more than policies — it takes visibility and education. Here’s how to start:

1. Publish an Approved Software List
Maintain a regularly updated list of secure, IT-approved apps employees can use confidently.

2. Restrict Unauthorized Installs
Use endpoint policies and permissions to prevent unsanctioned apps from being installed on company devices.

3. Train Your Team
Help employees understand that Shadow IT isn’t just “bending the rules” — it’s a security liability.

4. Monitor for Unauthorized Tools
Use network monitoring or EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response) to flag and block unapproved software in real time.

5. Strengthen Endpoint Security
Deploy advanced security solutions that detect risky behavior, malicious downloads, or unauthorized access attempts.

🛡 Don’t Let Rogue Apps Become a Business Crisis

Shadow IT is silent, sneaky — and often completely invisible to leadership until a breach happens.

Let’s fix that.

Start with a FREE Network Security Assessment.
We’ll help you identify unauthorized tools in use, uncover hidden risks, and lock down your network before a small oversight becomes a major incident.

👉 Click here to book your free assessment today