A Rising Cyber Threat Every Business Owner Must Take Seriously

Posted on March 25, 2025 by John Neibel

Business Email Compromise (BEC) is rapidly becoming one of the most dangerous and costly cyber threats facing businesses today. While these scams have been around for years, cybercriminals are now leveraging AI-powered tools to make them even more sophisticated, convincing, and damaging.

📉 In 2023, BEC scams led to a staggering $6.7 billion in global losses. And the threat is only growing: a recent study by Perception Point found a 42% increase in BEC incidents in the first half of 2024 alone. With AI refining their attack strategies, hackers are more successful than ever at tricking businesses into handing over sensitive information and funds.

If your business isn’t actively defending against BEC attacks, you’re at serious risk. Here’s what you need to know—and how to protect your company before it’s too late.

What Is Business Email Compromise (BEC)?

BEC scams go beyond typical phishing attacks. Instead of relying on malware or suspicious attachments (which email security tools often catch), cybercriminals exploit human trust by impersonating legitimate individuals—executives, vendors, or financial institutions—to deceive employees into:

🔹 Sending fraudulent payments
🔹 Sharing sensitive company data
🔹 Changing banking details for future transactions

These attacks are highly targeted, well-researched, and incredibly difficult to detect, making them one of the most financially devastating forms of cybercrime today.

Why BEC Attacks Are So Dangerous

Unlike traditional cyberattacks that rely on hacking or brute-force malware, BEC attacks exploit trust and social engineering tactics—which is why they’re alarmingly effective. Here’s what makes them so destructive:

💰 Severe Financial Losses
The average loss per BEC attack exceeds $137,000, and in most cases, once the money is gone, it’s impossible to recover.

⏳ Operational Disruptions
A single fraudulent transaction can cripple business operations, triggering financial audits, legal issues, and workflow chaos.

🤝 Reputational Damage
If customer or vendor data is compromised, trust takes a major hit—and in today’s digital age, rebuilding that trust isn’t easy.

📉 Employee Morale & Security Concerns
Employees who fall for a BEC scam may feel guilty and vulnerable, which can impact workplace morale and productivity.

Common BEC Scams You Need to Watch For

Hackers use various deceptive tactics to infiltrate businesses. Here are some of the most widespread BEC schemes:

📌 Fake Invoices – Attackers impersonate a vendor and send a realistic-looking invoice, requesting payment to a fraudulent bank account.

📌 CEO Fraud – Cybercriminals pose as company executives, pressuring employees to send money under tight deadlines.

📌 Compromised Email Accounts – Hackers gain access to a real employee’s account and send fraudulent requests to unsuspecting colleagues.

📌 Vendor Impersonation – A trusted third-party vendor’s email is spoofed, making fraudulent payment requests seem legitimate.

How to Protect Your Business from BEC Attacks

The good news? BEC scams are preventable—if you have the right security measures in place. Here’s what you can do:

1. Train Your Team to Spot BEC Scams

🔹 Educate employees on recognizing phishing emails, especially those marked “urgent” or requesting payment changes.
🔹 Require verbal confirmation for any financial transactions or sensitive requests.

2. Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

🔹 Even if a password is compromised, MFA acts as a safety net, blocking unauthorized access.
🔹 Enable MFA on all email accounts, financial platforms, and cloud applications.

3. Test Your Backups—Before It’s Too Late

🔹 Regularly restore data from backups to ensure they work correctly.
🔹 A faulty backup during a cyberattack could be disastrous for business continuity.

4. Strengthen Your Email Security

🔹 Use AI-driven email filters to detect and block suspicious emails before they reach your inbox.
🔹 Regularly audit access permissions and revoke employee credentials immediately upon departure.

5. Verify Every Financial Transaction

🔹 ALWAYS confirm large payments or sensitive financial requests via a secondary communication channel (e.g., a phone call).
🔹 Never trust last-minute banking changes via email—always verify directly with the requester.

Take Action Before It’s Too Late

Cybercriminals are evolving faster than ever—but you don’t have to be their next victim. By training your team, securing your systems, and verifying financial transactions, you can protect your business from devastating BEC scams.

✅ Want to ensure your business is truly protected?
Start with a FREE Network Assessment to uncover vulnerabilities, secure your systems, and stay ahead of cybercriminals.

Click here to schedule your FREE Network Assessment today!

🚀 Let’s stop BEC attacks before they stop your business. 🚀

How Dallas/Fort Worth Business Owners Can Eliminate Costly Tech Problems with Co-Managed IT Services

Posted on March 18, 2025 by John Neibel

This scenario isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a costly disaster. Just look at what happened during the MGM data breach last summer: electronic room keys stopped working, casinos shut down, and online reservations disappeared, costing the company millions.

As a business leader, you rely on technology to keep operations running smoothly. But what happens when the Internet goes down, emails stop working, or your team struggles with constant IT issues? Productivity grinds to a halt, frustration builds, and your bottom line takes a hit.

For companies with in-house IT teams, overwhelmed staff, growing cybersecurity threats, and limited resources can lead to inefficiencies and costly downtime. That’s where co-managed IT services come in—providing the extra support, expertise, and proactive strategies needed to eliminate tech problems before they start.

If your IT department is stretched too thin or reactive instead of proactive, it’s time to consider a better way. Co-managed IT support works alongside your internal team to fill gaps, enhance cybersecurity, and provide strategic guidance—without replacing your IT staff.

Does Your IT Support Meet These Critical Standards?

Use this quick checklist to evaluate whether your current IT setup is truly protecting your business and empowering your in-house team:

✅ Do IT issues get resolved quickly, minimizing downtime?
Your team shouldn’t be stuck waiting for hours (or days) for help.

✅ Does your IT team have access to enterprise-level tools and support?
Even the best IT staff can struggle without the right technology and expertise.

✅ Are security patches, updates, and backups managed proactively?
If these tasks get overlooked, your business is at risk of cyberattacks and data loss.

✅ Do you have 24/7 monitoring to detect threats before they cause damage?
Cybercriminals don’t keep business hours—your network security shouldn’t either.

✅ Does your IT strategy align with your business growth plans?
Technology should evolve with your business, not hold you back.

✅ Is cybersecurity training provided for your employees?
Your team is your first line of defense against cyber threats—education is essential.

✅ Are IT projects completed on time and within budget?
Delayed IT projects can cost your business money and competitive advantage.

✅ Do you receive clear, detailed reports on IT performance and security?
You should always know the health of your IT environment.

✅ Is your internal IT team supported instead of overwhelmed?
A co-managed IT partner ensures your staff can focus on high-value tasks instead of putting out fires.

Why Co-Managed IT Might Be the Right Fit for Your Business

If your business has an internal IT team but still faces ongoing tech challenges, co-managed IT can help you:

🚀 Reduce IT workload – Free up your IT staff by offloading repetitive tasks like monitoring, patching, and help desk support.

🚀 Strengthen cybersecurity – Get advanced security solutions, threat monitoring, and compliance support to keep your business protected.

🚀 Enhance IT efficiency – Leverage enterprise-grade tools, expert guidance, and strategic planning to optimize your technology.

🚀 Scale effortlessly – Ensure your IT infrastructure can keep up with business growth without overburdening your team.

🚀 Access specialized expertise – Gain access to experts in areas like cloud management, compliance, and cybersecurity without hiring additional full-time staff.

Ready to Eliminate Costly IT Problems? Let’s Talk.

If your internal IT team is struggling with workload, cybersecurity challenges, or keeping up with technology demands, co-managed IT could be the game-changer you need.

📞 Schedule a FREE 15-minute discovery call to learn how our co-managed IT services can help your business eliminate tech headaches, strengthen security, and enhance IT efficiency.

Click here to schedule now or call us at 214-550-0550 to get started.

Can a small business use AI?

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Mirror Storage

Can a small business use AI?

One area where AI tools can help even the smallest business is in sales and marketing. Every business is marketing and selling in the online digital world. Marketing on social media is a given for every business, and can be a game-changer for a small startup. However, a lot of the tasks of marketing on social media and through your website can involve tedious, time consuming tasks. Marketing tools that use AI can help with drip email campaigns, website visitor tracking, and understanding where each customer exists in the sales funnel at any given moment. Other digital tools that increase customer engagement and drive sales are available and are an excellent introduction to AI as a marketing tool. Using these tools, you can focus your limited sales resources on other, more critical tasks such as closing a sale with a customer that is now ready to buy and not simply exploring vague options. These AI tools are readily available and your MSP can guide you in the adoption and use of them.

AI and that data you collect

An MSP or MSSP can also be a resource for data protection. As you begin using such tools, you amass enormous amounts of data about prospects as well as customers. How you hold, use, transmit and store this data is subject to some data regulations, either by your state, a federal agency, or even the European Union. Regulation is growing because of the increasing concern about an individual’s online privacy. Because so much personal data is being collected about each of us, there is increasing concern about misuse of that data, protecting it from bad actors, and other privacy rights issues. While you may not be physically located in a state that has data privacy regulations, if you conduct business in a state or country that regulates data privacy, you are likely subject to their rules. An MSP or MSSP is an important resource to determine where you are subject to those laws. More importantly, if you are subject to those laws (e.g. HIPAA, The FTC Safeguard Rules, the CA Privacy act or the General Data Protection Regulation of the EU), you may also be required to prove that you have developed protocols for the protection of data as defined under those regulations. It isn’t enough to say “everything is safe.” You may have to provide evidence you have created the specific data protection protocols specified under the regulation.

In short, AI can be a helpful tool to grow your business, but it comes with responsibilities and concerns that may not have concerned you before. An MSP is an important resource as you wade into the world of marketing, sales, and other operational areas.

Why Cybercriminals Target Tax Season – And How You Can Protect Your Business

Posted on March 11, 2025 by John Neibel

As tax season rolls around, businesses are focused on organizing financial documents, filing returns, and meeting tight deadlines. However, this busy time also attracts cybercriminals, who see it as the perfect opportunity to exploit vulnerabilities when employees are distracted.

Hackers are constantly seeking ways to steal sensitive data, scam businesses, and create chaos. In this post, we’ll explain why tax season presents a prime opportunity for cybercriminals, and how you can stay ahead of potential threats.

Why Tax Season Is a Magnet for Cybercriminals

Increased Exchange of Sensitive Data During tax season, businesses exchange large amounts of sensitive financial and personal information, both internally and with third parties such as accountants and payroll providers. This creates numerous potential points of vulnerability that hackers can target, especially through fraudulent emails.
Tight Deadlines Lead to Mistakes The pressure to meet tax deadlines can cause employees to let their guard down, making them more susceptible to phishing scams and malware. Rushed actions can result in errors, such as clicking on malicious links or opening infected attachments.
Higher Volume of Emails With the influx of emails related to tax forms, payment requests, and compliance updates, cybercriminals take advantage by crafting phishing emails that look legitimate, aiming to steal sensitive information or access financial accounts.
Widespread Scams Targeting Taxpayers Hackers often impersonate trusted organizations like the IRS or tax preparation services, trying to convince businesses to share confidential data or make fraudulent payments.

Common Tax Season Threats to Watch Out For

Phishing Emails: Fraudulent messages that appear to come from the IRS, your bookkeeper, or tax services, asking for sensitive information or leading you to malicious websites.
Fake Invoices or Payment Requests: Scammers send fake invoices or payment demands to trick businesses into wiring money.
Ransomware Attacks: Cybercriminals may encrypt critical financial data and demand payment to unlock it.
Social Engineering: Phone calls or emails pretending to be accountants, payroll providers, or other trusted sources to extract sensitive information.

How to Safeguard Your Business During Tax Season

Educate Your Team Help employees recognize common scams, such as phishing emails, and train them to:
- Verify email senders before opening attachments or clicking on links.
- Be cautious of urgent payment requests or strange account changes.
- Report any suspicious emails immediately.
Secure Your Communications Use encrypted methods for sharing sensitive tax documents, such as secure portals or file-sharing tools, rather than relying on email.
Implement Multifactor Authentication (MFA) Require MFA for access to financial systems, email accounts, and any platforms related to tax activities. This adds an additional layer of security in case login credentials are compromised. MFA is crucial: If your password is compromised, MFA can still protect your accounts. Be sure to enable this feature wherever it’s available.
Conduct a Cybersecurity Audit Work with your IT provider to identify and address vulnerabilities in your systems before they can be exploited by cybercriminals. This should include:
- Updating software and applying necessary patches.
- Securing network endpoints and devices.
- Verifying the integrity of your data backups.
Double-Check Financial Requests Always verify financial requests, especially those involving large sums or sensitive accounts. Confirm requests using a second communication method (e.g., a phone call) to verify authenticity.

Keep Hackers at Bay This Tax Season

Tax season doesn’t have to be a free-for-all for cybercriminals. By staying alert, training your team, and implementing proactive cybersecurity measures, you can protect your business from becoming a victim of cybercrime.

Make sure the only thing you’re filing this season is a successful tax return—not a cybersecurity incident report. Start by scheduling a FREE Network Assessment to uncover potential vulnerabilities and ensure your systems are prepared to face any challenge.

Click here to schedule your FREE Network Assessment now!

AI: Can you avoid the risks it carries?

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Mirror Storage

AI: Can you avoid the risks it carries?

Are there risks to AI? Absolutely! There are end-of-the-world predictions about the use of AI. For a business, many of the risks are a bit less extreme, but they are also very real. For example, in the area of content creation. There are a variety of risks that you open yourself up to. One of the key ones is the trustworthiness of the content created. You expect generative AI to create an accurate explanation or description of a topic, event, thing, or idea, However, can you, in fact, completely rely on that? The answer is probably a qualified no. The level of “qualified” depends on a variety of factors. Your AI generated content is only as good as its sources, and that can create real questions for readers. Also, an organization using AI to create any type of video, text, image, or audio content needs to be concerned that it may include proprietary information that you need permission to use. This means material created by generative AI could suddenly veer off into copyright infringement.

AI is also being used in areas such as recruitment. However, there has been research suggesting that bias can sneak into AI decisions as a result of the source data the tools are using. Bias is a concern not limited to the one example of recruitment. It can have consequences in areas where AI is making marketing decisions, and can taint medical and legal recommendations AI might provide. As a result, AI cannot go “unmonitored.” Review by humans and other tools is a best practice that is needed to improve accuracy and trustworthiness. This, in turn, may cut into the efficiencies that are perceived to be created by AI. Also, a lot of AI–Chat GPT to just take one example–isn’t going to necessarily incorporate consideration of regulation and compliance requirements. Many countries, individual States in the US, and US federal agencies are implementing data security regulations that are designed to protect the Personal Information of individuals. In many cases violations include civil penalties. In the case of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, fines are significant.

Finally, if you are considering stepping into AI, your MSP can provide guidance. Our recent list bears repeating: Eight ways an MSP can help you approach an AI solution.

Step one: Assess potential uses of AI. Your MSP should have a solid understanding of your entire business and how AI might contribute. They can help you start with small steps and move from there.

Step two: Understand your KPIs and organizational goals, from the top down. Before jumping off and adopting AI just because it is there, evaluate your KPI’s. Where do you perceive you need a boost?

Step three: Propose a possible range of AI solutions. An MSP will be knowledgeable about the variety of applications out there and lead you to select those most appropriate for your goals. Remember, they should be directed toward assisting KPI improvement.

Step four: Estimate the solution’s ROI. Remember, measurement is important. And you can not do everything. So identify each potential AI solution’s ROI. As mentioned above, AI isn’t just a trendy tool to adopt just “because.”

Step five: Ensure compliance: For example HIPAA, PCI. HITRUST. ISO27001, SOC1, SOC2 or similar legal and industrial standards. AI is a powerful and potentially intrusive tool. Compliance is critical.

Step six: Implement the solution. An MSP can implement the solution for you. Most business owners do not have the resources available for what can be a time-intensive project.

Step seven : Manage tool-related risks. As noted, there are best practices available. Monitor to ensure your outcomes with AI are accurate, trustworthy, defensible, transparent and meet regulations.

Spring-Clean Your Computer Network

Posted on March 4, 2025 by John Neibel

Spring is finally here, bringing the perfect opportunity to declutter—not just your office, but your IT systems as well. A thorough “spring-clean” of your business technology can help eliminate inefficiencies, strengthen security, and improve overall performance. By refreshing your IT infrastructure, you can operate more efficiently, minimize costly downtime, and focus on growing your business without tech distractions.

Where should you start? While the standard “delete old files and update your software” advice is important, here are five additional strategies to truly optimize your business systems this season.

1. Conduct a Comprehensive IT Audit

Spring is the ideal time to take a deep dive into your entire IT environment, from hardware and software to user access and security policies. As you conduct this audit, pay special attention to:

Outdated hardware – Identify devices nearing the end of their lifecycle that could be slowing down operations.
Underutilized software – Review software licenses and eliminate subscriptions you no longer need.
Redundant systems – Remove duplicate tools or processes that don’t align with your workflows.

💡 Pro Tip: Work with your IT provider to identify and prioritize necessary improvements, ensuring your IT budget is spent wisely.

🔔 Important Reminder: Windows 10 support will end in October 2025. If your business is still using Windows 10, now is the time to start planning your transition to ensure uninterrupted support and security.

2. Clean Up Your Active Directory for Better Security

Your Active Directory (or equivalent system) is the backbone of your network’s security and efficiency. However, without regular maintenance, it can become cluttered with unnecessary user accounts and outdated permissions, leading to security risks.

Remove inactive user accounts – Former employees’ accounts create unnecessary vulnerabilities.
Review and update permissions – Ensure employees only have access to the data and systems necessary for their roles.
Document all changes – Maintain a record of modifications to prevent confusion or errors in the future.

A well-maintained directory isn’t just about organization—it’s a crucial layer of protection against unauthorized access and data breaches.

3. Optimize Your Network for Hybrid and Remote Work

As hybrid and remote work remain a standard practice, it’s essential to ensure your network is optimized for seamless collaboration and security.

Upgrade your VPN – Ensure your virtual private network (VPN) is secure, scalable, and capable of handling increased remote access.
Assess bandwidth usage – Identify bottlenecks that slow productivity and address underutilized resources.
Enable encrypted file-sharing – Use secure document-sharing tools to reduce data exposure risks.

It’s also a good time to review vendor security policies. Past data breaches have shown how crucial it is to work with third-party vendors that prioritize cybersecurity. Make sure you’re taking all necessary precautions to safeguard your data.

4. Test Your Backups with a Full Restore

Having a backup system is essential—but when was the last time you tested it? Too often, businesses discover that their backups are corrupt, incomplete, or impossible to restore only after a disaster occurs.

Perform a full restore test to ensure your backup system works as expected.
Measure recovery time – Document how long it takes to restore critical systems and identify areas for improvement.

💡 Remember: A backup is only as good as its ability to restore your data when you need it most. Unexpected disasters happen, and preparation is key to minimizing downtime.

5. Update & Strengthen Your Cybersecurity Strategy

Cybercriminals are constantly evolving their attack methods, so your cybersecurity strategy should evolve, too.

Review endpoint protection – Ensure all business and employee-owned devices used remotely are secured.
Update your incident response plan – Train your team on the latest threats and verify that your emergency contact lists are up to date.
Invest in advanced monitoring tools – AI-driven security solutions can proactively detect and neutralize threats before they cause damage.

🔒 Cybersecurity Best Practice Alert: The old advice to frequently change passwords is outdated. Today, using long, complex passwords or passphrases combined with multifactor authentication (MFA) is the best way to secure your accounts.

A Clean IT System = A More Productive & Secure Business

Spring-cleaning your IT infrastructure isn’t just about getting organized—it’s about ensuring your business runs smoothly and securely year-round. By taking these steps now, you can reduce downtime, enhance productivity, and stay ahead of emerging cyberthreats.

Want to take your IT optimization even further? Start with a FREE Network Assessment to identify vulnerabilities and ensure your systems are operating at peak performance.

Click here to schedule your FREE Network Assessment today!

AI Is All Around Us

Posted on February 27, 2025 by Mirror Storage

AI Is All Around Us

IT seems it is virtually impossible to avoid hearing about Artificial Intelligence (AI). Ever since ChatGPT hit the market, AI has become a never ending source of news, articles, advertisements, and lots of gloom. Artificial intelligence isn’t exactly new–the term goes back to the mid-1950s. Artificial Intelligence is a broad term and encompasses a few different subsets of processes. Generally, it refers to machines or computers doing things that we consider a skill limited to human intelligence. What has caught the public eye is what is labeled “generative AI”. Generative AI (e.g ChatGPT) refers to the AI tools that can create content, music, images, code and voice. One of the reasons generative AI is so widespread in its applications is that it doesn’t require coding skills for a layperson to use it, instead the user can instruct the tool to create content by using natural language.

Questions about generative AI

The media has certainly been filled with concern about AI and has raised many questions about areas where we potentially interact with it. How do we know the content we are reading is accurate and can be trusted to have come from reliable sources that have been vetted for accuracy? Can it be used to create misleading information that could misdirect our understanding of social, political, cultural, legal and other issues that affect the well-being of society? Others worry it could displace whole sectors of human labor. These are heavy questions best left to another venue of discussion.

Where is the average person interacting with AI?

We interact with artificial intelligence everyday in places we probably never give much thought. Those recommendations for purchases that you see on every shopping website you visit? That is done by a form of AI known as machine learning. Your thermostat that turns the heat up and down by learning when you usually leave the house? The refrigerator that makes your shopping list? Those are both examples of machine learning as well.

If you use a Managed Service Provider or a Managed Security Services Provider, AI is a new line of higher quality defense against cybercrime that they may be using to protect you. One of the greatest risks a business faces is a breach of its data by cybercriminals: malware, ransomware, et.al. and the tricks being used keep increasing in sophistication. Ransomware is particularly insidious. It can seize your data and hold it hostage for a ransom of currency, crypto or traditional. Once attacked there are very few alternatives to submitting to the ransom request. AI can help MSPs respond faster to specific threats and concerns, and assist in diagnosis and troubleshooting. Also, as every SMB knows, 24/7 monitoring and support is a critical service that an MSP can provide far more efficiently than a company can do in-house. (This has to do with the benefits of economies of scale.) AI can improve 24/7 monitoring because AI can evaluate an enormous amount of data, far faster than humans, and likely identify problems before they affect your business.

From Reactive to Proactive: Why Your IT Strategy Needs an Upgrade

Posted on February 25, 2025 by John Neibel

Make the move from reactive to proactive

As we move through Q1 of 2025, one thing is clear: the businesses that succeed are the ones staying ahead of rapidly evolving technology. A reactive IT strategy—waiting for problems to arise before addressing them—just doesn’t cut it anymore.

In today’s fast-paced world, downtime, data breaches, and inefficiencies can cost your business thousands of dollars in minutes. It’s time to make the shift to proactive IT management. Here’s why upgrading your IT strategy is critical and how a proactive approach can save your business time, money, and stress.

Why Reactive IT Is Holding Your Business Back

1. Downtime Is Too Expensive

A single hour of downtime can cost small businesses upwards of $10,000. With reactive IT, you’re stuck waiting for something to break before fixing it. While the clock ticks, your revenue slips, and delays can snowball into significant losses.

2. Evolving Security Threats Outpace Reactive Responses

Cybercriminals are using tools like AI to launch faster, more sophisticated attacks. A reactive IT strategy means you’re constantly playing catch-up, leaving your business vulnerable to ransomware, phishing, and other threats.

3. Productivity Takes a Hit

When employees face slow systems, recurring tech issues, or outdated hardware, it drags down productivity. These interruptions lead to frustration, inefficiency, and even burnout among your team.

The Case for Proactive IT Management

A proactive IT strategy changes the game. Instead of waiting for issues to arise, proactive management anticipates problems, minimizes downtime, and optimizes your systems for peak performance.

1. Early Detection Saves Time and Money

With proactive monitoring tools, potential issues—such as failing hardware, security gaps, or inefficient processes—are identified before they cause disruptions. Fixing these problems early prevents costly downtime and business interruptions.

2. Stronger Cybersecurity

Proactive IT management includes advanced security measures like:

24/7 monitoring to detect unusual activity.
Regular updates and patches to close security vulnerabilities.
Employee training to prevent phishing and social engineering attacks.

This layered approach provides comprehensive protection against ever-evolving threats.

3. Better Productivity and Efficiency

When your systems run smoothly, your team can focus on what they do best. Proactive IT ensures your hardware, software, and network are fully optimized, so your employees spend less time troubleshooting and more time delivering results.

What Does Proactive IT Look Like?

A proactive IT provider does more than fix problems—they prevent them. Key elements of a proactive IT strategy include:

24/7 network and system monitoring.
Regular audits to maintain top performance.
Software and hardware updates to stay current and secure.
Strategic IT guidance that aligns with your business goals.

This approach ensures that your technology works for you, not against you.

Is Your IT Strategy Ready for 2025?

If you’re still relying on a reactive IT strategy, your business is exposed to unnecessary risks, inefficiencies, and missed opportunities. Upgrading to a proactive IT approach isn’t just a smart move—it’s a necessity in today’s digital-first landscape.

Take the Next Step

Ready to make the shift? Start with a FREE Network Assessment. Our experts will evaluate your IT setup, identify vulnerabilities, and provide a tailored plan to ensure your business is prepared for whatever 2025 has in store.

👉 Click here to book your FREE Network Assessment now!

Don’t wait for the next tech disaster. Get ahead of the game with proactive IT management and position your business for success in 2025 and beyond.

AI: Of any value to an SMB?

Posted on February 20, 2025 by Mirror Storage

AI: Of any value to an SMB?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been all the media rage in the past year. Specifically, it isn’t AI in general, but a specific category of AI known as generative AI. This AI is capable of creating content, such as text, images, audio and similar data. Examples of generative AI tools can create content, music, image code, and voice. What this can include are documents that are used for marketing and other content on websites, as well as images, video, and audio. What made generative AI more widespread are the tools that use natural language to utilize them. It doesn’t necessarily require expertise in coding anymore. The generative AI tool that hit the news and has everyone curious about this development is ChatGPT. This allows any user to create conversations, answer text, and similar “written responses.” ChatGPT and similar tools are available to almost anyone.

Of course if you follow the news, there is much excitement about the potential of generative AI. It may be used to facilitate faster customer service, help attorneys evaluate large quantities of legal documents and propose new approaches to cases, medical professionals diagnose, and on and on. It also raises lots of concerns. How does one know that the content created by generative AI is accurate and can be trusted? For instance, can it be used to create misleading information, such as deceptive statements that could alter someone’s understanding of a political, cultural or medical issue. And there are others who worry it could displace whole categories of human workers, but that question isn’t our worry here.

One way you can leverage AI for your benefit is through your Managed Service Provider. Many industries can benefit from the judicious use of AI, such as legal, medical, architectural design, etc. and the IT world is no exception. In particular, AI may be another line of defense in cyber security. Clearly, one of the greatest risks any business faces is cybercrime. Malware, data breaches, ransomware–they all are a business-owner’s nightmare. Ransomware can hold your data hostage. Once attacked, there are very few alternatives to submitting to the ransom request unless you have solid, uncorrupted backups.

AI can help MSPs respond faster to specific threats and concerns, and assist in diagnosis and troubleshooting. Also, as every SMB knows, 24/7 monitoring and support is a critical service that an MSP can provide far more efficiently than a company can do in-house. This has to do with the benefits of economies of scale. AI can improve 24/7 monitoring because AI can evaluate an enormous amount of data, far faster than humans, and likely identify problems before they become business effecting.

One way a small business can utilize AI is marketing and sales. A lot of an SMB’s digital marketing tasks can be time-consuming and easily automated. Drip email campaigns, website visitor tracking, understanding where each customer exists in the sales funnel at any given moment, and other digital tools that increase customer engagement and drive sales are an excellent introduction to AI as a marketing tool. These tools both free up sales and marketing staff for other more complex tasks and improve customer engagement. These tools can be easily deployed by SMBs and are an excellent introduction to AI. Talk to a trusted MSP for guidance. You don’t have to go it alone.

Should You Upgrade or Replace Your Devices? A Guide for Windows 10 Users

Posted on February 18, 2025 by John Neibel

windows 10 end-of-life coming soon

With Windows 10 reaching its end-of-life in October 2025, it’s decision time for businesses and individuals still relying on the operating system. The big question: Should you upgrade your current devices to Windows 11 or replace them entirely?

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make the right decision based on your needs, budget, and goals.

Step 1: Check Compatibility

Before making a decision, confirm whether your existing hardware meets Windows 11’s system requirements. Microsoft’s strict requirements ensure optimal performance and security. Here’s what you’ll need:

A 64-bit processor (1 GHz or faster with at least 2 cores)
4 GB of RAM (8 GB or more recommended)
64 GB of storage
TPM version 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module)

How to Check Compatibility:

Use Microsoft’s PC Health Check tool for a quick assessment.
Manually review your device specs if needed.

Outcome:

Compatible: Proceed to evaluate your upgrade options.
Not Compatible: It may be time to consider new hardware.

Step 2: Evaluate Your Devices’ Age

How old is your current hardware? Devices older than five years are often less efficient, and they may not support Windows 11’s requirements.

Why Replace Older Devices:

Aging devices are likely nearing the end of their lifecycle.
Upgrading components like RAM or storage might not deliver noticeable performance gains.
Older hardware poses greater security risks due to outdated firmware.

Step 3: Assess Your Performance Needs

Ask yourself: Is your current hardware meeting your day-to-day demands?

Consider These Factors:

Speed: Are slow devices dragging down productivity?
Reliability: Are frequent crashes or malfunctions disrupting work?
Scalability: Can your hardware handle future software updates and workloads?

When to Upgrade:

If your devices perform well, upgrading to Windows 11 is likely a cost-effective option.

When to Replace:

If your hardware struggles with performance or impacts productivity, replacing it could save time and money in the long run.

Step 4: Weigh the Costs

Your budget plays a key role in deciding whether to upgrade or replace your devices.

Upgrading Current Devices:

Lower upfront cost (if your hardware is compatible).
Potential additional costs for hardware upgrades, like adding RAM.

Replacing Devices:

Higher upfront investment.
Long-term value with newer hardware designed for Windows 11, offering better performance and security.

Step 5: Think About Future-Proofing

New devices come with advanced features that can help your business stay ahead:

Enhanced Security: Hardware-based encryption and other modern protections.
Faster Performance: Improved processing speeds and energy efficiency.
Compatibility: Better support for modern applications and peripherals.

Investing in replacement devices now can prepare your business for growth and innovation, ensuring your systems remain efficient for years to come.

Pro Tip: Consult an IT Professional

Still unsure? Partner with an IT expert to simplify your decision-making process. An IT provider can:

Evaluate your current setup.
Recommend the best solution based on your specific needs.
Ensure a smooth transition with minimal downtime.

Take the Next Step

Don’t wait until the October 2025 deadline to decide. Start planning your transition to Windows 11 today!

Schedule a FREE Network Assessment with our team to evaluate your systems, identify vulnerabilities, and get expert recommendations tailored to your business.

👉 Click here to book your FREE assessment now!

Be proactive. Whether you choose to upgrade or replace, ensuring your systems are ready for Windows 11 will help keep your business running smoothly and securely.