Practical IT for business.
Plain-English articles on managed IT, security, privacy and AI, from a team that’s been doing this since 1990.
Networks work because they’re designed, not because they’re sold
A box from a vendor quote isn't a network. Here is what real network design involves, from capacity planning to testing before…
Not all multi-factor authentication is equal
Text codes, authenticator apps, push prompts and passkeys all count as multi-factor authentication, but they are not equally strong. What each one…
Why AI headlines are louder than the reality
AI news swings between miracle and doom because fear gets clicks. Here is what the research says about scary headlines, and what…
Keeping the lights on isn’t managing your IT
If your systems run but never get better, you are being maintained, not managed. How contract incentives can reward doing the minimum,…
Year-end IT budgeting: planning for 2027
November is the time to plan next year's IT spending. A practical checklist for hardware, Microsoft 365 licensing, security, backup and connectivity,…
The real cost of “free” (and cheap) IT help
The relative who knows computers, or the cheapest technician in town, can look like a bargain. The hidden costs show up later:…
The PowerPoint problem: when IT is sold off a slide deck
A slide full of security tools looks impressive. But "we use X" is not the same as "X is handled." Ask who…
Free tools cost data: consumer vs business accounts
Free email, file sharing and messaging apps are paid for with data and control. Here is what changes when company work runs…
Why we build our own technology
FTI started in 1990 as an Alaskan engineering software company and still writes its own software today. Here is our story, and…
Who really runs your IT provider? Questions to ask before you sign
The logo on the proposal tells you little. Before you sign with an IT provider, find out who owns it, who designs…
Business email compromise: how the fake-invoice scam works
A vendor emails to say their bank details have changed. The invoice looks right, the email thread looks real, and the money…
Ten practical ways a small business can use AI this week
No big project, no new software rollout. Ten everyday tasks where an AI assistant can save your team time this week, with…