Guides
Longer reads for the decisions that matter.
Practical, printable guides written for business owners, not IT people. Each one is the checklist we use ourselves.
Pinned from the guides
One idea from each, and who it helped.
Order the internet circuit the week the lease is signed. Carriers take six to twelve weeks. Nothing else on a move fails as often.
The relocation checklist Did you knowA backup that has never been restored is a hope, not a plan. Ask for the date of the last tested restore.
What to actually test Gold Star survey"Matt Wilson is the best! He is so knowledgeable, kind, and the best assistance when running into any issues. He's always willing to go above and beyond to ensure that our office needs are met. Today I had an issue he hadn't run into before, and without hesitation he figured out how to address the problem, and in less than five minutes had a solution. So grateful to have him on our team!"
Lillian, insurance brokerageMeet Matt From the shopEvery piece of gear we ship was configured and tested on a bench in Pell Lake first. Problems found here cost an afternoon. Problems found in your server room cost production.
The second-host story Small businessSunk cost is real. A backup server you bought last year deserves a plan before it goes in a dumpster because a move made it convenient.
Server or cloud, honestly Gold Star survey"Awesome "Johnny on the Spot" service! You guys made a scary situation a lot easier to work through."
Debra, packaging companyMore from the survey wall TechnologyMulti-factor on email but not on the remote gateway is a locked front door with the back door open. Do all of them.
Multi-factor everywhere Small businessYour cyber insurance questionnaire is a security audit you sign. Start it ninety days before renewal and every answer can be yes.
Answering the questionnaire Gold Star survey"Mike C. was spot on. Needed assistance setting up a software license with a third-party vendor. Mike was on time for the pre-arranged meeting and completed the install with no issues. After the install the vendor commented on how easy it went. Mike knew where everything needed to go and facilitated his end without flaw."
Jarad, HVAC contractorMeet MikeThe office IT relocation checklist
Everything that has to happen, in order, from the day the lease is signed to the first Monday in the new building. The list we use on every move.
Nate Weigel, Protection Director · 9 min readOwner's guideSwitching IT providers: the owner's guide
How to know it is time, what to ask the next company, how to leave without an outage, and what the first month should look like.
Eric Grimes, Partner · 11 min readGuideAnswering the cyber insurance questionnaire honestly
What the questions actually mean, which controls insurers now require, and how to turn a no into a yes before renewal.
Nate Weigel, Protection Director · 10 min readGuideBackup and disaster recovery for a small business: what to actually test
The difference between a backup and a recovery, the three questions that expose a broken one, and a testing schedule that fits a small company.
Jamie Deeter, Service Director · 9 min readGuideHow to choose an AI platform for a small business
The six questions that decide whether a tool is safe to put your business into, why the feature list is the least useful column, and how to check a vendor's answer rather than take it.
Nate Weigel, Protection Director · 9 min readTemplate and guideAn AI usage policy for a small business, in two pages
What to put in it, why consumer AI tools are the real risk, and how a regulated firm rolls out Copilot without the examiner flinching.
Jim Lennon, Account Manager · 8 min readChecklistIT due diligence when buying a business
The technology questions to ask before the letter of intent, what the answers do to the price, and how integration goes when it is planned.
Pete Weigel, Partner and CEO · 9 min readTalk to a partner, not a sales script.
Tell us what is going on. A partner will call you back the same business day, look at what you have, and tell you honestly whether we are the right fit. No pricing pressure, no pitch deck.