Writing on IT, security, and running a technology-dependent business.
Notes from 29+ years of doing this work in Cape Breton. Practical, not preachy. Aimed at business owners and IT managers, not other consultants.
- Security6 min read
Windows 10 hit end-of-support a year ago. A lot of Cape Breton businesses are still running it.
October 2025 was the official cutoff. We're now a year in, and the real-world consequences of staying on Windows 10 are starting to show up on our service tickets.
Read the article - Business7 min read
Fiona was four years ago. Is your business actually ready for the next one?
September is peak storm season on the island. Here's what we've learned from four years of putting Cape Breton businesses back together after the power goes out.
Read the article - Managed IT5 min read
The end-of-Q3 IT checklist — what to tie off before winter
September is the last predictable month before the year gets busy. Here's the short IT checklist Cape Breton businesses should run through now.
Read the article - Managed IT6 min read
The 10-endpoint threshold — when it stops making sense to do IT yourself
Below 10 endpoints, most Cape Breton businesses run IT out of the owner's spare time. Somewhere between 10 and 25, that stops working.
Read the article - Security6 min read
MFA is enabled. That doesn't mean you're protected.
Turning on MFA is the first step, not the last one. Here are the five most common gaps that let attackers in even when "MFA is enabled."
Read the article - Networking5 min read
Summer-tourism season: why your WiFi becomes a business liability in July
Cape Breton runs on summer tourism, and the WiFi that worked fine in April chokes in July. What breaks, why now, and how to get ahead of it.
Read the article - Security7 min read
Cyber insurance is getting harder to get — here's what your carrier actually wants to see
Renewal questionnaires are getting longer, premiums are climbing, and coverage is getting narrower. Here's what carriers check for and how to prepare.
Read the article - Cloud6 min read
Microsoft 365 is not a backup — what happens when someone deletes the wrong folder
Microsoft's default retention on deleted 365 data is 30 to 90 days. After that, gone. Here's the difference between retention and backup.
Read the article - Security6 min read
When your Cape Breton business gets hit with ransomware
What to do in the first hour, first day, and first week. Practical, sequential, from someone who has walked local businesses through it.
Read the article - Managed IT7 min read
Managed IT vs Break-Fix: how to actually choose
Neither is objectively right. Here's the honest math and the workload profile each one fits best.
Read the article - Security5 min read
IP cameras vs analog: which one to install in 2026
Analog CCTV isn't dead but it's clearly on the way out. Here's a clear framework for when to buy which — and what to do with existing cabling.
Read the article
More articles in the works. If there's an IT or security question you'd like us to write up, let us know.