Straight answers on IT, security, and compliance
Plain-language guides to the questions we hear most, from the engineers who do this every day. No jargon, no fluff.
CMMC Phase 2 was suspended in July 2026, but most obligations still apply. What Virginia defense contractors must do right now, and what changes next.
Defender for Business includes EDR and automated remediation. Plan 1 does not. A plain comparison of the three Microsoft endpoint plans and who each one fits.
What DNS filtering blocks, how it differs from a secure web gateway, and how small businesses roll it out without breaking legitimate traffic or remote work.
What separates a real CMMC consultant from a documentation vendor: credentials to verify, the questions to ask, and the warning signs worth walking away from.
Yes, CMMC still applies. The Phase 2 assessment mandate is paused, but DFARS 7012, NIST 800-171, Phase 1 self-assessments and SPRS reporting remain in force.
How to build an IT budget you can defend: what to include, how to forecast lifecycle costs, and how to show ROI to a board, council or finance team.
What Arlington firms should expect from an IT provider: compliance depth for federal contractors, on-site response, and how to compare bids fairly.
What Kalamazoo manufacturers, practices and nonprofits need from an IT provider, how fully managed differs from co-managed, and what to ask before signing.
How Northern Virginia organisations should evaluate an IT consulting or managed IT provider: compliance depth, co-managed options, and comparing bids fairly.
How nonprofits should buy managed IT: grant and donated licensing, what to budget, the security questions boards now ask, and how to compare providers fairly.
Clean up Active Directory before you migrate, not after. What to fix first, why identity problems follow you into the cloud, and how to sequence the work.
Why IT security controls fail on OT networks, how utilities segment and monitor SCADA safely, and where to start if you have never assessed the OT side.
What an IT assessment covers, the four deliverables to insist on, how it differs from an audit, and when a business actually needs to commission one.
The signs it is time to switch IT providers, the offboarding steps that protect you, and the credentials and data you must secure before you give notice.
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