Business Consulting
Tips on Changing Your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
A Common Scenario BBG Plumbing (name changed) was a reputable plumbing company that had been serving its community for over a decade. With an excellent track record of providing quality service, they had gained a loyal customer base. However, their operations were severely hindered by their unreliable internet service provider (ISP). The existing ISP had…
Read MoreThe Benefits of Integrating Your IT Department in Executive Meetings
The Case for an Integrated Approach An information technology (IT) company has the potential to play a variety of roles within a business, depending on the specific needs and goals of the organization. Some of the key roles that an IT company might fulfill within a business include: Overall, an IT company can play a…
Read MoreManaging Risk in Your Business
Overview According to one source, these are the most dangerous activities to engage in: Honestly, we wonder why bull running wasn’t first on the list! Managing risk is part of life. We all take risks every day, most likely not any of those listed above. But what most people are particularly bad at is defining…
Read MoreProtect Your Business against Extinction Level Events
A Case Study: Southwestern Airlines December 2022 Bob Jordan, the CEO of Southwest Airlines, believed the business would swiftly rebound from the extreme cold that resulted in hundreds of flight cancellations throughout the country in the days before Christmas. But by Dec. 25, it became obvious that the airline’s operations were in full meltdown. After…
Read MoreHow to Create a Business Continuity Plan
In the wake of the recent ransomware breach at Rackspace, many of their customers lost all access to their email accounts, calendars, and other critical information. The company responded by initiating emergency protocols. User accounts were migrated from Rackspace’s hosted Exchange to Microsoft’s O365 platform. Despite restoring services, users lost all their data due to…
Read MoreA New Year’s Resolution That Can Save Thousands of Dollars
Several years ago my home was burglarized. That was not a happy day. During the insurance claim process, the adjuster required me to provide evidence of each stolen item along with it’s replacement value. In addition, they asked me to verify ownership of those items with receipts, precise descriptions, or photos. Fortunately, my phone and…
Read MoreInformation Access: Avoiding Lax Controls in Your Business Environment
The Need for Management Information Systems Our Information Age appears to be entering a midlife crisis with many of us suffering from TMI… Yes, “too much information.” No, we’re not addressing that awkward issue of #peopletalktoomuch. As a technology company, we try to stay in our lane. Our focus is dealing with the vast amounts…
Read MoreThe Hidden Costs of DIY IT
The Money Pit is a classic movie released in 1986. Tom Hanks and Shelly Long star as a married couple who purchased their dream home in a distressed real estate sale. Unfortunately, the house begins to fall apart immediately. The front door separates from the house and crashes into the lawn. The bathtub falls through…
Read MoreDifficulties of Scaling a Business
Shortly after acquiring Node LLC in late 2018, I realized the business was running me more than I was running the business. Grant Ellis, our CTO and partner, suggested our executive team should go through “Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business” by Gino Wickman. I can say this was probably the single most important…
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