Support Archives - Transcend Networks, Inc.

5 Security Layers You’re Likely Missing (and How to Add Them)

John Penrod — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:13:33 +0000

Most small businesses in North Georgia aren’t falling short because they don’t care. They’re falling short because they didn’t build their security strategy as one coordinated system. They added tools over time to solve immediate problems, a new threat here, a client request there.

On paper, that can look like strong coverage. In reality, it often creates a patchwork of products that don’t fully work together. Some areas overlap. Others get overlooked.

And when security isn’t intentionally designed as a system, the weaknesses don’t show up during routine support tickets. They show up when something slips through and turns into a disruptive, expensive problem.

Why “Layers” Matter More in 2026

In 2026, your small business security can’t rely on a single control that’s “mostly on”. It must be layered because attackers don’t politely line up at your firewall anymore. They come in through whichever gap is easiest today.

The real story is how quickly the landscape is changing.

The World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 says “AI is anticipated to be the most significant driver of change in cybersecurity… according to 94% of survey respondents.”

That’s more than a headline. It means phishing becomes more convincing, automation becomes more affordable, and “spray and pray” attacks become more targeted and effective. If your security model depends on one or two layers catching everything, you’re essentially betting against scale.

The NordLayer MSP trends report highlights that active enforcement of foundational security measures is becoming the standard. It also points to a future where you are expected to actively enforce foundational security measures, not just check a compliance box.

It also highlights that regular cyber risk assessments will become essential for identifying gaps before attackers do. In other words, the market is shifting toward consistent security baselines and proactive oversight, rather than best-effort protection.

And the easiest way to keep layers practical and not chaotic, is to think in outcomes, not tools.

A Simple Way to Think About Your Security Coverage

The easiest way to spot gaps in your security is to stop thinking in products and start thinking in outcomes.

A practical way to structure this is the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0, which groups security into six core areas: Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover.

Here’s a simple translation for your business:

Govern: Who owns security decisions? What’s considered standard? What qualifies as an exception?
Identify: Do you know what you’re protecting?
Protect: What controls are in place to reduce the likelihood of compromise?
Detect: How quickly can you recognize that something is wrong?
Respond: What happens next? Who is responsible, how fast do they act, and how is communication handled?
Recover: How do you restore operations and demonstrate that systems are fully back to normal?

Most small business security stacks are strong in Protect. Many are okay in Identify. The missing layers usually live in Govern, Detect, Respond, and Recover.

The 5 Security Layers MSPs Commonly Miss

At Transcend Networks, we strengthen these five areas, and your business's security becomes more consistent, more defensible, and far less reliant on luck. Phishing-Resistant Authentication.

Phishing-Resistant Authentication

Basic multifactor authentication (MFA) is a good start, but it’s not the finish line.

The common gap is inconsistent enforcement and authentication methods that can still be tricked by modern phishing.

How to add it:

Make strong authentication mandatory for every account that touches sensitive systems
Remove “easy bypass” sign-in options and outdated methods
Use risk-based step-up rules for unusual sign-ins

Device Trust & Usage Policies

Most IT systems manage endpoints. Far fewer have a clearly defined and consistently enforced standard for what qualifies as a “trusted” device, or a defined response when a device falls short.

How to add it:

Set a minimum device baseline
Put Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) boundaries in writing
Block or limit access when devices fall out of compliance instead of relying on reminders

Email & User Risk Controls

Email remains the front door for most cyberattacks. If you’re relying on user training alone to stop phishing and credential theft, you’re betting on perfect attention.

The real gap is the absence of built-in safety rails, controls that flag risky senders, block lookalike domains, limit account takeover impact, and reduce the damage from common mistakes.

How to add it:

Implement controls that reduce exposure, such as link and attachment filtering, impersonation protection, and clear labeling of external senders
Make reporting easy and judgment-free
Establish simple, consistent process rules for high-risk actions

Continuous Vulnerability & Patch Coverage

“Patching is managed” often really means “patching is attempted.” The real gap is proof, clear visibility into what’s missing, what failed, and which exceptions are quietly accumulating over time.

How to add it:

Set patch SLAs by severity and stick to them
Cover third-party apps and common drivers/firmware, not just the operating system
Maintain an exceptions register so exceptions don’t become permanent

Detection & Response Readiness

Most environments generate alerts. What’s often missing is a consistent, repeatable process for turning those alerts into action.

How to add it:

Define your minimum viable monitoring baseline
Establish triage rules that clearly separate “urgent now” from “track and review”
Create simple, practical runbooks for common scenarios
Test recovery procedures in real-world conditions

The Security Baseline for 2026

When you strengthen these five layers—phishing-resistant authentication, device trust, email risk controls, verified patch coverage, and real detection and response readiness—you establish a repeatable, measurable baseline you can be confident in.

Start with the weakest layer in your business environment. Standardize it. Validate that it’s working. Then move to the next.

If you’d like help identifying your gaps and building a more consistent security baseline for your business, contact us today for a security strategy consultation. We’ll help you assess your current stack, prioritize improvements, and create a practical roadmap that strengthens protection without adding unnecessary complexity.

Article used with permission from The Technology Press.

The post 5 Security Layers You’re Likely Missing (and How to Add Them) appeared first on Transcend Networks, Inc..

The Server Refresh Deadline: Why Windows Server 2016’s End of Support Should Drive Your Cloud Migration Plan

Craig Fouts — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 21:59:51 +0000

Time moves fast in the world of technology, and operating systems that once felt cutting-edge are becoming obsolete. With Microsoft having set the deadline for Windows Server 2016 End of Support to January 12, 2027, the clock is ticking for businesses that use this operating system.

Once support ends, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or patches, leaving your business systems vulnerable. It’s not just about missing new features, continuing to use unsupported software significantly increases the risk of cyberattacks.

If your systems are still on Windows Server 2016, now is the time to plan your upgrade. With about a year until support ends, waiting until the last minute can lead to rushed decisions and higher costs.

Understanding the Security Implications

When support ends, the protection provided by security updates and patches disappears, as Microsoft will no longer fix bugs or vulnerabilities. Hackers often target unsupported systems, knowing any new exploits will go unpatched and open the door to attacks.

Legacy systems put IT administrators in a tough spot. Without vendor support, defending against threats becomes nearly impossible, compliance with industry regulations is compromised, and running unsupported software can lead to failed audits.

Additionally, customer data on servers running this operating system is vulnerable to theft and ransomware. The cost of a breach far outweighs the cost of upgrading. Using unsupported systems is like driving a faulty, uninsured car, failure is inevitable. The question isn’t if it will happen, but when.

The Case for Cloud Migration

With the end-of-support deadline approaching, businesses face a choice: either purchase new physical servers running the latest Windows Server editions or migrate their infrastructure to the cloud. Investing in new hardware and software comes with substantial upfront costs and locks you into that capacity for five years, the typical span of mainstream support for Windows Server, plus an additional five years for Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) releases.

On the other hand, a cloud migration strategy offers a more flexible alternative. Platforms such as Microsoft Azure or Amazon’s AWS cloud services allow you to select virtualized computing resources such as servers and storage, which can scale as needed. On these platforms, you only pay for what you use, transforming your IT spending from capital expenditure to operating expense.

The cloud provides greater reliability and disaster recovery, eliminating concerns about hard drive failures in your server rack. Cloud providers handle the management and upgrades of the physical infrastructure, freeing your IT team to focus on driving business growth.

Analyze Your Current Workloads

Before moving to the cloud, it’s essential to know what you’re working with. Take inventory of all applications running on your Windows Server 2016 machines. While some are cloud-ready, others may need updates or reconfiguration.

Identify which workloads are critical to your daily operations and prioritize them in your migration plan. You may also discover applications you no longer need, making this an ideal time to streamline and clean up your environment.

When in doubt, consult with your software vendors to confirm compatibility, as they might have specific requirements for newer operating systems. Gathering this information early helps you to avoid surprises during the actual migration.

Create a Phased Migration Plan

When transitioning to a new system, moving everything at once is risky; ‘big bang’ migrations often cause downtime and confusion. The best approach is a phased migration to manage risk effectively. Begin with low-impact workloads to test the process, then proceed to medium and high-impact workloads once you’re confident everything runs smoothly.

Set a realistic timeline that beats the server upgrade deadline by a significant margin, and then work backward from the end-of-support date. This approach allows for plenty of buffer time for testing and troubleshooting, since rushing migrations often results in mistakes and security gaps.

Communicate the schedule to your staff clearly, they need to know when maintenance windows will occur, so that they can also manage their workflows effectively. Managing expectations is just as important as managing servers, and you don’t want to get in your own way. A smooth transition requires everyone to be informed and on the same page.

Test and Validate

Once you migrate a workload, it’s essential to verify that it functions as expected. Key questions to ask include: Does the application launch correctly? Can users access their data without permission errors? Testing is the most critical phase of any migration.

After migration, run extensive performance benchmarks to compare the new system with the old one. The cloud should offer equal or better speed, and if things are slow, you might need to adjust resources. Optimization will be a normal part of the migration process, until you find the perfect balance that works for you.

The summarized steps for a successful migration include: ·

Audit all current hardware and software assets
Choose between an on-premise upgrade or a cloud migration
Back up all data securely before making changes
Test applications thoroughly in the new environment
Do not declare victory until users confirm everything is working.

The Cost of Doing Nothing

Ignoring the end of support deadline is not a viable strategy. Some businesses hope to delay until the last minute and then rush a migration, but this is extremely risky. Cybercriminals constantly target outdated, vulnerable systems, often using automated bots to scan for weaknesses.

If you continue using Windows Server 2016 past the extended support dates, you may need to purchase 'Extended Security Updates.' While Microsoft offers this service, it is extremely costly, and the price rises each year, making it more a penalty for delay than a sustainable long-term solution.

Act Now to Modernize Your Infrastructure

If your business still relies on Windows Server 2016, the end of support marks a pivotal moment for your IT strategy, upgrading your technology stack is no longer optional. Whether you choose new hardware or a cloud solution, decisive action is required.

Take this opportunity to enhance your legacy system’s security and efficiency, ensuring your modern business runs on a modern infrastructure. Don’t let time compromise your data’s safety, plan your migration today and safeguard your future.

Concerned about the approaching Windows Server 2016 end-of-support deadline? We specialize in smooth migrations to the cloud and modern server environments. Let us take care of the technical heavy lifting, contact us today to begin your upgrade plan.

Article used with permission from The Technology Press.

The post The Server Refresh Deadline: Why Windows Server 2016’s End of Support Should Drive Your Cloud Migration Plan appeared first on Transcend Networks, Inc..

Tech for Humans Newsletter

Craig Fouts — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 21:10:06 +0000

Happy Holidays! If you receive a smart thermostat, a Wi-Fi printer, or even a fancy coffee maker as a gift this holiday season, this email is for you.

IT experts call these devices the "Internet of Things" (IoT), and while they make life easier, they are becoming a massive target for hackers.

Ignored smart devices can open doors into your network. One weak camera password can give a cyber-criminal access to your entire business, expose sensitive data, or even let ransomware spread through your systems.

Don't panic though. In today’s email, I’ll show you three simple steps to lock these devices down without needing a degree in computer science.

You’ll also learn how to protect your data in the event of a stolen laptop, why a vertical mouse might fix your wrist pain, and the science behind why some ideas stick while others fail.

So grab your favorite beverage of choice, get comfy, and let’s dig in.

THE BIG IDEA

Is Your Smart Coffee Machine Secretly Spying on You?

IoT (Internet of Things) devices are everyday smart gadgets connected to the internet to make your business life easier.

I'm talking about smart thermostats, security cameras, Wi-Fi printers, voice assistants, smart lighting, and even the smart fridge in the breakroom.

They automate tasks and improve efficiency (which is great), but they also are potential entry points for cybercriminals.

The reality is that many of these gadgets come with weak security.

People tend to overlook them in their security plans because they see them as appliances, not computers.

The problem is… hackers use these to access business networks more often than you’d like to know.

No need to panic though, as you can lock them down effectively with these three steps:

Change Default Passwords Immediately.

Most devices come with factory settings like "admin" and "password." Hackers have lists of these for almost every manufacturer out there.

Change these to strong, unique passwords the moment you take the device out of the box. Use a password manager so you don't have to remember them all.
Isolate IoT Devices on a Separate Network.

This is the single most important step. Do not connect your smart lights or breakroom TV to the same Wi-Fi network as your accounting software and client files.

Create a separate "Guest" or "IoT" network on your router. This acts like a quarantine zone. If a hacker gets into your smart coffee machine, they are trapped there and can't jump over to your servers or laptops.
Keep Software and Firmware Updated.

Manufacturers find security holes constantly and release updates to fix them. However, unlike your laptop, your printer won't always tell you when it needs an update.

You need to check the settings regularly or turn on automatic updates if the option exists.

Bonus Tip: If you aren't using a feature, turn it off. Does your printer really need "remote access" enabled so you can print from another country? Probably not.

Disabling unused features gives hackers less options for them to hack into your network.

SANTA JOHN'S TECH TIP

Lock IT Down: Why BitLocker Matters

If you have travel plans this holiday season, BitLocker helps protect your business data by encrypting your entire drive. So, if a laptop is lost or stolen, your information stays secure and unreadable.

Turn it on by going to Settings → Privacy & Security → Device Encryption (or BitLocker) and be sure to securely save your recovery key in a safe location. Without it you will not be able to recover your data.

THE LATEST NEWS

🗣️ Hidden Code Reveals ChatGPT Ads

Code strings found in the latest Android beta version of ChatGPT suggest that OpenAI is experimenting with a new "marketplace" ad feature. While nothing is live for the public yet, the leaked "bazaar" and "search ad" labels hint that contextual product suggestions might be coming to your chats in the future.

🤝 Google and AWS Finally Play Nice

In a rare move, Google Cloud and AWS are collaborating to simplify networking between their platforms. This new "Cross-Cloud Network" means businesses using both services can finally move data between them easily, without the usual connection headaches or complex workarounds.

🧠 AI Tools for Mental Health

SonderMind has launched a new suite of clinically backed AI tools designed to assist therapists rather than replace them. The AI handles heavy admin tasks like note-taking and even helps generate treatment plans. It frees up clinicians to focus on the patient, but it begs the question: Would you trust a treatment plan put together by AI?

THE INTERESTING STATISTIC

75% of Organizations Hit by IoT-Related Breaches in The Last 12 Months

According to the State of IoT Adoption 2025 Report by Eseye, a staggering 75% of organizations experienced an IoT-related security breach in the last 12 months.

These connected devices have become the definitive weak link in corporate networks, often providing hackers with easy backdoors simply because default passwords aren't changed or firmware remains outdated.

We actually saw a massive real-world example of this recently with the BadBox 2.0 botnet.

Disclosed by Google and security partners in 2025, this botnet infected over 10 million IoT devices, including smart TVs, digital picture frames, and even in-car infotainment systems.

Cybercriminals used these compromised devices to launch large-scale attacks and hijack accounts, causing damage far beyond just the devices themselves.

We’ve also seen hackers break into smart security cameras, like Ring devices, by exploiting reused credentials to spy on premises.

These incidents underscore that unsecured devices can compromise your entire business.

THE GADGET OF THE MONTH

If wrist pain or discomfort from traditional mice is slowing you down, the Logitech Lift Vertical Mouse offers an ergonomic solution designed for business owners and office workers.

Its unique “handshake” design keeps your hand and wrist in a natural, neutral position, dramatically reducing strain during extended computer use.

It connects effortlessly via Bluetooth, works on multiple devices, and fits medium and small hands perfectly. It’s a small affordable investment that saves you from experiencing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome down the road.

THE BOOK OF THE MONTH

Ever wonder why some business ideas, slogans, or strategies seem to catch on like wildfire while others fizzle out and are forgotten?

Made to Stick breaks down the science behind what makes ideas memorable and effective.

The Heath brothers explain the six principles of “sticky” ideas: simplicity, unexpectedness, concreteness, credibility, emotion, and stories. They offer practical steps you can apply to your marketing or leadership communications right away, whether you’re pitching a new product or rallying your staff around a vision.

DID YOU KNOW?

The first webcam was invented at Cambridge University to monitor a coffee pot. Researchers were tired of wasting trips walking down the hall to an empty pot, so they set up a camera to check the coffee levels remotely.

Thanks for reading!

My team and I wish you a safe and happy holiday season. 🙂

May the New Year bring you and your businesses much success and continued growth!

If you ever need a professional opinion on anything IT related, simply hit reply and let me know.

The Transcend Networks Team is here to help 🙂

The post Tech for Humans Newsletter appeared first on Transcend Networks, Inc..

Tech for Humans Newsletter

Craig Fouts — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 20:25:56 +0000

What's the one thing that's almost guaranteed to punch a massive security hole in your business?

An employee leaving.

It sounds simple, but it's a bigger, more expensive problem than most people think.

In today's email, I'll run you through a simple 7-step checklist for when an employee leaves (it'll also save you a fortune on wasted software licenses).

You'll also find out about your options to VMware's fundamental changes, what's new in the tech world (including some wild AI stuff), and why a physical key for your online accounts is a good idea.

Plus, as usual, I'll share a book that's a genuinely useful for business owners and a fun fact you can use at your next BBQ.

So grab your favorite beverage of choice, get comfy, and let’s dig in.

THE BIG IDEA

How to Securely Offboard Employees in Just 7 Steps

When it comes to an employee leaving, most businesses log into M365, disable their account, and call it a job done.

But that’s just the first step, and it leaves a lot exposed.

What about all the other stuff they had access to? The accounting software? The password manager? Your project tools, your marketing platform, the company LinkedIn account?

Not only is that a massive security hole, but you're probably still paying for their licenses.

Here’s a repeatable checklist you can use to keep your business secure every time you offboard an employee:

Get or Wipe the Company Hardware. On their last day, get their company laptop, phone, key card, and any physical office keys back. If they're remote, remotely wipe and lock their company-issued devices immediately. This is step one.
Forward Their Email Inbox. Before you nuke their email account, forward it to their manager or a teammate. This stops any client emails or important vendor messages from disappearing into the void.
Disable the Primary Account. Now you can disable their main login (Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace). This is what locks them out of their email, cloud storage, and calendar.
Go Down the Software Master List. This is the step everyone misses. You must have a master list of all the software your company uses. Go down that list and remove their access from every single app (accounting, marketing, sales, project tools, everything). This is what stops that "software waste."
Change All Shared Passwords. Did they know the password to the company's social accounts, the main support inbox, or a vendor portal? Change them. All of them.
Handle Their Phone Number. If they had a company phone number or extension, forward it to their replacement or a manager. You don't want clients calling a dead line.
Remove Them From Payroll. After you're 100% sure their final pay and any reimbursements are sorted, remove them from your payroll system. This is the last step that officially closes the loop.

Without a written checklist, you're almost guaranteed to miss something.

If you'd like to chat about building a secure process for your business, reach out to us.

JOHN'S TECH TIP

Check If Your Password Has Been Stolen

Ever wonder if your email has been exposed in a data breach? You can check for free in seconds.

Visit haveibeenpwned.com and enter your email address. It will instantly tell you if you've been part of a known data leak. If your email is on the list, change the password for the affected site immediately, and for any other account where you've used the same one.

IN THE KNOW

VMware’s Broadcom Shake-Up: What SMBs Must Know Now

Broadcom’s VMware Acquisition: What It Means for SMBs

In 2025, Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware fundamentally changed the landscape for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) relying on virtualization. This move has led to dramatic pricing increases and strategic shifts favoring big enterprises over smaller clients. Many SMBs are now facing renewal fees that are 3x to 10x higher than what they paid under VMware’s old model, as affordable “perpetual” licenses were eliminated in favor of costly subscriptions tied to the number of CPU cores in use. Basic version free licenses have also disappeared, making it increasingly tough for SMBs operating on tight budgets

Open-Source Alternatives: Proxmox Leads the Way

Affordable virtualization alternatives, led by Proxmox VE, are now in high demand among SMBs. Unlike VMware, Proxmox is open-source and free, with enterprise support available at low annual subscription rates. Businesses gain features like clustering, live migration, and high availability for no extra fee. Proxmox supports a wide range of hardware, offers simple web management, and lets businesses dodge vendor lock-in and runaway license costs.

Other strong alternatives include Microsoft Hyper-V and Nutanix AHV, which suit organizations with more advanced needs or those who are already invested in Microsoft infrastructure.

Migration: Pros and Cons of Making the Switch

Pros

Massive Cost Savings: Businesses can save 80% or more compared to VMware’s new pricing.
Freedom and Flexibility: No vendor lock-in; open standards let you adapt and pivot with less risk.
Feature-rich Environment: Most enterprise-grade virtualization features (clustering, high availability) come included.
Vibrant Community: Big user base and clear development roadmap mean strong support.
Hardware Flexibility: Works on a wide range of server types.

Cons

Learning Curve: Teams must learn new management tools and processes if moving off VMware.
Software Compatibility: Not all third-party enterprise software may support Proxmox or similar platforms out-of-the-box.
Conversion Complexity: VM migration may require manual file conversion and downtime, especially for disk formats.
Support Differences: Paid support is available, but might not match VMware’s extensive partner ecosystem.
Feature Trade-Offs: Some niche VMware features may not be replicated.

Take Action: What Should SMB Owners Do?

Review your VMware renewal and licensing status immediately.
Evaluate your virtualization needs and research alternatives like Proxmox before next renewal.
Plan for a phased migration, and work with experienced partners or MSPs to make transitions smooth.
Pilot test any migration before going business-wide.

This new era is forcing SMBs to reconsider and future-proof their IT strategies. By acting early and being informed, owners and operators can regain control over technology budgets and ensure a stable, predictable platform for the future. Transcend Networks can help, having setup and supported virtual environments for many years, we can consult with you on a strategy that works best for your business.

THE LATEST NEWS

Google Replaces Assistant with Gemini on Home Devices

Google is rolling out "Gemini for Home," upgrading the Google Assistant on Nest speakers and displays. This update makes the voice assistant more conversational and capable, allowing users to have more natural, back-and-forth chats about complex topics without using the "Hey Google" wake word for every follow-up question.

Proton Launches Free 'Data Breach Observatory'

Proton has launched the Data Breach Observatory, a free, public-facing hub that tracks business data leaking onto the dark web in real-time. The tool (which has already identified over 300 million exposed records) shows which industries are being targeted, helping businesses get a more accurate picture of their real-world cyber risks instead of relying on self-reported data.

UT Dallas Demos Brain-Inspired Computer Prototype

Researchers at UT Dallas have built a neuromorphic computer prototype that learns patterns more like a human brain. This new hardware design is far more efficient, requiring significantly fewer computations and less power for AI tasks than conventional systems, potentially paving the way for more powerful and efficient AI on mobile devices.

THE INTERESTING STATISTIC

The Average Company Wastes 37% of its software budget

How many software tools does your company pay for, and how many are actually being used?

An analysis by Zylo found that the average company wastes 37% of its software budget on applications that are unused, underutilized, or completely forgotten.

This waste happens in a few common ways:

Shadow IT: An employee signs up for a free trial with a company credit card. The trial expires, the subscription automatically starts, and you begin paying for a tool you never formally approved.
Redundant Subscriptions: Your sales team uses Dropbox while your operations team pays for Google Drive. You are now paying two different companies for the exact same function.
Orphaned Licenses: An employee leaves the company. Their email is deactivated, but their recurring software licenses for tools like Slack or Adobe are never canceled. These "ghost charges" can continue for months or even years.

These tools are often a security risk, as the may hold sensitive company data, are rarely configured with proper security settings like multi-factor authentication, and are not included in security updates.

A data breach in one of these forgotten apps could compromise your entire business.

Getting control of your software stack is one of the fastest ways to cut costs and reduce risk. A professional software audit identifies every application your company pays for, eliminates wasteful overlap, and makes sure every tool is secure and properly managed.

THE GADGET OF THE MONTH

We all know passwords can be stolen, and even the security codes sent to your phone aren't foolproof. For your most important accounts, like your email, financial software, and cloud storage, a physical security key is probably the best multi-factor authentication solution.

A YubiKey 5C NFC is a small, durable device that you put on your keychain. When you log in somewhere, you plug it into your computer's USB port or tap it on your phone as your second step of verification.

With this key, even if a hacker successfully steals your password, they still can’t get into your account. Without the physical key in their hand, the stolen password is useless to them.

It adds a physical, real-world layer of security to your digital life. It's a simple, affordable one-time purchase to make sure only you can access your most critical business information.

THE BOOK OF THE MONTH

Ever feel like you're just stuck?

Like your business is growing, but you're dealing with the same problems over and over?

People issues, processes that don't stick, no one seems to know what the main goal is. It's a total headache, and it feels like you're just spinning your wheels.

Traction by Gino Wickman is pretty much the antidote. Wickman lays out a simple system for running your business called the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). Don't let the fancy name scare you off.

It's a set of practical, real-world tools to get your head screwed on straight across six key parts of your company.

The whole point is to get everyone, from you down to your new intern, all paddling in the same direction. Everyone knows what the goals are, and everyone knows exactly what their job is.

It's a guide for owners who want a more structured and consistent way to run their business.

DID YOU KNOW?

The first thing ever sold online wasn't a book or a CD, like most people would guess. It was a large pepperoni pizza from Pizza Hut. The order was placed back in 1994 through a website the company had createdcalled PizzaNet.

Thanks for reading!

My team and I put this newsletter together to share tech advice that’s actually useful, and (hopefully) even fun to read 🙂

When we’re not writing these, we’re helping businesses like yours become more secure and stay productive without all the tech headaches.

If you ever need a professional opinion on anything IT related, simply hit reply and let me know.

We're here to help 🙂

The post Tech for Humans Newsletter appeared first on Transcend Networks, Inc..

Tech for Humans Newsletter

Craig Fouts — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 21:54:33 +0000

In the world of business technology, there are few things more critical than your data. And yet, many business owners rely on a single, often vulnerable, system to protect their most important asset: their backups.

Today, we’re unpacking a core principle of data protection: the 3-2-1 backup strategy.

You’ll learn exactly why a single backup is a recipe for disaster and how to build a resilient data safety net. But that’s not all. We also cover:

The alarming number of productive hours your slow hardware is costing you annually.
The rise of "Agent Mode" AI that can buy products and run complex analyses autonomously.
A closer look at the Georgia automotive manufacturing industry and an upcoming event highlighting its supply chain.
A classic psychology book that helps you master decision-making.

So grab your favorite beverage of choice, get comfy, and let’s dig in.

THE BIG IDEA

The 3-2-1 Rule: How to Keep Your Data Safe and Avoid Costly Losses

For most businesses, data protection goes like this: You save your files, they get copied to an external drive or a cloud service once a day, and you never think about it again.

That approach is fatally flawed.

If your data and your backup are in the same physical location, you don’t have a backup. You just have two copies that can be lost at the same time.

This single point of failure, the dependence on one device or one location, is how businesses go under after a disaster.

A fire, a flood, a local ransomware attack that encrypts every drive connected to your network, or even a simple power surge… any of these can wipe out both your primary system and your backup simultaneously.

That’s why the 3-2-1 Rule is the gold standard for data protection.

The 3-2-1 Backup Strategy

The rule is straightforward and easy to remember:

3 Copies of Your Data: This includes your original production data (the files you work with every day) and at least two separate backup copies.
2 Different Media Types: Store your two backup copies on at least two different types of storage media. This could mean a local external hard drive, a network-attached storage (NAS) device, tape drives, or a cloud backup service. The key is to avoid having them all on the same type of technology, which might share the same failure mode.
1 Offsite Copy: Keep at least one copy of your backups stored offsite (away from your office). This is the critical line of defense against physical disasters like fire, theft, or local ransomware that could spread across your network. A cloud backup service is the most common and simplest way to satisfy the 1 offsite requirement today.

The True Cost of Cutting Corners

What happens if you ignore the 3-2-1 Rule?

Ransomware: The latest ransomware is designed to seek out and encrypt local backup drives before it locks your main files. If your backup is just an external drive plugged into your server, it will be encrypted right alongside your primary data, leaving you no option but to pay the ransom.
Hardware Failure: A server hard drive fails. You reach for your local backup drive, only to find its power supply failed last month, and you didn't notice. Now you’ve lost both.
Human Error: A staff member accidentally deletes a critical folder. You restore it from the local backup, only to discover that the backup job had been failing for three weeks. The offsite copy becomes the only thing that saves you.

What You Can Do This Week

If you’re relying on a single backup, it's time to fix it.

Audit Your Current Backups: Where does your data live? How many copies do you have? If the answer is one, you have work to do.
Activate an Offsite Strategy: If you're only backing up locally, immediately sign up for a reputable cloud backup solution. This is the single most important step in protecting against physical disaster or ransomware.
Test Your Restore Process: A backup is useless if you can’t restore from it. Test pulling a critical file from your backup to ensure the data is intact and the process works quickly. If you can’t get your business back online in an hour, your backup plan isn't good enough.

If you want peace of mind knowing your data is protected with this gold-standard strategy, we can set up, manage, and monitor your 3-2-1 backups for you. Just hit reply and let us know you need help.

JOHN'S TECH TIP

Instantly Restore Your Last Closed Tab

Accidentally closed a critical browser tab? Stop digging through your history! In any major browser (Chrome, Edge, Safari, etc.), hit Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows) or Command + Shift + T (Mac) to re-open the last tab you closed. You can repeat the command to resurrect multiple tabs in reverse order.

THE LATEST NEWS

OpenAI Launches 'Buy it in ChatGPT' for Instant Checkout

OpenAI has launched "Instant Checkout" powered by the Agentic Commerce Protocol, allowing users to buy products directly within ChatGPT. This moves AI beyond product recommendation to handling the secure, multi-step purchase process itself. This marks a major step toward agentic commerce, where the AI acts as a true personal shopping agent.

Microsoft Copilot Gets Smarter with 'Agent Mode'

Microsoft introduced Agent Mode and Office Agent in Microsoft 365 Copilot, focusing on "vibe working." This new capability uses advanced reasoning models to let Copilot orchestrate multi-step tasks in Word and Excel autonomously. You can now prompt Copilot with complex requests like "Run a full analysis on this sales data," and the agent will evaluate, generate, and verify the resulting spreadsheets or documents.

Major Discord Data Breach Exposes User Information via Third-Party Vendor

In early October 2025, Discord disclosed a data breach caused by attackers targeting a third-party provider, compromising user data associated with customer support requests. This incident underscores the growing risks of supply chain attacks, where external vendors become a weak link in the cybersecurity posture of major technology platforms.

UPCOMING EVENT

3rd Annual Southern Supply Chain Summit and Ports Authority Tour

Transcend Networks will attend and exhibit at the Georgia Automotive Manufacturers Association’s 3rd Annual Southern Supply Chain Summit and Ports Authority Tour, taking place November 4th and 5th in Savannah.

This event draws leaders from the region’s fast-growing automotive sector, which is experiencing record investment and job growth, particularly in electric vehicle and battery manufacturing.

John Penrod, CTO of Transcend Networks, will contribute his expertise to a panel discussion on Cybersecurity in the Supply Chain, an increasingly critical topic for manufacturers.

Georgia’s automotive industry now leads the nation in EV-related investments, has created more than 38,000 jobs since 2015, and continues to attract global manufacturers with its logistics infrastructure and talent pipeline.

Georgia has attracted over $31 billion in EV manufacturing investment since 2015, outpacing other U.S. states.

Hyundai, Kia, SK Battery, and Rivian all have major high-tech facilities operating or being built in Georgia.

The automotive sector contributes over $22 billion annually to Georgia’s economy, supporting more than 50,000 direct manufacturing jobs and tens of thousands of related logistics and engineering positions across the state.

Georgia’s robust port and transportation infrastructure drives over $80 billion in trade activity each year, significantly boosting regional income and employment opportunities in automotive and advanced manufacturing sectors.

THE INTERESTING STATISTIC

Slow Hardware is Costing You Weeks of Productivity

Did you know that clinging to old computers is costing you weeks of productive time?

A major study by Microsoft and Intel found that a single PC over four years old costs a business an estimated 112 hours of lost productive time per employee annually.

This massive time-drain is the equivalent of losing almost three full work weeks every year to slow boot-ups, application delays, and unexpected crashes.

Additionally, research shows that repair and upgrade costs for PCs older than four years are 1.3 times higher than for newer models, with the total cost often exceeding the price of buying a replacement machine.

You are effectively paying more money just to keep a slow, unreliable device barely functioning.

Old hardware also presents a significant security risk.

These machines often have to run unsupported operating systems and lack the modern security features needed to defend against current threats. Relying on aged devices leaves your entire network exposed to vulnerabilities that a simple, planned hardware refresh can easily solve.

If you need help figuring out which of your devices you should replace and which you should keep, reply to this email and we’ll help you out.

tHE GADGET OF THE MONTH

If you're struggling to find quiet time when you need it, you need the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones.

These are easily the best in class for active noise cancellation (ANC), using advanced processing to completely shut down the world. They create a pocket of silence that lets you finally get into deep work, whether you’re at your kitchen table or sitting on a train.

What makes them perfect for communication is their mic system. It's specifically engineered to isolate your voice, ensuring that when you jump on a video call, your colleagues hear you clearly, and not your dog barking at home or the coffee grinder at the cafe.

They are also incredibly comfortable for all-day wear and feature Bose's signature Immersive Audio.

THE BOOK OF THE MONTH

If you’ve ever wondered why your intuition sometimes leads you astray, Thinking, Fast and Slow offers the answer.

Nobel Prize–winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman breaks down the two systems that shape every decision you make: System 1 (fast, intuitive, and emotional) and System 2 (slow, deliberate, and logical).

Through decades of research, Kahneman uncovers the mental shortcuts and biases that shape our choices, from overestimating success on new projects (the planning fallacy) to fearing losses more than valuing gains (loss aversion). His insights reveal how these patterns influence everything from business strategy to everyday judgment.

Suppose you want to understand why customers behave unpredictably or why confidence sometimes clouds judgment. In that case, this book gives you the tools to see your own decision-making more clearly and to know when to trust your instinct and when to pause for analysis.

DID YOU KNOW?

The QWERTY keyboard you use every day was intentionally designed to be slow. It was created for early mechanical typewriters, where rapid typing caused the keys to jam. The strange layout was specifically chosen to reduce typing speed and prevent those mechanical failures.

Thanks for reading!

My team and I put this newsletter together to share tech advice that’s actually useful, and (hopefully) even fun to read.

When we’re not writing these, we’re helping businesses like yours become more secure and stay productive without all the tech headaches.

If you ever need a professional opinion on anything IT related, simply hit reply and let me know.

We're here to help.

The post Tech for Humans Newsletter appeared first on Transcend Networks, Inc..

7 Signs It’s Time to Outsource Your IT Help Desk

Craig Fouts — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 06:59:08 +0000

Your IT help desk should keep your business running smoothly, not slow it down. But if your internal team is buried under a growing pile of tickets, support requests, and software issues, it may be time to consider a managed alternative.

Outsourcing your help desk can free up your team, reduce response times, and improve end-user satisfaction. But only if you make the move at the right time.

Here are 7 clear signs your business is ready for outsourced help desk support.

1. Your Internal IT Team is Burned Out

If your in-house IT staff spends most of their time resetting passwords, fixing printers, or walking users through Outlook configuration, instead of working on strategic projects, you have a problem.

Outsourcing the day-to-day help desk tasks lets your internal team focus on high-impact initiatives like cybersecurity, infrastructure upgrades, and long-term planning.

Explore how our Help Desk Services can support your internal team →

2. Ticket Backlogs Are Causing Downtime

Slow response times don’t just frustrate your team, they kill productivity. If users regularly wait hours (or days) for basic support, you’re losing time and money.

An outsourced help desk can offer SLA-backed support, off-hours availability for critical issues, and scalable staffing to keep response times low, even during high-volume periods.

3. You’re Expanding but Can’t Scale Support

Whether you’re onboarding new employees, opening a satellite office, or transitioning to hybrid work, growth comes with growing pains. If your IT support can’t scale alongside your business, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

Outsourced help desks are built to scale on demand, allowing you to grow your workforce without overloading your team.

4. You Can’t Retain IT Staff

When IT teams are stuck doing basic support all day, morale drops, and turnover goes up. That puts you in a never-ending cycle of hiring, training, and losing talent.

Letting an external partner handle help desk requests gives your team room to grow professionally, improving both retention and results.

5. Your Business Needs 24/7 IT Monitoring, But You Can’t Staff It

Clients, employees, and systems don’t operate on a 9-to-5 schedule. If your business needs after-hours support for critical issues, but you can’t justify night shifts or weekend coverage, outsourcing is often the smartest option.

Top-tier managed providers offer around-the-clock monitoring without the burden of internal scheduling, PTO gaps, or holiday coverage.

6. You’re Struggling to Track Issues or KPIs

Are tickets falling through the cracks? Do you lack visibility into support performance? If your team isn’t using structured ticketing, escalations, or performance metrics, it’s hard to improve.

A managed help desk includes tools and reporting that give you full transparency, from ticket status to first-response times.

Many MSPs (like Transcend) integrate help desk support with remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools, so some issues are resolved automatically before users even notice.

7. You’re Losing Focus on Strategic IT

Help desk overload keeps your team stuck in the weeds. If no one has time to focus on disaster recovery planning, software lifecycle management, cybersecurity policy, or vendor oversight, you’re falling behind.

Outsourcing your help desk gives you space to move from reactive IT support to proactive IT strategy.

How to Start the Transition

Outsourcing doesn’t have to mean “losing control.” Look for a provider that:

Offers US-based, in-house support teams
Customizes workflows to your business
Provides dedicated onboarding and migration assistance
Integrates with your ticketing or RMM tools
Offers clear SLAs and performance tracking

Is Your IT Help Desk Holding You Back?

Let’s talk about how Transcend can help you reduce downtime, boost user satisfaction, and give your internal team room to focus.

Schedule a quick call or demo →

The post 7 Signs It’s Time to Outsource Your IT Help Desk appeared first on Transcend Networks, Inc..

Support Archives - Transcend Networks, Inc.

5 Security Layers You’re Likely Missing (and How to Add Them)

Why “Layers” Matter More in 2026

A Simple Way to Think About Your Security Coverage

The 5 Security Layers MSPs Commonly Miss

Phishing-Resistant Authentication

Device Trust & Usage Policies

Email & User Risk Controls

Continuous Vulnerability & Patch Coverage

Detection & Response Readiness

The Security Baseline for 2026

The Server Refresh Deadline: Why Windows Server 2016’s End of Support Should Drive Your Cloud Migration Plan

Understanding the Security Implications

The Case for Cloud Migration

Analyze Your Current Workloads

Create a Phased Migration Plan

Test and Validate

The Cost of Doing Nothing

Act Now to Modernize Your Infrastructure

Tech for Humans Newsletter

THE BIG IDEA

Is Your Smart Coffee Machine Secretly Spying on You?

Change Default Passwords Immediately.

Isolate IoT Devices on a Separate Network.

Keep Software and Firmware Updated.

SANTA JOHN'S TECH TIP

THE LATEST NEWS

🗣️ Hidden Code Reveals ChatGPT Ads

🤝 Google and AWS Finally Play Nice

🧠 AI Tools for Mental Health

THE INTERESTING STATISTIC

75% of Organizations Hit by IoT-Related Breaches in The Last 12 Months

THE GADGET OF THE MONTH

THE BOOK OF THE MONTH

DID YOU KNOW?

Tech for Humans Newsletter

THE BIG IDEA

How to Securely Offboard Employees in Just 7 Steps

JOHN'S TECH TIP

IN THE KNOW

VMware’s Broadcom Shake-Up: What SMBs Must Know Now

Broadcom’s VMware Acquisition: What It Means for SMBs

Open-Source Alternatives: Proxmox Leads the Way

Migration: Pros and Cons of Making the Switch

Take Action: What Should SMB Owners Do?

THE LATEST NEWS

THE INTERESTING STATISTIC

The Average Company Wastes 37% of its software budget

THE GADGET OF THE MONTH

THE BOOK OF THE MONTH

DID YOU KNOW?

Tech for Humans Newsletter

THE BIG IDEA

The 3-2-1 Rule: How to Keep Your Data Safe and Avoid Costly Losses

The 3-2-1 Backup Strategy

The True Cost of Cutting Corners

What You Can Do This Week

JOHN'S TECH TIP

THE LATEST NEWS

OpenAI Launches 'Buy it in ChatGPT' for Instant Checkout

Microsoft Copilot Gets Smarter with 'Agent Mode'

Major Discord Data Breach Exposes User Information via Third-Party Vendor

UPCOMING EVENT

3rd Annual Southern Supply Chain Summit and Ports Authority Tour

THE INTERESTING STATISTIC

Slow Hardware is Costing You Weeks of Productivity

tHE GADGET OF THE MONTH

THE BOOK OF THE MONTH

7 Signs It’s Time to Outsource Your IT Help Desk

1. Your Internal IT Team is Burned Out

2. Ticket Backlogs Are Causing Downtime

3. You’re Expanding but Can’t Scale Support

4. You Can’t Retain IT Staff

5. Your Business Needs 24/7 IT Monitoring, But You Can’t Staff It

6. You’re Struggling to Track Issues or KPIs

7. You’re Losing Focus on Strategic IT

How to Start the Transition

Is Your IT Help Desk Holding You Back?