Field notes

Straight talk on security, Microsoft 365, and running IT right.

Practical, no-jargon writing for business owners and the people who keep their networks running.

Read article →
Why Jeffersonville and Louisville Small Businesses Are Being Targeted by Ransomware in 2026
1 min read

Why Jeffersonville and Louisville Small Businesses Are Being Targeted by Ransomware in 2026

Ransomware attacks on small businesses have increased sharply — not because attackers are more sophisticated, but because enterprises invested heavily in security while smaller operations largely

Why I Built the Blackbird M365 Assessment Tool -- and Why You Need It Right Now
1 min read

Why I Built the Blackbird M365 Assessment Tool -- and Why You Need It Right Now

I've spent nearly 30 years in IT and cybersecurity. I've inherited environments from other MSPs that were supposed to be fully

What Should a Managed IT Contract Actually Include? A Plain-English Checklist for Kentuckiana SMBs
1 min read

What Should a Managed IT Contract Actually Include? A Plain-English Checklist for Kentuckiana SMBs

Every provider has a different name for their packages and a different definition of fully managed. This checklist cuts through the noise. 1. Proactive Monitoring

The 5 Biggest IT Mistakes Kentuckiana Small Businesses Make
1 min read

The 5 Biggest IT Mistakes Kentuckiana Small Businesses Make

Most IT problems don't happen because business owners are careless. They happen because nobody told them what to watch out for. Mistake #1:

MSP vs. Break-Fix IT: The Real Cost Difference for Louisville Area Businesses
1 min read

MSP vs. Break-Fix IT: The Real Cost Difference for Louisville Area Businesses

Break-fix IT looks economical on the surface. That perception crumbles once you look at actual numbers. What Break-Fix Actually Costs Average IT downtime

Why Small Businesses Are Easy Ransomware Targets (And How to Stop It)
1 min read

Why Small Businesses Are Easy Ransomware Targets (And How to Stop It)

Small businesses get hit with ransomware because attackers know you lack enterprise-grade security. You're profitable enough to pay, vulnerable enough to breach,