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Education

2026 Cybersecurity Outlook: Strategic Insights for Organizational Leaders CybersecurityEducation

2026 Cybersecurity Outlook: Strategic Insights for Organizational Leaders

As we approach 2026, the cybersecurity landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Organizations operating in sectors such as banking and critical infrastructure face mounting challenges as the sophistication and frequency of cyber threats accelerate. Regulatory pressures continue to grow, demanding robust compliance and proactive risk management. This report provides an authoritative overview of key trends, practical frameworks, and strategic solutions—particularly focusing on the CIS framework and Microsoft cloud security tools—to empower organizational leaders in building resilient, compliant operations. Evolving Threat Landscape Cyber threats are becoming more targeted and disruptive, with ransomware, supply chain attacks, and advanced persistent threats (APTs)…
Kyla Burdick
December 10, 2025
Why SMBs should choose SASE Over SSL VPN CybersecurityEducationSecurity

Why SMBs should choose SASE Over SSL VPN

Ransomware is one of the most disruptive threats facing businesses today. In 2024, Microsoft reported that the average cost of a cyberattack for small and medium-sized businesses was $254,445. Such attacks can permanently damage companies, sometimes even forcing them to close. For businesses with employees working from home, on the road, or across multiple offices, secure remote access is a major challenge. For years, SSL VPNs (Secure Sockets Layer Virtual Private Networks) were the standard solution. However, the security they provide is no longer sufficient for today’s complex, cloud-first environments. It’s estimated that 30% of ransomware attacks are linked to…
Kyla Burdick
November 5, 2025
Social Engineering: Own Your Role in Cybersecurity CybersecurityEducation

Social Engineering: Own Your Role in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Protecting Yourself and Your Organization October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month—a time when organizations and individuals alike reflect on the importance of keeping information and systems secure. While much of the focus often goes to strong passwords, firewalls, and software updates, there’s one area that can’t be overlooked: the human element. Social engineering attacks prey on people, not just technology. That means every one of us has a critical part to play in defending against these threats. What Is Social Engineering? Social engineering is a tactic cybercriminals use to manipulate people into giving up confidential information, clicking malicious…
Kyla Burdick
October 15, 2025
Backup and Disaster Recovery: Protect Your Data, Protect Your Business BackupBackup Disaster RecoveryEducation

Backup and Disaster Recovery: Protect Your Data, Protect Your Business

In an era where data powers every part of business, from customer information to daily operations, the ability to access and secure that data is critical to success—and survival. Yet too often, organizations underestimate the importance of a solid backup and disaster recovery (BDR) strategy — until an unexpected incident brings operations to a halt. From a ransomware attack to hardware failure, or a simple human error, disruptions can strike any business at any time. A reliable BDR plan helps ensure you're prepared to recover quickly, minimize potential impact, and keep your business moving forward.   What Is Backup and…
Kyla Burdick
October 1, 2025
The True Cost of a Cyberattack: Why Businesses Can’t Afford to Ignore Security CybersecurityEducationSecurityTech Tip

The True Cost of a Cyberattack: Why Businesses Can’t Afford to Ignore Security

In today’s digital world, cyberattacks are no longer a distant threat—they’re a reality business of all sizes must face. While many leaders think first about the financial loss, the hidden costs of a cyberattack often reach far deeper, leaving lasting damage to a company’s reputation, customer trust, and long-term growth. Let’s break down the real cost of a cyberattack—and why investing in prevention is always less expensive than the fallout. 1. Direct Financial Losses The most obvious impact of a cyberattack is monetary losses. From stolen funds and fraudulent transactions to regulatory fines and recovery expenses, businesses can see thousands—or…
Kyla Burdick
September 3, 2025
it procurement best practices
Why IT Procurement Best Practices Still Save Companies Millions Education

Why IT Procurement Best Practices Still Save Companies Millions

Buying the wrong technology drains budgets, slows down teams, and causes problems that are expensive to fix. Many businesses don't realize their IT procurement process is broken until it creates major delays or disrupts operations. According to CloudSecureTech, Businesses lose over $1.8 trillion each year to poor procurement choices and inefficient buying processes. These losses are preventable with the right systems in place. Ryan Pieken, Senior Consultant CIO, CISO Services, OXEN Technology, says, "Companies that fix their procurement process see faster onboarding, stronger compliance, and lower costs within the first year." This blog shares IT procurement best practices you can…
Kyla Burdick
August 22, 2025
Staying Ahead in Cybersecurity: How to Keep Up and Get Involved CybersecurityEducationLeadershipManaged ServicesOffice 365Security

Staying Ahead in Cybersecurity: How to Keep Up and Get Involved

Cyber threats are constantly changing, and keeping up with them can feel overwhelming. As the CEO of DotStar, an MSSP partnering closely with OXEN Technology, People often ask me, "How do you stay on top of cybersecurity trends and actually be part of the community?" It's not just about reading reports or taking courses—it's about engaging, learning from others, and contributing back. I've been in cybersecurity for nearly 15 years, and one of the best parts of this journey has been the incredible people I've met along the way. From my early days troubleshooting security incidents to leading security teams, I've…
Kelle White
March 25, 2025
2025 Cybersecurity Report CybersecurityEducationManaged ServicesSecurity

2025 Cybersecurity Report

It has been one year since OXEN Technology’s last cybersecurity report, and I am astounded by the changes that have transpired! The trends we anticipated last year have evolved as expected, while new themes have emerged at the forefront for 2025. In 2024, cybersecurity regulations and requirements continued to drive the industry forward. Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) gateways are beginning to replace traditional VPN and remote connectivity solutions. Despite increasingly sophisticated phishing attempts, users have become more adept at identifying and avoiding malicious emails. Looking ahead to 2025, we expect these trends to persist. However, several new topics are…
Kelle White
January 2, 2025
Protect Your Business from Phishing Attacks EducationManaged ServicesSecurity

Protect Your Business from Phishing Attacks

Phishing is a severe issue that is becoming worse. Hackers continue to improve their ways even as IT professionals work to develop more effective defenses against online attacks. What should a business owner do? Is it possible to defend your company against these increasingly damaging phishing attacks? Thankfully, there is, and that is what we will discuss today. It is crucial to have a current security system in place to protect your data and apps. You require a solid firewall, up-to-date antivirus software, a thorough disaster recovery plan, and other security measures. More than this, you can take advantage of…
Kelle White
October 17, 2022
Phishing
Telltale Signs of a Phishing Attack EducationManaged ServicesSecurity

Telltale Signs of a Phishing Attack

The main reason phishing has become such a prevalent problem is that it works. And hackers keep finding new ways to increase the success rate even further. What used to be easily distinguishable attempts at stealing information have now become brilliant scams that look valid at first glance. However, this doesn't mean that phishing attacks always work. All that's needed is for everyone to stay vigilant with online communications and ensure they know what to look for to identify a phishing scam. Here are some of the most important signs you should look out for. Fake Email Address Very few…
Kelle White
October 10, 2022