Appalachia Technologies Blog

Appalachia Technologies team is comprised of a diverse mix of IT professionals, some of whom have been on the forefront of IT since the industry’s inception. Through the years, our team has developed a wide array of experience in understanding individual needs and how they relate to your business.

PCI DSS Compliance Without Crushing Your Budget

PCI-Compliance

Achieving PCI DSS compliance can seem daunting, especially for teams with limited resources. Here are three critical PCI DSS questions and practical, low-cost solutions to help you stay secure without breaking the bank.

Continue reading

Is 'Zero Day' a Warning? What the Show Missed (and What Keeps Security Engineers Up at Night)

Untitled-22

Warning: The following blog is a commentary of the Netflix limited series, "Zero Day" and may contain spoilers.  

Continue reading

CMMC Level 2 Compliance: Top Pain Points and How to Overcome Them

The Department of Defense’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2 is based on the 110 security practices from NIST SP 800-171 rev 2. These practices are designed to protect controlled unclassified information (CUI) within the defense supply chain. For most DoD contractors, achieving CMMC Level 2 compliance is now mandatory, but the process is challenging. Organizations must navigate evolving requirements, implement technical controls, manage costs, train their workforce, and prepare for stringent audits. Here’s an overview of the top challenges contractors face along with the best practices for overcoming them.

Continue reading

Appalachia Technologies Cited in Case Study with IT Glue

APPALACHIA IN THE NEWS: Appalachia Technologies Cited in Case Study to Improve Efficiencies and Service Delivery

 

Improve and Evolve - this is one of the five Core Values of Appalachia Technologies and one we believe helps us to stay at the forefront of our industry.  Our Technical Assistance Center (TAC), while performing well and delivering quality service, was being challenged by processes for documentation that were manual and outdated.  Not satisfied with the current way of doing this, Chris Swecker, Manager of TAC, began to explore IT Glue.  IT Glue centralizes information, allowing for efficiencies in response time, accuracy, and client satisfaction.  As he explains, "IT Glue became our source of truth."  Chris and his team built on the success by incorporating additional tools to assist with password rotation and a client-side tool for password management and shared documentation.  

Continue reading

5 Steps to Build a PCI Program That Makes Managing Compliance Easy

PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance isn’t new, but it does constantly change. Maybe you’ve sorted it out, maybe not. Regardless, making it easier should be a goal for every security or compliance leader. A strong compliance management program will maintain compliance for you. It can also be a great tool to help bolster security and justify budget allocation. So how do you do it?

Continue reading

A Comprehensive Look at the FAR CUI Rule: What You Need to Know

In today’s increasingly interconnected world, safeguarding sensitive government data is a top priority for federal agencies—and for the contractors they partner with. While classified information has long been protected through well-established regulations, a new category of “Controlled Unclassified Information” (CUI) has emerged in recent years, prompting additional guidance and compliance requirements. Enter the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) rule for CUI.

In this blog post, we’ll explore what CUI is, why it matters to government contractors, and how the FAR rule on CUI will shape compliance requirements going forward.

Continue reading

A Tale of Sourdough and the TikTok Ban

Sourdough

Sourdough.  Yes, I am starting a blog for a cybersecurity company with the 2020 hot trend of sourdough.  Over Christmas break, my resistance to joining the sourdough club broke and I started down the path.  I spent time consuming all the information I could – I scoured Instagram and started following creators, I watched YouTube videos on how to properly do a ‘stretch and fold,’ and I perused website after website to figure out what the heck I was doing.  As a visual learner, I was thrilled when a blogger had included video for further explanation.  And in many cases, the videos were embedded from TikTok. 

Tags:
Continue reading

From Strength to Strength: Appalachia Technologies Celebrates 2024

Reflection is a part of growth – applauding successes, acknowledging missteps, and mapping out a plan forward.  For Appalachia Technologies, 2024 was filled with some significant achievements, lessons learned, and continued work in alignment with our core values.  Join us as we walk through 2024 and how it plays into our plans for 2025.

Continue reading

Key Steps for Successful Business Continuity Planning: Your Blueprint to Business Resilience

PSPro-Business-Continuity-800x800-Ad-14

Imagine being the owner of the most popular coffee joint on the corner. Your loyal customers line up outside each morning, eager to grab their caffeine fix. But, one day, as your staff hustles to keep up with the orders, a sudden storm knocks out the power, leaving the cafe in the dark. Or worse, a cyberattack targets your billing system, leaving a long line of frustrated customers.

Unexpected chaos can strike any business at any time. One moment, you’re basking in the glory of running a successful establishment; the next, you’re thrown against a wall, staring at a crisis that could disrupt your entire business. Don’t let this be your story.

Continue reading

Ensuring Data Security in Business Continuity

PSPro-Business-Continuity-800x800-Ad-15

Whether you’re a small business or a multinational corporation, your success hinges on the integrity and availability of critical data. Every transaction, customer interaction, and strategic decision relies on this precious asset.

As your dependence on data grows, so do the risks. Cyber threats and data breaches aren’t just potential disruptions when you possess valuable and sensitive data; they’re existential threats that can undermine your business continuity.

Continue reading

Fortify Your Business: A Comprehensive Guide to Business Continuity Planning

PSPro-Business-Continuity-800x800-Ad-10

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, unexpected disruptions can strike at any time. Are you prepared to weather the storm and emerge stronger? Business continuity planning (BCP) is your essential toolkit for resilience. Let's delve into the importance of BCP, common threats, and how to create a robust plan to safeguard your organization.

Continue reading

Understanding PCI: What It Is, How It Started, and the Challenges Businesses Face

In my 25+ year cyber security career, I have watched the demand for compliance auditing grow.  In a world where the need to carry cash is diminishing, the need for securing digital data, such as credit cards, is vital.  How do businesses go about protecting their clients’ credit data?  More importantly, how do we as customers know that our credit card data is being protected?  The answer is PCI.

Continue reading

Navigating the Risks of Rapid Tech Acceleration

PSPro-Social-Ad-800x800-15

We live in a world where possibilities are endless. From automated cars ferrying passengers to AI systems carrying out surgeries, tech innovations are quickly taking over our lives. The world of business is no different. Machine learning, AI, robotics and automation tools promise an unparalleled level of business efficiency.

Many businesses are rushing to embrace these innovations because they fear being left behind. However, the critical question is: Do you fully understand the technology, including its potential negative consequences?

Continue reading

Why Smart Tech Acceleration Is Essential to Your Long-Term Success

PSPro-Social-Ad-800x800-14

Are you feeling like you’re falling behind in today’s digital race? You’re not alone.

The cutthroat business world no longer tolerates “good enough” or subpar technology.

Therefore, it’s high time to turn technology into your growth engine, but hasty tech adoption won’t cut it. This is where smart tech acceleration comes in.

Continue reading

Terri Black-Bendl, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Nominated for Women in Technology Award

PRESS RELEASE

Mechanicsburg, PA, July 11, 2024 - Appalachia Technologies is excited to announce that Terri Black-Bendl, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, has been nominated for the Women in Technology Awards, presented by Technology Council of Central PA.  Terri’s nomination category, Impact Award – Private Sector/Entrepreneur to Small Business, spotlights women who have made contributions in technology in the Entrepreneurial/Small Business (under 50 employees) category.

Continue reading

Debunking Myths About AI in Cybersecurity

PSPro-AI-in-Cybersecurity-800x800-Ad-18

AI has become a buzzword that often evokes a mix of awe, doubt and even fear, especially when it comes to cybersecurity. However, the fact is that if used effectively AI can revolutionize the way businesses like yours operate.

That’s why you must cut through the noise and separate fact from fiction if you want to leverage AI effectively. In this blog, we'll debunk some common misconceptions about AI in cybersecurity.

Tags:
Continue reading

How Cybercriminals Use AI to Power Their Attacks

PSPro-AI-in-Cybersecurity-800x800-Ad-17

Managing a business on your own is challenging enough without worrying about cyberattacks. However, there is cause for alarm as hackers are using artificial intelligence (AI) to launch sophisticated cyberattacks to steal your data and disrupt business operations.

The good news is there are steps you can take to protect your business. This blog will explain how AI is being used in cybercrime and how you can safeguard your business.

Tags:
Continue reading

How to Choose the Right SaaS Backup Solution for Your Business

PSPro-SaaS-Backup-Ad-18-800x800

As technology continues to advance, more and more businesses like yours are adopting Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications due to their flexibility, affordability and user-friendly nature. These cloud-based services have become a staple in the corporate world, offering tools that range from email and communication platforms to customer relationship management and project tracking systems.

However, as much as SaaS brings convenience and efficiency to the table, it also introduces new challenges — particularly when it comes to data protection. That’s why finding the right SaaS backup solution is not just an option but a necessity for safeguarding your business’s digital assets.

Continue reading

Mike Miller Speaks: Taking Cybersecurity on Tour

PXL_20240502_182249001

We often get asked what makes our company different.  After all, there are more than half a million IT companies across the US, and if you were to spread that number evenly across all 50 states, that would mean there’s at least 10,000 IT companies in Pennsylvania.  So again, what makes us different?  There are a number of things that could be cited, from our culture to our service delivery to business philosophy and many more (check out our Core Values series on YouTube). 

Continue reading

The Most Dangerous Myths About Cloud Data Backup

PSPro-SaaS-Backup-Ad-17-800x800

For businesses, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions offer unparalleled opportunities to enhance efficiency, scalability and overall operations. However, growing  SaaS backup-related misconceptions also have the potential to hurt your business growth.

In this blog, we’ll shed light on some SaaS-related truths you simply cannot afford to ignore. Let's dive in.

Continue reading

News & Updates

APPALACHIA IN THE NEWS: Appalachia Technologies Cited in Case Study to Improve Efficiencies and Service Delivery   Improve and Evolve - this is one of the five Core Values of Appalachia Technologies and one we believe helps us to stay at the forefront of our industry.  Our Technical Assistance Center (TAC), while performing well and delivering quality service, was being challenged by processes for documentation that were manual and outdated.  Not satisfied with the current way of doing this, Chris Swecker, Manager of TAC, began to explore IT Glue.  IT Glue centralizes information, allowing for efficiencies in response time, accuracy, and client satisfaction.  As he explains, "IT Glue became our source of truth."  Chris and his team built on the success by incorporating additional tools to assist with password rotation and a client-side tool for password management and shared documentation.  

Contact Us

Learn more about what Appalachia Technologies can do for your business.

Appalachia Technologies
5000 Ritter Road Suite 104
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17055

Appalachia Technologies
  • About Us
  • IT Services
  • Compliance
  • Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Who We Serve
  • Speaker Request
  • (888) 277-8320