Appalachia Technologies Blog

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.

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.

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.

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.

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). 

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.

In late February, NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) released the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0, a considerable update since its creation in 2014.  To help our cybersecurity community and businesses digest the changes, Mike Miller and a team from Appalachia Technologies recently held a lunch and learn webinar.  The webinar provided a mixture of voices and perspectives.  After the event, we asked each member of the panel for their thoughts on what’s most important about NIST CSF 2.0 and the discussions that came from the webinar. 

Are you prepared to face a cybersecurity breach, a natural disaster or a system failure?

Such disruptive events can strike at any moment, causing chaos and confusion.

But don’t worry. With an effective incident response plan in place, you can handle any incident with confidence.

This blog is intended to help you enhance your plan simply and straightforwardly. So, let’s dive in and make sure you’re ready for whatever comes your way.

Worried about cyberattacks hitting your business? You're not alone.

Cyberattacks pose a real danger to businesses like yours and without a solid incident response plan, your business won’t be able to recover quickly, resulting in extensive losses. The good news, however, is that an incident response plan can help.

Through this blog, we’ll show you the common mistakes, myths and misconceptions that can stop you from building a strong response plan. We’ll also share simple solutions that will help you safely navigate cyber challenges.

The NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Cybersecurity Framework, developed in early 2014, is a framework widely respected and used across organizations in the United States.  Over the years, revisions have been made – version 1.1 was drafted in 2017 and adopted in 2018, and talk around a more significant update in the form of 2.0 began sometime in 2023.  And finally, this February the NIST CSF 2.0 was officially released – so what does this even mean?  And why does it matter?

In late February, the CISO Masterminds met for the Spring Summit Event in Hollywood, Florida.  Founded by Jason Starr, CISO Masterminds gathers CISOs from across the nation to provide opportunities for deep conversation and exchange that ultimately allow CISOs to better serve their organizations.  Appalachia has been honored to be afforded the opportunity to participate in events and serve as expert speakers.

In today's business landscape, data isn't just power -- it's the very lifeline that fuels business decisions, drives innovations and shapes strategies. However, businesses often find it difficult to effectively manage the vast amounts of data they hold, and that's where data management comes into play.

Simply put, data management is all about collecting, storing and analyzing data in the most efficient way possible to help businesses like yours make informed decisions, optimize operations and unlock invaluable insights.

In the world of business, your data holds the key to understanding customers, market trends and internal operations. Making the most of this information is crucial for improving customer experience, driving innovation and enhancing overall productivity.

You can unlock the full potential of your digital data with efficient data management and data governance.

Your network is your business’s lifeline.

A healthy and secure network is critical for seamless communication and operational efficiency. That’s why it’s crucial to proactively identify issues and optimize performance through continuous network security monitoring.

However, as you keep a close watch, you’ll discover many issues lurking beneath the surface. In this blog, we’ll take a look at these hidden challenges and how to tackle them to ensure robust network security.

Press Release

Mechanicsburg, PA, February 15, 2024 — Appalachia Technologies, announced today that CRN^®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Appalachia Technologies to its Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the Pioneer 250 category for 2024.

Businesses today face a range of cybersecurity threats, from social engineering attacks like phishing to sophisticated ransomware. For business leaders like you, protecting your network is crucial since it is the lifeline of your business. Any vulnerability in your network can compromise your sensitive data, operational integrity and stakeholder trust. That's why you must understand and address these threats through proactive measures, such as routine security scans and network testing.

In this blog, we'll discuss the role of a robust network and demystify network testing intricacies.

Is your business prepared to confront today’s growing cybersecurity threats?

Although adopting the latest technologies and industry trends is undoubtedly crucial, it is equally important to ensure that your business has the best cyber liability insurance. Think of it as an invisible shield protecting your business from devastating losses. However, to harness its full potential and ensure robust protection, it is critical to have a nuanced understanding of it.

How to Ensure Your Cyber Insurance Pays Out

In the current digital environment, where cyber threats are commonplace, it makes perfect sense to have cyber liability insurance. However, just having a policy in place doesn’t guarantee a smooth claims process.

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, where cyberthreats and vulnerabilities continually emerge, it’s obvious that eliminating all risk is impossible. Yet, there’s a powerful strategy that can help address your organization’s most critical security gaps, threats and vulnerabilities — comprehensive cyber risk management.

Keeping sensitive data and critical tech safe from cyberattacks is crucial for businesses like yours. Your survival and growth depend on how well your organization can withstand cyberthreats. That's where cyber risk management comes into play.