Appalachia Technologies Blog

Beyond the Efficiency Metrics

After a year of AI implementation, here's the number everyone wants to know: 20% productivity gain.

But that number tells you almost nothing about whether our implementation actually succeeded.

Did we make work better or just faster? Did we enhance human capability or diminish it? Did we build something sustainable or create technical debt? Are our people thriving or just surviving?

This week, let's talk about measuring what actually matters and learning from what doesn't work—because if you're not failing regularly with AI, you're not trying hard enough.

Solving Real Problems, Not Creating New Ones

I need to tell you about Marty the Robot.

Marty is my grocery store's $35,000 "innovation"—a six-foot-tall robot with googly eyes that supposedly detects spills. In reality, he's a mobile obstacle that terrifies children, blocks aisles, and makes shopping worse for everyone involved.

Marty is the perfect symbol of purposeless AI: technology deployed because it's possible, not because it's needed. He solves no problem customers have. He creates several they didn't. He represents everything wrong with how organizations approach AI.

This week, let's talk about purposeful implementation—how to ensure your AI solves real problems instead of becoming your own version of Marty.

The Difference Between Augmentation and Replacement

There's a moment in every AI implementation where you face a choice: Do we use this to amplify what humans do well, or do we use it to replace them entirely?

Most organizations don't even realize they're making this choice. They drift toward replacement by default, following vendor promises and cost-cutting instincts. But there's another way—one that recognizes a fundamental truth: The magic happens when humans and AI work together, not when one replaces the other.

This week, let's explore how to keep humans at the center of your AI strategy, not just in philosophy but in practice.

The Foundation Everything Else Depends On

Trust is like reputation—it takes years to build and seconds to destroy. With AI implementation, you don't get years. You get one shot at the first impression. Blow it, and you'll spend the next decade trying to recover.

Here's what most organizations don't understand: Trust isn't just nice to have. It's the multiplier that determines whether your AI implementation generates 2% efficiency gains or 20%. Whether your best people become innovators or update their resumes. Whether you're building the future or destroying your culture.

This week, let's talk about how to build (and keep) trust when implementing AI.

The AI Conversation We're Not Having

Every discussion about AI seems to devolve into the same tired debate: Will AI save us or destroy us? Are you a believer or a skeptic? Should we accelerate or pump the brakes?

This binary thinking is killing our ability to implement AI effectively. While we're busy arguing about robot overlords versus digital utopia, real organizations are struggling with real questions that don't fit neatly into either camp.

It's time for a third way—one that neither fears nor worships AI, but instead asks a simple question: How can we use this technology to make work more human, not less?

In my first blog of this series (Defining and Identifying Your Attack Surface), we covered what makes up your organization’s attack surface, and how it’s likely bigger (and more complex) than you realize. But knowing what’s out there is only the beginning. If you want to stay ahead of threats, you need to continuously monitor your environment, keep your asset inventory up to date, and prioritize which exposures deserve your attention.

Let’s break down what that really looks like in practice.

As an Appalachia Technologies employee for more than half the company's existence, Mike Williams has been influential in establishing the blueprint for company culture.  Now, as the President of Appalachia, Mike is reflecting back on how our culture is a differentiator and how we got here.

Reflecting on 20 Years of Innovation and Growth

At 20 years young, there’s so much good that could be written. With hindsight being 20/20,  I want to take you back 10 years ago to which, in my opinion, was “the Appalachia transformation.” This was when we challenged ourselves to dream about creating a culture within Appalachia that we all wished we had found previously in our careers...but didn’t. I say “dream” because we had a rather lofty vision of what we wanted “us” to look and feel like. We knew it wouldn’t be easy, and we also knew it would never be finished.

The Heart of Growth: Building a Strong Company Culture

Growing a business includes adding staff to handle the increased client base and services.  Fundamental to successfully adding staff is the development of a company culture.  For Appalachia Technologies, company culture is discussed regularly and lived daily.  From staff development, team building, core values, and the complimentary core actions, relationships are cultivated with regular care and nurturing, both on the staff and client sides.

A Milestone in Cybersecurity: Celebrating Two Decades

In the fall of 2024, we celebrated the 20^th anniversary of Appalachia Technologies.  Venturing out to start a business is a bold undertaking.  The reality is 20% of new businesses fail within the first two years and by the 10 year mark, 65% do not succeed.  So how did two individuals come together with a vision for a business that has beaten the odds?  Brian Stone and Mike Romano, founders and partners, sat down to be interviewed and shared some previously unheard stories from those early days.  Join us as we share the journey to the Appalachia Technologies we know today.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.