Appalachia Technologies Blog

Your biggest security risk isn't a zero-day exploit announced this morning. It’s that 20-year-old server running your door locks that everyone is too afraid to touch.

Let’s talk about the ghosts in your network.

We all have them. The Windows XP machine controlling a critical manufacturing line. The ancient server managing CCTV feeds. The forgotten box that holds the keys to your building's physical access. We keep them because they’re “too expensive to replace” or, more ominously, “too critical to turn off.”

But by treating them as untouchable, we're not avoiding risk; we are blindly accepting it.

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.

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.

What Is Alert Fatigue?

Alert fatigue happens when cybersecurity teams receive so many alerts — from failed logins to firewall warnings — that they begin to tune them out.

• Example: A SOC analyst might receive hundreds or thousands of alerts in a single shift.
• The Risk: When every alert seems urgent, nothing feels urgent.

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.