Pinnacle I.T.

04/16/2026

I just published a new blog post called "Who's Raising Superman?" and it's not about comic books.

AI opinions are everywhere right now. Some people say it's totally safe. Others say the world is ending. The truth is way more nuanced than either side wants you to believe.

I wrote this to help you figure out who's actually worth listening to when it comes to AI. Not what to think — but how to evaluate the people telling you what to think. I lay out 8 guidelines I personally use when deciding who my dependable sources are.

One of the most important things I've come to believe: the technology itself is morally neutral. It's not good or evil. The real question is what humans are going to do with it.

Give it a read and let me know what you think.

AI opinions are everywhere — from total hype to total doom. This guide gives you 8 practical filters for deciding who's actually worth listening to, from a tech professional who builds with AI daily.

04/06/2026

Why every business owner should have an MSP- and exactly what an MSP even is!

03/18/2026

Did you know that 87% of ransomware attacks now include data theft BEFORE the encryption even happens?

That means even if you have great backups, attackers can still threaten to publish your customer data, employee records, and financial information. It's called "double extortion" — and it's now the standard, not the exception.

We wrote a blog post breaking down exactly what's changed, what data they're going after, and — most importantly — what you can do about it without breaking the bank.

If you're a business owner and your ransomware plan starts and ends with "we have backups," this is worth a read. 👇

Ransomware has evolved — and most businesses are still defending against the old version. A few years ago, the playbook was simple: attackers encrypt your files, you restore from backup, everyone moves on. Today, 87% of ransomware incidents include data exfiltration. They steal your data BEFORE en...

03/13/2026

AI is changing the way your customers search for answers — and that means it's changing how they find YOU.

You've probably noticed it yourself: you Google something, and instead of a list of links, you get an AI-generated summary right at the top. No clicking required.

That's great for the person searching. But if you're a business that depends on people finding your website? It's a whole new game.

In our latest blog post, we break down what AI search actually means for small businesses, why your online visibility might be shifting without you realizing it, and what you can start doing about it today.

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AI search tools like Google AI Overviews and ChatGPT are changing how customers find businesses online. Instead of clicking links, they get instant AI-generated answers. Here's what that shift means for your visibility — and what you can do about it.

03/11/2026

Most businesses are adopting AI agents without realizing they're handing over the keys to the kingdom.

These tools can read your emails, access your files, and take actions on your behalf — and most companies have zero governance around them.

I wrote about what every business owner needs to know before AI agents become a security nightmare.

The short version:
→ AI agents aren't just chatbots — they act autonomously
→ Most SMBs have no idea what permissions these tools actually have
→ Shadow AI is already inside your organization
→ You need a governance framework before it's too late

Full breakdown in my latest post

https://pinnacleitsystems.com/blog/b/ai-smb-security

02/28/2026

One of the things I love about the Microsoft 365 ecosystem is that it never sits still.

The Microsoft 365 Roadmap is full of upcoming upgrades, and while dates sometimes shift, it’s always a great sneak peek at what’s around the corner.

A few new updates caught my eye.

They’re especially relevant for businesses that rely on Outlook, Teams, Edge and Copilot day in, day out.

🟦 Outlook is finally getting a long-requested feature

The new Outlook app (on Windows and the web) will soon let you run rules on specific folders, not just on incoming mail.
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People have been asking for this since 2022, and it’s a huge win for anyone who likes tidy inboxes, structured workflows or automated filing.
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It’s also a nice boost for the new Outlook’s reputation (which could use a little boost).

Mobile Outlook is also getting “Up Next” meeting notifications, complete with a “Prepare” button powered by Copilot to help you quickly catch up before you join a call.

A small feature, but a very smart one.

🟦 Teams is getting smarter with AI agent approvals
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As more bots and AI assistants enter the workplace, IT admins need a clear way to judge which ones meet company standards.
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Teams will soon generate an automated Trust Score based on the rules your business sets.�Define your requirements once and let Teams do the rest.
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Faster decisions, fewer risks.

🟦 Microsoft Edge is getting clearer names
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Efficiency mode is being renamed Energy Saver, and its gaming variant is becoming PC Gaming Boost.
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Same functionality, clearer messaging, which should make life easier for people who just want to know what a setting does.

🟦 Copilot will summarize files right inside the share menu
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Soon, when you share a document from File Explorer or OneDrive, you’ll be able to include a Copilot-generated summary automatically.
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Your recipient knows exactly what the file contains immediately. No more “What’s this about?” emails.

All these updates have one thing in common…
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They’re small quality-of-life improvements that add up to smoother, more efficient working days.
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🤔 Which Microsoft 365 app would you like to see get a helpful new feature next?

02/27/2026

Do you open the same apps every morning? There’s a Windows trick that launches them for you…

02/26/2026

Have you noticed a time saving feature is missing from PowerPoint?

It’s not a mistake. But it might be a productivity killer.

Luckily, there are a couple of workarounds. Your people need to know about these…

02/25/2026

Most of us trust our web browsers without thinking twice.
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We add extensions for productivity, wallpapers, speed tests, new tabs and carry on with our day.

But a new long-running investigation has revealed something important for every business: Some browser extensions can quietly turn into spyware years after you install them.

Security researchers have uncovered a seven-year campaign by a group known as ShadyPanda, involving more than 4.3 million installs.

What makes this so worrying isn’t just the scale, it’s the strategy.

Some extensions started out completely legitimate.
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People used them safely for years.
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Then, in mid-2024, the attackers silently pushed a malicious update.
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And overnight, those same extensions gained full access to people’s browsing activity.

They could:

🕵️‍ Monitor every website you visit.

❓Collect search queries.

🍪 Gather cookies (which can let attackers access accounts).

🔎 Track clicks, scrolling, time on page.

🫥 Hide their behavior if you open developer tools.

💉Even inject code into websites.

One of the extensions was even featured and verified by Google at one point. And that helped it gain trust before turning malicious later.

It was all done without people knowing.
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No phishing emails. No “click this suspicious link”. No trick at all.

Just an auto-update to an extension you already trusted.

This is a reminder that the weakest link in your business security isn’t always the things you expect.

Sometimes it’s the little add-ons nobody thinks about.
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Staying safe is simple:

✔️ Only install extensions you need�
✔️ Remove anything you don’t recognize or no longer use�
✔️ Choose extensions from well-known publishers�
✔️ Regularly review what’s installed on company devices�
✔️ Rotate passwords if you suspect an extension is risky

And it’s worth including browser extension policies in your security standards. These small tools have huge access and should be treated like the rest of the software in your business.

👉 Do you know how many browser extensions your team has installed right now?

02/24/2026

You can buy great security tools, but they’ll never be as powerful as a well-trained team.

Most attackers don’t break in. They trick someone into opening the door.

And the difference between a close call and a disaster often comes down to whether someone spots the warning signs in time…

02/23/2026

Ever wondered how much productivity your business loses to tiny tech frustrations your team has learned to live with?

It’s rarely the dramatic outages that hurt you most.

It’s the slow devices, clunky workflows and constant tool-switching that quietly chip away at everyone’s focus.

These are the warning signs your tech might be holding your team back, and what you can do to turn things around fast…