Tier 3 Consulting LLC

05/07/2026

Does your organization need new computers, servers or network gear? Brace yourself.

Memory prices have jumped 3-4x in the last 6 months. AI companies are eating up the global chip supply, and the shortage is expected to stretch well into 2027. You may see this in the form of a memory surcharge from some manufacturers, or a direct price increase.

Give us a call before you commit to the purchase. We'll give you an honest take on what makes sense to replace now, what to hold, and how to keep the budget from drying up!

Source: https://pcpartpicker.com/trends/price/memory/

04/24/2026

If your server rack looks like a sci‑fi movie tonight… don’t worry, it’s just us keeping everything green!

While you are clocking out and heading into the weekend, our team is making sure your systems stay calm, cool, and quietly doing their thing in the background. Managed IT that keeps the lights on so you can actually unplug. Got a mess you’ve been avoiding?

Give us a call and we’ll tackle it while you enjoy your weekend.

04/24/2026

Today’s agenda: less chaos in the rack, more uptime for your team.

Legacy gear, mystery cables, and “we’ll fix it later” projects are finally leaving the building. We help Phoenix‑area businesses retire outdated hardware, declutter environments, and modernize their infrastructure so your IT stack works like a system, not a storage unit.

Ready for a clean slate? Message us to schedule an assessment.

04/24/2026

Does your IT closet look like this?

You have a business to run. Untangling cables and keeping servers happy shouldn’t be on your to‑do list.

We provide managed IT services for Phoenix‑area businesses so you can focus on your customers while we clean up the mess, keep things running smoothly, and make sure you don’t get strung out by constant changes in technology!

04/22/2026

Does Microsoft licensing have you looking at it like it's calculus?

Office 365 E3 or Microsoft 365 E3? E5? F1? Bingo? Fortunately, we have the magic decoder ring to keep it all straight so you can focus on growing your business.

Contact us today if your business needs help deciphering and managing Microsoft's licensing alphabet soup! We can help you optimize your spend and ensure your users have the services they need.

04/21/2026

Your email and files aren't backed up by Microsoft!

Yes, really. Microsoft 365 keeps your data highly available, but that's not the same as backing it up. If a user deletes a folder, a ransomware attack encrypts a mailbox, or someone empties their OneDrive before leaving the company, the 30-day retention window is all that stands between you and "it's gone."

Microsoft 365 Backup changes that. Pay-as-you-go, protects Exchange, OneDrive, and SharePoint, restores in minutes not days. It is NOT enabled by default! Give us a call today and we'll help you protect your data!

More info:

Learn about the backup and recovery capabilities for OneDrive, SharePoint, and Exchange Online using Microsoft 365 Backup.

04/21/2026

Still living in 2016? It's time to move on!

Microsoft is ending support for Windows Server 2016 and SQL Server 2016 this year. Get ahead of it and upgrade to Windows Server 2025 and SQL Server 2025 before time runs out.

Contact us today and we'll help you plan your migration!

More info:

Find answers to commonly asked questions about end of support for SQL Server and Windows Server.

04/20/2026

Is it too early to be scared for Halloween?

Microsoft is turning off extended security updates for multiple products this October. Windows Server 2012, Windows 10 (ESU Year 1), Windows 11 24H2 and Office 2021 are all getting the lights turned off. No more free treats from Microsoft, while your organization is opened up to new tricks from attackers.

Believe it or not we're still seeing these versions in the wild. Without security patches, your organization is at risk! Contact us today and we'll help your organization get ahead of these dates.

More info:

Windows Server 2012 follows the Fixed Lifecycle Policy.

04/20/2026

Critical Microsoft certificate update required by June 2026!

Microsoft's "Secure Boot" certificate, baked into every modern Windows PC, is getting its biggest certificate update in 15 years as it expires this June. Microsoft started pushing the new certificate through Windows Update, with a second wave in May. This is the kind of thing that doesn't feel urgent until your machine won't boot up in the morning!

Contact us today and we'll work with your organization to ensure it is prepared for this major change!

More info: https://url.tier3.app/l28l5kst

Original publish date: April 2, 2026 KB ID: 5087135 Starting in April 2026, the Windows Security app displays additional information about the status of Secure Boot certificate updates on Windows devices. The new experience is under Device security > Secure Boot. Microsoft's Secure Boot certificates...

04/18/2026

Email spoofing is a huge problem!

A client forwarded us a "vendor" invoice this week that wasn't from their vendor. The email looked perfect. The domain was off by one letter. The wire instructions were new. This is what happens when your organization is missing valuable DNS records. It's a 15-minute fix that stops an entire category of attacks.

If rickybobby420 at Gmail is trying to invoice you for $10,000, then you probably need someone to take a look! Give us a call to help prepare your organization today.

04/18/2026

Get ahead of AI adoption!

Your competitors aren't waiting for a committee to decide if AI is "ready," they're already full send. AI tools help draft emails in Outlook, build decks in PowerPoint, summarize Teams meetings, and work inside the tools your team already pays for. AI agents can even run tasks for you while you sleep!

We help small businesses roll it out responsibly. Give us a call and we'll help you evaluate how AI can transform your business!