Uncategorized Insights

How Do You Create a Budget for an IT Department?  If you run a small to midsize business in Phoenix, you’ve likely had this moment: your IT guy is overwhelmed, your systems are limping along, and a compliance deadline or cyber insurance renewal is suddenly staring you down. Everyone’s talking about “tech stacks,” “cyber hygiene,”…

We all love a good checklist – until it gives us a false sense of security. For small medical practices, dental clinics, and behavioral health centers, HIPAA IT compliance checklists often serve as the primary tool for staying audit-ready. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: most checklists being used today are dangerously incomplete.  They focus on documentation,…

Is your in-house IT team holding your growth back?  For many small and mid-sized businesses, internal IT has become a constant juggling act; one that too often slows innovation instead of fueling it. Rising personnel costs, limited expertise, growing cybersecurity threats, and the relentless pace of technology upgrades all place enormous pressure on lean teams…

Understanding the Basics of an IT Assessment  Technology is at the core of every modern business, but how often do you actually stop to evaluate whether your systems are performing as they should? For many small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), the answer is not often enough.  Our thirtyone3 technology team has seen firsthand how many…

June hits, and suddenly, the clock starts ticking faster. Budgets are halfway spent. Strategic goals are either on track or dangerously drifting. And IT teams? Often stuck juggling urgent fixes instead of forward-thinking priorities.  That’s why mid-year IT planning isn’t just a calendar check-in; it’s a strategic pivot point. It gives businesses the chance to…

We’ve all heard the promises: 5G is here to revolutionize connectivity. But ask anyone who’s tried hosting a remote meeting in a dense urban area or relying on real-time data in a logistics hub and they’ll tell you, the revolution feels incomplete. This isn’t a knock on 5G. It’s a reminder that technology is constantly…

Most behavioral health clinics don’t realize they have an IT problem until it becomes a clinical crisis. Startups and growing clinics often launch with limited budgets, makeshift solutions, and a DIY approach to technology. But as behavioral health continues its rapid growth, these clinics are becoming prime targets for cyber threats, HIPAA compliance violations, and…

Tribal nations face a digital crossroads as cyber threats grow more advanced while budgets and staffing remain dangerously limited. From tribal governments to economic enterprises like casinos and healthcare systems, the growing dependence on digital systems opens the door to threats that could compromise sovereignty, data integrity, and public trust. This is where tribal managed…

In the fast-paced world of IT, change is a constant and often, it’s the hidden doorway through which serious cybersecurity threats slip in unnoticed. Whether it’s a minor system patch, a new software deployment, or a simple configuration tweak, every change introduces risk. Without rigorous oversight, even small adjustments can open major gaps that hackers…

The cybersecurity talent gap has reached a critical level, leaving businesses worldwide struggling to fill essential security roles. As cyber threats evolve at an alarming pace, the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals has skyrocketed—yet the supply of qualified experts remains woefully inadequate. According to industry reports, there is a global shortage of nearly 4 million…

The True Price of “Cheap” IT Services Many small businesses operate on tight budgets, so it’s no surprise that IT support pricing is often a major factor when choosing a provider. The appeal of low-cost IT services is strong—after all, why pay more when a budget-friendly option promises the same solutions? However, what many business…

When an employee leaves a company, the focus often centers on logistical and HR-related tasks—final paychecks, exit interviews, and the return of company property. However, a critical aspect that frequently goes overlooked is securing sensitive business data to prevent leaks from departing employees. Employee departures, whether voluntary or involuntary, pose significant cybersecurity risks. The 2024…