StrataDefense

06/02/2026

Choosing a Managed Service Provider is often viewed as a technology decision. In practice, it is both a technology decision and a business decision.

That is why evaluating an MSP often extends beyond service offerings and pricing. Leaders need a clear understanding of how a provider communicates, approaches strategy, understands their industry, and supports long-term organizational goals.

💡Are they bringing ideas to the table?
💡Do they understand the realities of your industry?
💡Can they help you anticipate challenges before they become distractions?
💡Do they communicate in a way that helps leadership make informed decisions?

Our "How to Choose the Right Managed Service Provider" article outlines four criteria leaders can use when evaluating a Managed Service Provider and the role that partnership plays in supporting business objectives.

The strongest technology partnerships create clarity, strengthen operations, and help organizations stay focused on the work they are there to do.

Article found here:

Learn how to choose the right Managed Service Provider (MSP) with our guide.

05/28/2026

A conversation we have fairly often with small business leaders revolves around visibility. Not visibility in the marketing sense, but operational visibility.

As organizations grow, their technology environments naturally become more complex. New software gets introduced, teams evolve, responsibilities shift, vendors change, and processes adapt around immediate needs.

Eventually, most organizations reach a point where they need to ask questions like:
⚡Who currently has access to critical systems?
⚡Where is sensitive information being stored?
⚡How are employees sharing files internally?
⚡What would happen operationally if a device failed tomorrow?
⚡How quickly would we identify unusual activity?

Those questions create clarity around how the organization is functioning behind the scenes and where there may be opportunities to create stronger structure, communication, and oversight internally.

In many cases, the most impactful changes come from refining what already exists, creating clearer ownership, and making sure systems continue supporting the direction the business is growing.

05/19/2026

As StrataDefense continues to grow, we’ve been spending a lot of time internally thinking about how we support both our clients and our team long term. We’re excited to share a few team advancements that reflect that direction. 🎉

Jon Lind has advanced to Network Engineer III – Onboarding Specialist. Jon has been with StrataDefense since 2018, and if you’ve worked with him, you already know the level of care, organization, and follow-through he brings to projects.

Kyzer Dickson has been promoted to Support Team Supervisor. Since joining the team in 2023, Kyzer has become a trusted part of support operations and someone both clients and team members rely on regularly.

Mary Hart has moved into the role of Client Engagement Manager after previously serving on the technical support side of the business. Many of our clients already know Mary already, which makes this transition feel especially natural.

Excited to see all three continue growing in these roles and helping shape the experience we provide our clients every day. Please join us in celebrating their well-deserved promotions! 🎉

05/14/2026

Fraud conversations are becoming part of everyday operational reality for organizations of every size. We're grateful to partner with the Bank of Kaukauna on this workshop to help businesses better recognize, respond to, and navigate fraud-related risk.

A few themes that came up throughout the discussion:
💡Ongoing employee awareness and education continue to be one of the strongest defenses against fraud and social engineering attempts
💡Early communication after an incident helps organizations respond faster and helps others recognize similar activity before it spreads
💡Teams need environments where employees feel comfortable reporting suspicious emails, accidental clicks, or unusual activity without fear or embarrassment

Fraud response is rarely just a technology conversation. It touches operations, communication, leadership visibility, and internal trust across the organization.

Appreciate the opportunity to be part of the conversation alongside Natalie Onkels and Sgt. Tyler Romenesko, and grateful to everyone who joined us for the discussion.

05/13/2026

Cybersecurity conversations with small businesses have changed quite a bit over the last few years. It used to feel like a topic reserved for larger organizations with dedicated IT resources.

Now almost every business is managing sensitive financial information, employee data, client records, payment systems, cloud platforms, and remote access across multiple devices.

For many owners, the real challenge is not understanding that security matters. It’s understanding where to start without creating overwhelm internally.

Usually the best first conversations are surprisingly practical:
💡Who has access to what?
💡How are passwords managed?
💡What happens if someone clicks the wrong thing?
💡How quickly would we know if our systems are compromised?
💡Who is responsible for response?

Those questions create a much clearer picture than jumping immediately into technical jargon or expensive tools from all different providers. Strong security usually starts with visibility, structure, and shared awareness across the business.

04/28/2026

How does social engineering show up inside financial crime today?

Many attacks no longer rely on technical gaps alone. They move through everyday interactions, where familiar requests and trusted channels create a sense of legitimacy.

At MNAFP this May, we will share what we are seeing across financial institutions, including how attackers are blending human behavior with tools like phishing platforms, AI, and deepfakes to gain traction.

The focus of the session is on practical insights. We will share real scenarios where exposure tends to surface and how leadership teams can strengthen awareness across the organization.

04/23/2026

When cybersecurity supports long-term business goals, banks protect their reputations and reinforce their role in their communities. Reliability becomes visible in everyday service, not in moments of crisis.

Security and compliance shape how customers experience trust today. System availability, data protection, and consistent operations all signal whether a bank is dependable. With lean teams and high expectations, alignment across technology, compliance, and leadership matters.

When cybersecurity supports long-term business goals, banks protect their reputation and reinforce the role they play in their communities. Reliability becomes visible in everyday service, not in moments of crisis.

04/09/2026

AI-generated content is showing up in more places, and it's getting harder to identify at a glance. Building a consistent habit of evaluating information before acting on it is one of the most practical skills a team can develop right now.

When you come across surprising or emotionally charged content online, here are four questions worth asking before you share or act on it:

💡Who created this content, and what is their source?
💡Are established news organizations reporting this story, or does it only appear in niche communities?
💡Can I verify this on an official website or through a primary source?
💡Does the emotional tone feel designed to push me toward an immediate reaction?

Healthy skepticism isn't about doubting everything. It's about developing a consistent habit of evaluating information before accepting it as true.

03/31/2026

If your organization lost its data tomorrow, how long would it take you to fully recover?

Today is World Backup Day, and the answer to that question matters more than most teams realize.

➡️21% of people have never made a backup.
➡️113 phones are lost or stolen every minute.
➡️29% of data loss cases are caused by simple accidents.
➡️10–20% of consumer PCs encounter malware each year.

Most data loss does not come from sophisticated attacks. It comes from ordinary moments. A misplaced device. An accidental deletion. A compromised endpoint.

For leadership teams, backup is not an IT task. It is a continuity decision. It protects operations, client relationships, and institutional knowledge.

A backup strategy only works if recovery is structured, tested, and aligned with your business priorities.

World Backup Day is a practical checkpoint. Review your backup cadence. Confirm your restore timelines. Make sure recovery is documented and understood.

03/17/2026

In community banking, security and growth reinforce each other. When your customers trust you with their financial lives, your security posture is woven into that relationship.

A strong, well-maintained technology foundation gives your institution the stability to grow, add services, expand your team, and move into new markets with confidence.

Technology and cybersecurity decisions expand what's possible for your institution. The right strategy, sized and structured for where you are and where you're headed, makes that happen.

We've seen it with community banks across the areas we serve, and we're built to help you get there.

Where is your institution focused on growing in the next 12 to 24 months?