I am sitting at my desk doing what I love—training Acture/CSI’s next generation of engineers. I am teaching them about Active Directory theory and operations. I am demonstrating how the Active Directory Recycle Bin works. I created a test ID in AD – Steve McQueen.

Tech Tidbit – My training day security event

Tech Tidbit – Flash Drill – How Would Your Team Handle This Superintendent Request?
Today is a flash drill exercise. The Superintendent just told you that a retiring employee went rogue on the last day of school and sent a defamatory email to the entire district email distribution list. The Superintendent and your district legal counsel are asking you these questions: Where did the email go? Did it leave […]

Tech Tidbit – A discussion about insider threats
Acture/CSI has been going at a dizzying pace. I counted 16 online and in-person events for 2024, plus NYSCATE. Then you add all the Acture Solutions events. The Acture Solutions family has been busy providing you with the best technical information and best products to support you in maintaining a stable, secure, manageable network for […]

Tech Tidbit – Spring Break. I need only two things from you!
I am sticking you with real work for Spring Break. My list is very short. I need you to update, patch, and scan your servers and endpoints I need you to recalibrate all your APC UPSes. Remember to do it only on a nice calm day without weather or wind.

Tech Tidbit – I have a door problem at my house. You do too
I have a chronic issue with people’s ability to close doors securely. The issue is at home, and it spans all ages. I am constantly finding sliding doors ajar or the front door not closed. As some of you know I rescue English Springer Spaniels – aka bird dogs.

Tech Tidbit – Flash Drill – How Would Your Team Handle This Total Blindside Event?
Today is a flash drill exercise. The warm weather has arrived. It is Thursday afternoon of Memorial Day weekend, and the district gave back an unused snow day, making it a four-day weekend. The weather forecast is ideal. Everyone is bugging out to enjoy themselves.

Tech Tidbit – Your District Administration and Board Are Now Being Targeted In Ransomware Events
“Now, did you read the news today? They say the danger’s gone away. But I can see the fires still alight They’re burning into the night.” -Genesis, Land of Confusion As you continually upgrade your security posture and better protect your data from ransomware and data exfiltration, the bad guys keep devising innovative ways to […]

Tech Tidbit – About those inactive IDs
Do you know how many inactive accounts you have on your network? I know this can be a difficult number to determine sometimes. For most of you, Microsoft Active Directory is “the source of truth.” It syncs to Azure/Entra and/or Google Apps and elsewhere.

Tech Tidbit – Flash Drill – How Would Your Team Handle This Datacenter Event?
Today is a flash drill exercise. You are experiencing the blizzard of 2025. The Governor and County Executive have declared a state of emergency. The roads are closed. The snow keeps piling up. Your district data center is operational, and you have generator backup.

Tech Tidbit – Back from the dead Internet Explorer?
“And now for something completely different.” -Monty Python’s Flying Circus If you have been in the industry for a while, you have heard the warning, “Internet Explorer (IE) is dead. It is insecure. It has been retired. You must get off Internet Explorer and onto a more modern and secure browser.