How to Switch Managed IT Providers Without Disrupting Your Credit Union

Changing your managed IT provider can feel a little like replacing the engine in your car while you’re driving down the highway. Your employees still need to serve members. Online banking still has to work. Phones still have to ring. Cybersecurity can’t take a day off. It’s no wonder many credit union leaders put off making a change—even when they …

Should Your Ohio Credit Union Work with One Technology Partner or Multiple IT Vendors?

I was talking with the CEO of a community credit union a few years ago when she said something that made me laugh. “Rusty, every technology problem turns into a game of finger-pointing.” The internet provider blamed the firewall. The firewall company blamed the server. The phone vendor blamed the network. The software company blamed Microsoft. Meanwhile… Her employees still …

The Complete IT Budget Planning Guide for Ohio Credit Union CEOs and CFOs

Every fall, it happens. Budget season arrives. Department leaders submit their requests. The finance team starts sharpening pencils. The board prepares to make difficult decisions. And somewhere in the middle of all that, technology lands on the agenda. Sometimes it’s a firewall that needs replacing. Sometimes it’s cybersecurity. Sometimes it’s a cloud migration. Sometimes it’s simply a bigger number than …

Why Buying from a “One-Bullet Vendor” Can Cost Your Business More Than You Think

When it’s time to invest in new technology, most business leaders start the same way. They search for the best internet provider. The best phone system. The best cybersecurity company. The best cloud solution. The problem isn’t that they’re asking the wrong questions; The problem is that they’re often asking them one technology at a time.   That’s exactly how …

Why Your Business Doesn’t Need More Technology Vendors—It Needs a Technology Quarterback

If you’re like most small to medium-sized businesses, your technology didn’t become complicated overnight. It happened one decision at a time. Maybe your internet provider recommended a phone system. Your cybersecurity company sold you endpoint protection. Your copier vendor started offering IT services. Your software company suggested cloud backups. Someone else sold you surveillance cameras. Another company manages Microsoft 365. …

What Should an Ohio Credit Union Look for When Choosing an IT Partner?

“Rusty, how do I know if we’re picking the right IT company?” I’ve been asked that question more times than I can count. Usually it’s after a board meeting. Sometimes it’s over a cup of coffee. And almost every time, it’s from someone who isn’t an IT expert—but suddenly finds themselves responsible for making one of the biggest technology decisions …

How Much Should Managed IT Cost for an Ohio Credit Union?

A few years ago, I sat in a boardroom with the leadership team of an Ohio credit union. The conversation wasn’t about technology—not at first. It was about trust. The CEO looked around the room and asked a simple question. “Are we spending too much on IT…or not enough?” The room got quiet. The CFO was trying to finalize next …

How Ohio Credit Unions Should Evaluate Their WAN Bandwidth

For Ohio credit unions, seamless technology isn’t just a performance metric—it’s a promise of trust. Your members depend on you for access to their money, their mortgages, and their peace of mind. That’s why evaluating your wide area network (WAN) bandwidth isn’t just an IT chore—it’s a business continuity decision that touches every member who walks through your doors or …