Apex Technology Blog

Working in IT, we see the behind-the-scenes of dozens of businesses. To many, a Point of Sale (POS) system is often viewed as just a digital cash register. It’s actually the central nervous system of a modern business. When it works, it is invisible; when it fails, the entire operation grinds to a halt. As we move through 2026, the complexity of these systems has reached an all-time high. Here are five of the biggest challenges we see businesses facing today from an IT perspective.

You’ve likely looked at your business’ technology bills and seen nothing but dollar signs leaving your bank account. For many, IT feels like a necessary evil or a cost center that only gets attention when something breaks. The hard truth is that many businesses fail to scale because their technology wasn't built for the growth they planned.

The greatest vulnerability in your business’ network security actually has nothing to do at all with the systems in place. It’s actually your employees who will ultimately put your company at risk. Hackers rely on the fact that your team is busy, stressed, and trying to be helpful, and this helps hackers engineer moments where employees will click first and ask questions later, much to your business’ detriment.

If you put yourself in the shoes of an insurance company, you might find yourself thinking twice about protecting someone who actively partakes in risky behavior. The same can be said for a business insurance provider, particularly when the behavior can easily be prevented through proactive and preventative measures. This is why many insurance providers are establishing minimum safeguards and compliance requirements, if only to protect their own skins.

As we stand on the threshold of a new year, it’s worth noting that the term "cybersecurity" didn't even enter the common lexicon until the late 1980s. Before that, we just called it "computer security"—mostly involving locking the server room door and hoping nobody guessed the password was "admin."

Fast forward to today, and the game has changed entirely. "Hoping for the best" is no longer a viable business plan. As you prep your resolutions, it’s time to hit the ground running with a cybersecurity posture that is as modern as the threats we face—a goal that will require training for your entire team.

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself if the person you’re talking to on the phone is an AI system or an actual, honest-to-goodness human? It’s expected that in 2026, you’ll be asking this question a lot more often—especially with the rise of agentic AI. This development takes the vulnerability that already exists in your human infrastructure and attempts to make it impossible to stop. Today, we’ll explore agentic AI, what it looks like, and what you can do to put a stop to it in the years to come.

We’re sure at some point you’ve used the idiom, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” particularly in regards to your IT. While it might feel responsible and safe to stick to this motto as much as possible, there will come a time when it becomes dangerous to hold fast to it. In fact, business technology professionals might even call this motto irresponsible. Here’s why.

How many employees do you have who keep your company’s passwords on sticky notes stuck to their monitors? This simple, seemingly benign trick could be putting your business at risk. After all, if you can see the password on a sticky note, so too can others who happen to be wandering around the office—including potential threat actors.

Adopting smart office technology—from connected lighting and thermostats to sophisticated monitoring sensors—can transform your workspace, offering efficiency and a modern aesthetic. Yet, as IT experts, we must guide you past the shiny facade to confront a critical reality: every new smart device is a potential gateway for cyber threats.

You should not have to sacrifice security for the sake of being "high-tech." However, implementing these solutions without a robust security strategy is a risky gamble.

Imagine a bustling afternoon on King Street. Your business is thriving, customers are happy, and the historic charm of Charlotte feels like a protective bubble. Digitally, however, that bubble doesn't exist.

Cybercriminals aren't deterred by cobblestone streets; they see your successful business as a treasure chest waiting to be plundered. It's not a matter of if they’ll try, but when.

Despite the immense productivity and convenience that come from using a smartphone, it’s important to remember that these devices are miniature computers in our pockets. As such, they are just as susceptible to threats as a computer or laptop. According to the National Security Agency, powering down your device is one of the most effective ways to protect your smartphone from various threats. Here’s why.

It would seem that the people responsible for the recent heist at the Louvre, which netted over $101 million in jewelry, may have used a more complicated plan than strictly necessary. According to a French publication, the famous museum has a long history of cybersecurity mistakes and faux pas… many of which, given the museum’s fame, are truly shocking.

Let’s go over what we know about the Louvre’s protections over the years, and what they suggest about the current state of things. We’ll probably learn a thing or two by doing so.

An old fable says that a frog placed in a pot of boiling water will jump out immediately, but if the water is warmed to boiling with the frog already in it, the frog won’t notice until it is already too late. Many businesses today act like that frog, overlooking minor tech issues that signal a growing problem until the damage is done.

Let’s see if we can identify some of these issues to help keep you out of hot water.

What was the scariest Halloween costume you saw last week? Chances are we know something scarier—the cyberthreats that want to take your business down. Let’s go over some of the most common threats to your business’ future and what your business can do about them.

It's a familiar challenge for businesses: how do you build customer loyalty and a strong user experience while also making sure that their data is protected? Sustainable success depends on mastering this delicate balance. Instead of choosing one over the other, the goal is to optimize data protection without hindering your ability to engage customers and drive growth.

Here’s a challenge; go to any cybersecurity news website and see how far you can go before seeing an article about some new type of ransomware attack. It’s everywhere, and it’s scary, but that doesn’t mean your business has to cower in fear. With the right tools and resources at your disposal, you too can fight back against ransomware. Here’s how you can protect your business from ransomware and the threats it poses.

All businesses need a little IT assistance from time to time, whether it’s for a simple hiccup some software or a full-blown technology emergency. Cybercriminals will often pose as IT support in attempts to capture this low-hanging fruit. Your employees should know how to spot the following warning signs from a fraudulent tech support squad.

A successful business is a secure business. You probably have a good lock on the front door, maybe an alarm system, and secure cabinets for important documents. You do all of this to protect your business' physical assets from threats. So why wouldn't you do the same for your digital assets?

Just as you have physical security measures, your business also needs strong cybersecurity policies. They help create clear rules for employees to follow and a plan to fall back on if an incident occurs.

Business owners have a lot of duties and responsibilities, and while you can hire a lot of people to cover some of the more stressful ones, it might feel strange to outsource your company’s technology management. You know IT is important, so that’s why you feel like you have to do it yourself, or at least in-house, but in reality, you’re the last person who should be working with your technology—and we’ll explain why.

For pediatric practices across North Carolina, technology should be a tool that enhances patient care, not a source of constant worry.

Yet, with the rise of telehealth, complex compliance regulations, and the ever-present threat of cyberattacks, managing IT can feel overwhelming. Many practice owners fear changing providers, opting to stick with the "devil they know."

Apex Technology is here to show you a better way.