Blog
Insights and perspectives from the Macktez team — on technology, infrastructure, IT strategy, and the work of building and maintaining systems that hold.
73 posts
Are You Stuck in a Fire Drill Cycle?
When rapid growth swamps your IT team with onboarding busywork, they lose time for real improvements. Here is how to break the fire drill cycle.
Tête-à-Tech: Post-Westphalia: The Future of Money and Nation States
Explore how emerging technologies are reshaping global power, finance, and community in this Tête-à-Tech conversation with Marc Ziade (5th World, ex-Mastercard, Consensys) and Noah Landow. From the future of the US dollar and AI-driven economic shifts to network states, decentralized finance, and the evolving role of trust, this discussion unpacks the forces redefining money and governance in a rapidly changing world.
When lack of IT strategy creates unforced errors
A well-meaning website launch handed a web developer super admin credentials and took down company email for a week. How a lack of IT strategy invites disaster.
Tête-à-Tech: Art and Money Need Not be Strange Bedfellows
Creative Capital founder Ruby Lerner shares how to transform arts philanthropy, reclaim money as a tool for creative freedom, and achieve creative sovereignty.
Inside the Tame the Tech Beast launch party
Recap the electric launch of Tame the Tech Beast! Relive the night featuring an insightful interview with legendary founder Cindy Gallop, a unique tech art installation, and the strategic blueprint for turning IT from a burden into a growth engine.
Tête-à-Tech: AI and Consciousness: What Is Actually Happening In There (According to Mathematics)?
Macktez Founder and CEO Noah Landow joins physicist Jeffrey Berger, Ph.D., to explore AI and consciousness: whether AI is truly “thinking,” the math behind transformers, and limits like data poisoning.
An AI loophole in your pocket: Why Apple’s Writing Tools require a second look
Apple's Writing Tools can route selected text through free ChatGPT with one tap, exposing work data. Here is what that means and what your team should do.
UniFi U7 WiFi bug: DHCP timeouts and connectivity issues
A firmware bug in Ubiquiti's newest U7 access points causes DHCP timeouts and 169 self-assigned IPs. Here is what we're seeing and how to fix it.
Macktez honored as JumpCloud’s MSP Partner of the Year
JumpCloud named Macktez its MSP Partner of the Year for the Americas, recognizing our 2025 work on unified identity, access, and device management.
Mapping the Invisible, from Technology to Biology
Kevin Slavin (Fairfield Bio) and Noah Landow (Macktez) discuss the global network of genomic information and its role in planetary health.
Hormones, Health, and the New Rules of Access
A discussion with Jessica Halem about how technology and telehealth have finally reached a tipping point for women’s wellness.
IT business resolutions for 2026
Seven specific, actionable IT resolutions for 2026 — from business continuity and security training to hardware replacement schedules and a SaaS audit.
Creative Practices and Percussion
Reflections on the Macktez Tête-à-Tech gathering with Lisa Ann Schonberg, on Creative Practices and Percussion.
Beyond the Firewall: A Talk on State-Sponsored Hacking
November’s Tête-à-Tech with Ciprian Iancu dove deep into global tech policy, surveillance and cyber threats, and the fight for human rights online.
Leadership and entrepreneurship: Noah Landow on Taming the Tech Beast
Macktez founder Noah Landow joins Kimberly Afonso on The Executive Room Podcast to discuss leadership, the role of luck in success, and his book Tame the Tech Beast.
Cybersecurity best practices for Cybersecurity Awareness Month and every month
Cybersecurity Awareness Month reminds us that good security is mostly people and habits. Here is a practical framework to keep you and your team secure.
Bytes & Balances: Security in the Financial Sector
This discussion will highlight how an integrated approach to cybersecurity is critical for protecting your organization and enabling sustainable growth.
The Neuroscience of Aesthetics
Ed Vessel (Eugene Surowitz Assistant Professor of Computational Cognitive Neuroscience at the City College of New York) Joins Noah Landow (Founder and CEO at Macktez) for an informal conversation exploring the fascinating intersection of art, neuroscience, and technology.
From Chaos to Continuity: Why Centralized Storage Is Non-Negotiable
Centralized file storage keeps critical documents accessible, backed up, and owned by the company. Here's how to protect your data and keep work moving.
Automation Innovations in IaaS (Fueled by JumpCloud)
Join us for an exploration of the fundamentals of identity management and device management and the strategic implementation and practical applications of solutions like JumpCloud in an evolving IT landscape.
Rapid response to reports of network attacks
How Macktez and its SOC partner Huntress responded to a reported SonicWall firewall vulnerability by suspending SSL VPN service to protect client networks.
Welcome AI into your workplace with creativity and caution
Generative AI is now built into the apps you already use. Here are practical guidelines for using those features without exposing your business information.
Dark Underbelly of FinTech
Underneath the shiny Stripe, Apple Pay, Square and well-heeled Visa, MasterCard, and Amex, lies a sprawling world of companies and services that connect the world’s financial institutions to each other and you.
Free WiFi and charging stations can cost you more than you think
Public WiFi and USB charging stations are convenient when you travel, but they carry real security risks. Here is what to watch for and how to stay safe.
Re-train your Spidey sense for the age of AI
Generative AI has made phishing harder to spot. Here's what changed and how ongoing awareness training helps your team verify requests before acting.
Turning chaos into clarity: Noah Landow on the Growth Focus Podcast
Macktez founder Noah Landow joins Gary Lafferty on the Growth Focus Podcast to talk relationships, referrals, and the ideas behind Tame the Tech Beast.
AI shouldn’t be left unattended
AI is powerful, but it needs human oversight. Why Macktez recommends keeping a person in the loop to catch bias, drift, hallucinations, and compliance gaps.
Anatomy and Physiology of Pre-War Aikido
Rodrigo Kong (emergency room physician and martial artist) joins Noah Landow (Founder and CEO at Macktez) for a conversation about the interplay of anatomy, physiology, and the ancient Japanese art of Daito-Ryu Aikijujutsu.
The Danger of Insider Threats
When people think about cybersecurity they picture outside hackers, but insiders can do as much damage. Here is how to reduce insider risk in your organization.
Outlook.com enforces email security protocols
Microsoft is enforcing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC requirements for mail sent to Outlook.com. Here's what your organization should check to keep email delivering.
Google Drive security best practices
How Macktez structures Google Drive shared drives into internal, allowlist, and external tiers, and audits permissions annually to limit access.
Albinism Illuminated
Meredith Talusan (artist, journalist, and author) joins Noah Landow (Founder and CEO at Macktez) for a conversation about the widely known but poorly understood absence of bodily pigment known as albinism.
iOS 18 introduces significant BYOD security enhancements
iOS 18 lets organizations secure company data on employee-owned iPhones and iPads with partial device management, keeping work and personal data separate.
Preparing to shop for or renew cybersecurity insurance policies
Cybersecurity insurance premiums keep rising and insurers want proof of a strong security posture. A Cybersecurity Assessment helps you shop or renew with confidence.
Implementing BIMI email security for your organization
BIMI shows your verified brand logo next to your email in supported clients, signaling that your organization follows email security best practices.
Google adds AI to all Workspace accounts (with an upcharge)
Google is adding Gemini AI to all Workspace accounts and raising subscription prices by a few dollars a month starting in March. Here's what changes.
Not Every MFA Is Created Equal
Traditional multi-factor authentication no longer stops reverse-proxy phishing. Here are the tools Macktez uses to protect your online accounts from session hijacking.
Storing Energy is the Hard Part: Keep it Simple with Heat
Join Riad El Soufi (Product Manager at Rondo) and Noah Landow (Founder and CEO at Macktez) for a conversation about one of the rarely discussed challenges and opportunities in decarbonization: industrial heat or electric thermal energy storage (ETES).
Cybersecurity best practices for the holidays
Personal technology tips from the Macktez team for staying secure over the holidays: safe online shopping, travel precautions, and protecting your devices.
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love AI
Drawing from Ida Benedetto's extensive use and thoughtful examination of AI, this conversation with Noah Landow aims to shift perspectives from skepticism and fear to informed engagement and practical application. Ida's approach—rooted in firsthand experience—encourages a more nuanced understanding of what AI can and cannot do.
Develop a disaster recovery plan that fits your organizational needs
A Disaster Recovery Plan sets out how your organization resumes operation after failures, outages, or cyber-crime. Here's how Macktez builds one.
Code and Play
Daniel Shiffman comes to Join Noah Landow at Macktez for a conversation on the playful exploration of code.
NIST updates its password security recommendations
The National Institute of Standards and Technology has revised its password guidelines: length over complexity, no forced periodic resets, and no security questions.
Technology surveys support proactive decision-making
Technology surveys gather feedback from every staff member so we can spot problems early, prioritize fixes fairly, and tailor IT strategy and budget.
Embracing complexity: Lessons from the Victorians
Diane Josefowicz and Noah Landow discuss what the Victorians can teach us through their visions of an electromagnetic microworld, their charmingly complex language of flowers, loquacious letter writing, love of densely textured architecture, and joyously decorated aesthetics.
CrowdStrike outage takeaways for Macktez clients
Macktez does not deploy CrowdStrike, but we manage other security tools. Here is why a CrowdStrike-style outage is unlikely for our clients, and the risk tradeoffs.
First-day phishing
Phishing works best when people are off balance. New hires are prime targets in their first week, and here is why that happens and how to prepare for it.
NIST updates its Cybersecurity Framework
NIST released version 2.0 of its Cybersecurity Framework. Here's what changed and how Macktez uses it to assess risk and guide security work for clients.
The surprisingly fascinating story of the American chestnut tree
Join Anna Sproul-Latimer, Founding Partner and President of Neon Literary and member of The American Chestnut Foundation's Board of Directors, and Noah Landow, Founder and CEO at Macktez, for an informal conversation between a leading technology solutions firm and an expert in another kind of restoration: the startlingly interesting rise, fall, and coming renaissance of the American chestnut tree, a once-ubiquitous species on the East Coast.
Benefits and risks of integrating AI into your business operations
AI, and especially generative AI, brings real value and real risk to a business. Here is how we think about safe input, verified output, and setting a policy.
On the Critical Nature of Offsite Backups
A memo from a galaxy far away on why every site needs monitored offsite backups, and how missing them turns a bad day into a catastrophe.
Macktez joins JumpCloud’s MSP Advisory Board
Macktez joined the inaugural meeting of JumpCloud's MSP Advisory Board to share client feedback on identity, security, and the managed service industry.
How to leverage biometric identification to upgrade security
Fingerprint and face verification can raise security and convenience at once. Here is how we use JumpCloud Go with Touch ID and Windows Hello to cut MFA fatigue.
Urban connectivity
Join Mike Egbert (VP, Sales and Real Estate at Pilot) and Noah Landow (Founder and CEO at Macktez) for an informal conversation between a leading Technology Solutions Firm and the largest, local Internet Service Provider in Manhattan, as they talk about the successes and challenges of connecting businesses across NYC, from hair-thin fiber optic cables under the streets of New York to wiring up 1400 ft. skyscrapers.
What’s Your Tolerance for Risk?
Ignoring cybersecurity is not an option. Establish a baseline, compare it to best practices, and make informed decisions about protecting your organization's data.
JumpCloud’s Partner Success interview with Michael Horst
Macktez COO Michael Horst talks with JumpCloud's Chris Tate about how our years-long partnership grew as JumpCloud, client needs, and workforce trends evolved.
Resilient design solutions
Join Breanna Horne and Noah Landow for an informal conversation between a leading Technology Solutions Firm and an expert in helping communities plan and design infrastructure such as parks, transportation, and buildings for resilience.
Contact form failures revealed by DMARC
How a client's DMARC reports caught a website contact form quietly failing email authentication, and the one-line SPF fix that resolved it.
Turn on multi-factor authentication right now
Multi-factor authentication adds a second check beyond your password. It's one of the easiest, most effective ways to keep accounts secure. Turn it on everywhere.
Insurers Play Catch-Up on Cybersecurity Policies
When you renew cybersecurity insurance, expect a new application, stricter requirements like enforced MFA, and, in some cases, policies no longer offered.
Just Right: How can HVAC give us all our own Goldilocks zone?
Join Berardo Matalucci (Co-founder and CEO at MIMiC) and Noah Landow (Founder and CEO at Macktez) for an informal conversation between a leading technology solutions firm and the founder of an innovative, engineering driven startup reframing heating cooling from a building to a personal scale.
Microsoft finally honors DMARC
Microsoft now honors DMARC policy settings on incoming email. Here's what DMARC does and how Macktez configures and monitors it to protect your domain.
Las Vegas ransomware incident highlights need for cybervigilance
How Caesars and MGM were breached through vishing and an Okta MFA reset, what each security layer does, and how Macktez verifies reset requests before acting.
The new era of access management
Why a locked door and a firewall no longer protect your data, and how identity and access management (IAM) secures a work-from-anywhere team.
Fast, Cheap, and Good: Cases for local storage in an age of cloud
Our first event at our new office was a conversation about the best circumstances for local storage at time when most organizations are moving file storage to the cloud.
Recognizing and avoiding phishing scams
Phishing scams trick you into clicking links, opening attachments, or sending money. Here is how to recognize them, avoid them, and reduce the risk.
Business phone services now require registration for text messaging
New carrier rules require businesses to register with The Campaign Registry before sending SMS through VoIP phone services like RingCentral, Zoom, or Dialpad.
Is a to-do list really the best to-do list?
Your inbox runs on other people's priorities. Moving action items to a calendar gives your tasks real time limits so you set better deadlines and feel more productive.
Electronics recycling
How to dispose of old electronics responsibly and securely in NYC, including certified data destruction through our long-time e-waste partner 4th Bin.
A conversation is not a meeting
A good conversation and a real meeting are not the same thing. Here is how we keep meetings short, productive, and ending with clear tasks and deadlines.
Reilly Scull talks JumpCloud on ChannelPro Weekly
Macktez CTO Reilly Scull joined ChannelPro Weekly to discuss using JumpCloud's cloud directory platform for user and device management across a hybrid workforce.
Google Drive changes in macOS
How Apple's File Provider API changed Google Drive for Desktop on macOS, including broken shortcuts, moved files, external reference problems, and common bugs.
DMARC and email deliverability
How Macktez used SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to help a retail client reliably deliver 3-5 million monthly emails while blocking spoofing of its domain.