Your Applied Net Prep Master List: Checklist, Amazon Picks & Survival Guide
Can you believe Applied Net is less than a week away? Vegas has a way of sneaking up on you — one minute you’re thinking about what to pack, the next you’re lost in a convention center the size of a small city. That’s why we put together the Prep Master List: smart packing tips, our […]
I Asked ChatGPT to Train Me for a Half Marathon… and It Worked
I Used AI to Run a Half Marathon (Really) A few months ago, I tried to run a single mile—just one—and it nearly broke me. I was huffing, puffing, and questioning every life decision that led me to that sidewalk. Let’s just say… it was humbling. Then my daughter Hannah—Archway’s marketing director—told me she was […]
AI: Friend or Fad | Bible, Books, and Big Thoughts | Microsoft 365: Secure or Screwed?
Happy 2025! …JK. January was a whirlwind, so I’m officially considering February the real start of the year. There’s already been a lot happening in the world of tech and insurance, so let’s jump into a few things I’ve been thinking about lately. AI Tools We’re Testing (And Want Your Feedback On) AI is everywhere, […]
Tricks, Treats, and Cyber Threats: Your Halloween Cybersecurity Guide!
As we gear up for Halloween, it’s also time to wrap up Cybersecurity Awareness Month! While everyone’s getting into the spooky spirit, don’t forget that hackers love to play tricks too—but we’ve got the treats to keep your agency safe. This newsletter is packed with valuable insights, tools, and tips to protect your business from […]
🤖 AI Webinar Tomorrow 🖱️$100 Mouse Upgrade 💼 Why Compliance is Falling Short
AI and Outsourcing: Unlock the Future of Insurance in Tomorrow’s Webinar! You still have time to register for our Insurance Hacks Webinar happening tomorrow, Thursday, September 26th, at 11 AM PT | 2 PM ET! I’ll be sitting down with Angela Adams, President of Angela Adams Consulting, to dive into how AI and outsourcing are […]
Applied Net 2024 Recap: Key Takeaways, AI Insights, & Post-Conference Checklist
Thank you to everyone who connected with us last week at Applied Net 2024! Whether you attended our Cheers Before the Convention party, stopped by our booth, or simply exchanged a few words with us, we truly appreciate your time. We’ve been exhibiting at Applied Net for years, and we have to say – they […]
7 Must-Have Amazon Essentials for Applied Net
Labor Day weekend is here, and what better time to get everything you need for Applied Net? Every conference pro knows that preparation is key, and after attending Applied Net for years, I’ve learned a thing or two about what it takes to thrive at this event. That’s why I’ve put together a list of […]
2023 Vision + Lights, Camera, Archway!
Reel in the Risk If you happen to own a Barracuda hardware device called the Email Security Gateway (ESG), though, we’ve got a little issue to discuss. These devices have run into a pretty serious vulnerability that could put your data at risk. Initially, Barracuda tried to fix it with some software updates, but turns […]
Robocall Repellent + Robot-Enhanced Vacations
Minty Fresh FinanceFirst up, let’s talk about Mint.com. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Brad, you’re a tech geek, not a finance guru!”
Brad’s Back – What’d I Miss?
ChatGPT: Your AI-ssistant for Life’s Little Tasks Do you ever wish you had a personal assistant to help you with all the little things in life? Well, now you can have one, thanks to ChatGPT! ChatGPT is an AI chatbot app that can help you with just about anything (except write this newsletter, of course ;)). Need to […]
Conference Commotion + Prime Day 2.0
Applied Net + IAOA Innovation Double Header What a whirlwind the past week was! In case you weren’t there or missed our last newsletters, Archway Computer was in Nashville at both AppliedNet and IAOA Innovation, and we had an absolute blast. Our team had a great time learning, networking, educating, connecting with so many […]
Giving Thanks (For Deals) + Out of Office Tips
Deals Deals DealsYou’ve probably been bombarded with all the upcoming Black Friday/Cyber Monday Deals coming up, there’s no shortage of excellent offers
Mission IM-Possible
Mission IM-Possible In this digital age where the insurance industry continues to evolve, are you equipped with the tools to protect your agency from the potential risk of a cyber attack? Join me today at 11AM on Mission IM-Possible Focus Group Session brought to you by our friends at InsuredMine, where I’ll be discussing best practices […]
Brad’s Bracket + From Start Ups to Stars
March Madness is back, which means so is my UCLA Bruins-induced skyrocketing blood pressure.
Simply Easier Payments + Surviving Spam Call Season
Insurance Hacks #5 with Simply Easier PaymentsJoin us today at 12:00PM PT I 3:00PM ET for Episode #5 of Insurance Hacks with featured gues
Satellite Savior + Baby You Can Drive My Car (If You Pay for the Gas)
You probably heard a couple weeks ago that SpaceX CEO and boy genius, Elon Musk, promised Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister via twitter that he would help
Microsoft’s Suite Deal + Endless Pastabilities
It’s been a long time coming, but Google has finally announced it will force free G Suite accounts to paid plans, starting in May.
How Google is Keeping Out Hackers + Super Bowl (Party) MVP
We talk a lot about the importance of two-factor authentication at Archway Computer. Many of us still forget passwords
Internet Everywhere + Tech (Neck) Support
Imagine a world where you never have to ask the question, “Is there Wifi?” But Elon Musk is on a mission to make that world a reality, especially for those who live in rural and underpopulated areas, where satellite internet is often the only way to get connected.
Debunking the Jetsons + Winter Sun Saftey
Did you know The Jetsons took place in 2062? By the show’s predictions, only 40 years away from today, shouldn’t we all be traveling around in flying cars by now? I’m only joking, (kind of) because while we’re not yet piloting flying cars or teleporting from place to place, it’s certain that our vehicles are becoming more and more modern. This is especially evident in the rise of the Electric vehicle.
5 Ways To Protect Your Independent Insurance Agency From Cyberattacks
With the rise in targeted cyberattacks against small to medium sized businesses, ensuring your independent insurance agency is protected from cyber criminals
5G Future + Last-Minute Shopper Support
I always thought I was the oral-hygiene expert in the family, but recently my son one-upped me when he introduced me to the Quip Toothbrush.
Brad’s Favorite Things + You’ve Got Smish
It’s not the Holiday season without Oprah’s Favorite Things List. And while the living legend is featuring some incredible items this year, let’s make this year a little geekier for you all.
White Coat Worry + It’s 11:11, Make a Wish (For Great Deals)
I recently went to get a basal cell removed, and when they took my blood pressure it was high; so high that the doctors wouldn’t do the surgery until it
Running on Clouds + Smarter Snacktime
I do not like spending a lot of money on clothes, but with my mileage increasing as I train for my 10k, I knew it was time to upgrade my current running shoes
Sleep TipzZz + For the (Obsession) of the Game
I am minorly sleep-obsessed; without my proper 8 hours, I am literally in zombie-mode. But the cruel irony of sleep is the more you worry about it
Embracing the Generational Gap + Sweatpants Style
I consider myself to be a pretty ‘in-the-know’ guy, but I’ll admit: sometimes when I see my millennial kids, I have absolutely no idea what they’re talking about.
Welcome Back Football Fans + Magical Mineral Water
Not to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but year after year I always feel like my iPhone starts slowing down conveniently around the same time that Apple
Completing My First 5K + How To Hide From Google
For those of you who have been following along with my running journey the past few months, I’m incredibly proud to announce that I completed my Couch to 5K
Brad’s Back + Fully Charged
Not going to lie, the past few weeks have been crazy, in the best way possible! Between work, family, and what seems like a never ending amount of activities to do now that the world is opening up again, I think we can all agree that life is moving much faster now.
Brad’s Book Club + The 2 Million Dollar Password
Recently my family called me out for being ‘that guy’ who always can always find an excuse to bring up his Tesla.
What is Remote IT? Learn How It Can Revolutionize Your Insurance Agency
Prospective independent insurance agency clients often ask us, “If you’re located in California, how can you fix something if I need someone onsite?
Authenticity in 60 Seconds or Less + Welcoming Back The Middle Seat
Do you remember the old days, when YouTube was the only video sharing game in town?
The Next Generation of Tidy + Brad’s Bad Trip
Spending so much time at home lately makes me really appreciate my longstanding preference for a clean house. There’s nothing like walking into a room
Spring has Sprung + Lessons from Lockdown
I gotta say, using all this time inside to install a few upgrades is really starting to pay off now that we can occasionally leave the house again…my new Sensi Touch smart thermostat is equipped with geo-fencing so it turns climate control off as soon as I leave my driveway…very 2025.
New Normal, Same Busted Bracket
Things finally appear to be getting back to normal after some truly crazy times in the past year or so. One indication of better times ahead is the arrival of a different type of Madness altogether….that’s right, March Madness is now in full swing!
Exchange Hack Aftermath + Google Maps Everything
A Time for Vigilance The ripple effects of the recent Exchange server hack that compromised thousands of major networks are only beginning to become apparent
The Future is Back on Schedule
You’ve probably noticed I don’t have a whole lot to say about COVID in this space, and that’s mostly because there’s certainly enough information on the subject out there without me also throwing my years of study at YouTube University into the discussion.
The Labor-Saving Lifestyle
Let’s start off with what’s important: my new profile picture turned out great. Home office is coming along nicely, and I even put on pants with my spiffy suit jacket just for the photo.
Blast From The Past + The Encouraged Eavesdropping Experience
Have you ever overheard an especially interesting conversation? I was once in a restaurant back in the before times when I started to hear some snippets
Virtual Vigilance + Amazon – The Live Experience
If you’re using a SonicWall firewall, heads up–the manufacturer has released an urgent security notice about an exploitable vulnerability in VPN products.
Applied Science + Taking Notes Online
Greats of the human race from daVinci to Edison have sworn by the pocket notebook, so when I’m feeling inventive (or forgetful) jotting things down really helps lock them into my mind. Being a dedicated tech geek, I opt for Apple Notepad instead of analog tree slices, especially with the number of features it brings to the table…this piece from PCMag details some of the slickest.
A Year for the eBooks
There’s never been a better time to get and stay informed than the present, and so I’m proud to announce a strong start to 2021 with our new eBook!
A New Hope
It´s (finally) 2021 and that means it’s time to make our New Years resolutions…or is it?
No Place Like Smart Home for the Holidays
In case you haven’t picked up on the dramatic soundtrack shift in every public space, we have officially entered the most wonderful time of the year!
Thankful for Tech: Cybersecurity and Line Jumping
Well, it’s that time of year already…but being that it’s 2020, Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals were rolling out for most of the month!
Mindfully Moving Forward with Steve Anderson
Serenity Now Listen, I’m done. I’m done writing about it, I’m done talking about it, I’m done thinking about it.
Social Distancing Archway Style
To Social Distancing’s Early Adopters ¨Social distancing¨ has become enshrined in the pop culture vocabulary of 2020 and beyond, but any nerd knows that we were doing it way before it went mainstream….so when my daughter came up with the concept for the shirt you see, I immediately ordered one for all of Team Archway…but I […]
The Best Ability is Adaptability
Reconnecting with Zoom The ability to work around our current circumstances and try to enjoy our ride around the Sun no matter what is a skill set that can prove useful in many facets of life…and so it was really encouraging to see so many friendly faces during our happy hour last Saturday.25 of us showed up […]
To Clearer Tech Visions in 2020 👀
We’re Here! Before we get started this week month year decade, I want to start out by wishing everyone out there a successful and fulfilling 2020 possible! (sidenote: isn’t 2020 the most fun year to type in a while?) It’s a particularly special time for me, as 2020 marks my 10th year of leading Team […]
Mother’s Day Upgrades and Saving with Siftwallet
Gifts for Geeky Moms In case you weren’t aware (shame on you), Mother’s Day is coming up this week!If it sort of snuck up on you this year,
Clean Colon – Happy Eyes – Better Gmail
All’s Well that Ends Well If you were trying to get in touch with me this past Friday, I may not have immediately responded but I had a really good reason for it: I was having my quinquennial colonoscopy (means every 5 years, thought learning something new would take some of the edge off this […]
Free Photoshop and I-Team to the Rescue
Big Shot Brad I’ve always thought that being a big shot must be nice…public spotlight, friends in high places to handle sticky situations…and now that I’ve had a taste of the life, I know it for a fact. You see, I’ve talked before about the billing issues at my former home in the wake of […]
Customer Service: The Right Mix of Man and Machine
Brad Calls for Backup I’ve been dealing with some billing issues for services at my former home that burned down in last year’s California wildfires.
Four-Letter Wisdom and Skipping the Galaxy Fold
Profanity and Professionalism Hey, it’s not that I never use profanity–just ask my dog Dante if I’ve ever dropped the F-bomb after yet another cord-chewing
A Moving Experience with Taskrabbit
Keep On Truckin’ (No Truck Required) I got rid of my truck a while back and my wife never forgave me for it. She’s always scouring Offerup for some elegant vase or fabulous coffee table to spruce up our new home, but since I dumped my delivery vehicle and it’s really bad form to stuff […]
Internet Promises and Connections through Cycling
Promises, Promises It’s always disappointing not to get the Internet speeds you were offered in the sliccompany ad isn’t it?
Everyday Upgrades: Fitness and French Roast
Sound Choices Summer is as good a time as any to slowly become as active as you said you would be on New Years’ Eve
Second City Scenery and the Self-Driving Saga
Windy City Wonders To borrow an insight from the late Frank Sinatra, “this is my kind of town, Chicago is.”
Is That a Laptop in Your Pocket
What’s Old is New Again… Not every step forward is a step up, and so I can’t be the only one that sort of misses physical keyboards on smartphones. They were ubiquitous in the era of Blackberries and Sidekicks, but fizzled out almost all at once as screens got larger and devices got ever slimmer. […]
NetVU Atlanta and Google Duplex
NetVU Accelerate Giveaway! I hope you woke up feeling lucky this morning: it’s that special time of year again! The NetVU conference is upon us once more, and we’re giving away some truly sweet tech toys this time around: Apple Airbuds and Amazon Alexa Show! You don’t even have to attend to win!! …but just […]
Your Friends, For Sale
The True Value of You They say the user is the product in any service that is both free and convenient, and Facebook in particular makes a fortune in leveraging the data you directly and indirectly provide. As the man behind the plan himself said with a satisfied smirk in a congressional hearing “We sell ads, […]
Ultimate Upgrades: Your Life, But Smarter
Rise of the Machines In case my svelte silhouette doesn’t give it away, I’ve gotten more into fitness in recent years. Part of it’s by necessity since I like the way my knees work and the doc says staying active will keep them functional longer, but it’s also easier than ever before thanks to connected […]
Brad’s 23rd Century Retirement Plan
One Day at a Time (for 279 Years) I’ve started looking into retirement options before it’s too late–or at least, that’s what I set out to do recently. Apparently if I want to maintain my standard of living after I punch the digital clock for the last time, I’ll be putting in full shifts on […]
This Week’s Upgrades for Your Life
Be Where You Are It’s really amazing to the sum total of human knowledge and a global communication device fit into your pocket, isn’t it? If we’re being honest, it’s sort of addictive…we’ve all seen that table of friends enjoying a night out with their smartphones, silently scrolling through their Snapchat. You may have even […]
The Future We Were Promised and Super Keyboard
Where’s My Jetpack? We were told as children that in the future people would be wearing jetpacks and jumpsuits
Stealth Screens and Insurance by Amazon
Fall of the Trojans Well, it’s been a couple of days and I’m still recovering from the big game–that is, UCLA extending its win streak by taking down archrival USC at home on Saturday. The Lady Bruins even threw in a victory over their counterparts from Southern Cal Monday night just for good measure. With […]
Facebook’s Facelift and Amazon’s Automation
Pray That I Do Not Alter It Further.” If I’m being honest, I myself am not a huge user of Facebook—I just cut out the middleman and share my vacation photos
The Flu Goes Viral
Office Expansion If you’re a regular user of Office 365, the online component to Microsoft’s time tested productivity suite, here’s a great product that give you even more value from the package: Barracuda Office 365 Essentials. This convenient upgrade gives you access to advanced features such as email archiving and email encryption for the protection […]
New Year, Same Geek
…and we’re back! First things first: Happy New Year 2018 to all my readers! By now just about everyone is settling back into their everyday routines, which have hopefully been amended to reflect all those ambitious resolutions made just last week. A simple alteration that has made a tangible impact on my quality of life […]
Falls and Screen Shares
For Your Family I wish I could start off with better news, but this is important to me and could be to you or someone close to you as well. My mother had herself a bit of a fall recently, and unfortunately she sustained some injuries including a concussion and blood loss in the incident […]
Talking InsureTech and InsureTurkey
The Season Begins Happy Thanksgiving! Yes, check your calendar, it is actually the end of November. With that in mind, carving a turkey can be either an engineering challenge on the scale of the Golden Gate Bridge or an effortlessly efficient process, depending on if you know what you’re doing or not. For the many […]
Slick Sales and Christmas Chromebooks
California Wildfires Before the fun and games kick off today, I have to take a minute to address something that continues to affect many of my fellow Californians. Even though the pictures and videos from the disaster paint a dramatic image t’s hard to get a sense of the devastation that the ongoing wildfires have had […]
No Holiday for Hackers
Hacking the Holidays Tis the season…for email phishing and other scams. Unfortunately, cybercrooks are well aware of the increase in online activity that comes with this time of year, and with tools such as keystroke loggers and spoofed links in widespread use, it’s no surprise that a recent survey says at least 15 percent of […]
Is It Really November Already?
‘Tis (Almost) the Season Okay fine, I’ve seen the public service announcements…it’s a few weeks too early to be scouting for Christmas and Hanukkah gifts. We have to let Thanksgiving have its’ turn, it is holiday law. Still, I’m always encountering neat little gadgets that make everyday life just a bit more convenient, and those […]
College Football Kickoff and a Laborless Day
A Bear of a Game Well, college football is finally back, and in a big way. If you haven’t yet heard, my UCLA Bruins somehow engineered one of the greatest
A Pirate’s Life for You
Dante’s Infirmary Well, I certainly had a mixed bag of a weekend. It started out on a real down note when our dog Dante was attacked by a pack of coyotes right in our backyard…he did the best he could to defend himself, but by the time I heard what was going on and ran out to […]