Guides for towns & government
Practical help for small Washington towns and local governments navigating technology.
You Shouldn't Have to Think About Your IT
Most small businesses only call for help once something breaks. Here is what managed IT really is, and why quietly preventing problems costs less than fixing them.
Your Wi-Fi Isn't Supposed to Do That
Dead zones, dropped connections, the router you reboot every week. Here is why business Wi-Fi fails, and what reliable coverage across your whole space actually takes.
If You've Never Tested Your Backup, You Don't Have One
A single external drive or 'it's all in the cloud' is not a backup plan. Here is what a backup you can actually restore looks like, in plain English.
Making Your Town Website Actually Accessible (and Why It's Now Expected)
Accessibility is no longer optional for local government websites. The good news: most of what matters is straightforward, and it makes your site better for everyone. Here is what to focus on.
Taking Payments Online, Without the Headache
Letting people pay you online sounds complicated and risky. Done right, it is neither. Here is what online payments actually involve for a small business or town, in plain terms.
One Password Shouldn't Open Your Whole Business
When guests, staff computers, card readers, and cameras all share one network, a single weak link reaches everything. Here is why separation matters and what it takes.
What to Ask Before You Let Anyone Build Your Website
Before you hire someone to build your website, a handful of plain questions will tell you whether you will own the result or end up renting it back. Here they are.
When the One Person Who Knew the System Leaves
In a lot of small businesses and towns, one person quietly holds all the logins and know-how. When they leave, it can leave with them. Here is how to fix that before it happens.
Stop Scrubbing Hours of Footage to Find One Moment
Modern cameras let you find a moment by describing it in plain words, instead of scrubbing hours of recordings. Here is what that changes for a small business or town.
Why CivicPlus Is the Wrong Choice for Most Small Towns
CivicPlus was built for big agencies. For a small town it often means paying city prices for a box you fit into. Here is the honest case, and what works better.
Cyber Insurance for Small Towns: What Your Provider Now Expects
Insurers are raising the bar on cybersecurity for local governments. Here is what small Washington towns are now expected to have, and why.
Cybersecurity Basics Every Small Business and Town Should Have
You do not need an enterprise budget to be reasonably safe. Here are the practical safeguards that stop most common cyber incidents, in plain language.
Funding Technology Upgrades: A Guide to Grants for Washington Towns
Many small towns delay technology upgrades over cost. Grants can cover much of it. Here is how to think about funding the work.
How a Washington Town Can Get a New Website (Often Without a Formal Bid)
Many small Washington towns assume a new website means a long bidding process. For website and professional services, that is usually not the case.
Have a question we haven’t covered?
Tell us what you’re trying to figure out and we’ll give you a straight answer, from people who live and work right here.