M2 Technology Solutions

09/26/2025

"If this job is becoming obsolete, what are you going to do with that person? We need to teach them something new."

Laura from Carex nailed why upskilling your current team isn't just nice to have - it's essential business strategy.

Think about it: 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀.

Plus when someone has the aptitude and willingness to learn, and you give them the resources, you end up with a really happy employee.

Better to reskill someone you trust than roll the dice on a new hire, especially in today's tight labor market.

Have you seen our latest IT Unplugged episode yet?

Laura breaks down the entire Wisconsin labor market situation and shares practical workforce strategies that actually work.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/H___0rXv4xw
Carex September Labor Market Insights Report: https://www.carexconsulting.com/resources/labor-market-insights-september-2025/

How is your company handling upskilling right now?

09/24/2025

The Wisconsin labor market reality you need to understand.

Laura Strickland from Carex just explained what's really happening with hiring in our state, and the picture is more complex than the headlines suggest.

Here's what we covered:
- Why companies are being more strategic about hiring (not just freezing it)
- The 6 million worker shortage coming by 2032 - and why it started in the 1970s
- How "job listings" don't actually equal "new hires" (the data is misleading)
- Northeast Wisconsin's innovation boom and what it means for talent
- Build vs buy vs rent strategies for finding the right people
- Why adaptability matters more than perfect skill matches

Laura's perspective: "You can teach specific skills, but you can't teach someone how to be a good person."

The conversation covers practical workforce planning strategies, upskilling ROI, and how to hire for attitude over aptitude. Laura also explains their labor market index and what businesses need to know about the current environment.

Whether you're struggling to fill positions or planning ahead, this episode gives you the context and strategies to make better workforce decisions.

Watch on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform.

I've included Carex's latest September Labor Market Insights report in the comments - Matt Duffy's analysis shows the market is "not very good" with some sobering data points about hiring rates and job creation.

What workforce challenges are you facing right now?

09/23/2025

Had such a great conversation with Laura Strickland from Carex about Wisconsin's labor market.

She helped make all those confusing headlines about jobs make sense - and easy to understand!

Laura walked us through what's actually behind those job opening numbers and shared some honest insights about hiring in today's market. This conversation took place in early June but Laura has provided the latest Labor Market Insights below.

Her perspective on workforce planning was refreshing and practical.

Tomorrow's IT Unplugged episode with Laura is one you'll want to listen to if you're dealing with hiring challenges or trying to understand where the labor market is headed.

Really appreciate Laura taking the time to share her knowledge with us and our listeners.

Episode drops September 24th: https://youtu.be/H___0rXv4xw

Carex's new September Labor Market Insights report: https://www.carexconsulting.com/resources/labor-market-insights-september-2025/

What's your biggest hiring challenge right now?

09/20/2025

"If you hire someone who's gonna slack off at home, they'd be slacking off in the office too."

During COVID, our guest Ben was selling remote work software from his basement while helping companies transition their entire workforce. The irony? He was proving remote work could be just as productive as office work - by actually doing it.

His take: There was no difference in how he performed his job whether he was in his Dell cube, his basement, his living room, or his kitchen counter.

The remote work debate often misses this fundamental point - it's not about the location. It's about hiring the right people.

Companies that struggled with remote work productivity often had deeper issues that location couldn't fix:
- Lack of clear expectations
- Poor communication systems
- Hiring people who weren't self-motivated to begin with

The businesses that thrived during the remote transition? They already had good people and good processes. The location change was just logistics.

This doesn't mean remote work is right for everyone or every role. But blaming productivity issues on working from home might be missing the real problem.

What's been your experience? Does location really change how your best performers work?

From our latest IT Unplugged episode on remote work reality - https://youtu.be/WVXRD56qemM

09/19/2025

Over 8,000 defense contractors risked losing DoD eligibility last year due to unclear cybersecurity requirements.

If you're a Wisconsin manufacturer or defense contractor, the clock is ticking on CMMC compliance. Starting in 2025, companies without proper certification will be ineligible for Department of Defense contracts - not as a suggestion, but as a mandatory requirement.

The confusion is real. Many businesses don't know which of the three CMMC levels they need:

Level 1: Basic cyber hygiene for Federal Contract Information (self-assessment, 17 controls)
Level 2: Advanced security for Controlled Unclassified Information (third-party assessment, 110 controls)
Level 3: Expert protection against Advanced Persistent Threats (government assessment, 110+ additional controls)

Here's the reality check: Most Wisconsin manufacturers handling technical drawings, specifications, or defense-unique components need Level 2. That means 6-18 months of preparation and significant investment in both technology and processes.

The shift from "trust me" to "prove it" represents a fundamental change in defense contracting. But companies that prepare now often discover the cybersecurity improvements protect them from threats that could cripple their business regardless of DoD work.

Your required level depends entirely on what information flows through your systems. A facilities maintenance contractor might only need Level 1, while a parts manufacturer likely needs Level 2.

The barriers are real - limited budgets, small IT teams, competing priorities. But breaking this into manageable steps makes it achievable.

We just published a complete breakdown of all three CMMC levels. https://m2.technology/cmmc-levels-explained-find-your-required-certification-level-in-2025/

What questions do you have about CMMC compliance for your business?

CMMC Levels Explained: Learn the requirements for each, determine which certification your business needs, and get started with compliance.

09/18/2025

That "Starbucks Guest WiFi" you just connected to? It might not be Starbucks.

75% of IT professionals say remote work has made their companies more susceptible to cyberattacks. Here's why:

When you're working from that corner table at your favorite coffee shop, that hacker in the other corner just set up a fake WiFi network with the same name as the real one. You connect, thinking you're safe, and now they're watching everything you type - passwords, client data, company emails - all in plain text.

This is called a "Pineapple attack" and it's easier to pull off than most people think.

The solution? Always use a VPN. Whether it's your company's VPN or a trusted service, encrypt your traffic before it leaves your device. Your IT team will thank you, and your clients' data stays protected.

Remote work flexibility comes with real security risks. Don't let convenience compromise your business.

What security measures does your company require for remote workers?

From our latest IT Unplugged episode on remote work reality - https://youtu.be/WVXRD56qemM

09/17/2025

New IT Unplugged episode just dropped - and this one's stirring up some debate.

We tackled remote work in IT with two guys who've lived it from both sides.

One's a remote work believer, the other plays devil's advocate on productivity claims.

Here's what caught our attention:

👀 Why only 18% of tech jobs are fully remote despite all the hype
👀 The cybersecurity nightmare most remote workers don't even know exists
👀 How different generations view authority and accountability when working from home
👀 The isolation factor that nobody wants to talk about

But here's the thing - we didn't just rant about "kids these days." We dug into real challenges IT managers face:

-How do you manage someone who needs structure vs someone who thrives independently?
-What happens when your "Starbucks office" becomes a hacker's playground?

The conversation got raw, honest, and maybe a little uncomfortable. Which is exactly what this topic needs.

If you're making remote work decisions for your team or wondering whether you're cut out for it yourself, this episode cuts through the feel-good narratives and gives you the real story.

Listen now: https://youtu.be/WVXRD56qemM

What's your remote work reality? We'd love to hear your take.

09/16/2025

Is remote work in IT really more productive, or are we just telling ourselves what we want to hear?

In our latest IT Unplugged episode, Brandon and Ben tackle the remote work debate that's dividing the tech industry.

We dive into some uncomfortable truths:
👉 75% of IT professionals say remote work makes companies MORE vulnerable to cyberattacks
👉 Only 18% of IT jobs are fully remote (lower than you'd expect)
👉 The generational divide: How Gen Z and Millennials approach remote work differently
👉 The balance challenge: Setting boundaries between work and personal responsibilities

We also explore the cybersecurity risks nobody talks about - like that "Starbucks Guest WiFi" that might actually be a hacker's laptop stealing your credentials.

Whether you're managing a distributed IT team or wondering if remote work is right for your business, this episode cuts through the hype with real insights from the trenches.

What's your take on remote work productivity?

Are the security risks worth the flexibility?

Watch the full episode on September 17th: https://youtu.be/WVXRD56qemM

08/29/2025

"We're probably fine" is not a CMMC strategy.

Wisconsin defense contractors: while you're debating whether CMMC applies to you, your competitors are already certified and winning the contracts you used to get.

The DoD isn't bluffing anymore. Contracts now require proof, not promises. Self-assessments and third-party audits aren't suggestions—they're the price of admission.

Your prime contractors are asking pointed questions:
• When will you complete your CMMC assessment?
• Can you provide documentation of your security controls?
• Do you have current certification?

If you can't answer these confidently, someone else will.

What's your plan?

We have a CMMC professional on staff ready to help you get started on your compliance journey.

Stop waiting and start winning: https://m2.technology/contact/ or call 920-362-6869

Wisconsin defense contractors CMMC compliance is mandatory for DoD work. Learn what that means & why businesses must act to stay eligible.

08/28/2025

The top 2 cyber threats hitting manufacturing right now:

1. Data breaches from phishing scams
2. Ransomware attacks

Both can completely shut down operations.

As Stephanie Lee from USI Insurance pointed out in yesterday's IT Unplugged episode: "These are real things taking place, but I don't think enough is out there education-wise."

She's right. While manufacturers focus on physical security and operational efficiency, cyber threats are blindsiding entire production lines.

When your supply chain is interconnected and downtime costs tens of thousand if not more per hour, a single phishing email can cascade into millions in losses.

The education gap is dangerous. Manufacturers need to understand these aren't just IT problems—they're business survival issues.

Listen to the full conversation 👇

https://youtu.be/XcwiwWe9AAE

08/27/2025

Is your insurance broker truly advocating for you?

We sit down with Stephanie Lee, Senior Risk Management Consultant at USI Insurance Services, to help manufacturers answer this critical question.

Stephanie brings a unique perspective with 13 years in logistics and supply chain consulting before transitioning to insurance. Her insider knowledge of manufacturing operations gives her a distinct advantage in identifying risks other brokers miss.

What you'll learn:
• How to evaluate if your broker is truly advocating for your business
• Why manufacturing risks differ from other industries
• The interconnected nature of supply chain vulnerabilities
• Using data analytics for informed risk management decisions
• Breaking away from relationship-based insurance decisions
• ROI analysis for insurance investments and loss prevention

Stephanie explains how USI leverages data from thousands of clients to benchmark your coverage against industry peers.

Modern insurance consulting should provide hard facts and analytics, not just relationships.

Perfect for manufacturing business owners, risk managers, and anyone evaluating their current insurance partnerships.

Listen now 👇

https://youtu.be/XcwiwWe9AAE

08/26/2025

We sit down with Stephanie, Senior Risk Management Consultant at USI, to tackle a critical question: "How do you know if your insurance broker is actually advocating for you?"

For manufacturing businesses, this isn't just about coverage—it's about survival. When downtime can cost $80,000+ per hour, you need a partner who understands your interconnected risks.

Key takeaways:
→ Why data beats relationships in insurance decisions
→ How 15 different carriers saved one "difficult risk" client
→ The real ROI of cybersecurity investments
→ What IT teams need to document for better premiums

Episode drops Wednesday--> https://www.youtube.com/