AI & Cybersecurity: Your IT Insider Scoop from Cortavo

Welcome to your IT insider scoop!
As the Engineering Director here at Cortavo, I’m excited to bring you the latest from our team—practical tips, tech updates, and insights to keep your business humming.

We’re all about delivering affordable, scalable IT solutions that work for you, and this newsletter is your go-to for what’s fresh, what’s smart, and how we’re here to help. This quarter, we’re tackling two big hitters—AI and Cybersecurity—with bite-sized know-how to boost your efficiency and security.

AI: Smarter Tools, Simpler Work

Artificial Intelligence isn’t just sci-fi buzz—it’s here, and it’s changing how businesses operate. We’ll explore how AI can streamline your workflows, cut busywork, and fit your budget, plus Cortavo’s take on making it practical for you.

Over the years, AI has taken off in several aspects of our world. With that, we have seen a rise in small to medium-sized businesses looking into using AI in various ways, from automating tasks to improving efficiency and even supporting customer service. As AI grows, so will the ability for it to be implemented in your daily lives.

“Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer accessible only to tech giants... AI is more accessible than ever and offers affordable and user-friendly solutions that help small businesses stay competitive.”
— Melissa Houston, Forbes

But Wait—Is AI Always the Answer?

Like with any new innovative product, things seem to be good to be true. More times than not, we at Cortavo get folks who want to inquire about “using AI” but don’t really have a business need for it. It is common for folks in our industry to see that they “could” use AI but really would benefit from better tooling, improved processes, or eliminating unnecessary workflows. Think of the analogy “dressing up a dud."

As a daily user of Gen AI for research, formal communications (this newsletter has some, I would challenge you to find the difference!) and verifying syntax in coding, Generative AI today can be a useful tool for tech-savvy individuals.

Another concern with the AI boom today is security. As new AI tools flood the market, concerns about data integrity, tool origins, misinformation, and privacy are stacking up. Take DeepSeek, a recent chatbot from China billed as a “faster ChatGPT.” It gained traction fast—until cybersecurity experts dug into its code. They found hidden features funneling user identities, search queries, and online behavior straight to the Chinese government. These red flags sparked data security alarms, prompting several businesses and even entire countries to ban the tool outright.

“Other governments have already issued warnings about or placed restrictions on the use of DeepSeek, including South Korea and Italy. Australia and Taiwan both banned DeepSeek from all government devices this week over security concerns.”
— Rob Wile, NBC News

As you think through, “Is AI the right solution for us”? Take into consideration how you will utilize it, what information you put into it, and how it will improve your business. Cortavo is here to help you strategize your business and determine how AI will best fit securely.

Which leads into my next point, Cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity: Locking Down Your Digital Doors

With threats like phishing and ransomware lurking, strong cybersecurity is non-negotiable. We’ll share the latest on keeping your data safe, spotlighting simple steps and Cortavo’s tricks to stay one step ahead of the bad guys.

As the number one concern for our customers today, Cybersecurity is not only a growing part of Cortavo’s business but of MSPs as a whole. As shown in the chart below from Jumpcloud, security is the number one concern for IT organizations, coming in at a whopping 60%!

Source: Jumpcloud

It is no secret that cybersecurity and IT governance are critical to any organization, big or small. Here at Cortavo, we have seen a YoY increase of over 200% in reported cybersecurity incidents!

In most cases, businesses seem to have to balance costs with secure environments. While cybersecurity can be an added line item to your IT budget, in 2025 it is almost a necessity. Cyberthreats are only getting more sophisticated, especially with the introduction of AI. Technology is evolving faster than ever, which is making current technologies obsolete and thus more vulnerable. And honestly, a solid cyber security posture is much more cost-effective than a security breach.

As your MSP, Cortavo is constantly working to find the latest security solutions to prevent, protect, and educate when it comes to cybersecurity. Detection and Prevention are critical to ensuring a more secure environment.

How can Cortavo help?

As I learned years ago, the best security fortress is only as good as the users inside of it. Human prevention can be the strongest pillar or the weakest link. It is vital for each employee in your organization to have proper training, high awareness, and critical thinking skills to combat any cyber threats.

At Cortavo, we offer security awareness training and simulated phishing campaigns at no additional cost!

As we explore ways to keep your IT sharp, we’re excited to spotlight a gem in our toolkit: SaaS Alerts. This platform delivers real-time notifications on suspicious activities—think unauthorized logins, brute-force attempts, or risky user behavior—across tools like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Salesforce. Powered by machine learning, it spots anomalies, auto-locks compromised accounts, and halts dangerous file-sharing, giving us a proactive edge as your MSP. For SMBs, it’s a budget-friendly way to boost visibility and security without hefty infrastructure—imagine catching a hacked account before it triggers a $200K wire fraud.

Beyond alerts and training, Cortavo’s teamed up with two top-tier security vendors to offer a full-spectrum toolkit. Need detection or prevention? We’ve got a cutting-edge email security solution to stop threats cold, plus a next-gen Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tool that, in our trials, outsmarted nine competitors—including Microsoft—by flagging apps others missed.

Our second partner is a true third-party expert, delivering impartial solutions like security gap analysis, comprehensive assessments, and penetration testing. These services help you ace cyber insurance or compliance audits while ensuring your environment’s locked tight—peace of mind, Cortavo-style.

Whew! What a doozy of a quarterly IT newsletter! If you made it this far, congratulations! If anything caught your eye, don’t hesitate to reach out to your account manager soon to dig deeper.

We’re here to help and look forward to bringing you even more insights next quarter. Thanks for reading!

Have questions or need support?

You can always reach out to sales@cortavo.com.