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Act on Tech

Alex of Alex Custom Tech

Welcome to Act on Tech, the podcast that empowers you to harness technology to boost your productivity and simplify your life. Hosted by tech enthusiast and entrepreneur Alex, each episode dives into actionable tips, tools, and insights to help you stay ahead in the digital age. Discover practical advice, expert opinions, and cutting-edge trends, all while learning about Alex Custom Tech, a leading MSP dedicated to providing personalized IT solutions for business and residential customers. Tune in and take your tech game to the next level!

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Wednesday · 29 min
Running a one-person business doesn’t mean you have to handle IT alone
In this episode of Act on Tech, AI Abby takes the microphone to explore the cybersecurity challenges facing solo business owners—from protecting email and securing accounts to keeping recoverable backups and preparing for downtime. Drawing on new NIST guidance for the smallest businesses, Abby discusses how a managed service provider (MSP) can support a one-person operation, what questions to ask before hiring one, and how to choose help that fits your needs and budget. Plus, get a behind-the-scenes look at the thinking shaping Alex Custom Tech’s next chapter, with a few hints about ongoing projects. Have questions about your business technology? Visit alexcustomtech.com or email info@alexcustomtech.com. Share this episode with a business owner who’s juggling it all. Stay productive. Send us Fan Mail Stay tuned for more insights on how to leverage technology to boost your productivity and protect your digital world. Don't forget to subscribe to Act on Tech and follow us for updates!
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November 4 · 29 min
Behind Act on Tech: What I’m Building at Alex Custom Tech
Alex goes off script to talk about why he started Act on Tech and what he’s building at Alex Custom Tech. He walks through what managed IT looks like for a small business, from the first assessment to ongoing maintenance, backups, and security. He also explains why he wants prospective clients to do their homework and what he expects from both sides of an IT partnership. Along the way, Alex shares how an internet radio station he built for himself became something other people could listen to, how he uses AI to think through ideas, and why he wants listeners to take what they hear on the show and do their own research. He also shares a brief update on an application he’s developing. Alex Custom Tech is looking to bring on a couple more small-business clients for managed IT. If you’re interested, fill out the contact form at alexcustomtech.com Send us Fan Mail Stay tuned for more insights on how to leverage technology to boost your productivity and protect your digital world. Don't forget to subscribe to Act on Tech and follow us for updates!
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October 28 · 29 min
Stop Treating Your IT Guy Like the Fire Department
When something breaks, you call IT. They fix it, you pay the bill, and everyone gets back to work. But what if that approach is costing your business more than you realize? In this episode of Act on Tech, Alex challenges the traditional break-fix approach to IT support and explains why businesses should stop treating their IT providers like the fire department—only calling when there's an emergency. Technology failures don't just come with repair bills. They can also mean lost productivity, frustrated employees, interrupted operations, and lost revenue. And while not every failure can be prevented, many problems can be identified and addressed before they become expensive emergencies. Alex explores the importance of preventative IT, why reliable technology often goes unnoticed, and how a good managed service provider (MSP) should help businesses reduce downtime rather than simply respond to it. The conversation also examines why IT decisions should be based on business needs, how preventative maintenance can save money, and why the relationship between a business and its IT provider should be a partnership—not just a series of service calls. In the closing Abby Minute, AI Abby offers another perspective: sometimes the most valuable work an IT professional does is the work nobody notices. But that doesn't mean business owners should be left wondering what they're paying for. Good IT providers should communicate the value of prevention, even when everything is running smoothly. Because good IT isn't just about how quickly someone can fix a problem. It's about how many unnecessary problems you can avoid in the first place. The goal isn't to constantly put out fires. It's to prevent the ones you can, prepare for the ones you can't, and keep your business running. Send us Fan Mail Stay tuned for more insights on how to leverage technology to boost your productivity and protect your digital world. Don't forget to subscribe to Act on Tech and follow us for updates!
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October 21 · 29 min
Your Backup Is Useless Until You Test It
Send us Fan Mail Stay tuned for more insights on how to leverage technology to boost your productivity and protect your digital world. Don't forget to subscribe to Act on Tech and follow us for updates!
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October 14 · 29 min
Did AI Really Escape? The Open-AI and Hugging Face Incident
Did an artificial intelligence model really escape its testing environment and attempt to access Hugging Face? Or did sensational headlines turn an AI safety experiment into something resembling a science fiction movie? In this episode of Act on Tech, Abby takes over the microphone to examine the July 2026 Open-AI incident, the reported behavior of the AI model, and the growing concerns surrounding artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. But rather than giving in to the fear and sensationalism, we take a more practical look at what happened. Throughout the history of computing, new technologies have introduced new security challenges. From early computer viruses and internet worms to modern ransomware, the technology industry has continuously developed new defenses to address emerging threats. Artificial intelligence is no different in that respect, although it presents challenges of its own. Are we witnessing machines becoming uncontrollable, or are researchers discovering vulnerabilities that can help make AI systems safer? Abby explores the incident, separates legitimate security concerns from speculation, and discusses why testing, oversight, and responsible development matter. To close out the episode, Alex joins the conversation with his perspective as an IT professional, explaining why we should take AI security seriously without allowing fear to overshadow the technology's potential. Technology should be approached with understanding, not fear. Act on simplicity, act on reliability, and keep acting on tech. Stay productive. Send us Fan Mail Stay tuned for more insights on how to leverage technology to boost your productivity and protect your digital world. Don't forget to subscribe to Act on Tech and follow us for updates!
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October 7 · 23 min
IT in an Inflationary Economy: Your MSP Should Be Helping You Save Money – PT 2
When money gets tight, cutting expenses makes sense. But when it comes to technology, the cheapest decision today can sometimes become the most expensive decision tomorrow. In Part Two of IT in an Inflationary Economy, AI Abby takes over the conversation and continues where Alex left off: what should a good MSP actually be doing to help a business control costs? The answer isn't simply selling more technology. A good MSP should help identify waste, eliminate unnecessary subscriptions, extend the useful life of equipment when appropriate, simplify overly complicated environments, plan replacements before they become emergencies, and help businesses understand which technology investments are actually providing value. But there's another side to that conversation. Backups, security, monitoring, maintenance, and preventative IT can sometimes look unnecessary precisely because they're working. When nothing is broken, it can be easy to wonder what you're paying for. But preventing downtime and emergencies is part of the value of properly managed IT. Abby also looks at why spending money can sometimes be the less expensive option, how employee productivity should factor into technology decisions, and why businesses should avoid panic-cutting their IT budgets without first understanding the consequences. The goal isn't to spend less on IT. And it isn't to spend more on IT. It's to spend intentionally. Your MSP shouldn't be sitting across the table trying to protect its invoice. A good MSP should be sitting beside you, helping protect the business. Send us Fan Mail Stay tuned for more insights on how to leverage technology to boost your productivity and protect your digital world. Don't forget to subscribe to Act on Tech and follow us for updates!
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September 30 · 29 min
IT in an Inflationary Economy: Your MSP Should Be Helping You Save Money – PT 1
When the cost of doing business goes up, every expense eventually gets another look—including IT. In Part One of this Act on Tech discussion, Alex Hutchinson looks at how small businesses should approach technology spending in an inflationary economy and why cutting IT costs shouldn't simply mean cutting IT. The real question is: Are you eliminating waste, or eliminating something your business depends on? Alex discusses extending the useful life of technology, repairing before replacing, reviewing software subscriptions, reducing unnecessary complexity, maintaining an accurate IT inventory, and understanding where preventative IT fits when budgets get tighter. Most importantly, he explains why a good MSP shouldn't simply be another monthly expense fighting to protect its own piece of the budget. Your MSP should be part of your team—helping identify where technology costs can safely be reduced, where spending can be delayed, and where cutting too deeply could create a much larger expense later. Sometimes good IT means investing. Sometimes it means repairing. Sometimes it means eliminating something you don't need. And sometimes it means looking at perfectly good technology and saying: Don't spend the money. Leave it alone. In Part Two, we'll continue the conversation and look at the other side of the equation: why sometimes spending money on technology is actually the less expensive decision. Send us Fan Mail Stay tuned for more insights on how to leverage technology to boost your productivity and protect your digital world. Don't forget to subscribe to Act on Tech and follow us for updates!
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September 23 · 29 min
The Cloud Is Someone Else’s Computer—So What Are You Responsible For? PT 2
The cloud can remove servers from your office—but it doesn’t remove responsibility from your business. In Part Two of “The Cloud Is Someone Else’s Computer,” Alex Hutchinson continues the conversation about what happens as businesses become increasingly dependent on cloud services. From SaaS applications and cloud storage to internet dependency, service outages, account ownership, permissions, vendor lock-in, Shadow IT, and endpoint security, Alex looks at the responsibilities that remain with your business even when someone else is managing the infrastructure. The episode also explores an important question: What happens when the cloud service your business depends on suddenly isn’t available? AI Abby closes with a reminder that convenience and responsibility have to travel together. Moving technology to the cloud may change what you manage, but it doesn’t eliminate the need for planning, documentation, security, backups, and recovery. The cloud can make technology simpler and more accessible—but you still need to know where your data is, who has access to it, how you recover it, and what happens when something goes wrong. The cloud changes your responsibilities. It doesn’t eliminate them. Send us Fan Mail Stay tuned for more insights on how to leverage technology to boost your productivity and protect your digital world. Don't forget to subscribe to Act on Tech and follow us for updates!
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September 16 · 29 min
The Cloud Is Someone Else’s Computer—So What Are You Responsible For PT 1
Moving your business to the cloud can eliminate a lot of hardware and infrastructure you once had to manage yourself—but does that mean the cloud provider is now responsible for everything? Not quite. In this episode of Act on Tech, Alex Hutchinson breaks down the idea that “the cloud is just someone else’s computer” and explains the concept of shared responsibility in practical terms for small businesses. We look at who is responsible for protecting user accounts, passwords and administrator access, why multi-factor authentication matters, what should happen to cloud access when an employee leaves, and why storing information in the cloud doesn't automatically mean you've eliminated every risk surrounding that data. AI Abby closes the conversation with a simple analogy: moving to the cloud is a little like renting space in a professionally managed building. The owner may maintain the building, but you still control the keys to your office. Cloud providers can maintain enormous data centers and sophisticated infrastructure that most small businesses could never build themselves. But they don't know who should have access to your information, who left your company last week, or how your employees should handle sensitive data. The cloud changes your IT responsibilities. It doesn't eliminate them. Because even when it's someone else's computer... it's still your business. Send us Fan Mail Stay tuned for more insights on how to leverage technology to boost your productivity and protect your digital world. Don't forget to subscribe to Act on Tech and follow us for updates!
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September 9 · 29 min
Your Business Has a Single Point of Failure—Do You Know What It Is?
What happens if one critical piece of your business disappears tomorrow morning? Your internet connection goes down. Your main network switch fails. A server won't start. Your only backup doesn't work. Or maybe the problem isn't technology at all—the one employee who knows every password and process simply isn't available. In this episode of Act on Tech, Alex Hutchinson explores single points of failure and why identifying them is an important part of preventative IT. From internet connections, networking equipment, power and servers to backups, cloud services, administrator accounts, documentation, and even employees, Alex explains how one seemingly small failure can sometimes create a chain reaction across an entire business. But redundancy doesn't mean buying two of everything. It's about understanding your risk, knowing how long your business can tolerate an outage, and deciding where backups, documentation, spare equipment, cross-training, or additional redundancy actually make sense. AI Abby also joins the conversation to reinforce a simple idea: preparation isn't about expecting failure—it's about being ready when failure eventually happens. Because reliable IT isn't about pretending things never break. It's about making sure one broken thing doesn't become a broken business. Send us Fan Mail Stay tuned for more insights on how to leverage technology to boost your productivity and protect your digital world. Don't forget to subscribe to Act on Tech and follow us for updates!
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September 2 · 29 min
When Technology Works, Leave It Alone – Part Two
When does upgrading technology actually make things better—and when does it simply create more work? In Part Two of “When Technology Works, Leave It Alone,” Alex continues the conversation about why newer doesn't automatically mean better. We look at the hidden costs of unnecessary upgrades, software changes, added features, subscriptions, AI, and the complexity that slowly builds when businesses keep adding technology without asking what problem they're actually trying to solve. Then AI Abby joins the conversation to take the idea even further. She explores the difference between maintenance and tinkering, why every change introduces some level of risk and disruption, and why a technically superior solution isn't always the better business solution. But “leave it alone” doesn't mean neglecting old or insecure technology. Unsupported systems, failing hardware, security risks, and technology that can no longer meet the needs of the business still need to be addressed. The goal isn't old technology or new technology. The goal is appropriate technology—secure, supported, reliable, and suited to the job. Sometimes good IT means upgrading. Sometimes it means simplifying. And sometimes the smartest decision is simply: It's working. Leave it alone. Send us Fan Mail Stay tuned for more insights on how to leverage technology to boost your productivity and protect your digital world. Don't forget to subscribe to Act on Tech and follow us for updates!
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August 26 · 29 min
When Technology Works, Leave It Alone – Part One
Does newer technology always mean better technology? In this episode of Act on Tech, Alex Hutchinson returns to the microphone with a simple philosophy: if technology is secure, supported, reliable, and doing the job it was designed to do, sometimes the smartest decision is to leave it alone. Alex explores our constant desire to upgrade, replace, automate, and add new features—even when the technology we already have is working perfectly well. From computers and networking equipment to software, AI, and subscriptions, he examines the hidden costs and added complexity that can come from changing technology simply because something newer is available. This conversation went longer than expected, so we're making it a two-part episode. Part Two will continue the discussion and take a deeper look at when upgrading makes sense, when it doesn't, and why good IT isn't about constantly changing things—it's about knowing when change actually creates value. Because change isn't always progress, and sometimes the most professional IT decision is simply: it's working—leave it alone. Send us Fan Mail Stay tuned for more insights on how to leverage technology to boost your productivity and protect your digital world. Don't forget to subscribe to Act on Tech and follow us for updates!
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August 19 · 29 min
Is Technology Making Businesses More Productive… or Just Busier? Part Two
Technology is supposed to save us time—but what happens when we immediately fill that saved time with more work? In Part Two of this special Act on Tech discussion, AI Abby takes a deeper look at the personal side of productivity. Alex has spent years using automation, artificial intelligence, remote-management tools, and better systems to free up his time. Yet instead of using that time to relax, play video games, create new DJ sets, or simply step away, he often replaces one finished task with another. This episode explores the difference between available work and necessary work, why empty time can feel uncomfortable, and how productivity can slowly become part of a person’s identity. Abby also examines whether rest can be productive, why good automation requires trust, and how technology can erase the boundary between being at home and still mentally being at work. The question is no longer simply whether technology makes us more productive. The deeper question is: What are we saving all this time for? Send us Fan Mail Stay tuned for more insights on how to leverage technology to boost your productivity and protect your digital world. Don't forget to subscribe to Act on Tech and follow us for updates!
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August 12 · 18 min
Productivity vs. Busyness_ A Tech Debate
This week is a little different. For the first time on Act on Tech, Abby takes over the microphone for an entire episode. Does technology actually make us more productive... or does it simply give us more ways to stay busy? In Productivity vs. Busyness: A Tech Debate, Abby explores one of the biggest questions facing today's professionals and business owners. From automation and AI to endless notifications and growing to-do lists, we examine whether modern technology is truly giving us back our time—or simply encouraging us to fill every available moment with more work. You'll also hear why productivity isn't measured by how busy we are, but by whether we're making progress on what truly matters. Whether you're an IT professional, a small business owner, or someone trying to find a better balance between work and life, this episode offers practical insights into using technology with purpose. Stay productive. Send us Fan Mail Stay tuned for more insights on how to leverage technology to boost your productivity and protect your digital world. Don't forget to subscribe to Act on Tech and follow us for updates!
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August 5 · 29 min
Complexity Is the Enemy of Reliability
In today's world, it's easy to believe that adding more technology, more apps, and more features automatically makes a business better. But is that really true? In this episode of Act on Tech, Alex Hutchinson shares his philosophy that complexity is often the greatest threat to reliability. From business networks and software to everyday life, Alex explains why simple, well-planned systems consistently outperform complicated ones that are difficult to maintain and troubleshoot. You'll learn how standardization, thoughtful planning, and a preventative approach to IT can reduce downtime, improve security, and save businesses both time and money. Alex also explores how this principle extends beyond technology, showing why reliability and consistency are often more valuable than having the latest features or the most complex solutions. Whether you're a business owner, an IT professional, or someone who simply wants technology that works, this episode offers practical insights into building systems you can depend on. Because the best technology isn't the most complicated—it's the technology you can count on every day. Send us Fan Mail Stay tuned for more insights on how to leverage technology to boost your productivity and protect your digital world. Don't forget to subscribe to Act on Tech and follow us for updates!
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July 29 · 30 min
The Right to Repair Is Good for Everyone
Should you have the right to repair the technology you own? In this opinion episode of Act on Tech, Alex Hutchinson explores the growing Right to Repair movement and why he believes it's good for consumers, small businesses, and independent IT professionals alike. From smartphones and laptops to business computers and networking equipment, the ability to repair and maintain our own devices has become an increasingly important issue. Alex discusses how repairability can reduce downtime, lower long-term costs, extend the life of technology, and give business owners more choices when something breaks. He also considers the concerns manufacturers have about safety, security, and quality, while making the case that ownership should come with the freedom to choose how your equipment is maintained. Whether you're a business owner, an IT professional, or simply someone who believes ownership should mean ownership, this episode offers a practical perspective on why the Right to Repair matters. Because when you truly own something, you should have the freedom to maintain it, repair it, and make it last. Send us Fan Mail Stay tuned for more insights on how to leverage technology to boost your productivity and protect your digital world. Don't forget to subscribe to Act on Tech and follow us for updates!
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July 22 · 27 min
Why Every Business Needs an IT Inventory
When was the last time you took inventory of your business's technology? In this episode of Act on Tech, Alex Hutchinson explains why an IT inventory is one of the most valuable—and most overlooked—tools a small business can have. From computers and printers to network equipment, software licenses, and cloud services, knowing what you own is the first step toward improving security, reducing downtime, and planning for the future. You'll learn how a simple inventory can speed up troubleshooting, strengthen cybersecurity, simplify equipment replacements, and help your business recover faster when unexpected problems occur. Whether you're a business owner with five computers or fifty, this episode will show you why good IT starts with good documentation. Because you can't manage what you don't know you have. 🌐 Visit: AlexCustomTech.com Contact us to learn how proactive IT can help your business stay secure, stable, and productive. #pinterproblems #SmallBusinessIT #MSP #Cybersecurity #Networking #ITSupport #TechnologyPodcast #ActOnTech #AlexCustomTech #PreventativeIT #Automation #Documentation #TechTips Send us Fan Mail Stay tuned for more insights on how to leverage technology to boost your productivity and protect your digital world. Don't forget to subscribe to Act on Tech and follow us for updates!
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July 15 · 28 min
PlayStation and the Slow Goodbye to Physical Games
physical game disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will officially be discontinued starting in January 2028 As the gaming industry continues moving away from physical discs, many gamers are celebrating the convenience of digital downloads. But is something important being lost? In this episode of Act on Tech, Alex shares why he still believes physical media matters—not because he's against technology, but because ownership matters. From PlayStation's changing direction to the growing trend of digital-only libraries, we look at what consumers give up when they trade ownership for convenience. Do you really own a game that can disappear from your account? What happens if a service shuts down or licensing changes? And what does this trend mean beyond gaming—for movies, music, software, and even the future of cloud computing? Sometimes the newest technology isn't always the best deal for the customer. Send us Fan Mail Stay tuned for more insights on how to leverage technology to boost your productivity and protect your digital world. Don't forget to subscribe to Act on Tech and follow us for updates!
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July 8 · 28 min
Can AI Replace IT Support
Artificial intelligence is transforming the IT industry, but does that mean IT support is becoming obsolete? In this episode of Act on Tech, Alex Hutchinson explores where AI excels, where it falls short, and why human experience still plays a critical role in keeping businesses running. From automating repetitive tasks to helping troubleshoot complex issues, AI is becoming an invaluable tool—but it still can't replace sound judgment, real-world experience, or an understanding of how technology supports people and business operations. Whether you're a small business owner, an IT professional, or simply curious about the future of technology, this episode offers a practical, balanced look at how AI is changing the industry without replacing the people behind it. Because in the end, AI is a powerful tool—but it's not a substitute for trust, experience, and good IT. Send us Fan Mail Stay tuned for more insights on how to leverage technology to boost your productivity and protect your digital world. Don't forget to subscribe to Act on Tech and follow us for updates!
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July 1 · 27 min
What makes a Business Network Professional
In this episode of Act on Tech, Alex explores the mindset, responsibilities, and standards that define professional network administration in a business environment. From reliability and documentation to security, planning, and preventative maintenance, you'll learn why business networking is about far more than getting an internet connection to work. Whether you're a small business owner looking to hire an IT provider or an aspiring IT professional wanting to raise your standards, this episode explains what professionalism really looks like in today's connected world. Because at Alex Custom Tech, IT means Integrity & Trust. Send us Fan Mail Stay tuned for more insights on how to leverage technology to boost your productivity and protect your digital world. Don't forget to subscribe to Act on Tech and follow us for updates!
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