Aldridge Blog
Quick reads to improve your IT strategy
Most Recent Posts
AI Scams: How a Bank President’s Voice Almost Bankrupted a Bank
No systems were breached. No credentials were stolen. No malware was involved. The attack was a phone call. A VP at a financial institution received what appeared to be a call from the bank president. The request was straightforward. A client needed a funds transfer...
Microsoft Copilot Just Changed How You Work in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
If you have Microsoft 365 Copilot and you opened Word, Excel, or PowerPoint recently, you may have noticed something different. The Copilot experience you were used to, the one that answered questions and offered suggestions you could choose to accept or ignore, has...
Cyber Threat Landscape in 2026: Ransomware Isn’t Going Anywhere
Ransomware hasn’t gone away, but it has changed in a meaningful way. Many organizations have invested in stronger security over the past few years, implementing immutable backups, improving endpoint detection, and tightening infrastructure controls. These efforts...
How Microsoft Teams Clocks Over Half a Million Meeting Minutes Every Minute
Microsoft Teams has become one of the most widely used collaboration platforms in the world, powering meetings, chats, and document sharing for organizations of all sizes. But just how much time do we collectively spend in Teams meetings? Spoiler: Every day, Teams...
Avoid Surprise IT Infrastructure Costs with Network-as-a-Service (NaaS)
Most businesses know their network hardware won’t last forever. But what catches many off guard is just how expensive and disruptive a network refresh can be. The costs pile up quickly—new equipment, installation, configuration, and lost time. And by the time...
The Do’s and Don’ts During a Cyber Incident
When a cyberattack hits, the first moments are critical. What you do—and just as importantly, what you don’t do—can make the difference between a quick recovery and a costly disaster. ✅ Do: Stay Calm and Follow a Plan Panic leads to poor decisions. The best thing...
Aldridge Names Chris Fridley as Chief Operating Officer to Drive Growth and Elevate Client Experience
Houston, TX, July 9, 2025 – Aldridge, a leading provider of managed IT and cybersecurity services, proudly announces the appointment of Chris Fridley as Chief Operating Officer. Chris officially joined the Aldridge team on May 12, bringing with him more than 25 years...
5 IT Issues That Cost Manufacturers the Most
In manufacturing, every minute matters. When a CNC machine sits idle, when your ERP system freezes mid-job ticket, or when your operators are staring at a blue screen instead of a work queue—it’s not just frustrating. It’s expensive. 5 IT Issues That Cost...
Aldridge Named to 2025 MSP 501 List of Top IT Providers
HOUSTON, TX – July 1, 2025 — Aldridge has been named one of the world’s top-performing managed service providers (MSPs), earning a place on the 2025 Channel Partners MSP 501—the IT industry’s most respected list of high-performing MSPs across the globe. Now in its...
The Hidden Cybersecurity Risks Inside Your Factory Walls
When you think about cybersecurity, you probably picture hackers targeting office emails or stealing customer data. But in manufacturing, cyber threats don’t just put your data at risk—they can shut down your entire production line. Your factory floor is full of...
It Security
Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) vs. Traditional Network Ownership
Why IT Leaders Are Rethinking Network Ownership For decades, IT leaders have defaulted to the same model for network infrastructure: purchase the hardware, deploy it, and maintain it until the next refresh cycle forces another round of upgrades. It’s familiar, but...
5 New AI-Powered Features Coming to Microsoft Teams in 2026
Microsoft continues to invest heavily in Microsoft Teams, pushing it far beyond chat and video calls and into the center of how work actually gets done. New AI-driven enhancements rolling out through 2026 are designed to make meetings more productive, collaboration...
Microsoft Confirms Active Zero-Day Vulnerability: Immediate Action Recommended for Office & Microsoft 365 Users
Microsoft has confirmed an actively exploited zero-day vulnerability impacting Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 applications. The vulnerability is being tracked and communicated through the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC), Microsoft’s official authority...
Microsoft 365
Quick Financial Forecasting in Excel
Forecasting is a critical aspect of financial planning and analysis, enabling businesses to anticipate future trends based on historical data. Excel's built-in forecasting tools make this process more accessible and efficient. What is the Forecast Sheet Feature? ...
Analyzing Data with Pivot Tables in Excel
Pivot Tables allow you to summarize, analyze, and present large datasets in a meaningful way, making it easier to spot trends, compare values, and create customized reports. What is a Pivot Table? A Pivot Table is a tool in Excel that enables you to quickly...
Why You Should be Using ‘Named Ranges’ in Excel
One of the most powerful yet often underutilized features in Excel is Named Ranges. Named Ranges offer significant benefits, especially when dealing with complex datasets and formulas. What Are Named Ranges? Named Ranges in Excel allow you to assign a name to a...
It Consulting
Microsoft Lowers Copilot Pricing for Small and Midsize Businesses
Microsoft recently restructured its Copilot licensing to better fit how businesses are actually organized. The most meaningful change for small and midsize organizations is a new lower-cost plan and a promotional rate that runs through June 30, 2026. If you have been...
Microsoft Copilot Just Changed How You Work in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
If you have Microsoft 365 Copilot and you opened Word, Excel, or PowerPoint recently, you may have noticed something different. The Copilot experience you were used to, the one that answered questions and offered suggestions you could choose to accept or ignore, has...
Don’t Miss Our Most Popular Articles
Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) vs. Traditional Network Ownership
Why IT Leaders Are Rethinking Network Ownership For decades, IT leaders have defaulted to the same model for network infrastructure: purchase the hardware, deploy it, and maintain it until the next refresh cycle forces another round of upgrades. It’s familiar, but...
5 New AI-Powered Features Coming to Microsoft Teams in 2026
Microsoft continues to invest heavily in Microsoft Teams, pushing it far beyond chat and video calls and into the center of how work actually gets done. New AI-driven enhancements rolling out through 2026 are designed to make meetings more productive, collaboration...
Microsoft Confirms Active Zero-Day Vulnerability: Immediate Action Recommended for Office & Microsoft 365 Users
Microsoft has confirmed an actively exploited zero-day vulnerability impacting Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 applications. The vulnerability is being tracked and communicated through the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC), Microsoft’s official authority...