Trendz³ Newsletter: WiFi Risks, AI Integration & Macs in the Workplace

Hi Friend,

Hear that? It's the sound of school bells ringing across Northwest Arkansas and, with them, fewer autoreplies pinging our inboxes as routines begin to return.

Nothing wrong with routines, of course. Lots of us thrive in them.

One thing is certain, though: technology will always have a way of jolting us from our routines. Coming from a lifelong "IT guy," one day you're installing Windows 98 from a floppy disk (with a full head of hair, by the way), and the next day you're training agentic AI to write emails. Yep, change is the only constant in tech.

And that principle is definitely on display in this month's newsletter, as we share insights into the rise of Macs in the workplace, the rapid pace of AI adoption by SMBs, and the hidden dangers of public WiFi to your business.

As you'll see, all of it is anything but routine.

Sincerely,

Rob Brothers
Founding Partner
TekTrendz

Trend1 — Macs in a Windows workplace: What to know about Apple computers in the office

For years, workplaces have been lonely arenas for Macs. Work, historically, has been powered by Windows — and that's not likely to change anytime soon.

And yet more and more Macs are showing up in the office, aren't they?

Indeed, Macs accounted for 11% of workplace computers in 2025 — an uptick of 2.4 percentage points from 2024. Two takeaways: PCs still dominate; yet Macs are no longer the Yeti-sighting in the workplace that they used to be.

How have Macs been able to infiltrate Windows-dominated workplaces? Sometimes through employee choice programs ("You want a PC or Mac?"); other times Macs find their way in through BYOD (bring your own device) staff — like part-timers, interns, and contractors.

So, what do you need to know about Macs at work?

• Mac vs. PC evokes strong opinions, but the right attitude toward Macs in your workplace is neither resistance nor obsession — it's management. Every device on your network, regardless of OS, should be centrally managed and held to the same security standard. A Mac with no oversight is a blind spot; a Mac with the right oversight is just another endpoint.

• Brace yourself: Macs don't always play nice with your software. A lot of industry-specific software is Windows-only. This need not be a Mac deal-breaker for your business (though it often is). Ways exist (e.g., Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion) to run Windows programs on Mac hardware.

• Despite what you've heard, Macs are not immune to cyberattack. The "Macs don't get viruses" myth is dead. Mac-targeted malware is rising fast, often delivered through fake app installers (i.e., malware that looks like legit software). Windows or Mac, well-trained employees are crucial.

As Shakespeare wrote, "To Mac or not to Mac, that isn't the question."

What is the Mac question? Is your network centrally managed and secure from end to end — regardless of logos and operating systems? And, it's a question we're happy to guide you through at TekTrendz. 

Trend2 — For Arkansas SMBs, the question isn't AI adoption. It's now AI integration. 

Remember when AI adoption was all the rage? "Look at them, wow, they're way ahead of the curve for a small business. They've already adopted AI!?!?"

But things are changing — rapidly. AI adoption has quickly become table stakes even for small businesses in Northwest Arkansas. It's becoming difficult, actually, to find SMBs that haven't at least dipped their toes in the AI water.

If AI adoption is becoming a touch passé, the focus now seems to be shifting toward...AI integration. As in, "Is AI a part of how your business actually operates?" Is it budgeted? Is it managed? Is it part of your workflows?

In a nutshell, is AI part of your core operations?

If so, well, that's starting to sound an awful lot like true AI integration.

The gap between AI adoption and integration is readily apparent in survey data. From Goldman Sachs' recent survey of over 1,200 U.S. small businesses:

• 76% said they were using AI (i.e., they had adopted it)

• Of these, 93% reported a "positive impact"

• Here's the kicker though: only 14% in the small business survey said they had "fully integrated" AI into core operations

This gap — between adoption and integration — aligns with our own internal data at TekTrendz, based on surveys with our clients about their AI usage.

So, what's the storyline for small businesses of Northwest Arkansas?

To use a football analogy: the goal posts have shifted — from mere AI usage to AI integration. And while that might matter to some SMBs more than others...it's always helpful to know exactly where you are on the field, isn't it? 

Trend3 — "Can I get the Wi-Fi password?" The hidden dangers lurking in free Wi-Fi

With kids going back to school and adults sliding back into routines, traffic is about to pick up on public Wi-Fi networks — from university libraries to shared office spaces to hotel rooms on those occasional work trips.

Speaking of hotels, did you see this? Hackers have been having a heyday recently breaking into the Wi-Fi gateways at hotels and conference centers across the country and stealing Microsoft 365 credentials from business travelers. Eek.

It's a brazen reminder: public Wi-Fi networks carry risks. They offer cybercriminals a way to swipe everything from customer info to banking details to, yes, software credentials right off your employees' devices. By the dozens, even hundreds. All from a single point of compromise: the Wi-Fi router.

Using public Wi-Fi falls into the category: safer but not safe. Advances in HTTPS adoption and encryption have made it more difficult for the hacker-in-a-hoodie (not to be confused with elf on the shelf) at the local coffee shop to eavesdrop on your traffic and read what you're typing in real-time. And, yet, real dangers remain.

Some suggestions for protecting company data/assets over public Wi-Fi:

• Obviously, personal hotspots mean you can avoid public Wi-Fi altogether

• Enable multi-factor authentication everywhere — but you already knew that

• Train employees to be highly skeptical of any login page asking for passwords

• Avoid completing sensitive tasks (e.g., banking, client info) on public Wi-Fi

• Beware "evil twin" networks that look like that coffee shop's network

• Ask your device to "forget" the network when done

Of course, as with the story linked above, some hacks perpetrated over public Wi-Fi networks are quite sophisticated and may require advanced measures like VPNs, tightened Microsoft 365 security settings, or other safeguards that are, honestly, best handled by IT professionals. So just reach out. We're here for you. 

Report: 2026 Hiscox Cyber Readiness Survey Shows Reality of Threats Facing SMBs

As G.I. Joe famously said, "Knowing is half the battle." Which is especially true of cybersecurity — where understanding the threat is the all-important first step to mounting a proper defense.

Hiscox's 2026 Cyber Readiness Report (U.S.) is a bite-size primer — because who has time for a novel, right? — on the realities of cyber threats facing SMBs today. From a survey of 1,000 U.S. small businesses, this brief report answers:

• How likely is an attack on your small business?

• If you pay a ransom, will you really get your data back?

• What are the real costs of an attack?

Give it a look. G.I. Joe would be proud, and they're real American heroes.

Read the 2026 Cyber Readiness Report

Calling All NWA Nonprofit Leaders! Pixels With Purpose is Coming September 15 

Nonprofits are passionate about their causes. But rapid digitalization has left many nonprofit leaders wondering how to advance their missions in a world now dominated by beeps, bytes, and bots.

Pixels With Purpose, a free morning forum scheduled for Tuesday, September 15 at the NWA Food Bank, will offer area nonprofit leaders practical guidance on a slew of pressing digital topics — AI, digital marketing, cybersecurity, and more. PWP will feature networking opportunities, free coffee and breakfast, and, of course, local experts sharing real-world insights about all things "pixelated."

And, all in an effort to help NWA nonprofits thrive in today's digital world.

Are you a Northwest Arkansas nonprofit leader? You're invited! RSVP below.

Know some NWA nonprofit leaders? Please spread the word!

Click Here to Learn More

Articles We're Reading...

Here's four articles we've read recently with important implications for small business — and their technology, productivity, and/or cybersecurity.

• 'Chikin' and cyber threats: Chick-fil-A says attack exposed some customer account information
• Ransomware gangs skipping the CEO, heading straight for the 40-something manager
• Ars Technica: Microsoft unveils AI security tools it says outperform competing platforms
• AI on the loose: AI models are breaking out of their cages and their creators are scrambling

Whatcha' Waitin' For? Subscribe to Trendz³ Today 

Trendz³ is a free, monthly email newsletter from TekTrendz, created exclusively for small businesses of Northwest Arkansas. Once a month, the Trendz³ newsletter will provide you with a quick rundown of the three most pressing trends in technology, cybersecurity, and IT — that you really need to know. We'll also share helpful resources and news along the way.

It's the IT newsletter designed for you. Click below to sign up today. It's free.