The latest N2CON Notes and selected new or materially updated Resources.https://www.n2con.comen-ushttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/ed-brownlee/a-rough-patch-for-patcheshttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/ed-brownlee/a-rough-patch-for-patchesBetween a BitLocker bypass, an actively exploited Chrome flaw, and Microsoft's messy disclosure process, the usual 'just patch it' advice is not enough anymore. Here is what actually matters.Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTEd Brownleenoteshttps://www.n2con.com/resources/nist-csf-2-0-journey-primerhttps://www.n2con.com/resources/nist-csf-2-0-journey-primerA business-friendly introduction to CSF 2.0 for leaders at small and mid-market organizations: what the framework asks, why Govern and Identify set the foundation, and how to build a phased journey.Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTresourcesCompliance & Frameworkshttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/ed-brownlee/microsoft-left-the-side-door-openhttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/ed-brownlee/microsoft-left-the-side-door-openIf phishing and scam email seems to be slipping through in Microsoft 365, the problem may not just be user behavior. For years, Direct Send left a path where failed email authentication did not reliably turn into rejection or quarantine.Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTEd Brownleenoteshttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/ed-brownlee/browsers-are-their-own-security-stack-nowhttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/ed-brownlee/browsers-are-their-own-security-stack-nowWhy modern browser risk is less about one headline exploit and more about under-managed extensions, sessions, encrypted traffic blind spots, and inconsistent browser policy.Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTEd Brownleenoteshttps://www.n2con.com/resources/it-coverage-model-guidehttps://www.n2con.com/resources/it-coverage-model-guideA decision framework for choosing between fully managed IT, co-managed support, fractional IT/security leadership, and in-house hiring.Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTresourcesIT Operationshttps://www.n2con.com/resources/email-encryption-guidehttps://www.n2con.com/resources/email-encryption-guideS/MIME, OpenPGP/GPG, portal delivery, transport vs content protection, and when secure links or encrypted attachments are the better choice.Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTresourcesIT Operationshttps://www.n2con.com/resources/browser-management-guidehttps://www.n2con.com/resources/browser-management-guideA practical guide to browser management: sync risks, extension governance, DNS-over-HTTPS, password storage, and why standardizing browser policy matters.Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTresourcesEndpoint & Deviceshttps://www.n2con.com/resources/enterprise-browser-security-guidehttps://www.n2con.com/resources/enterprise-browser-security-guideHow enterprise browsers handle multi-tab session isolation, encrypted web traffic inspection, extensions, DLP, profile separation, and isolation tradeoffs.Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTresourcesEndpoint & Deviceshttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/franchesca-bodey/why-it-budgeting-stops-the-surpriseshttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/franchesca-bodey/why-it-budgeting-stops-the-surprisesA practical note on why IT budgeting, forecasting, and bulk purchasing help businesses avoid emergency spending and keep operations steady.Sat, 28 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTFranchesca Bodeynoteshttps://www.n2con.com/resources/co-managed-it-guidehttps://www.n2con.com/resources/co-managed-it-guideHow to structure a co-managed IT arrangement that actually works - communication, responsibility mapping, and change control.Sat, 28 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTresourcesIT Operationshttps://www.n2con.com/resources/it-roadmap-planninghttps://www.n2con.com/resources/it-roadmap-planningA practical guide to building an IT roadmap that connects technology decisions to business goals, budgets, and growth plans.Sat, 28 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTresourcesIT Operationshttps://www.n2con.com/resources/cloud-migration-planninghttps://www.n2con.com/resources/cloud-migration-planningA practical guide to planning cloud migrations that avoid the common traps of lift-and-dump, platform lock-in, and cost overruns.Sat, 28 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTresourcesCloud & Infrastructurehttps://www.n2con.com/resources/digital-asset-management-guidehttps://www.n2con.com/resources/digital-asset-management-guideWhy SharePoint and shared drives fail for media, how DAM systems solve metadata and rights management, and what SMBs need to know about model releases, property consent, and AI-powered asset discovery.Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTresourcesIT Operationshttps://www.n2con.com/resources/microsoft-365-e5-value-guidehttps://www.n2con.com/resources/microsoft-365-e5-value-guideHow to get more value from Microsoft 365 E5 by operationalizing what you already license and reviewing overlapping tools without forced consolidation.Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTresourcesIT Operationshttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/ed-brownlee/whos-certifying-youhttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/ed-brownlee/whos-certifying-youThe Delve scandal is a wake-up call: compliance certifications are only as good as the people behind them, and you're still responsible either way.Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTEd Brownleenoteshttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/greg-cross/new-office-build-out-processhttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/greg-cross/new-office-build-out-processA walkthrough of the typical office build-out process - from design and permitting to construction and move-in - and where IT fits in.Thu, 19 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTGreg Crossnoteshttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/ed-brownlee/cloud-trust-is-still-trusthttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/ed-brownlee/cloud-trust-is-still-trustWhen federal reviewers can't verify how Microsoft encrypts data in transit, it's a reminder that cloud adoption means accepting someone else's risk profile.Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTEd Brownleenoteshttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/franchesca-bodey/got-a-license-for-thathttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/franchesca-bodey/got-a-license-for-thatYour Microsoft 365 license isn't just a monthly line item — it determines how secure, compliant, and scalable your business actually is.Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTFranchesca Bodeynoteshttps://www.n2con.com/resources/file-organization-guidehttps://www.n2con.com/resources/file-organization-guidePractical file organization standards that work across Windows, SharePoint, and modern DMS tools: naming conventions, folder design, metadata tagging, and role-based access.Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTresourcesIT Operationshttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/ed-brownlee/identity-is-the-new-perimeterhttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/ed-brownlee/identity-is-the-new-perimeterThe threat landscape has fundamentally shifted. AV still matters, but identity protection is where the real battle is fought now.Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTEd Brownleenoteshttps://www.n2con.com/resources/identity-lifecycle-managementhttps://www.n2con.com/resources/identity-lifecycle-managementA practical guide to managing identity from pre-hire through offboarding: access approvals, RBAC ownership, provisioning, deprovisioning timelines, and post-departure risk.Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTresourcesIdentity & Accesshttps://www.n2con.com/resources/application-lifecycle-managementhttps://www.n2con.com/resources/application-lifecycle-managementA practical guide to managing the full SaaS application lifecycle — from evaluation and onboarding through ongoing governance, vendor changes, and offboarding.Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTresourcesGovernance & Vendor Managementhttps://www.n2con.com/resources/device-lifecycle-managementhttps://www.n2con.com/resources/device-lifecycle-managementA practical guide to managing every stage of your device fleet — procurement, configuration, deployment, ongoing management, retrieval, and secure disposal.Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTresourcesEndpoint & Deviceshttps://www.n2con.com/resources/data-retention-policy-guidehttps://www.n2con.com/resources/data-retention-policy-guideIndustry retention requirements for email and files, cloud sprawl challenges, and how backups fit into the broader retention picture.Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTresourcesGovernance & Vendor Managementhttps://www.n2con.com/resources/incident-response-plan-templatehttps://www.n2con.com/resources/incident-response-plan-templateA practical incident response plan template for SMBs: roles, comms, escalation, authority, and a copy/paste starter plan.Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTresourcesIncident Responsehttps://www.n2con.com/resources/executive-incident-first-48-hourshttps://www.n2con.com/resources/executive-incident-first-48-hoursA leadership checklist for the first 48 hours: communications, authority, evidence handling, and recovery decisions.Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTresourcesIncident Responsehttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/rick-hernandez/cmmc-readiness-scorecardhttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/rick-hernandez/cmmc-readiness-scorecardA simple Red/Yellow/Green maturity test reveals whether you're actually prepared for assessment—or just hoping you are.Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTRick Hernandeznoteshttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/rick-hernandez/pitfall-4-evidence-logging-failureshttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/rick-hernandez/pitfall-4-evidence-logging-failuresWhy deploying security controls isn't enough — CMMC Level 2 requires objective evidence you can prove through documentation and repeatable processes.Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTRick Hernandeznoteshttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/rick-hernandez/pitfall-3-access-control-cmmc-evidencehttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/rick-hernandez/pitfall-3-access-control-cmmc-evidenceAccess Control and Identification & Authentication represent a large portion of CMMC requirements — and where many organizations quietly fall behind on evidence.Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTRick Hernandeznoteshttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/ed-brownlee/ai-governance-unlocking-benefits-while-avoiding-disastershttps://www.n2con.com/notes/authors/ed-brownlee/ai-governance-unlocking-benefits-while-avoiding-disastersAI offers incredible productivity gains, but without proper governance, it can amplify disasters instead of solving problems. Here's how to get the benefits without the breakdowns.Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTEd Brownleenotes