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Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 8:30am - 4:30am Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

ALPHA

Vancouver Island’s trusted partner for managed IT, cybersecurity, and modern workplace support.

03/12/2026

Is your team already using AI tools like ChatGPT at work?

In many organizations the answer is yes — often without leadership realizing it yet.

Next week we’re joining the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce for their Bites & Insights breakfast to talk about what we’re seeing across local organizations as AI starts showing up in everyday work.

📅 Thursday, March 19
⏰ 7:30 – 9:00 AM
📍 Chamber Business Hub, Downtown Courtenay

Our session:
Beyond the Hype — Why AI Pilots Fail (and How to Get It Right)

We’ll cover:

• where AI is already improving productivity
• the risks organizations aren’t thinking about yet
• why many AI experiments stall
• how businesses can move from experimentation to real results

If you're a Comox Valley business owner or leader trying to understand where AI fits in your organization, this session will be a practical conversation.

Hope to see some familiar faces there.

👉 Event details & registration:
https://comoxvalleychamber.glueup.com/event/2026-bites-insights-ai-integration-with-alpha-it-173523/

03/05/2026

We’ve been hearing a lot of confusion lately about Microsoft Copilot.

Many people think they’re already using it — but often they’re actually using the free AI tools available online.

Both are useful, but they’re very different.

Free Copilot
• Great for brainstorming or rewriting text
• Uses information from the internet
• Can’t see your emails, files, or meetings

Microsoft 365 Copilot (the work version)
• Works inside Word, Outlook, Excel, and Teams
• Can summarize real meetings and email threads
• Helps draft documents using your own files
• Understands your business context

The simplest way to think about it:

Free Copilot knows the internet.
Microsoft 365 Copilot knows your business.

We’re having more and more conversations with Vancouver Island organizations about how to use AI safely and productively at work.

02/26/2026

AI won’t fix a broken workflow.
It will just expose it faster.

Tonight, we’re speaking at the Canadian Home Builders Association event about how AI is actually showing up inside construction firms.

Here’s what we’re seeing across Vancouver Island:
🔹Estimators buried in specs and bid documents
🔹PMs losing time to meeting notes and follow-ups
🔹Knowledge trapped in inboxes and shared drives
🔹Microsoft 365 fully deployed… but barely leveraged

Most firms don’t need an AI transformation plan.
They need structure.
They need clarity.
They need one contained pilot that proves value.

The real risk isn’t “AI taking jobs.”
The real risk is turning it on without clean permissions, organized data, or a clear use case.

AI works best when it’s practical.
Inside your existing Microsoft 365 environment.
Focused on one workflow.
Built safely.

If you’re at CHBA tonight, we can't wait to see you!

02/17/2026

✨Employee Spotlight: Curtis Yeatman, Project Manager✨

When clients bring us complex initiatives, they’re not just looking for new technology, they’re looking for clarity.

That’s where Curtis Yeatman comes in.

Curtis brings over 15 years of experience in business analysis and product management, including leading enterprise SaaS launches and guiding digital initiatives across government, Indigenous communities, and private sector organizations.

What sets him apart is his ability to bridge business needs and technical ex*****on.

He leads structured discovery, defines clear requirements, aligns stakeholders, and ensures solutions are built to solve real operational problems, not just introduce new tools.

For our clients, that means clear scope, fewer surprises, strong communication, and projects delivered with purpose.
From modernization efforts to AI readiness initiatives, Curtis brings structure and follow-through that keeps projects moving forward with confidence.

If you’ve worked with Curtis, you know he brings calm to complexity and makes sure nothing falls through the cracks.

We’re proud to have his leadership on the ALPHA IT team.

02/13/2026

On Tuesday, our team attended the Comox Valley Chamber’s Economic Outlook breakfast.

A few themes stood out.

• Labor force participation on Vancouver Island is weakening.
• Skilled trades shortages continue.
• Non-residential construction projects are wrapping up with limited backlog behind them.

When hiring is harder and growth slows, output per employee matters more.

One comment from Susan Mowbray resonated: “Don’t just layer new technology on top of old processes. Redefine the process.”

The AI discussion was revealing.

Some organizations are pausing AI due to confidentiality concerns.
Others see it as a $25/month tool that “just helps write emails.”

The opportunity is much bigger.

Used properly, AI helps teams:
• Turn meetings into action lists automatically
• Draft project and site reports in minutes
• Capture sales context so nothing gets missed
• Build monthly reports from existing data
• Spend less time rewriting and re-entering information

In tighter markets, the organizations that rethink workflows, not just tools, will move ahead.

That’s where we see the real opportunity.

02/04/2026

Most cyber incidents we help Island organizations recover from start the same way — one rushed click on an email that looked legitimate.

So here’s the simplest advice we give: slow down before you click.

Taking three extra seconds to check the sender, hover over links, or ask “Was I expecting this?” prevents more breaches than most tools ever will.

A quick pause is one of the cheapest, most effective defenses your organization has.

Not sure if something’s safe? Forward it to us, we’re always happy to take a look.

02/03/2026

Employee Spotlight - Meet Jordan!

When you reach out to ALPHA IT for support, Jordan is often the calm, friendly voice on the other end of the line.

Jordan has been part of the ALPHA IT team for five years and is known internally as someone clients trust and teammates rely on. From Microsoft 365 support to hands-on troubleshooting, she brings a steady, thoughtful approach to every issue, especially when things feel urgent or unclear.

What sets Jordan apart isn’t just technical skill. It’s her background in customer service, documentation, and operations that shows up in how she listens, explains, and follows through. Problems get solved, but clients also feel supported along the way.

We believe great IT support is about people first. Jordan is a big reason our clients feel confident they’re in good hands.

Thanks for everything you do, Jordan Zuk!👏

02/02/2026

Security, governance, and ex*****on — not hype — will define IT success in 2026.

As part of our QBR prep, we pulled together the top 5 IT trends shaping Canadian organizations, and what they mean for Vancouver Island leaders:

🔹 Cloud is now the default but governance gaps are growing
🔹 AI adoption is accelerating fast yet real ROI is still rare
🔹 Cyber incidents continue to rise, increasingly AI-driven
🔹 New privacy laws (CPPA + AIDA) will demand stronger controls
🔹 Digital transformation is accelerating across every sector

The takeaway:
You don’t need to chase every trend.
But you do need a clear plan for security, data governance, and where AI can drive real productivity, not just experimentation.

This is exactly what we’re helping local organizations navigate every day.

09/18/2025

Windows 10 Support Ends October 14, 2025 — Is Your Business Ready?

On October 14, 2025, Microsoft will officially stop supporting Windows 10.
That means no more security updates, patches, or bug fixes — leaving your computers vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Hackers often target outdated systems, and once support ends, Windows 10 machines become a much easier target.
Outdated systems are one of the leading causes of data breaches, downtime, and compliance issues.

If you rely on Windows 10 devices, now is the time to plan your next steps.

At ALPHA IT, we help organizations transition smoothly and securely — without disrupting day-to-day operations. Our team will:

Audit your current environment to identify which devices are at risk (using industry-leading tools like Datto)

Create a tailored upgrade plan that fits your budget and timeline

Ensure compliance and security every step of the way

Don’t wait until a cyber incident forces your hand.

💬 Contact ALPHA IT today to schedule your Windows 10 upgrade strategy session.

https://getalpha.ca/contact/

09/09/2025

Staff Highlight: Leo Rago, Virtual CIO at ALPHA IT

At ALPHA, we believe IT should be more than support — it should be a strategy that drives real results. That’s exactly what Leo delivers.
With a Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School and a B.A. in Diplomatic History from the University of Pennsylvania, he combines sharp critical thinking with hands-on technical expertise to help organizations build technology roadmaps that strengthen security, improve compliance, and boost efficiency.
Over the past three years, Leo has grown with ALPHA IT — from Senior Technician to Project Manager, and now into vCIO leadership. He partners with municipal governments, First Nations, and professional organizations to ensure technology not only supports operations today, but builds a stronger foundation for tomorrow.
Want to learn how Leo and our team can help your organization build a secure IT roadmap? Visit https://getalpha.ca/

Reference: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonardo-r-080a73bb/

09/02/2025

We’ve Moved!

Alpha IT has a new home!
Our growing team is now settled into a bigger, brighter office space and we’re excited to share this milestone with you.

2760 Cliffe Avenue, Unit 3
Courtenay, BC V9N 2L6

Thank you to our clients and community for being part of our journey. We can’t wait to welcome you to our new space!

07/11/2025

Meet André Oliveira, a dedicated IT Technician at ALPHA IT whose 27 years of global IT expertise and passion for customer service make him a true asset to our team! Originally from Brazil, André holds three master’s degrees—a B.S. in Computer Science (Telecom), an M.S. in IT Project Management, and an M.S. in Data Science and Analytics. His remarkable achievements include being recognized as Brazil’s CIO of the Year, receiving the prestigious IBM Project of the Year award for his transformative work with the Brazilian government, and earning Case of Success awards in 2018 and 2019. In 2020, he was a finalist for Brazil’s Best CIO (Public Sector).

At ALPHA IT, André shines in delivering exceptional support to First Nations communities, leveraging his extensive experience in infrastructure networks, ERP implementations, and the oil and gas industry. With prior roles in consulting and telecom across Brazil, South Africa, and Namibia, plus certifications like MCSE and 19 Microsoft certifications, he brings technical excellence and a warm, collaborative spirit to every interaction. We’re incredibly proud to have André’s customer-focused expertise in the ALPHA IT family! Share your thoughts and join us in celebrating his contributions to our communities!

Address

2760 Cliffe Avenue, Unit 3
Courtenay, BC
V9N2L6

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 4:30am
Friday	8:30am - 4:30pm

Website

https://getalpha.ca/

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