J U N E 2 0 2 5 VOLUME 4 • I SSUE 1 3 SEPARATING INFRASTRUCTURE AND CYBERSECURITY 4 PARTNERSHIP SPOTLIGHT: JEFFERSON TELECOM 6 TELCO PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM 7 4 SIGNS YOU MIGHT NEED IT SUPPORT INSIDE CONTENTS OXEN NETWORKED JEFFERSON TELECOM LEADS THE WAY
2 J U N E 2 0 2 5 Separation and collaboration are both vital. Even when two teams or two companies partner with each other, it’s imperative that their unique expertise be identified, and their distinct roles be defined. This June ’25 issue of OXEN NETWORKED explores this idea in several ways. On page 3, President Heather Lantz explains why Separating Infrastructure and Cybersecurity Managed Services is OXEN Technology’s 2025 strategy to enhance overall performance. Pages 4 and 5 feature a Partnership Spotlight on Jefferson Telecom. This Iowa telecommunications company—and OXEN Technology client—is the first to participate in our newly launched Telco partnership program, designed to make cybersecurity and other IT services more accessible to the small business customers of Telcos. If you work in telecommunications, you won’t want to miss the Partnership Spotlight or page 6’s Telco Partnership Program Elevates Cybersecurity, written by OXEN Technology’s Ryan Pieken, vCIO/vCISO Services. You’ll find 4 Signs You Might Need IT Support on page 7, along with What to Know About Pen Testing and Assessments. These articles highlight why virtually every company needs specialized IT assistance to address today’s many challenges. We can achieve more when we work together to accomplish separate but complementary tasks. Contact OXEN Technology to discover the benefits of collaborating with us. Sincerely, Kelle White Vice President, Sales OXEN Technology WESTERN IOWA – Harlan Corporate Headquarters CENTRAL IOWA – Ames EASTERN NEBRASKA – Omaha CENTRAL KANSAS - Wichita SOUTHWEST MISSOURI - Joplin Contact OXEN at hello@oxen.tech Northern Region – Cori McKissick cmckissick@oxen.tech Southern Region – Kelle White kwhite@oxen.tech OXEN NETWORKED is a publication of OXEN Technology. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, electronic, photocopying, recording, mechanical, or otherwise without the prior written permission of OXEN Technology. All rights are reserved. EDITORIAL AND CIRCULATION CONTACT: Kelle White, VP of Sales & Marketing 316.500.2362, kwhite@oxen.tech TRADEMARKS: All brand names and product names used in this publication are trade names, service marks, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective owners. ADDITIONAL ISSUES: Extra issues are available to business customers on a limited basis while supplies last. Contact Kelle White at 316.500.2362. POSTMASTER SEND CHANGES TO: Kelle White, VP of Sales & Marketing OXEN Technology Wichita, KS 67209 kwhite@oxen.tech Copyright © 2025 by OXEN Technology and Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc. OXEN NETWORKED PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
J U N E 2 0 2 5 3 OXEN NETWORKED By Heather Lantz, President SEPARATING INFRASTRUCTURE AND CYBERSECURITY MANAGED SERVICES OXEN Technology plays a pivotal role in ensuring our clients’ infrastructures operate smoothly and securely. One key strategy we are employing in 2025 is to separate infrastructure managed services from cybersecurity managed services for the reasons outlined below. SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE Infrastructure managed services focus on maintaining and optimizing the physical and virtual components of IT systems, such as servers, networks, and storage solutions. Cybersecurity managed services, on the other hand, are dedicated to protecting these systems from cyber threats, including malware, phishing attacks, and data breaches. By separating these services, OXEN Technology can ensure that each team develops specialized expertise in their respective areas, leading to more effective and efficient service delivery. ENHANCED SECURITY POSTURE Infrastructure teams should be primarily concerned with system performance and uptime, while cybersecurity teams specialize in threat detection, risk assessment, and incident response. Separating these functions allows cybersecurity teams to concentrate solely on protecting the organization's assets, thereby enhancing the overall security posture. IMPROVED COMPLIANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT Regulatory compliance is a significant concern for many businesses. Data protection regulations, such as HIPAA, are beginning to require dedicated resources and expertise to ensure compliance. By separating infrastructure and cybersecurity services, OXEN Technology can allocate specialized teams to handle compliance requirements more effectively, reducing the risk of non-compliance and associated penalties. EFFICIENT RESOURCE ALLOCATION Separating these services allows OXEN Technology to allocate resources more efficiently. Infrastructure teams can focus on maintaining and upgrading IT systems, while cybersecurity teams can dedicate their efforts to monitoring and responding to security threats. SYNERGISTIC COLLABORATION While infrastructure and cybersecurity teams have distinct roles, their functions are interlinked and complementary. Infrastructure teams provide the backbone that supports the organization's technological needs, while cybersecurity teams ensure these systems are protected from threats. By maintaining separate but collaborative teams, OXEN Technology can foster a synergistic relationship that enhances overall service quality and security. OXEN TECHNOLGY ADDS NEW CYBERSECURITY ROLES As part of an expanded emphasis on cybersecurity, OXEN Technology recently hired these professionals to join our team: Jeff Frickel Director of Cybersecurity Andrew Hartwig Security Engineer
4 J U N E 2 0 2 5 The roots of Jefferson Telecom go back to 1938, when two companies were consolidated to form one independent telephone company in Jefferson, Iowa. Fast forward to today, and Jefferson Telecom is bringing the area’s fastest internet speeds to area homes and businesses via a 100% fiber network. Jefferson Telecom is now in its fifth generation of involvement by the Daubendiek family, which is proud of helping the communities they serve make the most of internet technology. The company looks forward to continuing with network upgrades to bring the most advanced solutions—including internet with speeds up to 1 Gig as well as phone and TV services—to their customers in Jefferson and its surrounding rural areas. While Jefferson Telecom is deeply experienced in Telco technology, it recognized that many of its business customers needed IT services beyond that limited scope. That’s why Jefferson Telecom signed on to become the first company to join OXEN Technology’s new Telco partnership program. PARTNERSHIP SPOTLIGHT This progressive telecommunications company is leading the way JEFFERSON TELECOM Karla Kohl, Office Manager
J U N E 2 0 2 5 5 OXEN NETWORKED Announced at the ICA (Iowa Communications Alliance) Annual Meeting and Expo in March 2025, this Telco partnership program aims to foster strong partnerships and drive cybersecurity and technology services to Telcos’ business customers. In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, Telcos face increasing demands for robust cybersecurity and advanced technology solutions. The Telco partnership program is designed to address these challenges head-on, providing Telcos with the tools and support they need to thrive. To illustrate the purpose of this program and the benefits it will offer to Telcos, we interviewed the GM of Jefferson Telecom, Jamie Daubendiek. WHY DID JEFFERSON TELECOM JOIN THE TELCO PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM? Daubendiek: Jefferson Telecom’s technicians do not provide IT services or go into a customer’s data network. This has always been a demarcation point for us not to cross, and we’d have to tell the customer that they need to talk to their IT department about those issues. If they didn’t have an IT department or IT provider, we didn’t have anyone to recommend and had to leave it at that. It makes sense for Jefferson Telecom to partner with OXEN Technology because they help manage our network. If our company and our business customers have the same IT provider, OXEN Technology can help troubleshoot end to end without having to point fingers at someone else. HOW WILL JEFFERSON TELECOM HELP PROMOTE OXEN TECHNOLOGY SERVICES? Daubendiek: We’ll have a dedicated spot on our website to promote OXEN Technology services to our business customers and will distribute some printed marketing materials. In addition, when our technicians are out working with customers and an IT need comes up, they can confidently recommend contacting OXEN Technology. IN WHAT WAYS WILL YOUR BUSINESS CUSTOMERS BENEFIT FROM THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH OXEN? Daubendiek: The biggest benefit to the customer is that if they’re having trouble, Jefferson Telecom can get one tech support call to help solve all of the issues. This unified approach is much more efficient and less stressful than the customer having to deal with back-and-forth discussions between the MSP (Managed Service Provider) for IT services and the Internet Service Provider (ISP). DO YOU SEE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN JEFFERSON TELECOM AND OXEN TECHNOLOGY? Daubendiek: Yes, I do see similarities. Both Jefferson Telecom and OXEN Technology have been around for a long time and are not fly-by-night operations. They’re also both family- owned companies that care deeply about the communities they serve. If our company and our business customers have the same IT provider, OXEN Technology can help troubleshoot end to end without having to point fingers at someone else.” — JAMIE DAUBENDIEK, GM, JEFFERSON TELECOM
6 J U N E 2 0 2 5 Small businesses often rely on their local Telco for technical guidance on internal IT and cloud solutions. OXEN Technology’s new Telco partnership program seeks to address the critical need for heightened cybersecurity within these small businesses. WHY SMALL BUSINESSES LAG BEHIND Small businesses are frequently slow to adopt the latest cybersecurity measures due to these reasons: • Focus of IT Providers – Many IT providers are primarily concerned with larger clients, leaving smaller businesses with fewer options. • Complexity – The solutions available can be too complicated for small businesses to implement independently. • Cost – Cybersecurity solutions can be prohibitively expensive for small businesses. • Trust – They don’t know who they can trust with their IT. OXEN'S TELCO PARTNERSHIP BUNDLES To address these challenges, OXEN Technology developed Telco partnership bundles specifically designed to provide the small businesses your Telco serves with the cybersecurity solutions they need at affordable prices: • Cybersecurity Training – Comprehensive training programs to educate staff on best security practices. • Microsoft 365 Licensing – Access to essential productivity tools with integrated security features. • Microsoft 365 Backup – Reliable backup solutions to safeguard against data loss. • A Long List of Microsoft Security Features – Robust security features to protect against cyber threats. • SOC Services – Security Operations Center services for proactive threat monitoring and response. • Remediation Labor – Expert assistance to resolve security incidents efficiently. A WIN-WIN FOR YOU AND YOUR CUSTOMERS OXEN Technology has worked with Telcos for 20+ years, growing with this industry from dial-up internet through DSL and now fiber. We see a great opportunity to work together, so the small businesses you serve can utilize your internet connectivity along with modern cybersecurity solutions from us. Through this partnership, your Telco will not only generate revenue but also save on your own OXEN Technology services as your business customers sign up for our bundles. As part of the partnership, OXEN Technology will attend one Telco event annually to speak on cybersecurity and provide educational information. This initiative aims to raise the overall cybersecurity awareness within the Telco industry, among your Telco’s business customers, and across the broader community. LET’S GET STARTED If you’d like to hear more about our Telco partnership program, visit oxen.tech/contact to receive additional information or schedule a discussion. By Ryan Pieken, vCIO/vCISO Services Let OXEN help your Telco empower local businesses TELCO PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMELEVATES CYBERSECURITY
J U N E 2 0 2 5 7 OXEN NETWORKED 4 SIGNS YOUMIGHT NEED IT SUPPORT WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT PEN TESTING AND ASSESSMENTS Penetration (pen) testing isn’t something you do after a breach. It’s what you do to prevent one. If you haven’t tested your defenses in the last year, let’s talk about how we can tailor a pen testing approach that fits your business size, budget, and risk profile. OXEN Technology will walk with you through every step of the process, and our partner DotStar will deliver the deep technical expertise that today’s threat landscape demands. Here’s why it’s vital for your business to have these assessments: MICROSOFT 365 SECURITY ASSESSMENT • Protect Sensitive Data • Reduce Risk of Business Email Compromise • Compliance Readiness • Maximize Licensing ROI • Operational Continuity CIS ASSESSMENT: • Framework for Cybersecurity Maturity • Regulatory Alignment • Threat Reduction • Incident Readiness • Third-Party Risk Management For complete details, contact us at hello@oxen.tech or call 888-296-3619, Option 3. Let’s say your business has one employee who’s responsible for handling most IT issues. How do you know when it’s time to consider adding outsourced IT support? Look for these signs: 1. YOU’RE OVER RELIANT ON ONE PERSON TO FIX IT ALL. If your business experiences IT failures when your in-house IT person is away on vacation or out sick, you face two not-so-great options: 1) Muddle through, possibly with greatly reduced productivity, and wait for them to return. 2) Pay an expensive consultancy fee for someone outside your company—who’s unfamiliar with its environment—to troubleshoot the issue, diagnose the fault, and restore service. 2. YOU FREQUENTLY FACE TECHNICAL ISSUES. It disrupts your operations when your IT systems are unreliable, regularly have faults and incidents, experience unexpected downtime, or have slow performance issues. If your in-house IT person is regularly having to “put out fires,” it makes sense to bring in help. Outsourcing your IT support to a professional team can help identify the root causes of these issues, implement proactive measures to prevent future problems, and provide timely resolutions when problems do occur. 3. YOU HAVE LINGERING SECURITY CONCERNS. As cybercriminals become more sophisticated and change their strategies, it's essential to update the security measures you have in place to protect your sensitive data and customer information. It can be challenging for one employee to keep up with security issues, so outsourcing your IT support to a provider with specialized security knowledge can significantly strengthen your defenses. They can help you develop and implement a robust cybersecurity strategy, perform regular security audits, and provide ongoing monitoring and support to mitigate risks. 4. THERE’S A DIMINISHED FOCUS ON CORE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES. If your in-house IT person is spending too much time on reactive tasks and not enough on strategic initiatives, outsourcing can free up your internal resources to focus on core business activities, such as innovation, customer service, and other key areas that drive business growth. To learn more about the many IT services we offer, contact OXEN Technology at hello@oxen.tech or 888.296.3619, option 3.
OUR TEAM IS STRONG Strong on experience. Strong on knowledge. Strong on skills. If you want strong IT services, put our team to work for you. To schedule a free consultation, visit www.oxen.tech/contact or call 888.296.3619.
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