Author: David McFarlene

David McFarlene is the founder and driving force behind CNiC Solutions, bringing more than two decades of hands-on experience in IT support, cybersecurity, and network infrastructure. Known for his calm, solutions-first approach, David built CNiC Solutions to give Houston organizations a dependable technology partner that delivers real results—not excuses. His background spans both enterprise-level systems and small business environments, allowing him to design practical, scalable solutions for any setting. David leads with integrity, deep technical expertise, and a passion for making technology simple, secure, and reliable for every client.

Data Encryption Explained: Types, Methods, and What Your Business Needs

Data encryption explained for business: symmetric vs asymmetric, AES and RSA, data at rest vs in transit, and what your business actually needs to stay secure.

Data Center Colocation Explained: Is “Colo” Right for Your Business?

What data center colocation (colo) is, how it compares to cloud and on-premise, the types and benefits, and how to decide if colo is right for your business.

CIO vs CTO: Roles Explained

CIO vs CTO explained: how the two technology leadership roles differ, where they overlap, and whether your business needs a CIO, a CTO, both, or neither.

Best MDM Solutions for Small Business

A vendor-neutral guide to the best MDM solutions for small business, ranked by fit: Apple-first, Microsoft, cross-platform, MSP-managed, and budget options.

What Is the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)?

What the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is, how it differs from consumer IoT, the IT/OT convergence, the core architecture, and its real business applications.

What Is Telemetry? How Machine Data Drives Modern IT

What telemetry is, the three data types (metrics, logs, traces), how it differs from monitoring and observability, and how it powers AI-driven, predictive IT.

What Is Break-Fix IT? (vs Managed Services)

Break-fix IT means you only pay for support when something breaks. See how it compares to managed services, the real costs, and which model fits your business.

What Is a Cron Job? Scheduling Tasks Explained

What a cron job is, how the five-field crontab syntax works, how to create and manage cron jobs, plus common examples and the scheduling pitfalls to avoid.

IoT Monitoring: Keeping Connected Devices Secure and Online

What IoT monitoring is and why it matters: keeping connected devices secure against attacks and online for reliability, plus the core best practices to do it.

How to Choose the Best Business Internet for Your Houston Office

A buyer’s guide to choosing business internet in Houston: connection types, SLAs, red flags, the questions to ask any provider, and a simple decision framework.