Key Takeaways From Nicholas Paulukow’s Conversation With the TCCP
Technology changes fast, but the biggest challenge most organizations face isn’t hardware, software, or even cyber threats. It’s understanding how to make informed decisions that protect and grow the business. A cybersecurity risk assessment can help your small business.
During a recent Today’s Tech session hosted by the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania (TCCP), ONE 2 ONE CEO Nicholas Paulukow walked attendees through modern IT maturity, the importance of risk-based planning, and why a cybersecurity risk assessment for small businesses is one of the most effective tools leaders can use today.
Below is a breakdown of the core lessons shared during the conversation.
Putting the Human Back Into the Technology Experience
ONE 2 ONE was founded on a simple belief:
If leaders are empowered and educated, they make better decisions.
Nicholas opened the conversation by discussing how executive teams often struggle to make informed technology choices because they aren’t given the right context. Without education, organizations fall into one of three technology mindsets:
- IT is a necessary evil
- IT is important, but expensive
- IT is a critical business driver
Most businesses get stuck in the first two categories, treating technology like a cost rather than a strategic tool. The shift to category three is where real growth happens.
The IT Maturity Triangle: Understanding Where You Are
Nicholas introduced the IT maturity triangle to help organizations self-assess their current mindset and align their expectations with the right type of provider. Each tier requires a different level of communication, expertise, and planning.
Once a business crosses into the “critical driver” stage, conversations naturally elevate to:
- Business goals
- Risk reduction
- Compliance requirements
- Long-term IT strategy
- Data protection
This shift opens the door for board-level conversations and more advanced tools like a structured cybersecurity risk assessment for small businesses.
Why Foundations Matter More Than Tools
Nicholas emphasized that leaders often blame the wrong things when IT projects fail.
It’s rarely the software.
It’s rarely the hardware.
It’s the foundation beneath them.
Just like a house, strong IT foundations, security, infrastructure, policies, and governance determine what an organization can safely build on top of them. Skipping foundation work leads to failed projects, poor performance, and unnecessary costs.
A cybersecurity risk assessment helps identify these foundation issues before they become expensive problems.
Introducing the NIST Cybersecurity Framework
One of the most valuable takeaways was Nicholas’s explanation of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, now considered the gold standard for assessing and reducing cyber risk. It centers on five core functions:
- Identify
- Protect
- Detect
- Respond
- Recover
A NIST-aligned cybersecurity risk assessment for small businesses helps leaders:
- Understand vulnerabilities
- Prioritize investments
- Strengthen compliance posture
- Reduce cyber insurance costs
- Gain clarity on their true exposure
Even adopting the basic controls can have a dramatic impact on risk and ROI.
Assessments, Pen Testing, and vCIO Services: Where They Fit
Nicholas outlined three key ways organizations can strengthen their IT roadmap:
1. vCIO Services
A virtual CIO helps companies that are growing, acquiring, or scaling. They guide strategy, budgeting, vendor management, and executive-level planning without requiring a full-time salary.
2. Pen Testing (Your Cyber Fire Drill)
Penetration testing simulates real-world attacks to show where defenses fail, which employees are vulnerable, and how well systems respond. It’s one of the fastest ways to uncover hidden risks.
3. Cybersecurity Risk Assessments
The starting point for every new ONE 2 ONE partnership is a cybersecurity risk assessment for small businesses, built on NIST principles. This allows leadership teams to see what’s high-risk, what’s critical, and where technology investments will have the greatest impact.
Security Awareness Training: The #1 Risk Reducer
Nicholas reinforced that, if untrained, employees remain the single largest cybersecurity risk.
Security awareness training:
- Reduces phishing success
- Improves compliance
- Identifies high-risk users
- Supports cyber insurance requirements
For a small cost per employee, it’s one of the strongest risk mitigation tools available.
Preparing the Next Generation of IT Leaders
Attendees also asked how students can prepare for careers in IT. Nicholas explained ONE 2 ONE’s structured development path across:
- Network Operations
- Service Delivery
- Engineering (security, Microsoft 365, networking)
Students can enter the field at many different levels and grow into specialized roles over time.
Final Thoughts: IT Should Empower, Not Confuse
Nicholas closed with a reminder that IT doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
With the right education, frameworks, and a trusted partner, technology becomes:
- A source of clarity
- A driver of growth
- A risk reducer
- A strategic advantage
Every strong IT strategy begins with knowing where you stand today, and that starts with a proper risk assessment.
Ready for a Cybersecurity Risk Assessment for Your Small Business?
If you’d like a free NIST-aligned cybersecurity risk assessment or want to talk through where your organization sits on the IT maturity model, our team is here to help.
Book a conversation with ONE 2 ONE today.