Autonomous IT

In this episode of Hands-On IT, host Landon Miles is joined by Automox Security Engineer Henry Smith for a deep dive into prompt engineering and how it’s transforming the way IT and security teams work with AI.
From crafting high-quality prompts to auditing and hardening code using large language models like Claude and ChatGPT, Landon and Henry share real-world insights, practical strategies, and lessons learned from implementing AI in secure development workflows.
They also explore:
Why context is king when prompting AI
Security implications of AI-generated code
Tips for optimizing token usage and context windows
How Automox engineers are experimenting safely with AI
Whether you're a developer, security professional, or IT leader, this episode offers actionable advice and forward-thinking perspectives on integrating AI into your workflow.
This episode originally aired July 29, 2025.

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) underpins nearly every secure interaction in modern IT, but it's also one of the most misunderstood and overlooked foundations of security.
In this episode of Secure IT, host Jason Kikta is joined by Mark Cooper, CEO and founder of PKI Solutions, to unpack why PKI is so critical to identity, authentication, and trust, and what happens when it fails.
They explore how certificates enable passwordless authentication, secure TLS connections, IoT devices, endpoints, and enterprise systems, while also examining why misconfigured or poorly monitored PKI environments often become an attacker's fastest path to privilege escalation. From certificate expirations and operational outages to real-world breach scenarios and pen test failures, this conversation maps the full PKI risk spectrum.
Jason and Mark also challenge a common assumption in cybersecurity: that recovery equals resilience. Instead, they argue that true resilience means staying secure and operational, even during misconfiguration, failure, or attack.
Whether you're new to PKI or responsible for running it, this episode will change how you think about identity infrastructure, resilience, and trust.
Topics covered:

- What PKI is and why most organizations already depend on it
- Certificates, passwordless authentication, and digital identity
- How PKI misconfigurations enable high-impact attacks
- Why recovery is the weakest form of resilience
- The hidden operational and security risks of foundational systems

Automox announces its new partnership with Splashtop, bringing secure remote control directly into the Automox console. Host Peter Pflaster is joined by Italo Nava from Splashtop and Automox Product Manager Steph Rizzuto on launch day to break down the integration and what it means for IT teams.
They discuss why remote access is still essential even when automation handles most of the work, the cost of switching between tools during urgent issues, and how Splashtop’s 20 years of experience drives reliability and security. Steph also shares early access results, including average connection times under 10 seconds and a 95% success rate.

Happy New Year! In this episode, Automox cybersecurity experts Ryan Braunstein and Seth Hoyt break down the security vulnerabilities you need to know heading into 2026.

First up: a ticking time bomb. Microsoft's 2011 Secure Boot certificates expire in June and October 2026, making this your top patching priority for the year. If your BIOS and OS aren't both updated, you're leaving the door wide open for rootkit attacks. Start auditing your hardware now. You have six months.

Next up: a Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability that exploits a time-of-check to time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition. Think of it like swapping wristbands after the bouncer checks you at the door.

Finally, an actively exploited flaw in Desktop Window Manager that can leak sensitive information and even break out of sandboxes.

Patch your systems. Patch your BIOS. See you next month.

What if the biggest time-saving wins don't come from major projects—but from eliminating the small, repetitive tasks eating up your week?
In this episode, Automox Solutions Consultant Jeremy Maldonado shares his New Year's resolution: reduce burnout by automating the manual work that drains IT teams. From device enrollment and patching policies to tracking down failures without babysitting your machines, Jeremy walks through practical ways to reclaim your time and mental energy.
You'll learn:
  - How to automate device setup the moment it comes online
  - Best practice policy templates you can use out of the gate
  - Scheduling patches around Patch Tuesday without touching your policies
  - Using policy results reports and analytics to troubleshoot smarter
  - Why "babysitting" patch day is a sign something needs to change
Whether you're new to Automox or looking to refine your workflow, this episode is a reminder: your time matters, and automation should give it back to you.