Ferrell Fuller, President & CEO, ChaceTech

Invest: sat down with Ferrell Fuller, president and CEO of IT service provider ChaceTech, to discuss Houston’s growth momentum, the rising stakes of cybersecurity, and why disciplined IT strategy is becoming a baseline requirement for companies of every size. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a one-person shop or a company with 300, 400, or 1,000 employees. The cyber threat is there for everyone, and the threat actors are getting better and better at what they do,” Fuller said.

What changes over the past year have had the biggest impact on your business, and what trends do you see as most important in 2026?

AI has become the headline topic in IT, but in many ways, it’s overshadowed the issue that matters most right now: cybersecurity. The threats are accelerating, the methods are getting more sophisticated, and businesses are realizing they can’t treat protection like an afterthought.

From a regional standpoint, Houston’s economy has been strong. We’re seeing steady construction activity, infrastructure work, and more commercial development. Generally, when you see that kind of building and investment, it’s a sign the local economy is healthy. Even with some oil and gas softness, Houston is still doing well overall, and we’re seeing the benefits of that.

Beyond technology trends, customer service remains critical. You can be technically excellent, but if you don’t communicate well, respond quickly, and handle clients appropriately, you won’t last long in this industry. A lot of firms fail not because they lack skill, but because they don’t deliver a strong customer experience.

What makes Houston an ideal location for ChaceTech’s continued growth and investment?

Texas continues to attract people and businesses at a rapid pace. The lack of state income tax, a comparatively lower cost of living, and strong job growth all contribute to that movement. Houston benefits directly from that momentum.

As more people relocate to Texas, you also see an increase in the professional landscape. We’re getting an influx of qualified people across different industries, which strengthens the local business environment. Houston is also simply a major market with a lot happening, and that creates opportunity for companies like ours that support organizations as they grow.

What is driving demand for managed IT and cybersecurity services today?

Cybersecurity is the biggest driver, hands down. AI is exciting, and we use it daily. We’re actively looking at ways to help clients leverage AI to work more efficiently and do business better. But when it comes to why companies need a managed service provider, cybersecurity is at the top. One example we use internally is the scale of cybercrime. In 2019, global cybercrime was estimated at around $1.5 trillion. Today, it’s over $10 trillion per year. That jump is a clear indicator of how effective criminals have become at extorting companies.

We also talk about the economics of ransomware. We often cite a statistic that it can be significantly more expensive to rebuild systems and data than it is to pay the ransom, which is part of what makes ransomware so effective. It doesn’t matter if you’re a one-person shop or a company with 300, 400, or 1,000 employees. The cyber threat is there for everyone, and the threat actors are getting better and better at what they do.

That’s why the fundamentals matter: next-generation antivirus, monitoring Microsoft 365 environments, dark web monitoring, and a strong backup strategy. Backups are a good example. Plenty of companies back up data, but if the backups can be overwritten, the protection is weakened. One of the first things attackers try to do once they’re in a system is take out the backups. Immutable backups, especially cloud-based backups that can’t be overwritten, are critical.

There’s no such thing as an environment that is completely secure. The best way to think about security is to make yourself a harder target and stay current on the landscape. The tools change, the risks change, and if you aren’t plugged into the industry day to day, you fall behind quickly.

Are small and midsized businesses approaching digital transformation differently now than they were a few years ago?

Yes, and I’ll say it again, even if it sounds repetitive: cybersecurity is forcing the shift. Companies are backed into a corner because the risk is growing and the consequences are real.

A lot of smaller firms used to hire someone to fix things when they broke, or they tried to handle IT internally. That approach is becoming less and less viable. Even smaller organizations are going to feel the impact of neglecting cybersecurity as we move forward.

For a long time, people didn’t talk about cybersecurity much. We were cautious because we didn’t want to come across as fear-based or pushy. But we learned quickly that not raising the issue was a mistake. Businesses need to understand what’s happening and why this is a real operational risk.

Has the rise of AI tools increased vulnerability for businesses?

Yes, absolutely. I have a love-hate relationship with tools like chatGPT. They’re powerful, and they save time, but they can also cost you time, and they can make you look foolish if you rely on them without checking the work.

One issue is accuracy. AI can confidently provide incorrect information, even on simple topics. You have to verify it. If you ask a question and accept the output without checking, you’re taking a risk.

The other issue is security and data exposure. People often don’t realize how risky it can be to paste internal or proprietary information into AI tools. These platforms learn from what users put into them. That’s a major security concern for businesses, and companies need policies around what can and cannot be entered into these systems.

I’ve heard of situations where people were terminated because sensitive information made its way into an AI system in ways that created risk for the organization. Whether it’s emails, internal documents, or strategy discussions, companies have to treat AI inputs with the same caution they would treat public-facing information.

Used carefully, AI is a great tool. Used carelessly, it can create real problems.

What economic signs are guiding your growth strategy, and where are you looking next?

Houston continues to have a lot of momentum. There’s a strong sense of go here right now, and the business is growing.

Our next logical expansion point is Dallas. It’s about four hours north, and it has a similar economic profile. We also have a strong network of relationships there, so it makes sense as a next step.

We’re not narrowly focused on one sector. We’re casting a wide net through networking, referrals, and being present in the market. The growth is steady enough that we aren’t forced to concentrate on one specific area.

What are your top priorities for the next phase of growth, and where do you see the biggest opportunity ahead?

Like a lot of small to mid-sized businesses, we wear many hats. The priority is to take some of those hats off and focus on building the business instead of working in the business every day.

That means adding staff and building capacity so leadership can spend more time making strategic decisions. I hear that same challenge from a lot of owners and executives. It’s common, but it’s also one of the biggest hurdles to scaling.

In terms of opportunity, we’re joining a couple of networking organizations and investing more time in relationship-building. There’s value in getting out, meeting people, and talking with higher-level decision-makers about what we do.

We’re also launching a new home automation division. We’re exploring relationships with custom homebuilders in Houston and looking at how to build that line of business the right way. It’s an exciting growth area for us.

What key takeaway would you want readers to remember?

Businesses have to invest in their technology. A benchmark I’ve heard is that companies should invest at least 1% of revenue into technology. For many businesses, that isn’t an overwhelming number, but it can make a big difference in performance and protection.

And the other takeaway is our philosophy. If you cut too many corners, you end up in a circle, so do it right the first time. Band-aids exist for a reason, and sometimes you need a temporary fix, but it shouldn’t become permanent. You circle back, correct it properly, and set the business up to move forward without constantly revisiting the same problems.