Tech in Texas: Growing Fast, Getting Smarter

Texas has long been known for big skies, big oil, and even bigger ambition. But these days, tech is staking its claim, too. The state is moving fast, from data center megasites to beefed-up cybersecurity commands. Nomadic or remote workers inside and outside Texas should pay attention.

Here are some of the latest tech developments in Texas. We will explain what they mean. STS can help you tap into the opportunity.

What’s New in Texas Tech

Here are several recent stories making waves in Texas tech:

  1. Texas Cyber Command Established
    Governor Greg Abbott has appointed retired Navy Vice Admiral Timothy “T.J.” White to lead a new state-level Texas Cyber Command, based in San Antonio. With a $345.2 million emergency budget, this new command is meant to protect Texas state systems and infrastructure. San Antonio Express-News
  2. AI Bubble? Reset for Innovation
    In fact, at a Port San Antonio AI meetup, Dirk Elmendorf (co-founder of Rackspace) argued the current AI surge shows signs of a bubble. But he did mention that it is not bad. It can lead to cleaner, more pragmatic tech innovation. San Antonio (and smaller tech hubs) are seen as places that can gain most from this kind of reset. San Antonio Express-News
  3. “Y’all Street”: Finance Firms Moving In
    Big financial institutions are scaling up in Texas. Accordingly, Dallas-Fort Worth in particular is seeing expansion from banks like Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and more. Low taxes, favorable regulation, and lower cost of living are attracting them. Business Insider
  4. Data Center Megasite
    in Central Texas. Near Lockhart in Caldwell County, a Colorado developer (Tract) bought over 1,500 acres. They plan to build a large-scale data center megasite. The plan is to support large cloud computing, AI training, and inference workloads. This move signals that Texas is doubling down on infrastructure. Chron
  5. Data Breach & Risk in Government Tech
    The Texas General Land Office suffered a sizable data breach. However, it affected disaster-grant applicants, nearly 45,000 people over many years, due to a software misconfiguration. San Antonio Express-News
    These incidents, combined with the establishment of the Cyber Command, are shining a light on what’s necessary. It is crucial in terms of cybersecurity. San Antonio Express-News
  6. New Tech Hubs & Job Growth
    Smaller cities are rising. Example: Bastrop (near Austin) is being transformed by Elon Musk’s companies (SpaceX, Starlink, etc.), new data centers, and overall economic/spatial growth. MySA

What This Means for Remote Workers & Digital Nomads

Texas’ tech growth isn’t just interesting for local businesses. It has ripple effects that matter for nomads and remote workers. This impacts anyone whose work depends on tech infrastructure.

  • More Reliable Infrastructure = More Options
    Data centers, megasites, and expanding fiber/networking mean more reliable connectivity. Consequently if you travel or stay in Texas hubs, you’ll see better performance, lower latency, and likely more choices for co-working and data backup.
  • Stronger Cybersecurity Awareness
    Consequently, governments and large institutions investing heavily in cyber readiness (e.g. Cyber Command), the standards for security are rising. That means nomads should hold themselves to higher security expectations: VPNs, encrypting data, practicing good password hygiene, etc.
  • Hardware & Product Sourcing Opportunities
    The growth of more tech firms can influence local access to premium gear. Financing and investment in supply chain and advanced manufacturing, like in semiconductors, contribute to this increase. This includes support and safe hardware. This local availability helps when you can’t wait for overseas shipping.
  • Vulnerability Matters
    The data breach with government grants is a cautionary story. Even public tech systems in Texas can be misconfigured. This misconfiguration leads to large exposure. For individuals, you should audit your tools, services, and settings carefully.

STS Perspective: How We Help in This Landscape

Here’s how SoftTouch Systems is positioned to support digital nomads and remote workers in or interacting with Texas tech:

  • Advising Tools & Products — We help evaluate which hardware is best for Texas-based operations. We also assess data storage, networking gear, and security tools suited to these operations.
  • Local and Remote Troubleshooting — Example: If you’re in Texas, we can recommend repair shops. We can also suggest parts and local service providers. If you’re further away, we can guide you to safe purchasing decisions and shipping alternatives.
  • Cybersecurity Readiness — Threats are rising and expectations are higher. We help you set up secure data handling and disaster recovery. We also assist in implementing best practices to reduce risk.
  • Planning for Growth & Scalability — If your work is expanding (e.g. moving into more resource-heavy projects, bigger uploads/downloads, needing higher uptime), we can help build a tech plan that anticipates infrastructure demands rather than reacting to outages.

What to Watch Next

  • How energy demands from megasites affect local grids — will infrastructure keep pace?
  • What regulatory or privacy policy changes emerge as state cyber-investments rise.
  • Whether AI adoption follows the “pragmatic, smaller-scale” model or continues pushing hype.
  • How rising finance/investment firms will influence job markets in Texas tech — more remote jobs? more diversity of work?

Bottom Line

Texas isn’t just growing, it’s transforming into a tech powerhouse. For digital nomads and remote professionals, that means both opportunity and responsibility. Better infrastructure, more local options, and elevated standards are good news. But they also need care in what technology you select. You need to protect your data. Staying ahead of risks is also essential.

At STS, our goal is to be that bridge. We help you leverage what’s happening in places like Texas, no matter where you are. This ensures your tech works for you, not against you.

Hardware Malfunctions on the Road: Why Digital Nomads Need an IT Lifeline

The Problem Digital Nomads Don’t See Coming

Life on the road as a digital nomad offers freedom, adventure, and the ability to work from anywhere. What do you do if your laptop charger dies in a remote café? What can you do if your battery gives out mid-meeting? How do you cope if your computer simply refuses to start?

Unlike an office worker with an IT department down the hall, digital nomads often face urgent hardware failures alone. A dead battery or broken charger isn’t just an inconvenience. It can mean missed deadlines. It can also mean lost income. Additionally, it can lead to hours wasted searching for reliable replacement gear.

More Than Just “Fixing Computers”

Many people think IT support is only about swapping out bad parts or cleaning up slow systems. But the reality is broader. IT support also means having a trusted advisor who knows which products are safe, effective, and available where you are.

At SofTouch Systems (STS), we’ve helped clients troubleshoot problems like:

  • Broken chargers overseas. Which brands are safe to buy locally, and which knockoffs could fry your laptop?
  • Dead batteries on the go. Where to source replacements without waiting weeks for shipping.
  • Laptop crashes mid-project. How to stabilize your system, recover critical files, and identify the right repair shop nearby.

On-Call IT: A Safety Net for Nomads

STS offers more than just repair guidance. We act as your on-call IT lifeline. You don’t waste hours searching forums to find the right adapter. You avoid wandering foreign malls trying to identify a trustworthy repair shop.

Instead, you can:

  1. Call us for immediate guidance. We’ll walk you through troubleshooting and determine if it’s a quick fix or replacement.
  2. Get local product recommendations. We’ll research which hardware is available where you are, ensuring it’s safe and compatible.
  3. Stay ahead of failures. With our product advisories, you’ll know which power banks, travel routers, and accessories can help prevent downtime in the first place.

Why It Matters

For digital nomads, your setup isn’t optional, it’s your entire livelihood. Every lost hour of productivity equals lost opportunities. With STS as your partner, you don’t just get IT help. You gain peace of mind. You know that when your gear fails, you won’t fail with it.

Practical Steps to Stay Prepared

Even with on-call IT support, there are simple ways to minimize risk:

  • Travel with backups. A universal charger, a second battery pack, and cloud backups for your files.
  • Know the safe brands. Not all “cheap” hardware is a deal—some can cause bigger failures down the line.
  • Have a plan. Keep STS on speed dial so you’re not Googling “laptop repair shop near me” in a panic.

The STS Difference

At SofTouch Systems, we’ve recently expanded our IT services to better support remote workers and digital nomads. Whether you’re in San Antonio, Bangkok, or a small coastal town with shaky Wi-Fi, we can help. We provide the same trusted, community-minded IT expertise that local Texas businesses rely on.

Digital nomads don’t just need someone who can fix a laptop. They need a partner who helps them choose the right tools. This partner aids in avoiding unsafe products. They also support them in staying productive anywhere.

How to Keep Client Data Safe While Traveling

Traveling for business or working as a digital nomad offers freedom and flexibility. However, it also brings new risks to sensitive information. Public Wi-Fi, lost devices, and international regulations can all compromise your professional reputation if client data isn’t properly protected.

In this post, we’ll outline how to keep client data safe while traveling. We will cover practical IT measures you can take. These measures will help maintain trust and avoid costly breaches.

1. Always Use a VPN on Public Wi-Fi

Cafés, airports, and hotels are hotspots for hackers. Without protection, your emails, files, and passwords can be intercepted. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your data so outsiders can’t snoop on your online activity.

Pro tip: Choose a VPN service with servers worldwide for reliable connections while abroad.

See our related article: VPN vs. Free Wi-Fi: Why Paying for Security Is Worth It.

2. Use Encrypted Cloud Backups

Traveling increases the chance of losing a laptop or smartphone. If your only copy of client data is on a lost device, the consequences can be disastrous.

A secure cloud backup system offers peace of mind even if your device is stolen. You can instantly recover files from another device. Look for solutions with:

  • End-to-end encryption.
  • Multi-device sync.
  • Automatic daily backups.

STS offers Managed Cloud Backup Services to ensure your data is always safe, no matter where you work.

3. Protect Devices From Physical Theft

Cybersecurity isn’t the only risk—physical theft is common for travelers. Protect client data by:

  • Using device encryption (so files are unreadable without your password).
  • Setting up remote wipe capabilities for laptops and smartphones.
  • Carrying devices in anti-theft backpacks with RFID-blocking compartments.

4. Use Professional Email With Multi-Factor Authentication

Free email accounts are easy targets for phishing. A custom business email with domain-level security makes you look professional and keeps accounts more secure. Pair it with multi-factor authentication (MFA) for an extra layer of protection.

Learn more in our post: Proven Ways a Custom Business Email Boosts Trust and Authority.

5. Know Local Data Privacy Rules

Different countries have different data protection laws. The EU’s GDPR and California’s CCPA are just two examples. As a traveling professional, be aware of these rules when storing, transferring, or processing client data.

When in doubt, always err on the side of minimum storage and maximum encryption.

If you handle sensitive information, you must learn how to keep client data safe while traveling. This knowledge is essential to your credibility and client relationships. Use a VPN and encrypted cloud backups. Maintain professional email and physical security. Be aware of local privacy laws. You can focus on work—not worry.

At SofTouch Systems, we specialize in helping digital nomads and SMBs. We implement these protections with tailored IT solutions. Our solutions are designed for work on the move.