# FAQ: AI Consulting, Custom Software, Web Design & SEO > Answers to common questions about AI consulting, custom software, web design, accessibility, security, speed, SEO and working with DigitalRocket in Syracuse, Utica and Central New York. Canonical page: https://digitalrocket.co/faq ## AI & software ### Do you offer AI consulting for small businesses? Yes, and it’s our main focus. We help Central New York businesses find where AI fits, choose and set up the right tools, train their teams, and put simple rules in place to protect their data. See: [AI consulting](https://digitalrocket.co/ai-for-business) ### I don’t know much about AI. Where do we start? With an AI starter session. We look at how your business runs and leave you with three practical places to start, explained in plain language. Most of our AI clients are starting from scratch. See: [Book an AI starter session](https://digitalrocket.co/contact) ### Which AI tools do you work with? ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot and the AI features already built into tools like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and your CRM. We recommend what fits your business, not a favorite brand. See: [Read: where to start with AI](https://digitalrocket.co/insights/where-to-start-with-ai) ### Is it safe to put my business data into AI tools? It can be. We help you choose business plans with strong data protections, limit what each tool can access, and give your team clear rules for what not to share. See: [Read: a simple AI policy](https://digitalrocket.co/insights/ai-policy-small-business) ### Can you train my team to use AI? Yes. We run hands-on workshops online, or on site in Syracuse or Utica, using your team’s real tasks, so people leave knowing how to use AI safely and well. ### Can AI answer customer questions on my website? Yes. We build assistants that answer from your own content, hand off to a person when needed, and meet accessibility standards. ### How is AI consulting priced? Pricing depends on scope. You’ll get a written proposal with pricing before any work begins. ### Can you integrate our software and build a client portal or dashboard? Yes. We connect your CRM, accounting, scheduling and spreadsheets through their APIs, then build dashboards and client portals that show your data the way you want and let you add and edit it. See: [Custom software & integrations](https://digitalrocket.co/custom-software) ### Do you build web and mobile apps? Yes, on the same secure backend as your other systems, using AI-assisted development to deliver faster. See: [Custom software & integrations](https://digitalrocket.co/custom-software) ### Can you review a quote from another agency? Yes. Our consulting is independent. We’ll explain what’s included, what’s missing and whether the price fits the scope. See: [Web & tech consulting](https://digitalrocket.co/web-consulting) ## SEO ### Can ChatGPT and other AI assistants recommend my business? Increasingly, yes. AI assistants draw on your website, Google Business Profile and reviews. Clear, well-structured content, schema markup and consistent local listings make it easier for them to understand and recommend you. See: [SEO & digital marketing](https://digitalrocket.co/seo-digital-marketing) ### Do you include SEO best practices in your websites? Yes. Technical SEO is built into how we work: clean semantic code, structured data, fast load times, accessible markup and a sensible page structure. Ongoing SEO strategy is also available. See: [SEO & digital marketing](https://digitalrocket.co/seo-digital-marketing) ### Can you help my business rank in Syracuse or Utica searches? Yes. Local SEO combines your Google Business Profile, reviews, local citations and location-specific content. It’s where we focus for Central New York businesses. ### How long does SEO take to work? Most sites see meaningful movement in three to six months, depending on competition and where you start. See: [Read: ranking in Utica and Syracuse](https://digitalrocket.co/insights/local-seo-utica-syracuse) ### Do you optimize for AI search like ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews? Yes. AI tools favor sites with clear answers, structured data, named expert authors and a complete Google Business Profile. The same work that helps traditional SEO helps you get cited by AI answers. ## Web design ### What types of websites do you build? Marketing websites, e-commerce stores, landing pages and WordPress sites for small businesses and growing companies across Central New York. Every one is secure, responsive, accessible and fast. See: [Web design & development](https://digitalrocket.co/web-design) ### What is your web design and development process like? We follow three steps. First we learn about your business and goals. Then we audit your current site and plan the project. Finally we agree on pricing and a timeline, then design, build and launch. ### Will my website be mobile-friendly? Yes. Every site we build is responsive and tested on phones, tablets and desktops. Most of your visitors will be on mobile, so we design for mobile first. ### Do you redesign existing websites? Yes. We start by auditing your current site’s health, accessibility and security so the redesign fixes real problems, and we protect your rankings with proper redirects. See: [Get a free audit](https://digitalrocket.co/website-audit) ### How do you make sure the website reflects my brand? It starts with getting to know you: your business, your customers and your competitors. That shapes the design, the copy and the tone, so the site feels like yours. ## Accessibility & speed ### What is WCAG, and do I need it? The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are the standard for making websites usable by everyone. Meeting WCAG AA is the most widely accepted way to reduce ADA risk. See: [ADA & WCAG accessibility](https://digitalrocket.co/ada-wcag-accessibility) ### Does site speed affect my Google rankings? Yes. Page experience, including Core Web Vitals, is one of the signals Google uses, and faster sites keep more visitors. See: [Speed & Core Web Vitals](https://digitalrocket.co/website-speed) ### Do you use accessibility overlay plugins? No. Overlays don’t fix the underlying code, many disabled users find them harder to use, and sites using them are still sued. We fix accessibility in the site itself. See: [Read our ADA guide](https://digitalrocket.co/insights/ada-website-compliance-guide) ## Security ### What does zero-trust security mean for a website? Nothing is trusted automatically. Every request for access is verified, and each account gets only the permissions it needs. See: [Website security](https://digitalrocket.co/website-security) ### What are security headers, and does my site need them? Security headers are instructions your server sends with every page that tell the browser how to behave: only load scripts from approved sources, always use HTTPS, don’t let other sites frame your pages, and so on. They cost nothing to visitors, block whole classes of attacks, and every business site should have them. See: [Website security](https://digitalrocket.co/website-security) ### What is a Content Security Policy (CSP)? A CSP is a security header that tells the browser exactly which scripts, styles and resources are allowed to run on your site. If an attacker manages to inject malicious code, such as a card skimmer or a redirect to a scam site, the browser refuses to run it. It’s one of the strongest defenses against cross-site scripting (XSS). ### What is a strict CSP, and why do so few websites have one? A strict CSP only allows scripts that carry a one-time code (a nonce) or a matching fingerprint (a hash), and blocks inline and injected code entirely. Most sites can’t support one because their page builders, plugins and tag managers depend on inline scripts, so they fall back to a loose policy with “unsafe-inline,” which cancels most of the protection. We build sites so a strict CSP works from day one, without breaking anything. ### Will a strict CSP break Google Analytics, forms or chat widgets? Not when it’s planned properly. With nonces and “strict-dynamic,” approved scripts can safely load what they need. We test every third-party tool you use, and we use report-only mode first so nothing breaks for visitors while we fine-tune the policy. ### Which security headers do you set up? On every site we build: a strict Content-Security-Policy (including frame-ancestors to block clickjacking), Strict-Transport-Security (HSTS) with preload, X-Content-Type-Options, Referrer-Policy, Permissions-Policy and Cross-Origin-Opener-Policy. ### What is HSTS? HTTP Strict Transport Security tells browsers to always connect to your site over HTTPS, even if someone types or clicks an old http:// link. It prevents attackers on public Wi-Fi from downgrading the connection and intercepting what visitors see or submit. With preload, browsers enforce it before the very first visit. ### How can I check my website’s security headers? Free scanners like securityheaders.com and Mozilla’s HTTP Observatory grade your headers in seconds. Most small business sites score a D or F. Our free website audit snapshot includes your security header grade. See: [Get a free audit](https://digitalrocket.co/website-audit) ### Can you add security headers to my existing website? Usually, yes. Most headers can be added at the server or CDN level without touching your site. A strict CSP may require cleaning up inline scripts and outdated plugins first; we’ll tell you exactly what’s involved after an audit. ### Do security headers help my Google rankings? Not directly. HTTPS is a ranking signal, but headers themselves aren’t. Their SEO value is protection: a hacked site can be flagged with a browser warning or dropped from search results, and recovering takes time. ## Working with us ### Where are you located? We’re based in Syracuse, NY, and work with businesses throughout Central New York, including Utica, Rome and the Mohawk Valley, as well as clients nationwide. See: [Syracuse web design](https://digitalrocket.co/web-design-syracuse) ### Do you work with businesses in Utica? Yes. We work with businesses in Utica, Rome, New Hartford and across Oneida County and the Mohawk Valley, and we’re happy to meet in person. See: [Utica web design](https://digitalrocket.co/web-design-utica) ### Do you offer website maintenance and support? Yes. We can keep your site updated, secure and backed up after launch, and make changes when your business needs them. ### How do I get started with a project? Request a proposal or run a free website audit. We’ll reach out to learn more about your business and start planning. See: [Request a proposal](https://digitalrocket.co/contact) ### What’s included in the free website audit? A snapshot PDF, emailed to you: scores for speed, accessibility, security, SEO and site health, your top issues and what they’re costing you, and a fixed-price estimate to fix everything. A full page-by-page audit with exact fixes is available for a fee, credited toward your project if you hire us. See: [Get your free snapshot](https://digitalrocket.co/website-audit)