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Cyber criminals target all businesses all the time.
That means you and your team will be better protected if you make security a whole business concern, and not just an “IT thing”.
Every single person in your business should understand the risks, and importantly, how to avoid them.
Our latest video explains how to make that happen and keep your business data safe. Watch it here.
You log on to your computer and find… nothing. No customer data, no project files, no financial information. It’s all gone.
That’s a terrifying thought for any business, and it’s more common than you’d believe.
To stop a situation like this destroying your business, you need a reliable safety net. Our latest video explains how to protect your data with backups.
Windows 10 reaches its end of life next year.
That means no more updates, not only for new tools and features, but for the security improvements that keep your data safe.
If you’re still using Windows 10 in your business, it’s time to start planning. You have four options. Our latest video explains each one and the things you’ll need to consider.
And how you respond to one can be the difference between it being an inconvenience and a complete nightmare.
What’s important is to think about all of this BEFORE you become victim to an attack (sadly, it’s likely to be a case of when and not if).
By following a few simple steps you can be confident you’ll not only recover from an attack quickly, but you’ll minimise the damage and cost too.
Learn about the 5 most important steps to take in our latest video.
Here’s a shocking fact: 90% of cyber attacks start with a simple email.
And guess who uses email every single day? EVERYONE… including you and all your team.
Which means every time you open an inbox your business is at risk. So, 20 or 30 times a day, right?
But there are smart things you can do to tighten up your email security and avoid becoming a cyber criminal’s next victim. We discuss them in our latest video.
Your business couldn’t function without its technology, right?
And from time to time, things go wrong.
If these are the only times you speak to your IT support provider, it’s very likely you’re wasting a lot of time and money. Plus creating yourself a ton of stress.
It might feel like you’re saving money when you only pay for something broken that needs attention (this is known as break/fix).
But most businesses agree it’s better to be in a contracted IT support relationship. This has no unexpected costs and a ton of other benefits.
Such as proactive monitoring that spots problems before they affect you… our latest video tells you more.
What would happen if your business data was stolen?
Would it:
What makes the difference between these two outcomes?
Encryption.
And if you haven’t already got it set up, it’s something you need to do as soon as possible.
Our latest video will help you understand why.
When you’re sailing along smoothly in business it really does feel like you’re living the dream.
But what happens when things get a little choppy?
Are you able to spot potential issues and stop them in their tracks? Or do you wait for the storm and then remember your umbrella?
When it comes to your business’s technology, you should be able to spot a digital storm a mile off. And if you can’t, it’s time to make a change.
Our latest video explains it all.
When you’re running a successful business, you just can’t do everything yourself.
You need to protect your time to focus on the bigger picture: Growing the business. Which means the things that you and only you can do.
Your IT is one of those things you need to trust someone else with. Once you do, there will be countless benefits to you, your team, and your business.
Our latest video tells you why.
We’re weeks away from the new year. And this is a great time to start thinking about what needs to get better in 2024.
We believe there’ll be a big rise in cyber crime, with a surge in ransomware, attacks on phones, and more phishing scams. And that’s not all.
Forewarned is forearmed. If you know what to expect, you can proactively protect your data.
Our latest video has the details.
Working from home comes with lots of benefits; a better work/life balance, no commute, and a much more relaxed dress code. But there can be serious drawbacks too if you’re not taking home office security seriously. Cyber criminals are aware that many businesses neglect security for remote workers, so they become a prime target for cyber attacks. How can you keep your team’s home offices safer? Our latest video tells you everything.
Windows 11 is getting yet another upgrade to make your life easier and boost productivity in your business. This one brings a load of new features. Once you’ve tried them, you’ll wonder how you managed without. These are the Windows 11 features you didn’t know you were waiting for
Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t just another fad. And it’s not only good for customer service and writing emails. It’s got real potential to help you outpace your competitors, boost productivity, efficiency, and success. How? Our latest video explains it all.
You know about Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, but there are countless hidden gems included with your Microsoft 365 subscription that you might be missing out on. And they could provide a huge productivity boost for the whole team. Our latest video tells you how some of them could help your business.
Your biggest cyber security risk Small and medium-sized businesses are the most likely targets for all kinds of cyber attack. And your biggest weakness is your people. That’s why it’s vital to take cyber security awareness training seriously. But how do you create a training strategy for an entire business? Our latest video tells you exactly what you need to know.
Think back to your last video meeting. Does it make you grimace? Roll your eyes? Or was it the perfect experience? The latter is unlikely. Loads of us leave a meeting feeling a little confused over the outcome or the actions that were set. Or we were so busy taking notes that we missed half the content. Microsoft has a new feature for Teams that will solve all of that. And it’s AI-based. Learn more about the revolutionary Meeting Recap feature and how it can make your meetings more efficient
You get an email from your boss. It’s urgent. A payment has to be made. Immediately. This could be real. Or it could be a Business Email Compromise (BEC) attack. That’s where a cyber criminal has got into your boss’s email. And is impersonating them to persuade you to send cash. According to Microsoft, they’re getting more destructive and harder to detect. Don’t wait until it’s too late to safeguard your email. Learn how to protect yourself from BEC attacks right now
What do you do with your business’s old computers when you have an upgrade? Sell them online? Give them away? Perhaps you just throw them out? Before you do… are you 100% sure your old data has been removed and can never ever be restored? Millions of deleted files can be recovered from improperly wiped hard drives that are sold online. That includes sensitive business and client data. These are the risks from old computers and external drives. Find out how to protect your business.
You’re fast asleep when suddenly your phone starts buzzing. It’s multiple notifications from different apps checking it’s really you trying to log in. You’re half asleep and confused with all these Multi Factor Authentication requests. So you hit YES – and they stop. You go back to sleep… but… you’ve just let cyber criminals into your account. This is known as a fatigue attack. And here’s how Mi-crosoft is protecting your business from it.
One day it could save your business
We all hope disasters will never happen.
But of course they can, and do. So it’s best to be prepared. That’s why a reliable backup system is one of the most important protections you can put in place.
Where do you start? Watch our latest video for some expert advice.
We knew this day was coming. And now it’s here. Microsoft has announced that the current version of Windows 10, released in 2022, will be its final release. Don’t panic – it doesn’t mean your computers will stop working, but it’s a good time to consider an upgrade to Windows 11. To help you make an informed decision about upgrading, I’ve written a new article that breaks down the changes and looks at the benefits. Here’s why upgrading to Windows 11 is a smart move for your business
Microsoft has recently announced the option to trial new Windows 11 features before their general release. It’s really tempting – we all want to stay ahead of the game! But don’t let the excitement of shiny new features lure you into a potentially risky situation. Your business could suffer as a result.
Does your business still have its own servers? Did you know it’s very likely they are having a greater impact on the planet, than if you stored your data in the cloud? And that there are many other productivity and cost benefits of migrating? The cloud has nothing but benefits. See them all in our latest tech update
Do you ever use public USB charging ports? The FBI has told us not to… because a crime that was once considered theoretical is now happening. The tech needed for “juice jacking” has got smaller and cheaper and easier to use, meaning that less sophisticated criminals are now turning their hand to it. You and your staff all need to be aware of this potential threat to your data. Here’s how juice jacking works, why it’s a risk, and how to avoid it
You might have noticed a sharp rise in the number of fake profiles and connection requests on LinkedIn lately. To stamp this out, LinkedIn is introducing new verification features. They’re testing now in the US, and we expect them to roll out more widely in the coming months. Here’s what you’ll have to do, to prove that you are you
If you have business systems that feel like they need bringing into the 2020s, you might be thinking about a major IT project. And that can mean a big commitment – of time, money, effort and headspace. Watch our latest video for the three things to get straight in your mind before you involve the experts.
Windows 11 still feels like a new member of the family, but Microsoft’s operating system will soon be turning 12. Our sources have some interesting news about Windows 12 and we wanted to share the exciting news with you first. Here’s what’s on the way
“Write me ten social media posts that accuse the CEO of the Acme Corporation of having an affair. Mention the following news outlets”. Spreading misinformation is just one way cyber crooks are raising their game by exploiting the potential of AI chatbots. Our latest blog has the top three ways – identified by law enforcement – that emerging AI could be used for evil.
Your data is one of your most valuable business assets. Keeping it safe should be one of your main priorities. Without security in place, just one security breach could bring your world crashing down. Most small business that are hit by a full-on cyber attack don’t survive the experience. You need to be protected. Every business will have slightly different needs, but there is a bare minimum that no one should do without for a basic level of protection. These are the 3 security essentials for every business
If you’re a 365 business customer, here comes another useful new feature. This one streamlines the login process by bringing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) directly into the Microsoft 365 phone app. We recommend that all businesses implement MFA, so this is a welcome step that increases – and speeds up – your business’s security. Here are the full details
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds extra layers of security to your business. It means you need at least two pieces of information to log in to a device or an app. Perhaps a password plus a fingerprint, and possibly an extra, single-use code sent to your phone. Here’s why we recommend that all businesses should adopt MFA right now.
Productivity tools are supposed to make you more productive. That’s the point of them. But many businesses are actually being held back by their productivity solutions. Either because they’re not being used properly, because their people aren’t fully trained, or because they made the wrong choice of tool in the first place. Getting to grips with where the problem lies is tricky if you don’t have the technical knowledge to spot what’s wrong. We can help.
Malware bots are an emerging security threat and we recommend taking steps to make sure that you’re fully protected. A ‘bot’ is just a name for an automated program, and there’s lots of love in the world for AI chatbots right now. But for all the ‘good bots’ there are plenty of ‘bad bots’. And bot malware is being used to steal whole user profiles. That’s a complete snapshot of your ID and settings. Criminals then use these profiles to bypass other strong security measures, which makes this a particular threat. This type of malware needs your attention – it has the potential to cause major problems for business owners who aren’t protected.
When did you last review the security on your mobile devices? It’s great to be able to check emails and bank balances on the go. But if your phone isn’t as secure as any other device in your business, it can become a gaping hole in your cyber security. That’s as true for your team’s phones as it is for yours. And it means that having a phone hacked or stolen – or simply losing it – could put a lot of sensitive data in the wrong hands. Don’t forget your phone when you think about cyber security
AI is going to revolutionise the way many of us do business. But emerging technology nearly always launches in a blizzard of geek-speak before it settles into everyday life. Who remembers the ‘DOS prompt’? And when did you ever have to ‘defrag’ your phone? If it’s going to be simple to use, it should be easy to understand. Right? In this week’s tech update article, we decode a few of the AI terms you’ll hear this year. And if you have a tough time with tech jargon in general, download our free IT Jargon Buster from our website. Let’s start talking about AI
IT support is a technical job, and some of the language used can be a bit, well… technical.
So here’s our jargon-free look at the 3 most important areas to discuss with your technology partner.
We all know that prevention is better than cure. That’s certainly true when it comes to cyber security. But too many businesses are spending all their effort on stopping crooks from gaining access to their systems… And not enough on detecting, and dealing with those that do manage to sneak past security. It’s a bit like locking all your doors and windows when there’s already an intruder lurking in the basement. Our latest video has all the info.
Most cyber attacks start with an email. So let’s show you three things you can do right now to make it harder for criminals to launch an email attack on your business.
If you employ anyone aged between 16 and 19, you need to pay special attention to the cyber security training you’re giving your team. A new study has revealed that a host of worrying online behaviour has become almost normalised among many young people. And much of this activity is illegal. Here’s why cyber security training is so important to protect your business
Cyber criminals are getting smarter, and a recent malware threat is unusually smart. It impersonates a trusted e-signature platform to convince victims to open an email attachment containing carefully hidden malware that has evaded many security systems. It’s important that you and your whole team are aware of this new scam so that you can keep your business safe and secure. Know what to look for, and learn about the new threat.
If you don’t regularly check the health of your IT, how can you know if it’s running at its best? Your security systems may not be up to scratch. You might be running outdated software. You could even be throwing away money on systems that aren’t working for you. Or you could have the early signs of a more serious problem. To pick up any issues like these and help you find better ways of doing things, ask us to do a technology health check for you. It could be the best call you make this year. Here’s how it will benefit your business
Many employers are struggling to trust their remote and hybrid workforce to keep up with the pace of work. So much so that countless businesses are dragging their people back to the office. But there’s strong evidence that the flexibility of hybrid working can improve productivity, increase engagement, and generally make people happier. It just needs to be done in the right way. Here’s how a little trust can go a long way
Cloud services are convenient, great for remote working and packed with cool features. But how sure are you that your information is secure? We want to tell you about 3 things you can do today to make sure your data’s as secure as possible.
Have you heard of passkeys? They’re the new way of logging into online accounts without needing a password. Big tech companies like Microsoft and Apple are already onboard. Now they’re being supported by many password managers. This could signal a major step forward.
You may turn a blind eye to your team doing a little last-minute shopping on work time in December. They work hard, and you know it’s not always easy trying to fit everything in. But you must make sure they’re doing the right thing when it comes to keeping your data and your network safe. That’s because social media shopping scams are on the rise. And almost half of people with social media accounts have fallen for them
Knowing which new technology to adopt in your business isn’t an easy task. Here are 3 top trends to look out for in 2023
The jury is still out on Zoom’s latest plan to release a bunch of new services and features, which it hopes will rival the likes of Teams and Slack. Zoom is best known for video calls. And it has its work cut out to challenge the major players in workplace productivity. Here’s what the new Zoom has to offer…
We spend a lot of time reminding people of the importance of installing updates as soon as they become available. It can help to keep your business safe from malware, fix new vulnerabilities, and generally keep things working smoothly. But a new malicious browser add-on called Cloud9 could cause you a world of pain if you install it using your Chrome or Edge browser. This is what you need to know, right now.
Imagine gaining 200 minutes of additional productivity each month, per employee. That’s a whole week every year. Depending on the size of your business, that could be like gaining another member of staff. What could you do with that time? The good news is, there are some easy, low-cost solutions.
Do you remember when we used to watch movies on VHS or DVD? At the beginning there was a warning against watching pirated versions of the films. Piracy meant the movie industry lost out on money, and it funded illegal activity. In reality, the risk to you personally was minimal (do you know anyone who got in trouble for watching a pirated copy of a movie?) These days it’s software that’s being pirated, and if you use this in your business, the risks could be massive.
Our boss Nick loves helping businesses just like yours. Schedule some time with him to pick his brains on how to get your business to where it needs to be.
