How proactive monitoring will help your business weather any storm

You’re the captain of your own ship. You have an excellent crew behind you. You’re prepared for anything!

Or so you thought.

Then one day, out of the blue, a massive digital kraken tentacled its way into your ship’s systems, causing havoc.

Your lookout was using the crow’s nest as a cosy place to nap. What you really needed was a vigilant lookout, alert for any small sign of danger.

This is the difference between being proactive about monitoring your business’s systems, or reactive. And we all know that prevention is better than cure, right?

Our latest guide explains everything you need to know about proactive monitoring for your business.

Download your free copy now.

Watch out for that digital storm!

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.

Why outsourced IT always beats DIY

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.

Is app overload slowing down your team?

Is app overload slowing down your team?

How many different apps and chat services are your employees juggling every day? Chances are, it’s making your business less productive. Good news: There’s a simple solution. We have the details.

Microsoft 365: Are you paying for productivity apps you’re not using?

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.

The biggest risk to Cyber Security is human error

The most likely targets for all sorts of cyber attacks are small and medium sized businesses. They don’t have the budgets for dedicated staff or numerous layers of protection.

But the weakest link in any security chain is your staff.

Good cyber security awareness training is essential for everyone in your business.

You will need a strategy to start with.

The benefits of the PSTN switch-off

Remember 2012, when the analogue TV signal was switched off and we all went digital?

Well now it’s your phone’s turn, and in December 2025, the last old analogue phone service – the PSTN – is due to be switched off forever.

So if any devices in your business currently use the analogue phone system, you’re going to need to make some changes. That doesn’t just mean your landline phone – you may have alarms, lift emergency phones, some card machines (and you don’t still use a fax, do you?)

You have a bit of time to plan, but it’s important not to leave everything to the last minute on this. As we get nearer to the deadline, suppliers will be stretched and you’ll want to allow time to transition to a new system.

How to plan an IT Project in 2023

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.

The big switch-off affects everyone. You need to be ready

You might already have heard that the UK’s Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) is being switched off in December 2025.

This affects everyone.

The old, analogue PSTN can’t keep up with the demands of modern communication, so the switch to fully digital will mark a big step forward.

Put simply, everything will use the internet.

But it’s not just our phone lines that will be affected by the PSTN switch-off. Any equipment that also uses PSTN will stop working too. That could be your alarm systems, cameras, fax machines (yes some are still in use!), even door entry systems and EPOS machines.

You may also need to update your broadband and some of your other hardware.

A guide to how to start an IT Project in 2023

A major change to your IT infrastructure isn’t something to be planned in a hurry. So if you’re starting to think about ending it with your current systems and bringing your business into the 2020s, there’s plenty to think about before you commit to another long-term relationship.