IT support is a necessary part of running a business, but one which most owners don’t tend to think about until there’s a problem. Even in larger organisations with an in-house team, it’s easy to overlook the valuable job it does.

You want the reassurance of having someone at the end of the phone or chat window, who can quickly fix a computer or network problem when it happens.

Cyber Essentials tests a company’s IT systems and any device (including desktop, tablets and mobiles). which connects to the internet against five key controls, and the certification process is designed to be straightforward.
What are the key controls? 

Boundary firewalls and internet gateways
Malware protection
Patch management
Secure configuration
Access control

Boundary Firewalls and Internet Gateways

You should protect your internet connection with a firewall.

Cyber Essentials is a certification scheme available to all UK businesses. Jointly run between the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the UK government, it tests your IT systems and devices for data security. It’s a great way to show your customers and partners that you operate your business on information security best practice.

I challenge you to ask your employees, what they should do if the business was to go completely down. I guarantee all would have a different answer and although this may seem quite far-fetched and completely unlikely to happen, it does. Even if it were to never happen, what is the harm in preparing for the worst?

In the midst of a disaster, it's common to panic, your reaction becomes impulsive and the tasks you set may not be in the best interest of the business.

As a business owner, you know that you need to protect data, both for yourself and your customers. You need a solution to do that for you, but there’s always a risk that it might fail.
What is Backup?
Data backup involves taking a copy of all the data your business holds and storing it securely.

For most small-medium sized businesses, outsourcing IT has become a standard procedure for many different reasons. The fact that it is more reliable and cost-effective are the first reasons that spring to mind when debating whether or not to hire your own in-house IT staff.

Changing IT companies is a big decision to make for your business and one that requires lots of thought and preparation. You want the transition to go smoothly and to cause minimal disruption to your staff and customers. We’ve put together some information to help you get ready to make that change.

The 14th January 2020 is a very important date to take note of for any business owner or professional working within the IT industry. Especially, Windows 7 users because Microsoft will be abandoning all support for the operating system, meaning it'll no longer receive updates or critical security patches.

Choosing a technology partner is one of the most important decisions you can make for your business, which is why we’ve put together a business guide to help you get it right. IT SUPPORT.

Our 'IT Support: Essential Business Guide' was designed to give business owners and IT managers all the relevant information needed to make an informed decision on whether your business is in need of external IT Support and if so what do you look for? How do you differentiate between the good, the bad and the average company? Our comparison checklist will guide you all the way.

External IT Support
Running a business is expensive, and if you’re a sole trader or only have a small team, it’s natural to keep costs down by doing everything yourself, including IT support.

However, if you or one of your staff is managing the IT as well as their other duties, that will have an impact on their efficiency and productivity and slow down business growth.