Compex IT

16/10/2026

Could your business still answer calls, take payments and access its online systems if the office internet stopped working?

A backup connection can use a second broadband provider or a 4G or 5G mobile connection. Your router can be configured to switch to the backup when the main connection fails.

The backup may only need to support essential work rather than every device in the building.

Test it at a time when a brief interruption will not affect customers. Disconnect the main service and check your phones, payment terminals, remote access and important online services.

If you don’t have backup internet, or you’re unsure whether your current setup works, contact us. We’ll help you choose an option and test the switch between connections.

14/10/2026

Photos and documents can store hidden information that is not visible when you open the file.

A photo may include the GPS location where it was taken and the device used to take it.

Word, Excel and PowerPoint files may contain the author’s name, company information, comments and tracked changes. PDFs can contain details about who created them and which software was used.

Before sending a file outside your business, inspect its metadata and remove anything the recipient does not need.

Microsoft Office includes a Document Inspector for finding hidden information. For photos on Windows, open the file’s Properties and check the Details section.

Inspect the exact version you are about to send.

12/10/2026

Drawing a black rectangle over words in a PDF may only hide the words from view. The text underneath can sometimes still be searched, copied or recovered.

Use the redaction feature in a PDF editor. Proper redaction removes the selected information from the file instead of covering it.

After saving the redacted copy, search for the removed words and try selecting and copying the covered area. Open the file in another PDF reader and check it again.

Test the document before sending contracts, financial statements, legal files or records containing personal information.

09/10/2026

An employee can download software onto a company computer without anyone checking it first.

Application allowlisting lets the business decide which software may run. A program that has not been approved is blocked until someone authorizes it.

This can stop unwanted software from running on company computers.

Employees still need a clear way to request legitimate software. Otherwise, important work may be interrupted while they wait for approval.

07/10/2026

What would happen if the only person who understands your IT was unavailable for a month?

Someone else needs to know who your providers are, where the documentation is kept, which systems are critical, when contracts renew and how to regain access to important systems during an emergency.

Store emergency access securely instead of sharing passwords.

Choose a backup person and ask them to handle a routine IT request using only the documentation and contact information available to them.

If your business depends on one person for every IT decision, contact us. We can help you document the responsibilities and create a backup plan.

05/10/2026

Your out-of-office reply shouldn’t tell strangers where you are, which clients you’re working with or who is covering for you.

People outside your company only need to know when you’ll reply and how to contact the business if it’s urgent.

02/10/2026

Comment below with every red flag you spotted: there are more than you think!

This is a fake email we wrote for a laugh, but variations of it land in inboxes every single day, and you'd be surprised how often someone clicks.

Proper employee training is a layer of security no firewall can replace.

30/09/2026

Brand new blog...
..Why Birmingham SMEs Cannot Afford to Ignore AI

28/09/2026

AI for Birmingham Businesses: The 3 Biggest Myths

Birmingham businesses are rushing into AI, but most get it wrong. Here’s why myths about tools, chatbots, and automation can hold you back.