Hamilton Group Ltd

Hamilton Group Ltd Managed Services Provider based in Harrogate. We provide a professional service for both residential and business customers across the U.K and internationally.

We help your business grow with a range of our services such as:

BDR, Computer Repair, Cyber Security Services, E-mail migration, in-home IT, IT Support, Malware Removal, Network Support & Setup, Office 365, Hamilton Group was originally formed in 2018 under the guidance of the owner who has been in the IT industry for over twenty years. Hamilton Group specialise in both Mac and PC and we maintain servers as well as Exchange or Microsoft 365, our goal is to make your business accessible in the cloud.

Ever looked at your computer and wondered where all your storage has gone?You delete a few old files, empty the recycle ...
17/10/2026

Ever looked at your computer and wondered where all your storage has gone?

You delete a few old files, empty the recycle bin, maybe even uninstall an app or two...

Yet somehow, you're still running out of space 🤷

If you're using Windows 11, there could be a reason for that.

Microsoft has confirmed a bug that, on some computers, let a hidden system file grow much larger than it should.

In some reported cases, it’s taken up hundreds of gigabytes of storage without people realising 😬

Nothing obvious tells you what's happening.

Windows simply reports that "System files" are using a lot of space, which isn't especially helpful if you're trying to work out what's causing it.

Luckily, Microsoft has released a fix, and it will be included in the next regular Windows updates.

There's a useful lesson here that goes beyond this particular bug 👾

Software updates don’t only add new features.

Often, they fix problems that most of us never knew existed.

Sometimes it's a security vulnerability.

Sometimes it's a reliability issue.

And sometimes it's a bug that's filling your hard drive in the background 🗂️

That's why I always encourage people not to put updates off for months at a time.

It's easy to think, "Everything seems to be working, so I'll leave it for now”.

But many updates are solving problems before they've become obvious to you.

If you've noticed your Windows 11 computer running low on storage for no apparent reason, open Settings > Storage and take a quick look at how much space is being used by System files.

It doesn't necessarily mean you're affected by this issue.

But if something doesn't look right, it’s a good place to start.

👉 Do you install Windows updates as they arrive, or do you wait until your computer starts giving you a reason to?

For a long time, businesses have been told to watch out for suspicious emails 👀And it's still good advice.But cyber crim...
17/10/2026

For a long time, businesses have been told to watch out for suspicious emails 👀

And it's still good advice.

But cyber criminals have realised people are becoming much better at spotting them…

So they're changing tactics 🙄

A recent campaign saw attackers contact employees through Microsoft Teams, pretending to be members of the company's IT team.

The conversation starts normally.

They explain there's a problem with your computer, ask you to share your screen, and then guide you through installing what appears to be legitimate remote support software.

From that point on, the attackers are in control 😬

They can install malware, access company data, and move around the network without needing to break through your security in the traditional sense.

What struck me about this story is how ordinary the attack sounds.

There’s no dramatic hack or technical exploit.

It's just someone pretending to help.

So, we need to change how we approach cyber security.

Right now, we spend a lot of time teaching people not to click suspicious links.

But we also need to prepare them for unexpected phone calls, Teams messages and video calls from people claiming to be IT support.

When someone works in your IT team or for your IT partner, there should already be a recognised way they contact staff and verify who they are.

If something feels different, or you're being asked to install software or hand over control of your computer, it's a good idea to stop and check through another route before you do anything 🧐

Create a simple process for confirming you're talking to the right person.

Since we all now rely on tools like Microsoft Teams every day, it's only natural that attackers will try to blend into those app as well.

💭 If someone claiming to be IT support contacted one of your employees through Teams today, would they know how to verify that person before following their instructions?

16/10/2026

Have you noticed how many websites, emails, and social posts are starting to sound the same?

Professional, polished… and completely forgettable.

As AI is used more, the businesses that stand out are the ones that still sound human…

🏠🔐 You wouldn't leave your front door unlocked... so why leave your online accounts unprotected?Think about it. We lock ...
15/10/2026

🏠🔐 You wouldn't leave your front door unlocked... so why leave your online accounts unprotected?
Think about it. We lock our doors, protect our valuables and make sure our homes are secure.
But how much thought do we give to protecting our information online?
With October being Cyber Security Awareness Month, it's the perfect time to think about your digital security.
A few simple changes can help:
🔑 Use strong, unique passwords for different accounts.
📱 Switch on multi-factor authentication wherever possible.
⚠️ Be cautious of unexpected emails and suspicious links.
💻 Keep your devices and software updated.
Whether you're running a business or simply browsing online, cybersecurity matters to everyone.
At Hamilton Group, we're here to help make technology safer and easier to manage.
🌐 hgmssp.com

Cyber criminals don't need someone in your business to be careless.They need them to be busy.When your day is full of em...
14/10/2026

Cyber criminals don't need someone in your business to be careless.

They need them to be busy.

When your day is full of emails, meetings and interruptions, it's much easier to click first and think later…

12/10/2026

Made a change you wish you could undo? Your files may already have a built-in safety net…

Everyone notices the big technology problems.The internet goes down; your systems stop working and everything grinds to ...
12/10/2026

Everyone notices the big technology problems.

The internet goes down; your systems stop working and everything grinds to a halt.

But smaller frustrations are easier to overlook.

A few extra clicks… information that's harder to find than it should be… they can steal hours from your week.

Our latest guide looks at where those hidden productivity leaks come from, why they often go unnoticed, and how small changes can help your team get more done without working harder.

Download your free copy now.

One of the biggest questions businesses are asking about AI is, "When should we use it?"I think that's why this update t...
11/10/2026

One of the biggest questions businesses are asking about AI is, "When should we use it?"

I think that's why this update to Teams is a sensible one.

Microsoft’s making it easier for meeting organisers to switch AI features on or off.

That includes tools like meeting summaries, AI-generated notes and Copilot assistance.

On the face of it, that might sound like a step backwards.

After all, if AI is supposed to save us time, why would anyone want to turn it off 🤷

But not every meeting is the same.

For a project catch-up where you want automatic notes and action lists, AI could be genuinely useful.

But a confidential discussion about employees, finances or a potential acquisition?

You might decide you'd rather keep AI out of the conversation altogether 🤐

Having that choice is key.

I also think we're reaching a more mature stage of AI adoption.

When these tools first appeared, there was a lot of excitement about adding AI to everything.

But now businesses are becoming more selective.

They're asking where AI improves productivity and where it adds another layer that isn't needed.

It's a healthy approach 👍

Good technology should adapt to the way your business works… not force you to adapt to the technology.

For me, the real takeaway from this announcement is that businesses are recognising AI works best when people remain in control.

There will be meetings where AI-generated notes save hours of admin.

There will be meetings where nobody wants an AI assistant listening, summarising or contributing.

The important thing is that you can decide which approach fits the situation.

👉 Where do you think AI adds the most value in your business... and where would you rather leave it switched off?

One of the biggest mistakes I see businesses make is thinking cyber security advice has a long shelf life.It doesn't 🙅Th...
09/10/2026

One of the biggest mistakes I see businesses make is thinking cyber security advice has a long shelf life.

It doesn't 🙅

The habits that kept you safe five or ten years ago aren't necessarily the ones that will protect you today.

Take passwords, for example.

There are still plenty of people using the same password for multiple accounts because it's easier to remember.

But it's also much easier for cyber criminals.

If one website suffers a data breach and your password is exposed, attackers will try that same password on dozens of other services…

Including your email and business accounts 😱

Or think about public Wi-Fi.

Many people still assume it's fine as long as they're "only checking emails".

But public networks are a popular hunting ground for criminals, and fake Wi-Fi hotspots are designed to look almost identical to the genuine ones 😳

Then there are scams.

There was a time when phishing emails were full of spelling mistakes and strange formatting.

But those days are largely behind us.

AI is helping criminals write convincing messages that look professional, sound natural and are often personalised using information they've found online 🤖

That's why I think one of the most outdated security habits of all is believing you'll always be able to spot a scam yourself 👀

Of course, you still need to pay attention.

But modern cyber security is more about having the right protections working in the background.

🔒 Strong, unique passwords
🔒Multi-Factor Authentication (where you approve a login using your phone or an app)
🔒Automatic software updates
🔒Reliable security software

These reduce your reliance on spotting every threat with your own eyes.

Technology has changed dramatically over the last few years.

The way we protect ourselves must change with it.

🤔 Which cyber security habit do you think people still underestimate the most: Strong passwords, software updates, or recognising scams?

💻 Is your computer secretly running programmes you don't use?Ever wondered why your computer is running so slowly, even ...
09/10/2026

💻 Is your computer secretly running programmes you don't use?

Ever wondered why your computer is running so slowly, even when you've barely got anything open? 🤔

You might be surprised by how many programmes are running in the background without you even realising!

These background processes can:

🐌 Slow down your computer – Unnecessary programmes can use valuable memory and processing power.

🔋 Drain your battery – Background activity can increase power consumption, particularly on laptops.

⏳ Increase startup times – Too many programmes launching automatically can make your computer take longer to start.

💻 Affect performance – Background apps can compete for resources with the programmes you actually need.

So, what can you do about it?

✅ Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) to see what's running.

✅ Check your startup apps and disable ones you don't need launching automatically.

✅ Uninstall software you no longer use.

✅ Keep your computer updated and restart it regularly.

⚠️ Remember, some background processes are essential for your computer to function properly, so don't disable anything you're unsure about!

At Hamilton Group, we help businesses keep their IT systems running efficiently, so slow technology doesn't get in the way of productivity.

🔗 Find out more: https://hgmssp.com

Address

The Old Church, 55-57 Grove Road
Harrogate
HG15EP

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Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9:30am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

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