I.T. Consultancy, Services & Solutions

19/10/2026

Could your business recover if you lost your data tomorrow?

We’ve made a free 10-question checklist for local business owners to find out. Plain English, about ten minutes, with a score at the end.

Download it here:

A free 10-question data backup checklist for business owners. Find the gaps in your backups in about 10 minutes, with a simple score at the end. No technical knowledge needed.

19/10/2026

One of the biggest frustrations with Excel is having to repeat the same jobs every time you create a spreadsheet.

The layout needs changing… the formatting needs tweaking… reports must follow the same company standards.

Those small jobs soon add up.

But Microsoft is introducing a feature that aims to remember how you like things done…

Most people think AI in Excel is about formulas and number crunching. But it's starting to learn the way your business works. That could mean less time fixing spreadsheets and more time using the information inside them…

19/10/2026

Have you ever decided not to mention a small IT issue because it didn't seem important enough?

It's an easy mistake to make.

But sometimes a small issue is the first sign of a big problem…

18/10/2026

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?

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

Software that still works can still be unprotected. This short guide explains what happens when support ends, and how to spot it before it becomes a problem.

A plain-English guide for small businesses on what unsupported software is, why it quietly becomes a risk and how to find out whether you are affected. Free to download.

16/10/2026

AI saves time, but don’t let it replace personality

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…

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…

13/10/2026

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

12/10/2026