Insights
Practical, jargon-free guidance on managed IT, cyber security, Microsoft 365 and connectivity for UK small businesses.
20 October 2026
A Cyber Essentials certificate that covers part of the business will fail the first DCC control. Here is how to scope it so it passes both, including the machines nobody wants to touch.
16 October 2026
A founder's guide to IT for UK startups: what to set up before your first hire, what changes at 10 and 25 staff, and when to bring in IT support.
13 October 2026
A UK guide to IT support packages: the essentials every package should include, how basic and fully managed tiers differ, and the extras to check for.
9 October 2026
What remote IT support can and cannot fix for a UK small business, how a secure remote session works, and when someone still needs to come on site.
7 October 2026
What does managed IT support cost in the UK? Typical per-user prices, what's included, the extras to watch for, and how it compares with break-fix.
2 October 2026
Most suppliers have been asked for Level 0 by December 2026. Many of them will be asked for Level 1 in 2027. Here is the difference and how to plan for both.
22 September 2026
Plain English guide to email encryption for UK small businesses: TLS versus message encryption, what Microsoft 365 includes, and what the ICO expects.
22 September 2026
DEFCON 658, Def Stan 05-138, the Cyber Security Model and Defence Cyber Certification are four different things. Here is what each does and how they reach a subcontractor.
13 September 2026
A plain English cloud disaster recovery plan for UK small businesses: what to recover first, RTO and RPO, why Microsoft 365 is not a backup, and how to test.
6 September 2026
Typical UK leased line prices in 2026 by speed, the one-off installation and construction charges nobody mentions up front, what actually drives the price, and how to read a quote.
2 September 2026
Level 0 is three controls and six questions, and it still catches well-run firms. Here is what each control asks for, what counts as evidence, and where suppliers go wrong.
2 September 2026
MOD has asked all industry partners to hold Defence Cyber Certification Level 0 by 31 December 2026. Here is what the scheme is, what each level means, how it reaches subcontractors, and what to do first.