Blog & guides
Dig into something useful.
Free, practical guides on saving money, staying secure, fixing everyday IT problems and using AI — written in plain English by people who do this every day.
Saving money
Saving money
How to cut IT costs: 12 places businesses overspend on technology
A practical checklist of the 12 places small businesses and larger organisations overspend on IT — licences, contracts, tools, cloud and admin — and how to fix each one.
Read · 9 min Cost savingsMicrosoft 365 licence optimisation: stop paying for what you don't use
How to review Microsoft 365 licences, remove waste, choose the right plan for each user and avoid common licensing mistakes — for small businesses and larger organisations.
Read · 7 min FundingFree AI training and funding for businesses in Wales and Herefordshire
Free and subsidised AI support for businesses in Wales and Herefordshire — Business Wales, the Flexible Skills Programme, Growth Hub courses — and what to do next.
Read · 6 minSecurity
Security
How to spot a phishing email: 12 red flags (with real-world examples)
Twelve practical red flags for spotting phishing emails, texts and calls at work — plus what to do if you've clicked, and how to report it in the UK.
Read · 8 min SecurityInvoice fraud and bank detail change scams: how to protect your business
How invoice fraud and business email compromise work, the warning signs, and a simple payment-verification process that stops most attacks.
Read · 7 min SecurityMFA explained: how to switch it on in Microsoft 365 (and why it matters)
What multi-factor authentication is, why it blocks most account takeovers, how to enable it in Microsoft 365, and how to avoid MFA fatigue attacks.
Read · 7 min SecurityPasswords at work: password managers, three random words and what to stop doing
Practical, NCSC-aligned password advice for businesses: password managers, three random words, stopping password reuse and shared logins.
Read · 6 min SecurityWhat to do in the first hour after a cyber attack
A calm, step-by-step checklist for the first hour of a cyber incident — ransomware, hacked email or fraud — including who to call and UK reporting duties.
Read · 7 min SecurityBusiness backups that survive ransomware: the 3-2-1 rule explained
Why Microsoft 365 isn't a backup, how the 3-2-1 rule works, what immutable backups are, and why an untested backup isn't a backup.
Read · 6 min Cyber securityCyber Essentials explained for small businesses
What Cyber Essentials is, the five technical controls, what changed in April 2026, Cyber Essentials vs Plus, and how a small business can get certified.
Read · 7 minEveryday IT problems
Everyday IT problems
The 10 IT problems businesses face every day — and how to fix them for good
The ten most common day-to-day IT problems in businesses — from slow Wi‑Fi and lockouts to lost files and phishing — with quick fixes and permanent solutions.
Read · 9 min Everyday ITWhy is our office Wi‑Fi so slow? Causes and fixes
Why office and venue Wi‑Fi is slow or drops out — broadband vs Wi‑Fi, interference, extenders, placement — and how to fix it properly.
Read · 6 min Everyday ITSlow work laptop? 9 fixes — and when it's time to replace it
Practical fixes for slow Windows work laptops — startup apps, storage, memory, updates — and how to decide whether to repair or replace.
Read · 6 min Everyday ITWhy are our emails going to spam? SPF, DKIM and DMARC explained
Why business emails land in customers' spam folders, and how SPF, DKIM and DMARC fix deliverability and stop criminals impersonating your domain.
Read · 6 min ConnectivityThe January 2027 landline switch-off: what Monmouthshire businesses need to do
Openreach switches off analogue (PSTN) and ISDN lines on 31 January 2027. What it affects — phones, alarms, card machines — and a checklist for Welsh businesses.
Read · 6 minAI for business
AI for business
AI for good and bad: what every business needs to know
AI helps businesses work faster — and helps criminals write better scams. How to benefit from AI, defend against AI fraud, and why it isn't just for big firms.
Read · 7 min AI for BusinessAI for small businesses in Wales: a practical starter guide
A no-hype guide to using AI in a small business: where it helps, which tools to use, how to stay safe and how to run your first 30-day pilot.
Read · 9 min Microsoft CopilotIs Microsoft 365 Copilot worth it for a small business?
An honest look at Microsoft 365 Copilot for small businesses: what it does, Copilot Chat vs the paid licence, the oversharing risk, and how to decide if it's worth paying for.
Read · 8 min AI toolsChatGPT, Copilot, Claude or Gemini? Choosing an AI tool for your team
A plain-English comparison of ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude and Gemini for small businesses: strengths, data protection, and how to choose.
Read · 7 min AI policyAI acceptable use policy for small businesses (free template)
A free, plain-English AI acceptable use policy template for UK small businesses. Covers approved tools, data rules, checking outputs and UK GDPR.
Read · 6 min Automation12 AI automations that give small businesses hours back every week
Twelve practical AI and workflow automations for small businesses — from invoice processing to review replies — with the tools to build them.
Read · 8 min HospitalityAI for pubs, restaurants and hotels: what actually works
Practical, proven ways pubs, restaurants and hotels can use AI: invoices, reviews, rotas, menus, enquiries and marketing — from a team that's run IT for a 41-site group.
Read · 8 minLet's dig out your savings.
Book a free 30-minute chat. No jargon, no hard sell — just an honest look at where your technology is costing too much, and where AI could save you time and money.
