​Your business relies on emails every day – and that’s exactly why scammers target them.

Email has become an essential tool for any successful business, but as the saying goes, "with great power comes great responsibility".
 
As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to make sure your emails are secure. It’s one of the key ways to stop your business data falling into the wrong hands.
 
Business Email Compromise (or BEC) is a growing threat. And if you become a target, it could cost you – big time.
 

So, what exactly is a 'BEC attack'?
 
In simple terms, it’s where scammers pose as people high up in the business, like CEOs, executives, and IT staff. The goal is to trick your employees into sharing sensitive information or sending money. Research shows that nearly 90% of BEC attacks are set up this way.
 
It’s easy to see how someone might quickly respond without a second thought, especially when they trust the sender.
 

BEC attacks have spiked dramatically this year, especially over the third quarter. Researchers have analyzed 1.8 billion emails worldwide, discovering a shocking 208 million malicious emails among them. And of these malicious emails, more than half (58%) were BEC attempts.
 
The figures make it clear: BEC scams are now the biggest email threat to businesses.
 
​
Another thing worth noting? Most BEC scams target employees lower in the business, who might be less likely to question authority or be less aware of cyber threats.
 
Although BEC attacks are common, it’s also important to remember that scammers still use other methods too. This includes commercial spam and phishing attacks, which are designed to trick people into sharing personal information, like login details.
 
In fact, the combined effect of these types of scams now overshadows traditional ransomware and malware attacks.
 

Luckily, it isn’t complicated or expensive to protect your business. Simply make sure that all members of your team are trained to think twice about every email they receive.
 
If an email asks for sensitive information or a financial transaction – especially if it feels urgent – your employees should know to stop and check with someone before they action anything.
 
If you need help making sure your business is secure, get in touch.

The latest feature update in Teams is bringing a central notifications hub to keep things more organized. And a whole host of other useful features. Keep reading to learn more!

Ever feel overwhelmed by the maze of chats, channels, and notifications in Microsoft Teams? Well, here’s the good news: Microsoft’s rolling out an update to help streamline things.
 
The update will create a simpler workspace that’s easier to navigate – grouping everything in one location under the Chat menu. Think of it as a central hub where all your key conversations and notifications live.
 
The update also includes a new “@mentions” view that gathers all your direct messages and important mentions in one place. This will make it easier to catch up on messages you’re tagged in, helping you to make sure important notifications don’t slip through the cracks.
 
Teams will also be getting improved filters and controls. This will let you do things like filter out less urgent notifications, as well as create custom sections to keep your chats, channels, and meetings organized by project or topic.
 
Another great feature being introduced is a new “favorites” section, allowing you to pin your top chats and channels for quick access.
 
Also, threaded conversations are expected to arrive some time in mid-2025. This will mean that replies get grouped together in the same thread, making it easier to follow discussions without losing track of previous messages.
 
All these improvements are coming to PC, Android, and iOS – so your team will be able to stay on top of things no matter what device they use to access Teams.
 
If you’re not already using Teams to keep communication flowing in your business, now’s a great time to start! And if you need any help with the transition, get in touch. After all, we've got IT covered!

What’s easy to overlook but could leave your business open to cyber attacks? Unused logins. Yep, something as simple as failing to delete an old account could have serious costs for your business…

When someone leaves your business, you might be so wrapped up in the rush of everyday tasks, you forget to delete their login details.
 
It’s easy to overlook. You’ll get around to it later, right?
 
But unused login details could be a ticking time bomb for security breaches, leaving the doors wide open to cyber criminals. It can also be an unnecessary drain on your budget if you’re paying for old subscriptions you no longer need.
 
A recent report found that almost half of businesses had accounts that were no longer actively managed.
 
If you’ve forgotten about an account, you’re not monitoring it. And this leaves your business vulnerable to attacks.
 
These risks aren’t just hypothetical, either. Many cloud security breaches happen because unused login details and accounts have been compromised.
 
So, what do you need to do?
 
Take the time to audit all accounts and login details used by your business. Make sure you no longer have accounts open for ex-employees (and check that their access has been fully revoked, not just left inactive). Even if you outsource your I.T., it's important to let your Managed Service Provider know when an employee has been terminated (I.T. folks may be magic, but we're not mind readers!).
 
The same goes for any software or service that you’ve stopped using in your business. You might not realize you’re still paying for a service you haven’t touched in months – or even years.
 
Going forward, make sure you have a clear process for when people leave, and regularly review the applications and services your business uses.
 
If you’re not sure where to start, let us help you perform a security review and make sure you’re not leaving your business exposed to unnecessary threats. Get in touch.

​Your business’s tech might be working well today, but is it ready for tomorrow? A new study has found more than 60% of business leaders aren’t confident about theirs. 

How do you feel about the technology you use in your business? A recent study found that 90% of business leaders felt confident that their IT systems today are “best in class”.
 
...but what about tomorrow?
 
The same study showed that:

• Only 39% of business leaders felt confident that their current IT system was future-ready
• 64% worry that their technology might be getting outdated
• Around half the tech used by businesses was at its end-of-life.

When technology is no longer supported by the manufacturer or software creator, it’s like driving a car that hasn’t had a service in years. Sure, it might run fine for now – but sooner or later, it’s going to break down. And let's be real, it’ll probably happen at the worst possible moment!

When it comes to business IT, cyber security is another big concern. The study found that 65% of business leaders worry about cyber attacks, and 56% admit that they find it a challenge protecting their business from these attacks.

Nobody can control whether their business comes under attack – but you can make sure your business is prepared. And the best way to do that is by keeping your IT systems up to date and investing in the right security tools.

Microsoft is warning business owners that trusted cloud storage services are being hijacked to trick you into handing over your data.

Microsoft is warning business owners about a new type of phishing scam (where cyber criminals pose as a trusted source to trick you into giving away login info), which uses popular cloud services like SharePoint and OneDrive. Although these platforms are usually safe, scammers have figured out how to trick privacy settings to get past security checks.

The scammers hack your cloud storage by stealing your login details or buying them on the black market. Once they get inside, they upload a file that is designed to look authentic – like a fake Microsoft 365 login page. They set the file to “view-only” or limit access to specific people, such as you and your team.

Opening these files or following any links inside the emails could cause serious damage to your business. Scammers can use your information to access your systems, or they can install malware (malicious software) that lets them cause disruption and steal information.

Recovering from these kinds of attacks can be expensive and time-consuming – not to mention the damage it could do to your business’s reputation.

Make sure your employees are aware of this new threat and know to be cautious when opening emails, even if they appear to come from a trusted company or individual.

Before opening any shared files, double-check the sender’s identity. If something feels off, contact the sender directly to verify it. However, do not contact the sender by directly replying to the suspicious email. We strongly recommend calling the sender and speaking with them over the phone.

Make sure you use multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all your team’s devices. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second piece of information (like a code sent to your phone) along with your password. Also, keep your security software up to date so that it’s always ready to block the latest types of attack.

Would you like our help protecting your business with added security, training, and monitoring? Get in touch.

Staying on top of how your technology is set up is crucial for maintaining a reliable network. And one often-overlooked aspect is managing which applications start up when your business’s PCs start up.
 
With lots of software wanting to auto-start, it can slow down your system and potentially introduce security risks. But did you know that Windows 11 offers a useful feature that alerts you whenever new apps are added to the startup list?
 
Every time you hit the power button on your PC, it loads a set of apps automatically. While some of these are essential, others might not be, and can slow down your system’s performance. Over time, as you install more software, your startup list can grow, leading to longer startup times and a slow experience.
 
Not only that but keeping an eye on startup apps is good security practice. Unwanted or unknown apps starting automatically can be a red flag for malicious software (malware) or other security threats. By receiving alerts about new startup apps, you can quickly identify and investigate any suspicious additions, making sure that your systems stay secure.
 
How do you enable these alerts in Windows 11? It’s a simple process:

• Start by opening the Windows 11 system settings. You can do this by clicking the Start menu and selecting the gear icon or by pressing ‘Windows + I’ on your keyboard.

 

• In the settings window, click on ‘System’ in the left sidebar, then select ‘Notifications’ on the right.

 

• Scroll down to the bottom of the notifications page. Just above Additional settings, you’ll find ‘Startup App Notification’, which is switched off by default. Move the slider to ‘On’.

 
From then on, you’ll receive a notification whenever a new application is added to the startup process. You can even customize what this notification looks like by clicking on the arrow next to the slider button, allowing you to adjust its appearance and sound to suit your preferences.
 
Turning on these alerts brings several benefits to your business. First, it helps keep your PCs running efficiently. By staying informed about new startup apps, you can quickly disable any unnecessary software that might be slowing down your system. This means faster start times and better overall performance, allowing your team to get to work without delays.
 
Secondly, it enhances security. Receiving alerts for new startup apps means you can immediately investigate any unknown or suspicious additions. This proactive approach helps prevent potential security threats from taking hold, safeguarding your business data and systems.
 
Lastly, it’s a great way to keep track of what’s installed on your machines. With various team members possibly installing different software, these alerts give you a clear overview of what’s being added to the startup list, making sure that only approved applications are running.
 
To further manage startup apps, you can use Task Manager. Press ‘Ctrl + Shift + Esc’ to open Task Manager, then select the ‘Startup’ tab. Here, you’ll see a list of all the apps that start with Windows, along with their impact on boot time. You can enable or disable apps by selecting them and clicking the appropriate button at the top right.
 
By regularly checking this list and using the new alert feature, you can keep your startup process streamlined and your system secure.
 
A better answer is getting someone to set all of this up and manage it for you. We specialize in making technology easy for businesses. If you're interested in more info about how we can take the worry out of I.T. for your business, get in touch!

Having trouble finding the "sign out" button in Windows 11? You’re not the only one! Thankfully, Microsoft has listened.

Microsoft recently made changes to the Windows Start menu – and it caused a bit of an uproar.

Here’s what happened: Microsoft tried to streamline the Start menu by grouping related settings together. But they tucked the sign out option behind a three-dot menu, creating confusion for people trying to log out of their accounts.

Thankfully, Microsoft has listened to feedback and is now testing an update to put the sign out button back to where it was before. This is good news for teams that have multiple profiles set up on one computer, making it easier to switch between accounts again.

These changes are part of a broader update to Windows 11 that’s currently being tested. The update will also bring in new features like media controls on the lock screen for when you’re playing music or videos, as well as the ability to share files directly from your search results.

These updates are great examples of small changes that can have a really positive impact on how your team works.

Is it time for you to move your business to Windows 11? We can help get you started! Get in touch today.

Trying to find your way through the Settings menu in Microsoft Edge might leave you overwhelmed but a new update is about to make it easier.

If you’ve ever tried to tweak a setting in Microsoft Edge and found yourself lost in all the options, this one’s for you.
 
Microsoft is cleaning up the Settings page, so you’ll no longer need to dig around in endless menus to find the setting you need.
 
So what’s changing?
 
You’ll see a new quick access panel under the main Settings menu, giving you shortcuts to the features you’re likely to use the most.
 
Settings will also be split into smaller submenus, like “System and Performance” and “Appearance”, making it easier to find exactly what you want.
 
Better yet? The submenus will have their own quick access shortcuts too.
 
The improvements will give Google Chrome (which has been praised for its well-organized settings) a run for its money. So if your team doesn’t already use Edge as their default browser, it’s a great time to give it another try.
 
Microsoft is currently testing the update, and it should start rolling out soon. Once it does, you can expect much smoother navigation.
 
If you need help making the most of the new features in your business, we can help! Get in touch.

Your business data is backed up and recovery tools are in place. So, your data is safe, right? Sadly…not always. Here’s why we recommend backups are checked regularly.

​Losing access to your business’s data – even temporarily – is a nightmare worthy of a horror movie.

Data backup tools create copies of your data and store them in a safe place. If something goes wrong, recovery tools will use these copies to restore your lost files.

So, if your business already uses backup and recovery tools, you’d think your data is safe… but this isn’t necessarily true.

A new report shows that some backup tools aren’t always as reliable as they should be. In fact, a third of all data losses are caused by backup-related issues. When people try to recover data, they discover it’s been lost or corrupted.

It’s not just corrupted backups that you should be aware of. One of the biggest threats to businesses right now is ransomware. This is a type of malicious software (or "malware") that locks you out of your files unless you pay a ransom to regain access.

The report found that half of businesses using backup tools still ended up paying ransoms to retrieve their files, because it was faster than trying to use their own recovery tools. Even worse? Only a small number of businesses that paid ransoms were able to fully recover their data.

Backup tools are supposed to keep your data safe, so why are they unreliable for so many businesses?

Often, it’s because they haven’t been set up properly. And even when they are, they still need to be verified regularly to make sure they are still backing up your files. Also, older backup and recovery tools can’t always keep up with today’s sophisticated cyber attacks.

Setting up and maintaining a reliable backup system can be complicated. IT experts (like us) can make sure your tools are running correctly every day.

We can also put in place extra safeguards such as continuous data protection (CDP). This constantly saves changes to your files, allowing you to go back in time and restore your data as it was just before an attack or loss.

This is something we do for businesses like yours every day. If you’d like to discuss our Managed Backup Services, get in touch today!

Think the Windows 11 Photo app has little use in your business? Visual Search with Bing is about to change that, with some very useful new functionality…

You might think of the Windows Photos app as a basic tool for viewing and managing images. But with an upcoming update to Windows 11, there’s a new feature that could be very useful for your business: Visual Search with Bing.
 
With the update, you’ll be able to do a reverse image search straight from the app, showing you similar images and related information.
 
How can this benefit your business?
 
Let’s say you’re looking at a photo and you want to know more about a product, place or person in the image. Reverse image search is a faster way to get the information you need.
 
It’s a great tool for eCommerce store owners – you can use it to find out who else is selling a product, compare pricing, or track down new suppliers. Marketing teams can also use it to easily find similar visuals to use in campaigns, or to make sure images aren’t being used elsewhere. It also helps you check the origin of an image to make sure you have permission to use it.
 
If your business is in real estate or research, you can save time by using reverse image search to quickly identify the locations or objects you see in photos.

Microsoft has also made it easier to flick through your photos and edit images by improving navigation and introducing a quick access editing tool right in the app.

Another big bonus: You’ll now be able to sync Photos with iCloud – great for teams that use Apple devices alongside their Windows PCs.
 
These features should be rolling out soon in a future Windows 11 update.
 
If you haven’t already upgraded your business to Windows 11, it’s time to start thinking about it. We can help make it easy - get in touch.