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21/12/2025

🏢 Imagine walking into your office, connecting to the Wi-Fi… and instantly, Microsoft Teams updates your status to say: “In the office.”

No typing, no toggling, no forgetting to update your location. Teams will just know.

That’s what Microsoft is working on right now.

The new feature will automatically detect when someone connects to the company’s Wi-Fi network and set their work location accordingly.

On the surface, that sounds handy.

It means less confusion about who’s where. Especially in hybrid teams where some people are remote, some in-office, and others constantly moving between sites.

But as with most new tech, there’s another side to it.

Let’s talk about the pros first 👍

It could make planning and communication smoother.

Managers won’t have to chase people to check if they’re in today or working from home.

Colleagues can see immediately who’s available for an in-person chat versus who’s only online.

It might even help with desk booking systems or meeting room management, saving time and avoiding awkward “I thought you were here today!” moments.

But here’s where it gets a bit tricky 🤔

The line between useful tracking and surveillance can get blurry very quickly.

Many people are understandably uncomfortable with the idea of software automatically reporting their location. Even if it’s just “office Wi-Fi = in the office”.

From an IT perspective, it’s not exactly spying. It’s just reading the network connection.

But perception matters. Employees need to understand what’s being tracked, why, and what isn’t.

If handled well, this feature could be another tool for smarter collaboration.

If handled poorly, it could feel like Big Brother has joined your Teams channel.

For business owners, this is the key takeaway: Transparency is everything.

Before rolling out any kind of workplace monitoring or automation, explain it clearly. Tell your team what’s being used, what data it captures, and how it benefits them. Make it a conversation, not a surprise.

Is it about efficiency? Accountability? Or culture? The answer will look different for every team.

💬 What do you think? Would this kind of feature make your business run smoother, or is it a step too far into monitoring?

20/12/2025

Are you old enough to feel nostalgic for the old days of the internet?

Do you ever wish you could go back and see what your favourite website looked like 10 or 20 years ago?

Well, guess what?

An internet time machine exists.

It’s called the Wayback Machine, and it’s part of something called the Internet Archive. Basically, the world’s backup drive for the entire web.

Since 1996, it’s been quietly saving copies of websites before they disappear forever. And recently it hit a mind-blowing milestone:

🌐 1 trillion web pages archived.

That’s trillion with a “T”.

Or roughly 21 million DVDs worth of data. (Remember those?) 💿

You can use it to visit all kinds of internet history too. The very first version of Amazon, the original YouTube homepage, even your old business website if it’s been around a while.

It’s equal parts fascinating and cringe-inducing.

But here’s what’s really interesting: The Internet Archive exists because the web is shockingly fragile.

Websites vanish all the time.

One server crash, one redesign, or one company closure… and p**f, years of work and culture are gone.

Sound familiar?

Businesses do the same thing every day.

We assume our data (files, emails, client records, photos) will always be there… until it isn’t.

The truth is, nothing digital is permanent unless you back it up.

The Internet Archive does it for humanity’s knowledge.

You should do it for your business.

Because if they can keep a trillion web pages safe for 30 years, surely you can keep your client data backed up for the next three 😉

💬 What old website would you love to revisit on the Wayback Machine?

19/12/2025

Deal of the week
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19/12/2025

Still relying on the computers in your office to run your business?

That might have worked a few years ago… but the world’s moved on.

With more staff working remotely and clients expecting instant responses, being tied to a single machine (or server in a cupboard) just doesn’t cut it anymore.

The cloud isn’t mysterious. It’s simply a smarter, safer, more flexible way to run your business.

Our latest guide explains what it is, how it works, and why now’s the time to make the move.

Download your free copy now.

18/12/2025

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17/12/2025

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Windows 11

17/12/2025

Still storing files on office computers or a local server?

That setup might be holding your business back.

The cloud makes everything simpler. Secure access from anywhere, automatic backups, and far fewer IT headaches.

But which type of cloud is right for you? This is what you need to consider…

16/12/2025

If you’ve ever found yourself waiting for File Explorer to respond… or wondered why half of it still flashes white when you’re using dark mode… this one’s for you.

Microsoft has quietly rolled out a series of much-needed improvements to File Explorer. And they’re exactly the kind of polish users have been asking for.

Let’s start with the obvious one: Dark mode 🌙

Up until now, dark mode in File Explorer has been… inconsistent.

You’d turn it on, but then your copy or delete pop-ups, confirmation boxes, and even progress bars would still appear with bright white backgrounds.

It completely broke the immersion (and, let’s be honest, looked pretty ugly).

That’s finally changing. In the new build, dark mode now applies everywhere, even to those pop-ups and dialog boxes.

It’s smoother, more cohesive, and far easier on the eyes.

But that’s not all…

Microsoft’s also working under the hood.

It’s made performance improvements to how File Explorer handles cloud files and right-click menus. Both long-time pain points for Windows 11 fans. If you’ve noticed slow response times when accessing files from OneDrive or SharePoint, these updates should make things snappier.

And there’s a nice little bonus tweak too 🎛️

You’ll soon be able to move the pop-up panels for brightness, volume, airplane mode, and virtual desktops to a different part of your screen.

Before they always appeared at the bottom, which could be awkward if you were watching a movie with subtitles or playing a game. Now, you’ll be able to shift them to the top or top-left for a cleaner experience.

Of course, one long-requested change is still missing: Being able to move the entire taskbar (a Windows 10 feature that hasn’t made its comeback). But hey, baby steps.

It’s clear Microsoft is finally giving Windows 11 the refinement it deserves.

💬 What do you think? Are these the improvements you’ve been waiting for, or is there another Windows 11 fix still top of your wish list?

15/12/2025

How do you know the app you just downloaded is really what it claims to be?

Cyber criminals are getting smarter at disguising their traps. And even your most careful employees may be fooled.

Is your business ready for that risk?

14/12/2025

Ever run out of space on your PC?

It happens right when you need it most 😩

There’s a little-known Windows feature quietly taking up several gigabytes on your drive. And if you’re short on space, you might want to take a look at it.

It’s called Reserved Storage.

Microsoft added it back in 2019 to make Windows updates more reliable.

Before then, if your computer didn’t have enough free space to install an update, the process could fail halfway through (sometimes with those cryptic “not enough disk space” errors we all love to hate).

So Microsoft came up with a solution: Set aside around 7GB of storage just for updates and temporary system files. That way, updates would always have room to install, even if your drive was nearly full.

Sounds smart. And it is… if you’ve got plenty of storage.

But if your laptop or desktop is already tight on space, that hidden 7GB can make a big difference.

Guess what? You can turn Reserved Storage off and reclaim that space 🧹

Here’s the simple way to check and disable it:

1️⃣ Open the Command Prompt as an administrator (just search for “cmd” in the Start menu, right-click it, and select Run as administrator).

2️⃣ Type this command and press Enter to see if it’s enabled:
DISM /Online /Get-ReservedStorageState

Once you’ve done that, you could get 5–7GB of space back, depending on your setup.

A quick tip though: Make sure you’ve installed any pending Windows updates first, otherwise, you might get an error when trying to disable it.

And if you ever want to re-enable it later, just swap “Disabled” for “Enabled” in the command.

This isn’t a magic fix for every space issue, but it’s a handy trick, especially if you’re running a smaller SSD or your system drive is constantly full.

And if it sounds a little complicated, an IT support partner (like me!) could do it for you.

Of course, if storage is a regular issue, you may want a longer term solution. My team and I can help you with that too.

🤔 How full is your PC’s drive right now? Could you use an extra 7GB?

13/12/2025

Here’s a scary thought: Your team might be using AI tools that you don’t even know about.

They’re not doing it maliciously. They’re trying to get work done faster. But it’s creating a huge blind spot for security.

This quiet trend even has a name: Shadow AI.

It’s when employees use unsanctioned AI tools (like free chatbots, text generators, or online assistants) without their company’s approval.

And it’s spreading fast.

Recent research from Microsoft found that around 7 in 10 employees have used an unapproved AI tool at least once, and over half keep using them week after week.

And it’s not hard to see why.

Tools like Copilot, ChatGPT and Gemini can instantly rewrite awkward emails, summarise documents, or create slides in minutes. They save time and boost productivity. What’s not to love?

The problem is… security 🔐

Most employees have no idea that when they paste company or customer information into a public AI tool, that data could leave the organisation forever. In some cases, it might even be used to train future AI models.

That means sensitive data could resurface in unexpected ways later on. And that’s a huge privacy and compliance risk.

Only about a third of workers say they worry about these dangers. So the rest are unintentionally putting their companies at risk every single day.

But shadow AI doesn’t have to be the villain of the story.

People are turning to AI because they want to work smarter. The solution isn’t banning it, it’s guiding it.

✅ Give employees approved, secure AI tools that meet business and data protection standards.

✅ Train everyone on how to use them safely.

✅ Set clear rules for what can and can’t be shared.

AI isn’t the problem. Uncontrolled AI is.

💬 Be honest, do you know which AI tools your team is using right now?

12/12/2025

12/12/2025

We all know the old saying: “With great power comes great responsibility”.

But when it comes to artificial intelligence, it seems not everyone got the memo.

Hackers are now using AI to supercharge their attacks.

They’re crafting eerily convincing phishing emails, writing them in perfect English (or any language they choose), and sending them out by the thousands.

Why waste time breaking through a company’s firewalls when you can just trick someone into handing over the keys?

Microsoft’s latest Digital Defence Report paints a worrying picture:

👉 Over 80% of the cyber attacks their teams investigated were after one thing: Data.

Once attackers get in, they steal it, encrypt it, delete it, and then demand a ransom for its return.

And while the hackers might be after money, the consequences are all too human.

Hospitals and care homes have been hit particularly hard. When their systems go down, lives can literally be on the line. That pressure means many end up paying the ransom just to get back online.

The weakest link in all of this?

It’s still us humans. Most attacks start with stolen login details.

But here’s the good news: One simple tool can stop 99% of identity-based attacks.

🤔 Can you guess what it is?

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).

That’s the extra step where you confirm a login on your phone or via an app. Even if a hacker has your password, they can’t get in without that second check.

It’s a tiny inconvenience that can save your business from a world of pain.

Meanwhile, the cyber arms race continues.

AI is helping attackers create smarter, shape-shifting malware. But it’s also helping defenders spot threats faster, detect phishing, and train employees. So it’s not all bad news. Both sides are learning fast.

Microsoft’s message is clear: Fighting cyber crime is now a shared global responsibility. Governments, businesses, and individuals all have a role to play, from sharing intelligence to simply turning on MFA.

The world’s digital defences are only as strong as the people behind them.

💬 Does your business have MFA switched on for every account that matters? If not, what’s stopping you?

10/12/2025

Cyber crime is evolving fast… and it’s not always people behind the attacks anymore.

AI is changing the game for both hackers and how we defend against them.

Is your business ready for this?

09/12/2025

09/12/2025

💻 Big news: Microsoft has confirmed that AI is coming to all Windows 11 computers.

And that could completely change how you use your PC.

This update is part of a huge push from Microsoft to make voice, vision, and automation the heart of the Windows experience. In other words, your computer’s about to get a lot more helpful.

Here’s what’s happening:

🗣️ Copilot Voice
You’ll soon be able to simply say “Hey Copilot” to talk to your computer.

Need to open an app, check a setting, or ask a question? Just speak.

When you’re done, say “Goodbye,” and Copilot politely signs off.

No more typing or hunting through menus.

👀 Copilot Vision
This feature can “see” what’s on your screen (if you give it permission).

It can understand context, like what app you’re in or what you’re working on, and then help you with it.

Stuck on a spreadsheet? Copilot can explain what’s wrong.

Playing a game? It can offer tips.

⚙️ Copilot Actions
This one’s next level. Microsoft is testing a feature that lets Copilot take real actions on your files and apps.

For example, you could say: “Hey Copilot, find and delete any duplicate photos from this folder.”

And it’ll do it, interacting with your apps like a human would, clicking, typing, and scrolling for you.

That’s what Microsoft means when it says we’ll be “using the mouse and keyboard less”.

This is more than voice control. It’s an assistant that can act for you.

Of course, this kind of power comes with responsibility. Microsoft says you’ll stay in full control, everything is opt-in, transparent, and you can stop or pause Copilot whenever you want.

But the big takeaway is this: Windows 11 is evolving into something you can talk to, collaborate with, and soon, delegate work to.

Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi even said this shift from typing to talking, could be as transformative as when we first got the mouse and keyboard.

That’s a bold claim… but it’s hard not to get excited about what’s coming next.

💭 What do you think? Does the idea of an AI-powered PC make your life easier, or does it make you a little uneasy?

08/12/2025

When it comes to cyber security, there’s no single magic fix.

Real protection comes from having layers.

Each one catches what the last might have missed.

The question is, how many layers does your business have in place?

07/12/2025

⚠️ Want to keep your LinkedIn data private?

You need to know about this one…

Microsoft-owned LinkedIn quietly announced that it will be using your data to train its AI models automatically… unless you opt out.

That means the posts, comments, and other content you’ve shared publicly could help improve LinkedIn’s AI features.

That’s things like “Rewrite with AI” or how the algorithm recommends connections and jobs.

On the surface, that sounds kind of nice, right? AI that “better connects people to opportunities.” But there’s a catch…

🧠 LinkedIn isn’t asking for permission. It’s assuming consent.

If you do nothing, your data will be used.

And while LinkedIn insists it won’t use private messages or non-public content, it will use your public activity and profile information to train its content-generating AI systems.

This includes users worldwide. It also affects members across Europe, the UK, and Switzerland, despite having slightly stricter data protections.

Even if you switch it off, LinkedIn says it won’t undo any training that’s already been done with your data. Turning it off only stops future use.

Here’s how to check your settings 🔍

🛠️ Go to Settings → Data Privacy → Data for Generative AI Improvement
🛠️ Toggle off “Use my data for training content creation AI models”

You can also find it directly by searching for that phrase in LinkedIn’s settings.

This isn’t fear-mongering. Many platforms are now training AI on user data to make smarter tools. But it’s important that you get to choose whether your data is part of that or not.

🔒 Stay in control of your data. Take 30 seconds to check that toggle.

💬 Do you think this is a fair trade-off for smarter AI? Or is it another example of tech companies pushing privacy boundaries too far?

06/12/2025

💡Think your PC is just a screen, a keyboard, and a mouse?

Think again.

Microsoft has announced that Windows 11 is becoming an “Agentic OS.”

That might sound like tech jargon, but it’s a big deal. And it’s easier to understand than it sounds.

So, what does agentic mean? 🤔

In simple terms, it means your computer will soon be able to act on your behalf.

You’ll be able to say what you want it to do out loud, and it’ll get on with it for you.

Think of it like having a personal digital assistant inside your PC, one that doesn’t just answer questions but does the work.

You might say: “Hey Copilot, tidy up my desktop and save those screenshots in a folder.”

And Copilot could:

🪄 Find the screenshots
🪄 Create a new folder
🪄 Move them all in there for you

…without you having to click a single thing.

That’s Agentic AI. It’s a type of artificial intelligence that can think, plan, and act based on your instructions.

It works through something called Copilot Actions, which connects your words to real actions on your PC.

So, instead of manually launching apps, typing commands, or dragging files, you’ll simply tell Copilot what needs doing and it will make it happen safely, under your supervision.

Microsoft is building this around three main abilities:

🗣️ Copilot Voice: You talk, it listens and understands.

👀 Copilot Vision: It can “see” what’s on your screen and understand context.

⚙️ Copilot Actions: It carries out the tasks for you.

This is all powered by an open standard (called the Model Context Protocol) that lets AI work with your apps securely, while you stay in full control.

And before you worry, yes, you can stop or pause Copilot at any time. You’ll always know what it’s doing and can step in if needed.

We’re still at the early stages of this, but it’s the clearest sign yet that how we interact with our computers is about to change forever.

No more clicking through endless folders. No more opening five apps just to complete one job. Just say what you need and let Windows do the rest.

Feels a bit like the distant future is a lot closer, doesn’t it? ✨

🤔 So tell me, if your PC could do work tasks for you just by asking, what’s the first job you’d hand off to it?

05/12/2025

If you're logged in to the company's WiFi, Microsoft Teams will be able to locate you and inform your boss about it.Good news, the update has been pushed back. Back in October, it was expected to roll out in December, but Microsoft now says the rollout starts in February 2026.

05/12/2025

Your team’s too smart to fall for a scam, right?

Think again.

Cyber criminals are getting smarter. And their emails can look very convincing.

One click on the wrong link could be all it takes.

This real-life phishing example shows exactly what red flags to look for…

03/12/2025

🤖 Copilot is about to get a lot more hands-on with your files.

You might have noticed Copilot popping up more lately. And now, it’s about to become even more useful.

Until recently, Copilot mostly worked with things on the web. It answers questions, writes emails, summarises documents. And that’s handy, sure… but it’s not exactly life-changing, is it?

That’s about to change 🥁

Microsoft has announced Copilot Actions for local files. It’s going to change the way you handle everyday tasks.

How?

Well, you’ll soon be able to select a group of files on your computer, say, a folder full of photos, and simply tell Copilot what you want to do.

💬 “Straighten these photos and delete any duplicates.”
💬 “Rename these invoices by date.”
💬 “Zip these files and email them to Andy.”

Copilot will then get to work, using your installed apps and tools, while you move on to something else.

You’ll even be able to watch what it’s doing on your screen (if you’ve got nothing better to do), step by step, and stop it at any time.

In other words, Copilot becomes a kind of digital assistant that acts on your behalf, not just gives advice.

Microsoft’s being cautious with this one (and rightly so).

It’s going to start testing the feature with Windows Insiders first (that’s the group that tries new updates early) before releasing it more widely. But once it lands, this could change how we all work day-to-day.

Imagine delegating the dull stuff, things like renaming, organising, converting, moving, so you can focus on the things that only you can do.

And the best bit?

Copilot will always ask your permission before doing anything that affects your files, so you stay in control.

It’s early days, but the direction is clear: Your computer is about to become a whole lot more helpful 💡

🤔 What’s one boring computer task you’d love to hand off to Copilot?