The Final Step

Suspicious looks on the tube? People getting too close? Keep your phone in your pocket and your head on a swivel… ?? Before Christmas, we posted a blog on seasonal scams and what to watch out for, sharing a number of links to articles we’d written about keeping yourself secure in the face of phishing and thievery. ?? With an increase in phone thefts, especially around London, we thought this was an excellent time to reshare our top ten tips to protect your iPhone before it’s stolen. A frightening article from the BBC highlighted a recent theft that resulted in ￡21,000 being stolen from Niall McNamee’s accounts, including a ￡7000 loan taken out in his name – something he’d previously applied for legitimately but had been told he wasn’t eligible! ?? The article focuses on a rising trend in robberies and thefts on the train network. Niall was using his phone on the tube when a thief snatched it from his hand just as the doors closed. Unfortunately, his phone was unlocked and the thieves managed to take everything from all of his accounts. ?? Whilst only awareness and diligence can protect you from the theft of your phone – and even then it may not be enough – there are steps you can take in your phone settings to limit access to your banking apps, photos, social media accounts, and your Apple ID if thieves do manage to snatch your device. ?? Check out our article in the comments to improve your personal security today. ??

It’s good to get together! ?? Today we’re in the office having a team day. We love getting everyone in the same room whenever we can—catching up, discussing ideas, and enjoying some lunch and snacks along the way. ?? A special thank you to Luke and his partner Georgia for the cookies – they’re incredible! We’d offer you all one if we could, but there aren’t many left… ?? It’s so great to see everyone - we’re looking forward to the next office day already! ???

Does unauthorised use of AI at work mean your staff are sharing sensitive data they shouldn’t? ?? A recent article by the BBC highlights that half of all knowledge workers – those who primarily work at a desk or computer – use personal AI tools to help them at work. The issue? The programs a lot of these workers are using are not permitted by their IT departments, either because the company doesn’t offer any AI tools or workers want to use their own preferred tools. As a result, many have resorted to “smuggling in” their own AI tools to assist them. ?? One worker said they’re not violating any policies, it’s just easier than risking a lengthy approvals process. He recommends that companies stay flexible in their choice of AI tools so people can use what they best suits their needs. But companies are concerned about their data being used to “train” AI tools or their data being stored in AI services they have no control over – a completely valid concern. The solution? Listen to employee concerns or requests, understand how and where your data is being used, and make an informed decision on the use of AI tools in your business. With AI seemingly everywhere at the moment, it’s hard for companies to fight the use of it, especially as they can be incredibly powerful and useful for so many, and can even save your business lots of time and money. ? We recently hosted a Byte-size Briefing webinar on how you can use Microsoft Copilot to get better results in less time. Whilst it’s primarily an introduction to the service, it’s a must-watch for anyone considering the use of AI in their business or for those who are sceptical. If people are bringing their own AI tools to work anyway, it’s better to be involved and set the boundaries than be unaware of what’s going on behind your back… https://lnkd.in/e9SwjNts

A huge thanks to Lyra Technology Group for a great conference the other week and to our very own Luisa Marques for attending. We've had a lot of discussions already this week about a lot of the focuses from the conference. We can't wait to learn even more over the coming weeks!

A strong start to the day for Jasper! A very special thanks to Giorgia Burgess and Kate Trice at the Surrey Chambers of Commerce for organising a beautiful venue for business leaders to meet and share ideas. If you want to discuss your IT support needs, connect with Jasper on LinkedIn for a chat about what challenges your business is facing.

Many thanks to Tim Watts ACIB, FPFS of our longstanding client Tim Watts Wealth Management for taking time out of his busy schedule to teach the team all about personal finance. All of our team found your advice and reassurance incredibly valuable, and it was lovely to catch up.