GTconsult Monthly Newsletter- January 2025
Happy 2025!!
Honestly, it's wild to think about, probably when someone says the year two thousand, you're thinking 'Oh, that was just the other day, like 10 years ago." not a whole 25 years!!
But alas, we're not here to make you feel old,
Welcome to the first GTconsult newsletter of 2025! If you are new here- firstly, welcome- our newsletter is a monthly recap, highlighting the latest news and content from GTconsult, as well as the latest industry news.
So, buckle up boys and let's get into it!
In this months edition:
Letter from our CEO
It's been almost a year since my relocation to UK from South Africa, and it feels to me that the world has changed so much since my arrival.? The biggest change being that of the real tangible, and functional AI use cases, that will forever change how we work.
When we were first introduced to AI last year, we were very unsure how this 'revolutionary' trend was going to turn out, and if it was going to be an AI bubble or a genuine milestone for humanity.? And only recently have I been able to answer this question.? And I can tell you without a doubt that this is no bubble, and AI will fundamentally change how we work and live forever.
AI agents are 100% the future and we have seen this with our own eyes, in fact we have started creating AI Agents that are in day-to-day business critical production here at GT.? Yup you heard me right, we are using AI Agents to assist running business critical parts of the company, and I can assure you by the end of the year you will be as well.?
How did we do it? Well it all comes down to the new architectural method in stacking AI components together on top of business data and automated solutions.? Combining our years working on enterprise data, custom solutions, integrations and workflow we are in a very good position to fully take advantage of AI Agents and their capabilities.? Craig will be showcasing how we have achieved this in a number of videos we have started to put together, and we think you will love it.? If you want to skip the queue, then reach out to me or Craig or myself and we will give you early access to the future.
Vendifi Update
We're thrilled to announce a major milestone for Vendifi - we've secured our first enterprise client! This achievement marks a significant step forward for our innovative Third Party Risk Management (TPRM) platform.
What makes Vendifi unique? We've pioneered the world's first comprehensive TPRM solution built on SharePoint and Azure. Our platform revolutionizes how organizations manage their vendor relationships by:
We're excited to share more details about this enterprise partnership soon. Stay tuned for updates as we continue to transform the TPRM landscape with our integrated, cloud-based solution.
Overall it's going to be an incredible year, we can finally do so much more, not with less, but with what we already have.? We will ensure we lean into the AI abilities and iterate on our solutions with our excellent A Team and bring you the best there is to offer.? We have seen the birth of office 365 when we first started in 2011, we have watched the world adopt cloud technology and fully embraced it.? Now the AI wave is here, we know what's next, and we know how to extract the full potential.? I am excited for the team at GT, I am pumped to get our clients ahead of the curve and super excited to make a big impact in 2025.
Birthdays
Some people are just eager beavers, who has a birthday in January? We're just easing our way into the year and already we have to sing you happy birthday. At GT, by the 22nd we'd already done this 3 times. Wild business.
All jokes aside though, we'd like to take this opportunity to celebrate some members of our team who celebrated their birthdays in the month of January. They are valuable to us at GT and we appreciate every birthday that passes with them on our team.
The first person leading team January is our Business Analyst, Trevin Pillay who celebrated his birthday on the 2nd of January, followed by our resident Security Analyst, Kyle Farr who celebrated his on the 20th and lastly our CEO, Bradley Geldenhuys who celebrated his birthday on the 21st of January.
Introducing Threat Thursday
I don’t know how many of you are familiar with Elden Ring, but even if you aren’t, here’s the gist: You battle your way through challenging enemies, levelling up your skills, collecting better gear, and feeling like you’re finally getting the hang of things. But just as you start to feel comfortable, boom- here comes the next boss, bigger, meaner, and ready to test everything you thought you knew. And it never stops. Every time you think you’ve conquered the worst, the game throws something new at you.
Technology moves in much the same way. Just as businesses adapt to the latest tools and security measures, new threats emerge- smarter, faster, and more relentless. The real challenge isn’t just levelling up once; it’s ensuring you have the right systems in place to continuously adapt, keeping you one step ahead of whatever comes next. Because in both gaming and cybersecurity, standing still isn’t an option.
That’s why we’re launching Threat Thursday, a weekly deep dive into emerging cybersecurity risks, real-world attacks, and the best strategies to stay ahead.
Expect insights, expert tips, and proactive solutions to help you level up your security game.
To keep up with the latest Threat Thursday episodes, be sure to follow the Vendifi - Third-party Risk Management page to stay up to date with the latest. Stay safe out there!
Quick Action Protects Company Data After Phone Theft
Today, more than ever, employees rely on their smartphones to stay connected and productive. But with that convenience comes risk.
At GTconsult, a recent incident reinforced just how critical it is to have robust security measures in place. One of our team members experienced a frightening robbery in which their iPhone was stolen. While such situations are always distressing, we’re relieved that our company data remained fully protected- thanks to proactive security policies and swift response actions.
Strong Security Measures Made All the Difference
Long before this incident, our company implemented strict security protocols to safeguard sensitive information. Every company device must meet compliance policies, including:
These layers of protection meant that even with the physical loss of a device, our company data remained secure.
Rapid Response Prevented Unauthorized Access
As soon as the theft was reported, our IT team acted swiftly:
These quick actions ensured that no unauthorized person could exploit the stolen device to access sensitive information.
Security Steps Matter – Even When They Seem Inconvenient
This incident serves as a real-world example of why our security practices- like MFA prompts and compliance checks- are essential. While they may feel like minor inconveniences in day-to-day operations, they act as crucial safeguards in critical moments. Our investment in Microsoft 365’s security ecosystem continues to protect both our employees and our organization.
领英推荐
What to Do If You Experience a Similar Incident
If your company device is lost or stolen, take immediate action:
Speed is key when it comes to preventing unauthorized access. By acting quickly and relying on your established security measures, you can keep your company data safe- even in worst-case scenarios.
Congratulations Kyle!
We interrupt this newsletter to give an extremely special shout out. This month, our security analyst celebrated his 10th anniversary at GTconsult!!
We celebrate his dedication, contributions and accomplishments! We appreciate you Kyle, you have been an invaluable member of the team and we wish you great success in the years to come!
Catch up:
If you have missed some of our content in the month of January, you can catch up on the highlights.
Common Challenges during a SharePoint Migration
As with anything we do in life, a SharePoint migration isn't without challenges. But for every challenge, there is a solution. Check out our carousel on the common challenges that occur during a migration.
Or, if you would like us to do the heavy lifting for you, book your free consultation.
Upgrade your SharePoint
You're not still using the same phone you were in 2013, so why are you still using the same SharePoint?
There are many issues that come with not upgrading- security vulnerabilities, lack of support, performance limitations, and missing out on modern features that enhance collaboration and productivity. Upgrading ensures your organization stays secure, compliant, and ahead of the curve with the latest innovations in SharePoint and Microsoft 365.
Check out our video on the importance of upgrading your SharePoint that was part of our content this month.
All Things SharePoint
December 2024 brought a range of exciting updates and enhancements to SharePoint, Microsoft 365, and related technologies. Here’s a quick recap of the December Roadmap Pitstop:
Key Highlights
Top 5 Features of 2024:
Looking Ahead to 2025:
For more details, check out the full SharePoint Roadmap Pitstop for December 2024.
New Carousel layout in SharePoint
Microsoft has introduced a new Carousel layout for the Hero web part in SharePoint Online, enhancing the way pages and news are displayed. This update offers a modern, dynamic design that improves user engagement with rotating slides and new styling options.
Key Features
2. Three New Styles – Customize your slides with:
3. Seamless Layout Switching – Easily switch to Carousel mode via the layout options in Edit mode.
4. Auto-play Functionality – Slides transition every ~3.5 seconds, with options to pause or disable auto-play.
Read the full blog here: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/spblog/re-imagined-hero-with-the-new-carousel-layout-for-sharepoint-pages-and-news/4369968
And that's it for our January recap. This newsletter doesn't cover everything we've been up to. If you want to see it all or just can not wait for the next newsletter for a summary, follow us on our socials to stay up to date.
Enjoy the rest of your February!