Insights
IT thinking, written by the person doing the work.
Practical writing for UK SMB founders and operators on IT leadership, what IT should cost, Microsoft 365, security, and the lessons from real client work. No filler, no listicles.
Archive
Other posts
Office Wi-Fi keeps dropping: a plain-English troubleshooting guide
Why small-office Wi-Fi drops out, in the order it usually happens, from the router the broadband company sent to the microwave in the kitchen, and what actually fixes it.
Read
The night someone turned up the heat in France's supermarkets
Hundreds of French supermarkets lost their chilled stock in one night when attackers took over the refrigeration controllers. What it means for the connected kit in your own building, from the BMS to the vending machines.
Read
Slow laptop? Ten checks before you buy a new one
Most slow business laptops are not worn out. Ten checks, in order, that fix the majority of them, and the honest signs that it really is time to replace.
Read
Microsoft 365 Basic vs Standard vs Premium: which do you need?
The real differences between the three Microsoft 365 business plans, who each one suits, what Premium adds for security, and the licensing mistakes small firms make.
Read
Running Macs in a Microsoft 365 business, properly
How to set up and manage Macs and iPhones in a business that runs on Microsoft 365, from Apple Business Manager and Intune to security, Cyber Essentials and leavers.
Read
AI tools at work: where your data goes, and a one-page policy
Copilot, ChatGPT and the rest are already in your business whether you decided or not. Which versions train on your data, what to allow, and the one-page policy that keeps client information where it belongs.
Read
Getting a client through Cyber Essentials, and keeping them there
How I prepare a small business for Cyber Essentials, fix what the gap check finds, use Atera to evidence it, and keep the controls in place for the next 12 months.
Read
Invoice fraud, how the bank-detail scam works and how to stop it
Business email compromise costs UK firms more than ransomware. How the attack unfolds, the controls that stop it, and what to do in the first hour if it happens to you.
Read
Cyber Essentials explained for small businesses
What the UK government's Cyber Essentials scheme actually checks, what it costs, how long it takes, and whether a 5 to 50 person business should bother.
Read
FM Talk on the iPhone Duo: designing an app for a screen that bends
Xcode 27.1 beta with the Duo SDK landed on Sunday night. This week I have been adapting FM Talk, the news app I build for EMC Associates, for a phone with three layouts. What good layout means when the screen has a fold in it.
Read
12 questions to ask an IT support provider before you sign
The questions that separate a good IT provider from a slick one, what a good answer sounds like, and the answers that should end the meeting.
Read
How to switch IT support provider without downtime
A four-week plan for moving from one IT provider to another, covering contract checks, what you must own, the handover list, and the cutover day itself.
Read
Still on Windows 10 in 2026? Your options before the ESU price doubles
Windows 10 support ended in October 2025 and the first year of paid Extended Security Updates ends on 13 October 2026. Here is what that means and what to do about it.
Read
How much does IT support cost for a small business in the UK?
Real 2026 price ranges for managed IT support, break-fix and projects, what is normally included, what is extra, and the red flags to look for in a quote.
ReadWelcome to the new Initiate IT
A short note on why I rebuilt the site, what's changed, and what to expect from this Insights section going forward.
ReadStart a conversation
Tired of IT that treats you like a ticket number?
Two ways to start. Book a free IT review, a 30-minute call with no prep and no sales pitch, or send a quick description of where your IT is at, and I'll reply within a day with a written take on whether it's something I can help with.
// or talk to me directly
0333 358 0114
hello@initiateit.co.uk