Vorboss launches Simply Connected to simplify connectivity, IT and cybersecurity management for London businesses

Productivity tools are supposed to make you more, well… productive.

But if they’re not embedded properly within your business, tasks can actually end up taking longer than they should. That’s frustrating for employees and you. It wastes time, and it costs money – which is the opposite of being productive.

So how can this happen?

Often a lack of consistent training means everyone is using tools differently, or finding their own workarounds. Maybe the tools haven’t been properly integrated with other apps, creating additional work. Or perhaps employees simply don’t find some tools useful and give up on them.

Bringing new technology into your business can be a big step – so big that lots of owners try to avoid it completely. That might be because of understandable risk aversion, or because they simply don’t have enough information to choose the right solution from the thousands of available options. It doesn’t help that nearly all tools work differently and offer different advantages.

What most business owners need is expert help. It’s easy to say you plan to introduce new productivity tools to keep employees happy and to gain a competitive advantage, but in practice it’s a lot more involved.

One thing’s for sure. As AI solutions become more and more integrated into new solutions – and others in your industry start to benefit from the new tech landscape – businesses that don’t keep up, risk being left behind.

Working with professionals can not only help to identify the most suitable tools for your business…

But also to help get the most from them by ensuring all your people are fully trained.

That means you’ll not only be getting all the productivity benefits you hoped for from your investment, you’ll also have a more engaged, better skilled and more productive workforce.

This is something we help businesses with all the time. Get in touch if you’d like us to do the same for you.

A recent study has revealed that a staggering 62% of used hard drives sold online still contain deleted files that can be recovered!

Not only is this problematic for individuals who may have personal information stored on their old drives, but it also poses a serious threat for businesses whose confidential data could fall into the wrong hands.

Cyber criminals are known to scour online marketplaces in search of improperly wiped hard drives to exploit sensitive information such as business secrets and client details. Even encrypted or damaged drives can still potentially reveal sensitive data.

To protect your digital assets, it is crucial to properly wipe or destroy old hard drives before disposing of them. When upgrading hardware or transferring data, it's best to seek the services of a professional who can ensure that all sensitive data is securely erased and transferred.

In today's ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats, upgrading your overall data security game should also be a top priority. Take steps such as implementing strong passwords and regularly updating software to prevent unauthorised access and minimise risks.

It's essential to take all necessary precautions when it comes to protecting your personal and business-related information from falling into the wrong hands. Don't let cyber criminals get their hands on your confidential data - safeguard it like you would protect your most prized possessions.

Airports, hotels, cafés, even shopping centres, offer public charging points where you can boost your phone or laptop battery on the go.

They’ve been in the news after the FBI recently tweeted advice to stop using them. Crooks have figured out how to hijack USB ports to install malware and monitoring software onto devices as they charge.

The security risk of “juice jacking” was long thought to be more theoretical than real, but the tech needed to carry out an attack has got smaller and cheaper and easier to use. This means less sophisticated criminals are now turning their hand to it.

So how does it work?

The most common charging cables – USB-C and lightning – are dual-purpose. They have pins for charging and pins for data.

When you charge your device, you only use the charging pins. But a compromised charging port – or a cable that someone has left behind – could use both charging pins and data pins without you knowing.

When they use the data pins, criminals can install malware onto your device that gives them access to your credentials and other data. It’s a little like plugging your phone into someone else’s laptop.

To avoid the risk, the best solution is to always carry your own charger and cable, and plug it into a power outlet. If you have no choice but to use a public USB port, invest in something called a USB data blocker. This prevents data being transferred, but the device will still charge.

We help businesses stay secure and productive at the same time.

If we can help you, get in touch.

Browsing the web can be risky. It only takes one click on one bad link to put your business’s data at risk.

With cyber criminals constantly targeting businesses using automated tools, staying one step ahead with your online security is important.

That's why we're excited that Microsoft is working on a major security update for its Edge browser, which will bring enhanced security to everyone using it.

It’s adding new security features and beefing up existing ones.

Maybe you’ve already seen features such as Password Monitor. This alerts you if any of your saved passwords have been compromised in a data breach, prompting you to change them immediately.

There’s also SmartScreen technology, which will help safeguard you from phishing scams and malware.

This checks websites against a list of known malicious sites and analyses URLs for any suspicious patterns or characteristics. If it detects something that’s wrong, you'll be warned before proceeding to the site.

Why should you care about all these security updates?

It comes down to this: Using a less secure browser could leave you vulnerable to all sorts of online threats. Cyber criminals are constantly coming up with new ways to exploit weaknesses in software, so it's important to stay up-to-date with the latest security measures.

Plus, let's face it – no one wants to deal with the aftermath of a cyber attack. Whether it's dealing with financial losses, identity theft, or just the hassle of cleaning up the mess, the consequences of a breach can be far-reaching.

Using a secure browser like Edge reduces your risk of falling victim to such attacks.

Of course, we know that only some are experts on cyber security. That's why Microsoft is making it easy to stay safe without needing a degree in computer science.

The new security features are built-in and easy to use so you don't have to worry about configuring anything yourself. You can browse the web with peace of mind.

If you’re not already using Edge, give it a go. And if you need help getting your 365 suite optimised for your business, get in touch.

Microsoft has announced that the current version of Windows 10, released in 2022, will be its final release.

If you're currently using Windows 10, you might wonder what this means for your day-to-day operations.

The good news is that your computers won’t suddenly stop working. Nor will the current updates and security patches for Windows 10 disappear anytime soon.

However, you may want to consider upgrading to Windows 11 sooner rather than later. Microsoft has made it clear that it will be devoting all its attention to the new operating system from now on, so future developments and innovation will be focused on Windows 11.

Upgrading can be a daunting task, but moving to Windows 11 has so many benefits:


Enhanced performance

Windows 11 has been designed to maximise efficiency and performance across all types of devices, making it a no-brainer for businesses looking for faster and more efficient technology.

Improved user experience

The interface has been updated with a more modern look, making it easier to navigate and customise.

Increased security

Windows 11 comes with Microsoft's most advanced security features, making it harder for cyber criminals to breach your system.

Better integration with cloud services

Windows 11 gives you access to a range of cloud-based services, making it easier to collaborate with other team members and enhance your business' productivity.


If you're still hesitant about upgrading, keep in mind that Microsoft will eventually stop releasing security updates for Windows 10. We’re expecting it to be in late 2025. This means staying with Windows 10 for too long could put your business at risk of security threats.

The sooner you upgrade, the better your protection against these threats, and the more significant the benefits you'll be able to reap from Windows 11.

Like any big project, making the move to Windows 11 needs to be planned and implemented properly. Your hardware needs to meet certain requirements and, of course, you’ll need to make sure it’s done without affecting day to day operations.

If you’d like help making the transition with as little disruption as possible, get in touch.

How many times a day do you respond to an email without really thinking about its contents?

Maybe it's a request for some information. Perhaps it’s asking you to pay an invoice. All mundane stuff. But no sooner than you’ve hit send, you've fallen victim to a Business Email Compromise (BEC) attack.

A BEC attack occurs when a cyber criminal gains access to your business email account and uses it to trick your employees, customers, or partners into sending them money or sensitive information. They do this by impersonating someone senior, and abusing their position of trust.

It might sound like something that only happens to big corporations, but that's not the case.

According to the FBI, small and medium-sized businesses are just as vulnerable to BEC attacks as larger ones. In fact, these attacks have cost businesses more than £20 billion over the past few years.

And Microsoft brings more bad news, with its recent findings showing that they’re getting both more destructive and harder to detect.

So, what can you do to protect your business from BEC attacks? Here’s our advice:


1. Educate your employees: They are the first line of defence against BEC attacks. They need to know how to spot phishing emails, suspicious requests, and fake invoices. Train them regularly on cyber security best practice, like strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and secure file sharing.

2. Use advanced email security solutions: Basic email protections like antispam and antivirus software are no longer enough to block BEC attacks. You need more advanced solutions that use artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect and prevent these attacks in real-time. Look for email security providers that offer features like domain-based message authentication, reporting, and conformance (DMARC), sender policy framework (SPF), and DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM).

3. Set up transaction verification procedures: Before transferring funds or sensitive information, establish a verification process that confirms the authenticity of the request. This could include a phone call, video conference, or face-to-face meeting. Don't rely on email alone to confirm these types of requests.

4. Monitor your email traffic: Regularly monitor your email traffic for anomalies and unusual patterns. Look for signs like unknown senders, unusual login locations, changes to email settings or forwarding rules, and unexpected emails. Make sure you have a clear protocol in place for reporting and responding to any suspicious activity.

5. Keep your software up to date: Ensure that you're always running the latest version of your operating system, email software, and other software applications. These updates often include vital security patches that address known vulnerabilities.

BEC attacks are becoming more common and more sophisticated, but with the right awareness, training, and security solutions, you can protect your business.

Don't wait until it's too late – take action today to keep your business safe.

If you want to know more about how to protect your business from cyber threats, our team is always ready to help you. Give us a call!