vibrantnetworks

When Is It Time to Outsource Your IT Support?

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:26:20 GMT

When Is It Time to Outsource Your IT Support?

Your business IT infrastructure is far more than laptops and phone lines. It underpins productivity, security, communication, and long term growth.

For many organisations across the West Midlands and the wider UK, IT has evolved from a background function into a strategic business asset. Reliable IT systems enable teams to collaborate efficiently, protect sensitive data, and deliver consistent service to clients and partners.

As businesses scale, the IT challenges faced by SMEs and mid-sized organisations also grow. Systems that worked perfectly when your company had 10 employees may struggle to support 50, 100, or more. Technology from the early 2000s won’t support your business as it goes into 2030.

Your clients rely on your technology just as much as your employees do. Emails, calls, shared files, and cloud platforms all depend on stable infrastructure. Without a strong IT foundation, downtime and security risks can quickly impact reputation and revenue.

If you’re questioning whether your current setup can support future growth, it may be time to consider outsourced IT support or a managed IT services provider (MSP).

Signs Your Current IT Support Isn’t Meeting Your Needs

Many business leaders delay reviewing IT support until problems become unavoidable. However, several early warning signs indicate your organisation may have outgrown its current provider.

Common IT support issues include:

1. Frequent downtime

Recurring outages or slow systems often signal ageing infrastructure or reactive IT management.

2. Slow response times

If resolving simple issues takes hours or days, productivity losses quickly accumulate across the business.

3. Outdated systems

Technology implemented years ago may no longer meet modern security or performance standards.

4. Staff frustration

Repeated complaints about unreliable systems are often a sign of deeper IT reliability problems.

When these issues become routine rather than occasional, your IT support model may no longer be fit for purpose.

Common Pain Points for In House IT Teams

Internal IT teams play an important role, particularly in larger organisations. However, many SMEs and growing companies find that relying solely on in house support creates operational gaps.

Typical challenges include:

High operational costs: Recruiting and retaining experienced IT professionals requires ongoing salaries, training budgets, certifications, and recruitment investment.
Patching and maintenance delays: Small teams are frequently focused on day-to-day support tickets, leaving limited time for proactive maintenance, cybersecurity improvements, or strategic planning.
Limited specialist expertise: Modern IT environments include cloud platforms, cybersecurity, networking, compliance, and communications systems. Expecting one or two individuals to cover every area creates risk.

A managed IT services provider offers access to a wider team of specialists, enabling more proactive and resilient IT management.

Benefits of Outsourcing IT Support

Outsourced IT support allows businesses to move from reactive problem solving to proactive technology management.

Key advantages include:

Predictable pricing: Managed IT services typically operate on fixed monthly agreements, making budgeting simpler and removing unexpected repair costs.
Access to expert knowledge: MSPs invest continuously in training and certifications, giving your business access to specialists across multiple technologies.
Improved cybersecurity: Modern IT service providers implement proactive monitoring, patch management, and security first strategies to reduce cyber risk.
Business continuity and resilience: 24/7 monitoring, backup solutions, and disaster recovery planning minimise disruption when incidents occur.
Scalability for growth: As your organisation expands, outsourced IT support scales alongside you without requiring additional internal hires.

For growing businesses, this flexibility often becomes a key competitive advantage.

When Outsourcing Makes Financial Sense

Cost effective IT support is not simply about reducing spend, it’s about improving return on investment.

A proactive IT support partner helps reduce downtime, prevent cyber incidents, and extend the lifespan of existing systems. The financial impact of avoided disruption often outweighs the cost of managed services.

Hiring additional internal IT staff also represents a significant long term commitment. Outsourcing allows leadership teams to allocate resources toward revenue generating roles, innovation, or strategic growth initiatives instead.

For many SMEs and mid market companies, outsourcing becomes financially viable once IT demands begin consuming leadership time or limiting operational efficiency.

How to Choose the Right IT Support Provider

Selecting the right IT support partner is a strategic decision, not just a technical one. Business decision makers should look for:

A UK based IT service provider capable of responsive onsite and remote support
A security first approach aligned with modern cybersecurity best practices
Proven experience supporting organisations of similar size or industry
Proactive monitoring and preventative maintenance, not just reactive fixes
Clear communication with leadership teams, not just technical staff

An effective MSP acts as a long term technology advisor, helping align IT infrastructure with business objectives.

The Risks of Waiting Too Long

While outsourcing IT support requires careful consideration, delaying the decision carries its own risks.

Outdated systems and reactive support models can lead to:

Increased cybersecurity vulnerabilities
Reduced employee productivity
Operational inefficiencies
Lost opportunities due to unreliable systems
Reputational damage following downtime or data incidents

In today’s threat landscape, IT risk management is increasingly a board level concern rather than an operational one.

Next Steps: Making the Outsourcing Decision

Many SMEs feel pressure to manage IT internally for as long as possible. However, modern businesses increasingly benefit from partnering with experienced managed IT service providers who deliver strategic guidance alongside technical support.

If you’re unsure whether outsourced IT support is right for your organisation, an IT assessment can provide clarity.

Vibrant Networks supports businesses across the West Midlands and throughout the UK with proactive IT support, cybersecurity, and infrastructure strategy.

Book a free IT review today to understand whether your current IT setup is helping or limiting your growth.

Call us on 01922 612387 to set up a free IT review, or view some of our IT Support case studies here .

Think you don’t need IT as a small business? Keep an eye out for our article next week on why IT is essential for you.

Is Your Business Phone System Holding You Back and Costing More Than It Should?

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:17:19 GMT

Is Your Business Phone System Holding You Back?

For many SMEs, the business phone system is still the primary point of contact for customers, suppliers and prospects. Yet it’s often one of the most overlooked parts of a company’s infrastructure.

If your current setup is outdated, unreliable or difficult to scale, it could be quietly affecting sales, productivity and customer confidence.

For small and medium sized businesses across the West Midlands, upgrading to a modern business phone system is no longer just an IT decision, it’s a strategic one.

Why Business Phone Systems Still Matter in a Digital Workplace

Even in a world of email and instant messaging, voice communication remains critical.

Your phone system often forms a customer’s first impression of your business. Long hold times, poor call quality or misdirected calls can quickly damage credibility. A modern cloud phone system for business ensures:

Clear, consistent call quality
Professional call routing and auto attendants
Flexibility for remote and hybrid teams
Easy scalability as your business grows

For SMEs, a business VoIP system provides the flexibility today’s workforce expects, without the limitations of traditional landlines.

Signs Your Current Business Phone System Is No Longer Fit for Purpose

Many business owners don’t realise their phone system is holding them back until problems become frequent.

Dropped Calls or Poor Call Quality

Consistent call issues can indicate ageing infrastructure. A modern VoIP phone system for SMEs delivers clearer, more reliable communication when supported by stable connectivity.

No Support for Remote or Hybrid Working

If your team cannot easily take calls outside the office, your system is limiting flexibility. A cloud based business phone system allows staff to work from laptops or mobiles, wherever they are.

Difficult or Expensive to Scale

Adding new users or phone lines shouldn’t require engineers and downtime. A scalable cloud VoIP phone system allows new users to be added in minutes.

Limited Reporting or Visibility

Modern business communications solutions provide call reporting and analytics, helping decision makers track missed calls, peak times and performance trends.

How an Outdated Phone System Impacts Business Performance

An unreliable phone system affects more than just IT, it can lead to:

Missed sales opportunities
Reduced staff productivity
Frustrated customers
Higher maintenance and line rental costs

Traditional systems often come with hidden overheads, such as maintenance contracts, on-site hardware failures and per-minute charges. Over time, these costs can exceed the predictable pricing of a hosted VoIP UK solution.

For growing SMEs, flexibility and reliability directly influence revenue.

Traditional Phone Systems vs Modern VoIP

When comparing traditional systems to a business VoIP system, the differences are significant.

Cost Control

Traditional systems involve installation costs, hardware maintenance and sometimes call charges. VoIP for small business typically operates on a simple monthly subscription model.

Scalability

VoIP allows businesses to add or remove users instantly via an online portal, which is ideal for expanding teams.

Reliability & Disaster Recovery

With a cloud based business phone system, calls can be redirected to mobiles or alternative devices if your office experiences disruption. This improves resilience and business continuity.

Integration

Modern VoIP integrates with tools such as Microsoft Teams and CRM platforms, improving workflow and visibility.

The Benefits of a Modern Business VoIP System

Upgrading to a modern business phone system provides:

Intelligent call routing and auto attendants
Call recording and reporting
Remote working capability
Lower hardware dependency
Predictable monthly costs

For SMEs in the West Midlands, this means improved customer experience without enterprise level complexity.

Common Concerns About Switching to VoIP

Decision makers often hesitate due to perceived risks. However, most concerns are manageable with the right provider.

“Will it disrupt our operations?”

With proper planning, a transition to a cloud phone system can be seamless.

“What about call quality?”

With a stable business grade internet connection, VoIP typically improves call clarity and reduces dropped calls.

“Is our internet reliable enough?”

A reputable business VoIP provider will assess connectivity and recommend improvements where necessary.

“Will staff struggle to adapt?”

Modern systems are designed with user friendly interfaces, and onboarding is typically straightforward.

What to Look for in a Business VoIP Provider

Choosing the right partner is as important as choosing the right system. SMEs should look for:

UK based support
Proven reliability and uptime
Transparent pricing and contracts
Security and resilience built into the service
Experience supporting small and medium sized businesses

For organisations searching for business phone systems in the West Midlands, working with a local provider can offer faster support and a better understanding of regional business needs.

Is Your Phone System Supporting or Slowing Down Your Business?

Reviewing your current business phone system can uncover inefficiencies that quietly impact performance and revenue.

For SMEs across the West Midlands, upgrading to a cloud VoIP phone system is often one of the simplest ways to modernise communications, improve resilience and support growth.

If you’re unsure whether your current setup is still fit for purpose, a review can help you understand your options and identify opportunities for improvement. Call us on 01922612387 to set up a free IT review.

What Small Businesses Can Do to Reduce Cyber Risk

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 09:13:37 GMT

What Small Businesses Can Do to Reduce Cyber Risk

The Myth: Cyber Criminals Only Target Big Companies

It’s easy to think your business is safe when you aren’t aware of the impact a hacker can have on your company. The stories that are sensationalised in the news are often the ones that don’t apply to SME’s. How does an attack on JLR apply to you?

However, hackers don’t always prioritise the size of a brand. Smaller hackers focus on ease, and if your SME’s cyber security isn’t up to scratch, you may be making yourself a target. Read on to learn about the SME cyber security risks you may face.

Why Small Businesses Are More Attractive to Attackers

Cyber attacks on small businesses are more common than you think. In 2025, 50% of small businesses and 67% of medium businesses identified breaches or attacks. So, why are SMEs so heavily targeted?

Limited cyber security budgets: limited budgets means that cyber security for small to medium businesses can often be minimal, leaving bases uncovered.
Fewer in house IT specialists: a lower budget also means an SME may not have anyone in house monitoring their IT system.
Reliance on outdated systems: upgrading your cyber security can be expensive. However, avoiding updates can become a huge cyber security risk for SMEs.
Lower detection and response capability: SMEs often rely on cheaper, “one size fits all” solutions that leave openings for hackers.

The Most Common Cyber Attacks Affecting Small Businesses

Phishing emails: 85% of businesses experienced phishing emails in 2025. SMEs are more likely to fall for this kind of attack due to less resources and employee training.
Ransomware attacks: ransomware is when your data is stolen, encrypted, and kept from you until a ransom is paid. SMEs are more likely to fall into the trap of paying the ransom due to a lack of backups and no response plan (never pay the ransom in this type of attack!).
Stolen or weak passwords: SMEs are less likely to have basic cyber hygiene (such as strong passwords) due to a lack of enforcement amongst their staff.
Unsecured remote working and cloud services: it’s a common assumption that cloud providers handle all security, leading to misconfigured settings and unencrypted data. This can lead to unsecured remote working and huge vulnerabilities in their system

What a Cyber Attack Really Costs a Small Business

An attack can cripple a larger business, but for an SME, an attack has the potential to cost everything.

Downtime: if an attack is severe, it can halt business operations completely
Data loss: SMEs are less likely to have secure, consistent backups, making data loss a huge risk during an attack.
Recovery costs: although larger businesses suffer from larger recovery costs, SMEs feel the stress of recovery more.
GDPR fines: if the cyber attack is severe and the correct precautions were not taken, you may be required to pay fines.
Reputational damage: without a strong brand, customers are less likely to overlook something as serious as a cyber attack or data leak. This may cause them to leave for competitors they view as more secure.

Why Many Cyber Attacks Go Undetected in SMEs

No 24/7 monitoring: 24/7 monitoring should be standard for cyber security for SMEs. Without it, attacks go undetected until it’s too late.
Attacks sitting dormant: attacks that have made their way into your system may sit dormant for months undetected gathering data until it’s time to strike.
Lack of visibility into logs and alerts: limited resources may lead to blind spots in your system, meaning that attacks can go unnoticed.

How Cyber Criminals Gain Access to Small Business Systems

Phishing links: lack of employee training can lead to staff unknowingly giving in to phishing scams.
Compromised passwords: with less enforcement on basic cyber hygiene, weak passwords are a huge threat to SMEs.
Unpatched software: SMEs are less likely to patch their software, meaning they are more likely to open themselves up to vulnerabilities.
Unsecured Wi-Fi and Remote Access: hackers can use Wi-Fi and remote access to quietly intercept or alter data.

What Small Businesses Can Do to Reduce Cyber Risk

Staff awareness training: never underestimate the human firewall! Train your staff on proper cyber security processes.
Multi Factor Authentication (MFA): if your passwords are leaked, MFA can keep your systems safe and give you a heads up on an attempted hack.
Regular patching/updates: ensure all of your devices and software are runn8ing on the latest versions. Updates and patches are there to cover up vulnerabilities.
Backups and disaster recovery: you can’t predict the future. Ensure your SME has outlined cyber security solutions, such as regularly scheduled backups and disaster recovery plans.
Managed cyber security services: an MSP may have more know how when it comes to cyber threats to SMEs. It’s always best to rely on the professionals. Take a look at our cyber security services here!

Why Cyber Security Is No Longer Optional for Small Businesses

Regulatory pressure: no matter what industry you’re in, there are specific laws that require you to have basic data protection principles in place. This is to protect you, your clients, and anyone else in the supply chain.
Remote working: with the rise of remote working in recent years, it is essential for businesses to ensure their systems are prepared for this modern threat.
Increasing attack frequency: hackers are no longer limited to cyber geniuses. With the rise of AI, anyone can easily get past weak security and steal data.

Is Your Business Prepared for a Cyber Attack?

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by cyber security. There’s a lot to cover, and high risk if you don’t.

Many small businesses only discover their weaknesses after an attack. A proactive cyber security review can help identify gaps before they’re exploited. Give us a call on 01 922 6 12387 , or email at info@vibrant-networks.co.uk .

Why Your Network Is the Backbone of Your Business

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:47:56 GMT

Why Your Network Is the Backbone of Your Business

Shaan Randhawa • April 4th, 2026

In today’s digital first economy, your business network infrastructure underpins everything you do. From emails and VoIP calls to cloud systems and cyber security, your network quietly supports every department, often without anyone noticing it's there.

For SMEs and growing organisations across the West Midlands, network reliability is no longer just an IT concern, it’s a business critical asset.

If your network is slow, vulnerable or poorly designed, it could be limiting productivity, increasing risk and holding back growth.

What Is Business Network Infrastructure and Why Does It Matter?

Your business network infrastructure includes the core components that keep your organisation connected:

Routers
Switches
Firewalls
Wi-Fi access points
Structured cabling
Internet connectivity

Every modern organisation, whether 10 staff or 200, relies on its IT network for daily operations. Your Microsoft 365 environment, VoIP phone systems, CRM platforms, file sharing, cyber security tools and remote working capabilities all depend on a secure and reliable network.

No two organisations have identical requirements. A professional IT network for small business should be designed around your scale, security needs and growth plans, not built as a one-size-fits-all solution.

How Your Network Impacts Productivity and Performance

When your network performs well, it’s invisible. When it doesn’t, everything slows down. Common network performance issues include:

Slow internet speeds
Dropped Microsoft Teams or VoIP calls
Delays accessing cloud applications
File transfer bottlenecks
Intermittent Wi-Fi connectivity

Without professional business network support, these problems can become routine rather than exceptional. The result? Reduced staff efficiency, more IT support tickets, frustrated employees and a poor customer experience.

For decision makers, this translates directly into lost time and lost revenue.

The Hidden Risks of an Outdated Business Network

An outdated network isn’t just inconvenient, it introduces measurable risk.

Security Vulnerabilities - Old firewalls, unpatched firmware and poorly secured Wi-Fi networks create entry points for cyber threats. Strong network security for small business is essential in today’s threat landscape.

Limited Scalability - If your network was built for 10 users and you now have 40, performance will suffer. A scalable infrastructure is critical for SMEs planning to grow.

Single Points of Failure - If one router or switch failure can bring your operations to a halt, your network lacks resilience. Modern managed network services reduce this risk through redundancy and monitoring.

Poor Visibility - Without monitoring and reporting tools, problems are only discovered after disruption occurs. Visibility is essential for proactive IT management.

Why Network Reliability Is Critical for Modern SMEs and Growing Businesses

A reliable business network supports:

Microsoft 365 and cloud platforms
Business VoIP systems
CRM and ERP software
Remote and hybrid working
Secure data access

As bandwidth demands increase, your infrastructure must scale accordingly. For organisations across Walsall and the wider West Midlands, reliable connectivity directly impacts business continuity, customer service and operational resilience. A network built five years ago may not meet today’s requirements.

Signs Your Business Network Needs an Upgrade

Many businesses operate with underperforming infrastructure longer than they should. Watch out for these warning signs:

Regular Wi-Fi dropouts
Frequent staff complaints about speed
Growing numbers of IT support tickets related to connectivity
Network hardware that is five or more years old
No documented network map
No monitoring or alerting in place

If any of these apply, a network upgrade for your business may be overdue. A professional business network installation should futureproof your organisation, not simply fix today’s issues.

What a Modern Business Network Should Include

A secure, high performing network should be designed with resilience, scalability and security in mind. Core components typically include:

Business Grade Firewall - A firewall is one of the most critical components of a secure business network. It monitors and controls the traffic entering and leaving your infrastructure, blocking malicious activity and helping to prevent unauthorised access.

Reputable companies include Zyxel, who we partner with to deliver Wi-Fi and network solutions to businesses in the West Midlands. Click here to view our work with them.

Managed switches – Enterprise grade switches optimise traffic flow and improve overall network efficiency.

Secure, segmented Wi-Fi - VLAN segmentation separates departments and devices, improving both performance and security.

24/7 Monitoring - Continuous monitoring allows threats and failures to be identified before they cause downtime.

Backup Connectivity - Secondary internet connections reduce risk during outages, keeping your business online when it matters most.

Structured Cabling - Quality cabling underpins reliable voice, data and video communication.

For businesses seeking network installation in the West Midlands, working with an experienced provider ensures infrastructure is designed correctly from the outset.

Why Proactive Network Support Beats Reactive Fixes

Reactive IT support waits for something to break. Proactive network support for small business focuses on preventing disruption in the first place. With proactive monitoring and managed support, organisations benefit from:

Reduced downtime
Predictable IT costs
Improved security posture
Strategic IT planning aligned with business growth

For both SMEs and larger organisations, proactive managed IT services in the West Midlands reduce operational risk and improve long term efficiency.

Is Your Network Supporting Growth or Holding It Back?

Many organisations only review their business network infrastructure after experiencing downtime or a security incident. However, a proactive network assessment can uncover:

Performance bottlenecks
Security gaps
Scalability limitations
Resilience weaknesses

Many organisations only review their business network infrastructure after experiencing downtime or a security incident. But a proactive network assessment can uncover performance bottlenecks, security gaps, scalability limitations and resilience weaknesses before they become costly problems.

For businesses across the West Midlands, ensuring your network is secure, reliable and future ready is essential for sustainable growth.

If your infrastructure hasn’t been reviewed recently, now may be the time to assess whether it’s truly supporting your ambitions. Looking to upgrade your network? Give us a call on 01922 612387 , or email at info@vibrant-networks.co.uk .

Windows 10 End of Life is on the horizon — what does this mean for you?

shaan@vibrant-networks.co.uk (Shaan Randhawa) — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 08:24:09 GMT

Windows 10 End of Life is on the horizon — what does this mean for you?

Shaan Randhawa • June 9th, 2025

The risks of avoiding the Windows 11 update.

As support for Windows 10 begins to wind down, organisations must consider the impact this will have on security, performance, and future compatibility. Upgrading to Windows 11 not only provides access to modern features and improved productivity tools — including enhanced Copilot capabilities powered by AI — but also ensures continued support from Microsoft.

While many businesses are embracing the upgrade to take advantage of new technologies, others are doing so to mitigate risk. Running unsupported software can expose systems to vulnerabilities, compatibility issues, and operational inefficiencies.

There are several important consequences of not upgrading to Windows 11. Read the article below to understand how these issues could impact you directly.

1. Increases the risk of vulnerabilities

When Windows 10 reaches End of Life in October 2025, your device will no longer receive updates, including critical security patches, from Microsoft.

These security updates are essential for protecting your system from newly discovered vulnerabilities. Without them, your device becomes significantly more vulnerable to cyber threats, including malware, ransomware, and unauthorised access.

While many systems apply updates automatically, it's crucial to regularly check that your device is up to date — especially in environments where automatic updates may be disabled or delayed.

After the EoL date, Microsoft will stop releasing these patches, leaving unsupported systems increasingly exposed. To maintain protection and compatibility, it is strongly recommended that users upgrade to Windows 11 well before support for Windows 10 officially ends.

2. Compliance issues

Failure to maintain up-to-date security patches can result in compliance issues across many industries. Keeping your systems patched is often a mandatory requirement to meet standards such as Cyber Essentials, NIST 2, and other regulatory frameworks.

Neglecting these updates not only risks non-compliance but may also invalidate any existing cyber insurance policies, leaving your organisation unprotected in the event of a breach.

Regular patching reduces security risks for both your organisation and your clients. Continuing to operate on an unsupported operating system can expose you to legal liabilities and potential fines should a cyber breach occur.

3. Performance issues

Avoiding the Windows 11 update can lead to performance issues on your machine, such as slow loading times, lag, and incompatibility with newer apps.

This occurs because the old software will struggle to keep up with newer applications and workloads that are better supported through Windows 11. Upgrading to Windows 11 before Windows 10 EoL is essential if you want to avoid these kinds of issues.

4. No more technical support

Microsoft offer technical support in the form of regular updates, security patches, and feature enhancements. This allows your machine to run smoothly with minimal interruptions.

However, if you are still using Windows 10 software by October this year, you will no longer receive any of these features. This can result in technical issues such as security problems, slow loading times and lag.

To avoid this, it’s important to upgrade your system to Windows 11 before the October 14 ^th deadline.

5. Enhanced new features

The Windows 11 update comes with brand new features to help you stay ahead of the game.

With a more integrated co-pilot feature, to a modern user interface and higher performance, Windows 11 is sure to improve the way you work.

It’s also important to keep in mind that with Windows 10 EoL on the horizon, competitors in your industry may also be considering upgrading to the new software. It’s important to make sure your technology keeps up with the demands of your industry, and that you stay ahead of the game.

There are many reasons to upgrade to Windows 11 before the Windows 10 EoL deadline. We know that making the jump to new software can be daunting – that’s why we’re here.

At Vibrant Networks, we’re offering free health checks to companies with five machines or more in Walsall, Birmingham, and the rest of the West Midlands. This will help you to find out whether your machines are compatible with Windows 11, and allows us to help you to upgrade. If you’re interested in our help with a health check or PC upgrade, contact us today!

The Windows 11 Update – Your Questions Answered

shaan@vibrant-networks.co.uk (Shaan Randhawa) — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 08:27:26 GMT

The Windows 11 Update – Your Questions Answered

Shaan Randhawa • April 9th, 2025

The Windows 11 Upgrade is on the horizon, with an October 2025 deadline to adhere to the new software!

It is essential for companies to update Windows 10 to 11, but there are still so many unanswered questions! To help fill in the gaps, we at Vibrant Networks have researched some of the common queries surrounding the Windows 11 Update, to provide you with clarity going into the new system.

Read on to find out the essentials before you upgrade to Windows 11!

When is the Windows 11 update coming?

Microsoft officially released the Windows 11 update back in October 2021, meaning it’s been running for a short while.

However, as of January this year, more and more companies are making the transition over from Windows 10 to 11.

This is because Windows 10 is facing End of Life status in October of this year.

Can I Avoid the Windows 11 Update?

We do not recommend avoiding the Windows 11 Update. On October 14th of this year, Windows 10 will face End of Life status. This means you will no longer receive:

Free software updates on your devices
Access to any support
New security updates or patches

Failing to upgrade may not only result in operational inefficiencies due to outdated or underperforming software, but it could also expose your business to potential legal and compliance risks. Without access to the latest security updates and patches, your systems may fall short of meeting industry-standard security protocols, potentially rendering you non-compliant.

It is highly advisable to update Windows 10 to 11 before the deadline this October.

Will Updating to Windows 11 Delete My Data?

No. If you update Windows 10 to 11, your data will be retained and will remain safe.

However, as an IT company, we believe it is important to always have up to date backups of your data. This means storing a copy on either an external hard drive or uploading your encrypted data onto OneDrive.

If you need help creating a secure copy of your data, contact us to see how we can help!

Why Might the Windows 11 Update Installation Fail?

There are a few reasons as to why the Windows 11 update can fail to install onto your machine, including:

A bad internet connection
Low disk space
Corrupt system files
An incompatible
Incompatible CPU/Hardware

A few ways to fix these issues are to check your internet connection, check your desk and free up space, or purchase a Windows 11 compatible device.

At Vibrant Networks we have the IT knowledge and experience to help identify and fix your problems quickly and efficiently. We can help you to move over to Windows 11, and can help provide devices that support the Windows 11 update, such as our Grade A refurbished laptops.

Click here to contact us about any IT queries, or call us today on 01922 612387!

Dell Windows 11 rollback article.

Why electricians should not do cabling!

shaan@vibrant-networks.co.uk (Shaan Randhawa) — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 09:45:19 GMT

Considering a network installation for your business? Read on to find out more about how not to install a network...

Vibrant Networks were recently requested to complete a firewall and server installation for an engineering company based in Walsall. Our client was a local engineering company based in Walsall in the West Midlands.

The engineering company had been dealing with slow internet speeds, crackling VoIP lines and poor network performance. Our IT support technicians set off to install a new server for the company, not knowing the issues they were about to face, due to a bad data cabling and wiring.

Our IT technicians did not have to look hard to find the many problems that the network was facing. A poor existing network installation can be the cause behind many issues, such as slowing down network speeds, lag, VoIP crackling, slow Wi-Fi and significant downtime. Poor quality network installation setups can potentially disrupt a business from running efficiently day to day and end up costing the business more in the long run when it comes to the various ways it disrupts the business as mentioned above.

Luckily for this local company, Vibrant Networks were up for the job! Take a look below to find out exactly why cutting corners and using an electrician is not worth it in the long run.

Issue 1: The Comms Cabinet

Below is an image of a comms cabinet. The purpose of a comms cab is to house all of your important IT networks, namely your communication and security equipment. If you wouldn’t like the idea of keeping your important files spread all over the office, creased and messy, then you would not want a disorganised comms cabinet.

Our IT support technicians found this Walsall business’ comms cabinet in complete disarray – with wires tangled everywhere and no labelling; it was clear as to why this company was facing slow connectivity.

Vibrant Networks’ Solution :

Our IT support technicians got to work! They reorganised the cabinet and decommissioned the old network switching equipment. Our IT technicians removed the obsolete technology to clear out the unwanted clutter.

They then went on to disconnect the patch panels and reorganise them. This was a key step because the purpose of the patch panels is to help organise the cables and switches in your cabinet. This is the foundation of your cabinets organisational system.

They added in shorter patch cables to save on space and installed a Zyxel 48 Port Cloud Managed POE Network Switch.

To prevent the cabinet from falling into such disarray again, our IT technicians ensured a number coded system was in place. Our client can now manage this cabinet with minimal supervision.

Issue 2: The Patch Panel Numbering

The purpose of a patch panel is to organise your networking equipment. This cannot happen when the patch panels have been labelled incorrectly.

The numbers in the cabinet were incorrect, and the odd and even numbers were on different patch panels. The full patch panel was not event utilised, only using the first 16 plugs on the patch panel! The numbers were also not sequential, ruining the order of the cabinet.

Unfortunately, this company did not have the budget to renumber and re terminate all of the patch panels. They also decided a whole overhaul would cause too much downtime for their business. However, Vibrant Networks were keen to provide an alternative solution.

 Vibrant Networks’ Solution:

Our IT support technicians tested all of the network ports on the patch panels and reorganised the cabinet. We also tidied up the patch cabling, so the tech had a better system, and it was easier to identify the locations of the different tech installed.

Issue 3: The Exposed Patch Panel Wiring

There were too many wires were exposed behind the patch panels. This is a main cause behind issues such as interference and cross talk. A trained and certified data cabling company knows that only enough wiring for the patch panel port should be exposed.

Electricians are not trained to know these specifics behind a network installation job. This is another reason why it is essential for you to look for a trained and certified data cabling company when completing a Wi-Fi network setup or a network installation

Vibrant Networks’ Solution:

Unfortunately, there was not enough cabling length for the Vibrant Networks team to fix this effectively. To avoid causing damage, we pointed out the problem to our client and suggested it as a future fix for their comms cabinet.

Issue 4: The Mounted Wall Patch Panels

Another issue we found was that the old network installation had had patch panels mounted onto the wall. This is a bad solution in the long term, as it puts unnecessary stress on the wiring, meaning you’ll need to replace it more frequently.

It’s always better to invest in your IT to ensure your comms cabinet is secure. This avoids having to fork out a larger sum further on down the line due to faulty or damaged equipment.

Issue 5: The Excess Switches

The electrician that had completed this network installation had used too many switches. The result of this was slow traffic on their network, and slow internet speeds. In this case, there were two unmanaged switches: one eight port and one sixteen port. These were stored on the upper floor of the office and were connected to the old network by a 24 port switch downstairs.

Vibrant Networks’ Solution:

Our technicians suggested using less switches. They followed this through by consolidating the switches into one 24 Port Zyxel POE Cloud Managed network switch. This quickened the internet speeds and put a stop to the connectivity issues this company was facing!

The wiring in the dado trunking could not be moved as there was not enough length. We therefore decided to keep the patch panel where it was. The correct length cabling was used to make a neater job.

Issue 6: The Failed Network Ports

Our team surveyed and tested 70 network ports with ideal and net ally/fluke testers. Out of the 70 tested, 13 failed ports were identified – this can lead to slow connectivity and bad internet.

Vibrant Networks’ Solution:

To fix this, our technicians terminated the port. This means our client’s Wi-Fi is now running smoothly, and they have a fully functional comms cabinet for their IT!

Summary

The moral of the story is that you should not use unqualified electricians to install data cabling. If your data cabling isn’t installed properly, it has the potential to cause poor network performance and down time, costing your business more in down time, as the business losses money in hidden costs.

After all the issues were fixed, the Vibrant Networks team came up with the following coms cabinet solution below, with the following Nebula Cloud Managed Zyxel Solution installed to allow complete network visibility:

Zxyel USG 200 Firewall

Zyxel GS1920 49 Port POE Network Switch

Managed Zyxel GS1920 28 Port POE Network Switch

Are you having connectivity problems?

Vibrant Networks have almost 20 years of experience in our industry. With the best trained team and wonderful testimonials from Walsall, Birmingham and the rest of the West Midlands, we can handle any project.

Whether you need a new network installation, a Wi-Fi network setup or even some tech supplied, you can trust us to deliver!

#ZyxelGoldPartner #CommsCabRewire #EngineeringCompanyWalsall #NetworkTesting #ITProject #Vibrant Networks

The best practices for email security

shaan@vibrant-networks.co.uk (Shaan Randhawa) — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 16:00:18 GMT

The best practices for email security

Shaan Randhawa • November 12th, 2024

Keep your communications secure!

Email is the main way in which most businesses communicate – why wouldn’t you have processes in place to keep it safe? Cyber criminals are finding new ways to bypass spam filters and deliver phishing emails straight to your inbox. Over half of IT leaders say that they’ve experienced AI-powered attacks in their organisations – as cyber criminals level up their attacks, you need to level up your security.

Preventative measures are key! Read on to find out Vibrant Networks’ recommendations for businesses in Walsall, Birmingham, and all over the West Midlands!

A password that no one will guess

If your email password is your childhood pet’s name or your favourite colour, we advise changing it immediately.

Passwords are the first line of defence, and having a strong password is one of the best practices for email security.

Our key tips for a hacker-proof password are:

Complex passwords: both uppercase and lowercase letters should be used. Make it long and random with numbers and special characters. Don’t use any personal details, such as special dates or names.
NEVER reuse passwords. If a hacker gets a hold of one of your passwords, it’s likely they’ll attempt to access other accounts using the same information.
Use a trusted password manager to avoid forgetting your complex passwords – this means you’ll only need to memorise one password to access the rest!

2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two factor authentication should be set up for all of your accounts, not just email. 2FA means that even if a hacker gets your password, they won’t be able to access your account, as they’ll be missing a second key. This is a great way to protect your accounts from phishing, and is one of the best practices for email security!

Methods include SMS codes sent to your phone, authenticator apps or having a code emailed to your inbox.

3. Be Cautious with Email Attachments and Links

If you’re not 100% certain that a sender is who they say they are, do not click on any links or attachments sent. If a hacker bypasses your spam filter, their email may contain malicious links designed to download malware onto your device without your knowledge.

For the best phishing protection, we advise:

Using antivirus software to scan the email to detect/block the sender if any malicious intent is involved.
Contact the person directly through a different channel to confirm the identity behind the email. If the email has an unknown sender, do not engage.
Avoid clicking on links. If any part of the email or link looks suspicious, do not click on any links or attachments, and instead search the site manually through your browser.

4. Keep Your Email Software Updated

Updating your software means you’ll be up to date with the latest security patches that fix the vulnerabilities in your system.

You can do this by either consistently checking for updates, or enabling automatic updates on your devices!

5. Use Encryption for Sensitive Emails

Encrypting your email encodes the emails contents, preventing the risk of leaks if it is intercepted.

Not only do many email providers offer encryption options, there are also many third party vendors you can use for added security. Ensure you also give instructions to the recipient on how to decode the emails contents via a different communication channel.

Encryption adds a layer of protection to your emails. It encodes the content, making it readable only by the intended recipient. This ensures that even intercepted email information remains secure.

6. Watch Your Email Activity

Unfamiliar activity can be a sign of an account breach. You can track this by:

Setting up activity alerts so you’re notified about login attempts or changes in your account settings.
Review account activity often: check aspects such as your login history and the devices connected to your account frequently. If anything seems out of place, change your password immediately and contact an IT support specialist such as Vibrant Networks for further investigation.
Respond quickly to unfamiliar activity.

Are you looking to upgrade your security?

If you’re looking to upgrade spam filters, phishing protection or your cyber security systems in general, contact Vibrant Networks today!

Cybersecurity Monitoring – Why Is It Essential?

shaan@vibrant-networks.co.uk (Shaan Randhawa) — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 08:04:43 GMT

Cybersecurity Monitoring – Why Is It Essential?

Shaan Randhawa • September 26th, 2024

How continuous monitoring can benefit your business.

As a business owner, would you leave your office unlocked at the end of the day? Your warehouse unguarded? Would you turn off your CCTV or leave your key on the doormat outside?

Hopefully you have answered no to all the above, meaning you understand the importance of security.

However, do you hold these same standards when it comes to your IT’s security?

If you would not leave your physical assets unprotected, there is no reason not to ensure your digital assets are under guard too. Having consistent threat intelligence monitoring implemented in your cyber-security strategy is essential to keep your information safe. With a system that alerts you of vulnerabilities in your IT security before a hacker reaches them, this approach focuses on prevention over cure.

Why Continuous Monitoring Matters

Hackers are advancing and developing alongside our tech – cyber-security monitoring and threat intelligence is essential to stay ten steps ahead. Here are some of the reasons why having consistent IT security in place is essential:

Breaches Happen Fast

Hackers can often find and exploit vulnerabilities before you are even aware they exist. Having the real-time info continuous cyber-security monitoring provides can be significant when blocking hackers. Getting regular threat intelligence for your IT systems can prevent damage and allow you to respond to threats quickly.

Threats are evolving – you need to too

New developments are being made in technology every day – that means hackers are becoming more advanced as they find new ways to bypass this tech.

Continuous cyber-security monitoring is essential, as it delves deeper than any other kind of defence. By constantly analysing network traffic, user behaviour and system logs, hidden threats can be uncovered and taken care of instantly.

Compliance Requirements

Check the regulations and data privacy laws for your industries – many organisations are legally required to have continuous cyber-security monitoring. If you do not have certain IT security systems in place, you may end up receiving a fine.

Reduced Costs

Downtime can kill profit – preventing downtime caused by cyber-attacks is a huge benefit from this system. The system also automates routine tasks, saving your security team time and allowing them to focus on other strategies to keep your business safe.

Implementing Continuous Cyber Security Monitoring

Continuous cyber-security monitoring requires an integrated approach, combining different elements of your IT security. This includes:
Log Management: Security logs are collected and analysed for suspicious activity. Logs come from firewalls, devices, and applications.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): SIEM systems collect security data. They tap into various sources, identify potential threats, and provide a centralized view of your security posture.
Vulnerability Scanning: Regular scans identify weaknesses in your systems and applications, allowing you to patch them before attackers exploit them.
User Activity Monitoring: Monitoring user behaviour can identify suspicious activity. For example, unauthorized access attempts or data exfiltration.
Network Traffic Analysis: Monitoring network traffic can reveal several risks such as malware, suspicious communication patterns, and attempts to breach your network’s defences.

Benefits Beyond Threat Detection

Continuous monitoring offers advantages beyond just identifying threats. Here are some extra benefits:

Better threat detection: continuous monitoring of your IT system enables a reduction in false positives by analysing substantial amounts of data at once. This gives your security team the time to focus on more important tasks.
Quicker incident response times: with real-time alerts, your team can respond to cyber-security incidents immediately, lowering the chance of a data breach.
Enhanced security posture: continuous monitoring aids in identifying vulnerabilities. It helps you rank patching and remediation efforts, proactively strengthening your security posture.
Compliance reporting: continuous monitoring systems can generate reports, helping you prove compliance with relevant regulations and avoid penalties such as fines. It also saves you time and resources during audits.

Setting Up Continuous Monitoring

Starting with a few small steps under the guidance of an IT professional is the best way to approach continuous monitoring! Look at our recommended steps below.

Assess Your Needs

Not every business is going to need the same set up. This means you need to consider your business’ needs by having a cybersecurity assessment done. This will enable you to discover the gaps and vulnerabilities that need fixing.

Choose the Right Tools

Once you have established a budget and found the vulnerabilities un your IT system, you need to choose the right tools. Consider managed security service providers (MSSPs) for a comprehensive solution – MSPs such as Vibrant Networks are also able to help provide a holistic strategy based on your chosen budget.

Develop a Monitoring Plan

Define what your monitoring plan will look like. This helps ensure that things do not get missed. Here are some things to include in your plan:

How you will track data
How you will handle alerts
Who handles responding to incidents

Invest in Training

Training your team on how to use the monitoring tools and how to respond to incidents will help reduce the threat of vulnerabilities in your tech. Make sure your team fully understand how your continuous monitoring systems work.

Need Help with Your Cybersecurity Strategy?

At Vibrant Networks, we have comprehensive knowledge and experience with setting up and managing continuous monitoring systems. Monitoring is one part of a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity. We will be happy to help you protect your business and can customise a plan that works for your needs and budget.

IT outages – what’s the real cost to your business?

shaan@vibrant-networks.co.uk (Shaan Randhawa) — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 09:23:36 GMT

AI – Protect Your Company from Rising Breaches!

Shaan Randhawa • September 26th, 2024

The outage threats no one considers

We all agree that Monday mornings are hard enough – the last thing anyone wants is to walk into a total IT outage before you’ve even had your morning coffee! Nobody needs to deal with a total IT infrastructure meltdown first thing, but that could easily be the result if you don’t have systems in place to prevent IT outages.

Besides the obvious inconvenience of having an outage with no clear IT support in place, there are also many hidden financial consequences. This article lays out the key ways an IT outage can impact your business and – more importantly – how to prevent them.

The impacts of an IT outage:

The loss of productivity

If your IT infrastructure is down, your staff are unable to work. This means your business grinds to a halt until IT support can be reached. With work for clients not being done and services not being carried out, every second your systems are down translates to a loss of money.

The loss of reputation

Having a good relationship with your customers is essential for any business. Customers being unable to use your services or access your products affects their business too! Halting another company’s productivity due to poor IT planning is a bad look, and has the potential to turn working relationships sour.

This in turn tarnishes your brand image and makes customers less likely refer you to other companies, or even use your business again in the future! Poor IT support should never be the reason to lose out on clients.

The hidden impacts of an IT outage:

There are other ways an IT outage can impact your business – it goes further than client dissatisfaction and downtime. We’ve listed the less considered impacts below.

Employee Demoralization

Lack of stability in your IT infrastructure can be frustrating for your members of staff. Unable to get work done or meet their professional goals, employee motivation can be severely impacted depending on the length and impact of an IT outage, especially if IT support isn’t immediately available to fix the problem.

Emergency Repairs

If you don’t have any form of IT support set up, finding a company to take care of your IT outage on short notice can be pricey. As opposed to having constant IT support in which prevention methods are heavily utilised, last minute IT support is time-consuming and costly. Finding a managed IT service company is something you should do to prevent disaster from striking – not when you’re in the middle of the chaos!

Data Loss or Corruption

If your IT issue is severe, data can be lost or corrupted. Recovering your lost data can be an expensive process – and even then, there’s no guarantee everything will be restored. The time it takes to rebuild that lost information can impact your business, and significantly slow down recovery.

Compliance Issues

There are certain procedures and regulations different industries must be compliant with. If the failure to comply with these results to the loss of your IT infrastructure, you may also have to deal with consequences such as fines and penalties.

How much does all of this cost?

The cost of an IT outage can depend on your industry, your company’s size, and how extensive your IT infrastructure is. However, studies show that the loss can be thousands per hour, and even more for larger companies!

Proactive measures to prevent an IT outage

On the bright side, there are a few simple processes you can put in place to prevent IT outages and minimise the impact!

Invest in Reliable IT Infrastructure: focus on high-quality hardware and software, preferably backed up by past success and reputable reviews.

Regular System Maintenance: schedule regular maintenance with your IT support provider to pinpoint potential vulnerabilities and manage them quickly.
Data Backup and Recovery: consistently backing up your data can help minimise the impact an outage can have.
Disaster Recovery Plan: having steps in lace to recover from an IT outage will enable you to recover quickly. Consult with an IT services company to piece this plan together.
Employee Training: educate your employees on the signs of scams and the best cyber-security practices they can take part in. Minimising the impact of human error is a great way to protect your IT infrastructure!

Having unnecessary downtime in your business is a nightmare to deal with! By educating yourself on the consequences of not protecting your infrastructure, and the IT support you need to protect it, you’re a step closer to reducing the risk. Downtime can impact your business significantly, and without the proper processes in place, can cause a huge detriment to you financially.

When it comes to IT outages, every measure you put in place can minimise the affect, and help create a smoother return to the running of your business.

Do you need guidance with building protection?

Our 18 years of experience has made us adept at handling IT outages. We can pinpoint the vulnerabilities in your IT infrastructure and provide preventative support to keep your company running smoothly.

Give us a call today to find out more!

AI – Protect Your Company from Rising Breaches!

shaan@vibrant-networks.co.uk (Shaan Randhawa) — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 09:12:20 GMT

Take advantage of AI without the risk!

AI is a new technology rapidly changing the way we work. AI has encouraged users to work smarter and saved time on lengthy tasks such as analysing data. AI is transforming many industries as it changes and evolves. However, as with any technology, as it advances, the risk of security and data breaches develops. As AI becomes more and more advanced, it’s essential for our cyber security to evolve with it.

So far, 77% of businesses who have used AI have experienced a breach of their AI. This acts as proof of not only the risks attached to feeding AI your data, but also how many businesses are not considering the risks associated with AI. A breach can expose sensitive data, and completely compromise your confidential data.

But, before you swear off AI, there are solutions to this problem! Every issue has a cause that it stems from, and as an IT company we know how to fix them. Let's delve into how and why these security breaches happen, and the ways you can protect your business.

Why are AI Data Breaches are Increasing?

There are many reasons why AI risks are increasing. The main ones are:

An increase in AI usage

Of course, as technology develops, more weaknesses can be found and exploited by hackers. With the rapid development of AI creating a variety of software such as ChatGPT and Microsoft CoPilot, systems are exposed to more AI risks. Hackers can target vulnerabilities in data pipelines and expose confidential information.

2. The motivation of data

One key reason why hackers target businesses is because of the vast amounts of data they hold – not only for their own business, but for stakeholders such as clients and suppliers. This creates an AI risk, as hackers look to get a hold of that important data, to either sell or use for themselves (e.g. taking money out of a victim’s bank account). Feeding information to AI can cause major data breaches.

3. The “Black Box” Problem

The complexity of AI models means it’s difficult to understand exactly how an AI system arrives to certain conclusions. The lack of transparency makes it difficult to work out vulnerabilities and track data flow. This causes an AI risk, as if you’re unable to detect vulnerabilities, you’re unable to cover them and prevent security breaches.

4. Hackers are evolving

As technology progresses, hackers are finding and developing more and more ways to sidestep the security you put in place. As AI is becoming more prevalent, cybercriminals are finding ways to manipulate AI models to give inaccurate outputs and leak confidential information.

The Consequences of an AI Data Breach

There are many impacts of an AI data breach. The main ones are:

The financial loss

Data breaches can lead to a loss of reputation, a loss of clients and a loss of money through fines and lawsuits. A security breach can place a business in a financial hole that is difficult to get out of.

2. A loss of privacy

A data breach can compromise the sensitive data of stakeholders such as employees, customers and suppliers. With everyone’s private information revealed, you could be opened up to regulatory action.

3. Disrupted operations

Many businesses are now relying heavily on AI for certain processes within their business. An AI data breach would put these systems temporarily out of use, which could completely halt business operations.

4. Loss of intellectual property

If you’ve set up an AI model for a specific task, that can be considered intellectual property. An AI security breach can mean competitors can get a hold of these models and systems, removing the competitive advantage from your business.

How do you prevent an AI data breach?

Prevention is always better than cure! There are a number of processes you can put in place to mitigate the risks associated with AI.

Data Governance

Data governance relates to the standards set in place on how to gather, use and store data. This may include:

Labelling sensitive data
Establishing who has access
Regularly monitoring the use of the data

2. Integrated security

This means security has been considered and built into the system as it develops. For AI this may mean:

Using secure coding practices
Penetration testing
Vulnerability assessments

3. Threat modelling

This refers to when a model of a system is analysed and tested to view how it can be improved or made safer. This helps identify weaknesses in your AI systems and data pipelines, allowing you to rank vulnerabilities and figure out ways to fix them.

4. Train your employees

This is a piece of advice that can help prevent any kind of attack or breach. Training your employees on AI security threats and data handling practices can encourage them to identify and report suspicious incidents and reduce the risk of AI.

5. Security updates

Keep all your AI software and hardware up to date with the latest patches to keep your tech protected.

6. Educate yourself

Keep up to date on the latest cyber security tips by:

Subscribing to cyber security news
Attending industry talks
Attending workshops on AI and security

Partnerships

If you haven’t already, it’s ideal to consider the benefits of working alongside a reputable IT provider. Having a specialist in security can make processes such as threat detection and vulnerability assessments easy!

Exploring solutions provided by IT vendors can improve your IT systems, by having your data patterns analysed, allowing an immediate alert upon unusual activity.

We can help you!

AI has a plethora of benefits of your business when used right. However, without the proper protection in place, it can hurt your business more than it can help.

Our team of IT experts are fully qualified to take care of your tech and ensure there’s air-tight cyber security in place for all of your systems.

Five Women Who Revolutionised The IT Industry

shaan@vibrant-networks.co.uk (Shaan Randhawa) — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 14:02:37 GMT

Five Women Who Revolutionised The IT Industry

Shaan Randhawa • March 8th, 2024

Take a look at some of these phenomenal women and their achievements!

For this International Women’s Day, we are composing a list of five women in IT who have revolutionised the IT industry. Show this to your daughters, sisters and other women who you think will be inspired by this list, and the power that they could bring into the IT industry.

1. Ada Lovelace

Computing was unheard of in the 1840’s, to all but the revolutionary Ada Lovelace. A woman in IT before IT was even a thing, Ada Lovelace designed the very first computing programme to ever exist in the world, in a research paper she produced at the age of 28. Ada described how a machine could perform basic functions – the computer, which didn’t even exist at the time!

2. Katherine Johnson

Katherine Jonson helped calculate the maths that enabled the flight path for NASA’s first manned spaceflight. An essential part of the team, Katherine Johnson was a black woman who persevered to make her impact, in spite of the turbulent time she was living through. Johnson was an essential part of NASA’s first space mission, and is a woman in tech who truly deserves to be celebrated. In recent years, Netflix has even created a series based around her life at NASA, (as well as two other revolutionary black women, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson), and shows the struggles she faced as a black woman in a white male dominated industry.

3. Grace Hopper

Grace Hopper is a woman in IT who made significant contributions to the development of software and computer programming. Throughout her career, Grace Hopper notably created the first computer language written in English (as opposed to a mathematical format), and contributed to the development of the first electric computer. She’s a name that’ll go down in history, and should be remembered this International Women’s Day.

4. Raida Perlman

Radia Perlman, also know as “Mother of The Internet”, invented the algorithm responsible for the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP). This algorithm was essential in the development in today’s internet – without Radia Perlman, you wouldn’t be able to do so much as look up a restaurant online!

Raida won an array of awards over the course of her career, including the SGCOMM award, and inductions to both the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2016, and the Internet Hall of Fame in 2014.

5. The ENIAC Programmers

This group of ladies are responsible for programming the first all-electric programmable computer. A milestone in technology, these women were unfortunately overlooked in the history of tech and were never credited for their work. The group was composed of six women: Betty Snyder, Kathleen McNulty, Jean Jennings Bartik, Ruth Licherman, Frances Bilas, and Marlyn Wescoff. These women in tech made significant advancements in the computing industry and deserve the credit they were denied this International Women’s Day.

We feel that this list showcases a minute amount of the competence and talent women in IT have displayed in the history of technology. From Ada Lovelace creating computing programmes before the computer even existed, to Katherine Johnson, who fought through both racial and gender biases in order to contribute to NASA’s first manned launch, women in tech can do anything they set their minds to. This International Women’s Day, it’s important to remember their contributions, and learn from the creations they’ve put out into the world of IT. Happy International Women’s Day, and we hope you find the ladies in this list as impressive as we do!

The Solution to Windows Server 2012 End of Life (Eol)

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 16:23:01 GMT

The Solution to Windows Server 2012 End of Life (Eol)

Shaan Randhawa • September 27th, 2023

What to do when you need a server upgrade!

Microsoft recently announced that it will end support for Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 on October 10, 2023 . What does this mean, and how can it harm your business? Well, if your business is still using these models, you will no longer receive bug fixes, updates, or support . This leaves your business data vulnerable to harmful attacks like malware, ransomware, and phishing.

To protect your business, it's crucial to start thinking about switching to a different software as soon as possible, (such as the more recent such as Windows Server 2022). With this coming into effect next month, it’s a good idea to start thinking about changing over to a different software. Many businesses may have been using Windows Server 2012 for over a decade, which is why we understand how it may seem complicated overhauling your system. To help you with this task, we've put together a guide to help you figure out where to start.

What measures should you take?

The first step is to decide how much you’re willing to invest for a server upgrade. Creating a budget to stick to is an important step when upgrading software, as you need to know the price range you’re looking at.

Conduct a digital inventory audit : take stock of your current apps and servers to identify what's important for your business. This will help you determine the features you need, such as memory, storage, processing power, and scalability.

Before transferring your data to the new software, make sure to back it up . This ensures that you won't lose any important files in case of an error. You should also test methods to move data (with the guidance of an IT expert), in a way that has low downtime and moves your information over with few issues.

Next, you should test the new software . This includes the servers, apps, and security systems on the new software. Once the testing is complete, roll out the software to a select group of employees to evaluate its performance and address any final bugs . After that, you can confidently implement the new system across your entire business.

At our expert IT company, we understand the importance of up-to-date and smoothly running software in preventing hacks and malware. If you require assistance with updating your Windows software, contact us today at 01922 612387 or email us at info@vibrant-networks.co.uk. Our team is ready to help you safeguard your business and ensure its success in the digital world.

Threads: Meta’s Take on Twitter

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 08:46:02 GMT

Everything businesses need to know about the latest social media.

As we all know, Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter has resulted in the app's massive plummet in popularity, with Twitter now valuing a mere third of what Musk bought it for. From paid verification ticks to now limiting how many tweets you’re allowed to see a day, it’s clear that not everyone is happy with the new change in leadership. Whilst users were looking for a new place to flock to, Meta decided to take advantage of Musk’s mistakes: for months now, Meta’s been working on their new, shiny, Twitter-esque app. Going by the name “Threads” and gaining 10 million downloads during the first 24hrs after release, it’s clear that this is the hot new Twitter replacement that everyone’s been waiting for.
So, what has the team at Vibrant found out about Threads? What are the new features, how do you set up an account, and where is it available to download?

How to get on Threads

First of all, Threads is available in over 100 countries and can be downloaded onto both Android and iOS devices . You need a pre-existing Instagram account , which allows you to automatically transfer all of your account info onto Threads (making it a dangerous competitor for other new micro-blogging apps, as you don’t have to build your follower community from scratch: these are transferred too!).

The benefits

Upon first look, Threads looks almost the same as Twitter. However, after using it for a bit, we found the differences that gave the app the title of “Twitter-Killer”.

The ad-free, bot-free experience with a diverse range of users makes this social media a breath of fresh air in comparison to Elon’s ad-filled, free-speech dystopic version of Twitter. With a clean, easy-to-use interface and a feed that’s still figuring out how to manage its algorithm, the place is a creative collection of voices meeting, greeting, and enjoying the merge of their Twitter and Instagram audiences. There’s no option to send direct messages as of yet, allowing users to post and curate their thoughts in a more friendly way, which is a very different dynamic from Twitter’s unwelcoming atmosphere. Zuckerberg stated that he wanted Threads to be an “open and friendly place for conversation” : so far, it seems as though that’s the case, with users commenting on the community’s collective feel, and many already jumping ship from Twitter.

So, what are the risks to this shiny new social media?

The drawbacks

Well, it only took a handful of hours for Elon Musk to catch on and file a lawsuit against Meta . After his Twitter takeover, Elon dismissed roughly 3,700 workers (about half of Twitter’s workforce). He is now accusing Meta of hiring ex-Twitter employees in order to gain Twitter’s trade secrets , as well as other intellectual property. Twitter’s attorney, Alex Spiro, demanded that Meta “take immediate steps to stop using any Twitter trade secrets or other highly confidential information.”

In response to these allegations, Meta’s Communications Director, Andy Stone, verified that no past Twitter employees had any association with the development of Threads. However, if Meta loses the lawsuit, they’ll be forced to cease use of any materials believed to be legally owned by Twitter.

This means that, if you’re able to build and cultivate an engaged community on Threads, there’s still a chance that it won’t be permanent. If this happens, you’ll have wasted time, money, and resources on an app that ultimately won’t help you build a solid customer base.

Another risk that’s common with most social media apps is the data Threads can collect from you. As per the app store, Threads are allowed to access and collect users’ data, including: health, fitness, finances, contacts, browsing history, usage, location, search history, identifiers, and other private information.

Conclusion

All in all, Threads seems to be a rather promising new addition to the array of social media apps out there. A refreshing change to the endless ad-littered, competitive landscape we’re used to, we think we’ll give Threads a try for now. Hope to see you there!

If you do choose to check out Threads for yourself, make sure to drop our page a follow at: Vibrant_Networks (and, if you need any IT support or IT services, call Vibrant Networks today!)

Going Green with Refurbished Laptops

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 14:52:05 GMT

How investing in refurbished tech can turn your business eco-friendly

According to the Environmental Audit Committee, each year the UK produces an average of 24.9kg of electrical waste per year, per person. This means that despite being one of the smaller countries, we’re still producing a massive amount of waste.

With figures like this, it’s normal to begin to wonder whether there’s a way to cut down on your own digital waste. The good news is that Vibrant has the perfect solution to your problem: refurbished tech.

What is refurbed hardware, and how can it help your business?

Refurbished hardware is the most efficient way for small businesses to address their corporate social responsibility!

Let's say a corporate company buys a brand-new laptop. On average, a corporate will keep this hardware for around three years, (the average lifetime of a laptop). Inevitably, it starts slowing down, the battery might drain itself too quickly, and an upgrade is needed.

The normal course of action is that the laptop would then be discarded, and end up in a landfill. The laptop would become obsolete, and unable to be recycled from this point.

However, Vibrant has a solution to prevent that from happening. Instead of allowing the old tech to be thrown into landfills, we’ve been refurbishing them, which enables the laptops to have an extended lifespan.

The advantages of refurbed hardware

By swapping out older parts of the hardware (such as memory, hard drives, etc.) for higher-performing parts, Vibrant Networks have been able to salvage older laptops and source them to businesses in Walsall, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, and the West Midlands. Because of these eco-friendly laptops, these businesses have benefited from hardware that's half the cost of new devices, and high-speed laptops that come with a standard one-year warranty. In some cases, keyboards and plastics are also renewed. Not only this, but the faster-running laptops are more energy efficient , meaning the overall carbon footprint of the laptop (and the business!) is lowered . This method of refurbishing laptops also makes high-quality tech more accessible to all types of businesses from SMEs to larger corporations. This will then improve local businesses and communities by being able to access current technology.

On top of this, there’s another obvious benefit: recycling laptops and spare parts mean that less usable hardware is ending up in landfills .

With the statistic listed above, less tech being wasted is definitely a huge thing for a business’s green initiative.

Want to go green? Vibrant Networks can help!

Vibrant’s team of experienced technicians are well versed in rebuilding the bones of laptops, tablets, and plenty of other hardware. If your business is looking to invest in high-quality refurbed tech, either call our Walsall helpdesk on: 01922 612387 , or email at: info@vibrant-networks.co.uk.

Network Project of the Year Winner!

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Vibrant Networks Wi-Fi project Stephen Lawrence Trust won the Network Computing Awards "Network Project of the year 2020"

Vibrant Networks Wi-Fi project Stephen Lawrence Trust won the Network computing awards Network Project of the year 2020.

Success Story
Putting a community space to work : Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust expands with networking upgrade from Zyxel

Overview Success

Achieving faster, wider and more secure connectivity to support growth and the ability to take on business tenants
Maintaining a business-wide network without full time IT support
Implementing a scalable network solution that will grow with an expanding number of daily and external WiFi users

Solution

Nebula Cloud Managed Solution

Background
Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust works with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds aged 13 to 30 to inspire and enable them to succeed in the career of their choice. The Trust believes that someone’s background should not limit what they can achieve and run high impact programmes that inspire and enable young people from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds to succeed.

The Trust owns an iconic building, The Stephen Lawrence Centre, in South London which was built in 2008. In 2017, the interior of the building was redesigned by world-famous architects Gensler introducing the co-working hub, Your Space. The operation of Your Space required fast wi-fi
throughout the whole building to support multiple users and enterprises.

Challenges
As a non-profit organisation, Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust doesn’t have dedicated IT support service or set up, relying instead on one part-time IT volunteer to help troubleshoot devices and reset routers. Originally, the centre was fitted with just one router and a Wi-Fi extender to boost the signal in more distant parts of the building, which often failed. As a result, the signal was poor, network transparency was limited and the Trust had no central bandwidth control. As the trust grew larger and wanted to include separate businesses on its WiFi network, it was faced with a growing concern: the need for faster, wider and more secure network coverage.

Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust now enjoys a quick, stable network across the whole centre. In the 12 months since the Zyxel system was installed, Vibrant Networks, which monitors the new network, hasn’t received any calls for support or to fix issues. The trust can now work more efficiently, without having to worry about the Wi-Fi or IT systems. Importantly it has also been able to expand the number of users on the network, now up to 70 a week including tenants, with no downtime or loss in connection.

Solutions and Benefits
The trust approached IT support provider Vibrant Networks, initially looking for new routers or Wi-Fi boosters. After assessing the centre’s needs, Vibrant advised deploying the Zyxel Nebula system, along with access points and a switch to ensure a fast and secure network. As the centre redevelopment was a pro-bono project, Zyxel donated equipment to help the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust achieve growth, without having to use funding that could otherwise go back into the trust.

“Previously, we only had Wi-Fi for staff, which constantly broke down and only had signal in certain areas of the building. So, we knew that to transform our new centre into a co-working space, we needed a faster, more stable network. Since installing the Zyxel Nebula system our Wi-Fi is stronger and faster, and we have been able to take on tenants who can use our centre as their office.

“Operationally, co-working is now fundamental to what we do here. Thanks to that extra revenue, the trust broke even on our building costs this year for the first time, meaning we’re able to put more money back into the work we do with disadvantaged young people – and we haven’t had to pick up the phone to IT support once,” comments Chelsea Way, Programmes Manager at Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.

Link to the full case study from Zyxel

Link to the Network Computing Awards 2020 Winners listing.

If your trust or charitable organisation has requires for a Wireless network why not call us on (01922) 612387 or Contact Us for more information.

Is Your Business’s IT Ready for the Coronavirus?

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The Corona virus is spreading as fast as feared. Business must be ready for the worst. One priority? Protecting the health of employees. Preparing the way for remote working is one top recommendation.

News of the virus, which the WHO is now calling COVID-19, has prompted urgent interest in remote work. Business collaboration software, virtual desktops, and private networks can all help. This tech helps business continue as usual, even with quarantined employees.

It’s difficult to imagine you aren’t aware of the looming health pandemic. Trying to limit the contagion, we’ve already seen big business take major measures. These include:

Nike temporarily closed its European headquarters when an employee was diagnosed with the virus. After the first death in Washington state in the U.S., the company also closed its world headquarters for a deep clean of its campus.

Twitter told its roughly 4,900 employees to stay home to work .

Other businesses are weighing up the options. Furloughs? Changes to sick leave? Or encouraging work from home. The last option appeals, but how do employees work remotely? How can they continue collaborating with people they used to sit beside, meet in the office, or travel to see? Technological solutions.

The Right Technology for Remote Work

Remote workers want a centralized platform with a simplified (yet secure) login process. Business collaboration software is a great enabler of mobile, flexible work. Replace in-person meetings with voice or video conferencing.

Streamline chat, voice, and video in one software platform. Tools such as Microsoft Teams, Google’s G-suite, or Slack , allow business to create team channels.

Business collaboration tools also simplify access to email, calendars, documents, and file sharing. Employees can use a single sign-on to access business tools and data. This supports improved efficiency and increased transparency.

Providing a virtual desktop can provide access to important business applications, as well. Virtual desktops in the cloud allow users to work separately from their personal computers.

The software virtualises the user’s unique desktop environment at any workstation. All the data and applications are stored on a central server. Users access apps, folders, and toolbars from anywhere, with a consistent, secure experience.

Using a cloud-based solution also provides peace of mind. While remote workers access the corporate network, the sensitive data isn't stored locally. So, the business needn’t worry about the loss or theft of sensitive data. Plus, cloud-based virtual desktops are easy to rapidly install outside a quarantined area.

Worried about securing those remote connections? Another option is a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN connects computers, smartphones, or tablets to a shared or public network as if connecting to a private network. These encrypted connections to the internet secure data and protect employees’ mobile activities.

Mobile Work Helps Every Day

You can hope that your employees stay healthy and your business remains unaffected, but why take that risk? Empowering remote work benefits business, even without the threat of a fatal flu.

Remote teams enjoy greater work-life balance. The workers spend less time commuting and are more productive. Empowered, they also feel trusted and more engaged.

Meanwhile, business can save money on physical space and hardware investments. Additionally, the hiring pool of qualified personnel expands with remote work, and the business can offer its services more globally and flexibly. All that’s true whether the corona virus becomes an issue for your business or not.

Enabling a remote workforce takes technology. Need help installing and connecting your employees? We can help. Contact us today at 01922 612387.

Mayor of Walsall Encourages Businesses to Unite Against Cyber-Crime!

Thu, 07 Feb 2019 16:16:11 GMT

Vibrant Networks hosted a Cyber-Security workshop in conjunction with Gone Fishing for Businesses Networking Group.

The seminar had an attendance of over forty businesses and organisations from Walsall Council, Wolverhampton University and Perfect Home to mention a few.

All businesses had a large interest in learning more about cyber-crime and the precautions they can take against it. Vibrant Networks also conducted a Social Engineering experiment to spread awareness about the consequences of different types of cyber-crime, as well as putting the incidents into perspective for the people who attended the seminar.

The experiment which can also be called a people hack, involved team members pretending they were from a well-known internet company. They were able to highlight how easy it was for attendees to think they were actually from there by signing them up for a free fake £75.00 voucher: they were even able to sign up the Major of Walsall! This showed how people need to be on their guard not only online but also offline too.

Vibrant Networks, The Mayor of Walsall, West Midlands Police Cyber Crime Unit and Wolverhampton Crime Reduction Group took part in the Workshop The event took place in the well-known Manor Farm Community Centre in Walsall, in the West Midlands.

The seminars main purpose was to encourage businesses to take cyber-crime seriously, and to also provide them with the IT help and advice they would need to protect themselves against Ransomware attacks which would disrupt their organisation.
This is important, as research tells us that “74% of small businesses have experienced a cyber security breach, and that 1 in 3 Businesses have suffered a cyber-attack last year. “

It also states that 63% of SME’s do not have cyber insurance in the UK.

Cyber-crime is a real threat that can be the downfall to your business, as it allows strangers to get a hold of various details to do with your organisation. Let’s hear what a few other people have to say about it:

“Cyber-security is a very important issue, and we must all be very concerned. We must take the precautions to protect ourselves and our businesses against these people. They’re clever, and instead of using that to better the society we live in, they instead choose to create havoc.” -Walsall Councillor Chris Towe.

“Many businesses aren’t informed on the subject, and it can have a devastating impact on them, for example what happened to the NHS a few years ago. Company leaders aren’t prioritising cyber-security as much as they should be.” -Marco De Longi, Mayor of Walsall.

Need help with your cyber security needs for your business? We can help. Contact us today at 01922 612387.