Tag: Cobweb Managed Services

What Is Microsoft Copilot Analyst & Researcher? The AI Tools Transforming Excel, Word & Power BI

Posted on June 4, 2025 by vickihorn - Blogs, Hot Topic

What Is Microsoft Copilot Analyst & Researcher? The AI Tools Transforming Excel, Word & Power BI

Home » Cobweb Managed Services

Written By

Kev Gower

Publish Date

04/06/2025

Categories

Blogs Hot Topic

This article was last reviewed and updated for accuracy in June 2025.

Whether you’re wrangling complex data in Excel or crafting a research-heavy report in Word, Microsoft’s Copilot suite is here to help. Copilot Analyst turns your spreadsheets into insight machines, while Copilot Researcher helps you find, summarise, and cite information faster than ever. In this guide, we’ll explore their features, differences, and how to make the most of them in your workflow.

What is Microsoft Copilot Analyst?

Copilot Analyst is an AI-powered assistant built into Microsoft Excel and Power BI. It helps users analyse data, generate insights, identify trends, and create visualisations using natural language prompts — no advanced formulas or coding required.

What does Copilot Researcher do?

Copilot Researcher assists with gathering and summarising information, drafting content, and compiling references. It integrates with Microsoft Word and other Microsoft 365 apps to help users write well-researched documents faster.

How are Copilot Analyst and Researcher different?

While both tools use AI, Copilot Analyst focuses on data analysis and insights within Excel and Power BI, whereas Copilot Researcher is geared towards content creation, summarisation, and structured research in Word and other documentation tools.

Can Copilot Analyst clean and transform data?

Yes, Copilot Analyst can help identify inconsistencies, detect duplicates, and suggest transformations to prepare your data for analysis — especially within Excel spreadsheets and Power BI datasets.

Can Copilot Researcher summarise academic papers?

Yes, Copilot Researcher can summarise long-form content, including academic articles and reports, and even suggest references and citations (depending on data access permissions and tools enabled).

Is Copilot Analyst available in Power BI?

Copilot Analyst features are gradually being integrated into Power BI, enabling users to query datasets using natural language, build visuals, and generate dashboards with AI assistance.

Does Copilot Researcher access live web data?

Copilot Researcher may pull publicly available data if permitted, but it primarily relies on sources Microsoft 365 has access to. It is not a full web search engine but can generate summaries based on embedded or linked content.

Is Copilot included in Microsoft 365?

Some versions of Microsoft 365 (particularly Microsoft 365 Copilot for Enterprise) include access to Copilot features, but availability varies by plan and region. UK users may need to check licensing or upgrade options.

How secure is Copilot for sensitive business data?

Microsoft Copilot services are built with enterprise-grade security, including data residency, encryption, and compliance with major standards like GDPR. Your data stays within your Microsoft environment and is not used to train the AI.

Can Copilot Researcher generate citations and references?

Yes. When summarising information or drafting reports, Copilot Researcher can include properly formatted references. It supports citation styles like APA, MLA, and Chicago depending on the tool you’re using.

How much does Microsoft Copilot cost in the UK?

As of 2025, Copilot for Microsoft 365 typically costs around £25–£30 per user/month per seat.

If you’d like assistance with using Copilot in your business, feel free to reach out to our team at hello@cobweb.com.

Our team can help you with Copilot!

Strengthening Your IT Security with Automated Patch Management

Posted on May 28, 2024 by vickihorn - Blogs

Strengthening Your IT Security with Automated Patch Management

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Written By

Juan Lyall

Publish Date

28/05/2024

Categories

Blogs

Keeping your business safe from cyber threats is a top priority in today’s digital landscape. One key aspect of this is ensuring your systems are regularly updated with the latest patches.

Cyber attackers often exploit vulnerabilities left unaddressed by outdated software, leading to potential financial losses and breaches for businesses. Addressing these vulnerabilities through regular patch management is crucial.

In a 2019 survey conducted by Ponemon Institute, 60% of breach victims said they were compromised due to known vulnerabilities they didn’t patch. In 2021, Microsoft found that more than half of known network vulnerabilities were due to missing patches, and a staggering 68% of organisations hit by ransomware lacked effective patch management. Clearly, patching is an absolute necessity for any business when it comes to their cyber security.

So, what exactly is patch management?

Patch management involves the timely deployment of updates by third-party applications to address evolving vulnerability gaps. This ensures that the software remains resilient against potential security breaches, mitigating the risk of exploitation by malicious actors.

By promptly applying updates as they become available, organisations can minimise their exposure to vulnerabilities, reducing the window of opportunity for a breach. Basically, you’re keeping your digital defences up-to-date to ward off potential attacks.

With technology advancing rapidly, cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, especially with the rise of AI. Attackers can now exploit vulnerabilities faster than ever, meaning developers are having to constantly release patches where there may be a security gap.

And how do I ‘patch’ my devices?

While patching manually is possible, it can be time-consuming and prone to delays which is not ideal when it’s neck and neck between you and a potential cyber-attack. In fact, it is estimated it takes 28 days to patch once a high-risk vulnerability is detected on-premises.

On the other hand, automating patch updates streamlines the process, ensuring your systems stay protected without the risk of human error. Just remember to plan out these automatic patch updates so that you have the least amount of disruption for your business as possible. Not only does then mean less downtime for your business, but your IT team will have greater internal availability for other projects.

The solution to always being set to best practice

It may not always be possible with every application to just ‘automatically patch’. But if external management is the route you want to take, you could consider working with a managed service provider (MSP) to ensure seamless patch management.

Integrating patch management into your IT strategy is crucial for maintaining security best practices. Partnering with an MSP that offers automated patch management, along with device management and proactive monitoring, ensures your systems are always protected.

At Cobweb, we provide a comprehensive Microsoft managed service with third-party patch management for over 1500 applications. Our experts will handle the patching process, freeing you to focus on your core strengths and responsibilities. Learn more here about our managed services to keep your business secure and resilient.

Why patching is your biggest vulnerability

Thursday 13th June 2024 @ 3PM

Opting for Managed IT over in-house expansion

Posted on May 13, 2024 by vickihorn - Blogs

Opting for Managed IT over in-house expansion

Home » Cobweb Managed Services

Written By

Keir Nolan

Publish Date

13/05/2024

Categories

Blogs

The IT infrastructure within your organisation is crucial for its success in today’s digital era. Business expansion is heavily dependent on the effective utilisation of technology to make a significant impact and the companies that excel are those that employ technology most innovatively and have the time to manage it.

However, with the UK grappling with significant issues like the skills shortage and the rising cost of living, the ability for many businesses to invest in IT to the necessary extent for success is becoming increasingly challenging.

But what about opting for a service which offers the same efficiency, practicality, security and expertise of an in-house IT team? This is a managed IT service. It’s like having an IT manager 24/7, who never leaves or goes on holiday, is never sick and yet costs only a fraction of what it would to hire one.

So what are the benefits of Managed IT?

To remain competitive, your business must operate efficiently. A lack of efficiency can cause your entire operation to decelerate, preventing it from being well-equipped to handle the workload and challenges of a modern business environment.

Without an expensive IT department, maintaining efficiency is difficult. One IT technician or a small team may not suffice for all your requirements and they are often restricted to assisting just one or two individuals simultaneously, decelerating your operations and possibly resulting in greater downtime. Time is money after all!

Choosing a Managed IT Service resolves this issue at a minimal cost, providing on-demand access to a full team (which should possess strategic vendor relationships to expedite recovery times) without the need to enlarge your IT staff. Essentially, it grants access to IT specialists, enhanced security, and rapid resolution times, all while being more cost-effective than hiring and expanding your IT team.

How will a Managed Service help my IT budget?

For many businesses, budgeting for IT can be challenging due to the skills shortage, making it hard to find the right employee and agree on a wage that satisfies both the business and the individual’s needs.

Opting for a managed IT service, businesses only need to pay a pre-agreed service charge per term, gaining access to a team of experts and continuous support. This team can function as an extension of your existing IT department, liberating resources that can be redirected towards business growth.

Gain a competitive edge

Having access to IT expertise can provide your business with a competitive advantage. You will receive guidance on the latest technologies that can drive organisational change, enabling you to leverage tools like AI and business process automation (BPA) effectively.

The support of a knowledgeable team from a managed IT service provider ensures that you receive comprehensive assistance and can resolve issues swiftly, minimising operational downtime.

Choosing Managed IT enhances security and compliance

Much like security cameras monitoring your home 24/7, a Managed IT service will proactively monitor for any suspicious activity within your own digital environment, to mitigate malicious actors causing harm to your organisation’s data.

Protecting your business around the clock is a resource most businesses simply don’t have without using Managed IT services. Even if you employ an IT specialist to monitor your organisation’s security, there will be times when they are not available and need to go home. However, a Managed Service provides continuous 24/7 monitoring and ensures that new security patches and updates are applied promptly, so your business is never left exposed.

Managed IT service providers can also help you understand compliance regulations and provide advice to ensure you’re not violating these regulations. This helps to prevent noncompliance, which could lead to litigation consequences.

How Cobweb can help

We’ve seen why IT for businesses can be costly. A managed IT service removes this stress and gives you access to a team of experts who work in the background and can help whenever you need it.

Check out Cobweb’s award winning managed services! We’ll be able to work with you and guarantee that your organisation has everything it needs to grow, as well as take care of anything else that you may require.

We’re Your Team, Extended.

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Changing the narrative around scams and cyber attacks

Posted on April 29, 2024 by vickihorn - Blogs

Changing the narrative around scams and cyber attacks

Home » Cobweb Managed Services

Written By

Richard Meek

Publish Date

29/04/2024

Categories

Blogs

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital transformation, where businesses and individuals increasingly rely on online platforms for their daily operations and transactions, the risk of falling prey to sophisticated cyber threats has escalated. As a Managed Service Provid er (MSP) committed to safeguarding your digital journey, we believe it’s imperative to address a crucial aspect of cybersecurity: the normalisation of discussions around online scams. It’s not a matter of if you might encounter a scam or attack, but when.

The Sophistication of Online Scams

Online scams have undergone a dramatic evolution, leveraging advanced technology and psychological tactics to exploit vulnerabilities. These scams range from phishing attempts that mimic trusted entities to elaborate schemes promising high returns on investments. It’s essential to understand that these scams are designed to deceive, making no one immune to their traps, regardless of their level of digital savviness or intelligence.

The Stigma and Its Implications

There’s a pervasive stigma surrounding victims of online scams, often tinged with embarrassment and self-blame. This sentiment stems from a misconception that falling victim to a scam is a sign of naivety. However, the real danger of this stigma lies in its potential to deter victims from reporting these incidents, thereby hindering their recovery process and allowing scammers to operate with impunity.

Changing the Narrative

As your MSP, we are on the front lines of your digital security, and part of our mission is to change the narrative around online scams. Here’s how we’re doing it:

Proactive Communication: We are committed to keeping you informed about the latest scam tactics and preventive measures. Regular updates and educational content are part of our strategy to empower you and your team, ensuring you’re always a step ahead.

Offering Robust Support Systems: Our dedicated support team is here to assist you in the event of a scam. From identifying the breach to navigating the recovery process, we provide the resources and expertise needed to minimize the impact on your operations.

Emphasising the ‘When’ Not ‘If’: We operate under the premise that encountering online scams and attacks is a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’. This mindset is crucial for developing robust prevention strategies and resilience against potential threats.

Advocating for Transparency and Reporting: Encouraging transparency and prompt reporting of scams within your organisation can significantly mitigate risks. It also plays a vital role in our collective efforts to combat online fraud, enabling us to update our defensive measures in real-time.

Educating your business: We work with leading awareness training companies to provide cost effective training and education, and threat simulations to your employees. We help you prepare for the ‘when’, meaning these threats will go no further.

Managing Your Services: Our management of the products we provide, such as Microsoft 365, Azure, Acronis, and Mimecast & KnowBe4 means that threats are being monitored and dealt with by experts who work in this field day in and day out. They are also the most up-to-date on changes to products and licenses and evolving threats.

Together, by fostering an environment of openness, education, and support, we can strengthen our defences and maintain the integrity of our digital ecosystem. Remember, in the realm of cybersecurity, preparedness and partnership are our most potent weapons.

Find out more about our Managed Services

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How to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Attacks

Posted on March 27, 2024 by vickihorn - Blogs

How to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Cyber Attacks

Home » Cobweb Managed Services

Written By

Juan Lyall

Publish Date

27/03/2024

Categories

Blogs

Creating a solid cyber security strategy is crucial, especially in the face of the rising threat of ransomware which has surged by 13% in the last five years. Recent data reveals that 4 in 10 victims fail to recover their data after an attack, and 1 in 5 organisations forced to deal with ransomware had to halt their operations.

While these statistics might seem daunting, having a plan in place is your best defence. The prospect of an attack becomes even more dangerous when you lack a comprehensive response strategy.

At our most recent networking event, Cobweb Connect, we had the privilege of hearing insights from Sarah Armstrong Smith, Microsoft’s Chief Security Advisor for Europe. She delved into incident response and crisis management, stressing the importance of preparing your employees to handle breaches. It’s safe to say our attendees absorbed a lot from Sarah’s experience, underscoring the need for decision makers to grasp the potential consequences of not having solid plans or incident response protocols in place.

So, how can you effectively prevent, detect, and respond to a ransomware attack?

Prevention:

Stay Informed: Stay updated on technology, software changes, and application updates. Understanding alterations and design differences in IT infrastructure can help identify vulnerabilities.

Employee Training: Equip your employees with the knowledge of cyber risks, including phishing emails, unvetted software downloads, and malicious attachments.

Incident Response Tests: Conduct regular incident response tests to evaluate your company’s preparedness and communication protocols.

Prioritise Back-ups: Safeguarding your data with regular back-ups is crucial. Having a clean back-up readily available ensures you can restore your information swiftly in case of an attack.

Detection:

Early Signals: Familiarise yourself with the common indicators of a ransomware attack, like encrypted files, slow systems, and ransom notes.

Behavioural Analysis: Learn how ransomware attacks unfold so that you’re able to detect deviations from normal activity, triggering alerts faster.

Response:

Effective Communication: Establish open communication channels within your company, ensuring a prompt response to any breach. Every employee plays a role in safeguarding data and digital security.

Identify Affected Systems: Identify and isolate the IT software to compromised by the ransomware attack.

Engage with Experts: Involve cyber security experts in your response strategy to effectively combat ransomware attacks and understand where the source of where the ransomware came from.

System Remediation: Initiate system remediation using various strategies:

Utilise clean versions from your data backups to restore your system.
If no data backups exist, attempt to reconstruct lost data.
As a last resort, consider paying the ransom, hoping for a decryption key.

Uncover Hidden Threats: Before restoring your systems, thoroughly inspect them for concealed malware left by ransom attackers. Additionally, ensure all patches are current to prevent vulnerabilities.

Understanding how to safeguard against ransomware risks is essential, and a Managed Service Provider (MSP) can help ease these concerns. With Cobweb as your MSP, you can concentrate on your core business while we manage and monitor your IT systems, enhancing security. Our proactive approach shields your devices, endpoints, gateways, and cloud services from potential threats. Contact Cobweb to explore how our MSP solutions can fortify your cyber defences and become part of a community dedicated to a risk-free digital future.

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Choosing the right Managed Service Provider

Posted on January 9, 2024 by vickihorn - Blogs

Choosing the right Managed Service Provider

Home » Cobweb Managed Services

Written By

Juan Lyall

Publish Date

09/01/2024

Categories

Blogs

Whichever study you choose to pay attention to, the number of companies moving their IT operations, either fully or partially, to managed service providers exceeds 80%. I remember reading a Jump Factor report from 2021 which mentioned that 90% of IT and Business leaders were making this choice. More recent research suggests that little has changed, and I think we can all agree that’s a huge majority!

The benefits extend far beyond just addressing skills gaps and saving costs. It’s about concentrating your resources, becoming faster, fostering innovation, accelerating transformation, and gaining that competitive edge.

In a recent study by PwC, I found that among the top 20% of high-performing companies, all of them were turning to MSPs, or at least to some extent.

The real question

So, as an MSP, convincing businesses to engage with one is often pushing on an open door. The question shifts from “should I be engaging with an MSP?” to “which one?”. Seeing as there are 150,000 MSPs globally, it’s safe to assume there is a wide choice! The difficulty is knowing which MSP fits your business best.

How to find the right MSP

Partnering with the right Managed Service Provider can significantly enhance your organisation’s success, not only in the IT department but throughout the entire business, so it’s vital you choose the right one for you:

Define your objectives: Start by outlining your IT needs and objectives. Identify your pain points and improvement goals. If unsure, most reputable service providers offer consultancy and assessment services to help you get started and you shouldn’t be pushed into buying a service straight away – in fact a credible MSP won’t want to do that. They will need to understand your direction and outline this journey.
Evaluate expertise and experience: With numerous MSPs available, their size, skill, and experience vary widely. Inquire about their track record in assisting organisations similar to yours.
Seek comprehensive offerings: A quality MSP should provide a holistic approach to IT Management, including Proactive Monitoring, Security Solutions, help desk, Cloud Services, Backup/Disaster Recovery, and more. However, comprehensive offerings does not mean a ‘jack of all trades’. Rather, you should make sure they cover a suite of services which cover your needs.
Consider scalability: On the assumption that your business will grow and change, your MSP should be flexible to be able to meet these changes. How do they adapt to new technologies? How do they adjust their service levels and offerings not just to meet the changing nature of your business but the wider IT and IT Security world?
Evaluate availability: Do you need a 24/7 offering and if so, do they offer that? Asking about their average response and resolutions times is a good idea.
Prioritise security: Cyber threats are a major concern for any organisation today, large or small. News of attacks go way beyond just IT press and are a serious threat to your company’s credibility and very existence. Ask how they intend to strengthen your own security protocols and ask about their own security practices – Do they practice what they preach? A robust security should absolutely be your top priority – and theirs.
Emphasise communication: It’s very easy to engage with an MSP and sign a contract, but a good MSP will offer timely and transparent reporting and regular updates on the status of the infrastructure they manage. So ask yourself, are their channels of communication open and clear?
Demand personalisation: All businesses are different, and as such, a good MSP should be able to demonstrate how they are able to tailor their service to your needs. IT Managed Services are not a one size fits all and are not an all or nothing.
Check references: Ask them for testimonials and references from companies similar to yours. Most providers will present and measure customer satisfaction, the good ones will compensate their staff on those metrics. So, ask to see them.
Evaluate cost and ROI: While cost matters, it shouldn’t be the sole deciding factor. Consider how the MSP’s services will contribute to your ROI by saving time, resource optimisation, and other areas. Assuming they seem proficient enough in getting to this point, they should be able to offer you some valuable guidance here.
Review SLA/Contract: Obviously, the points on which you have agreed with the MSP should reflect in the Service Level Agreement and specific delivery points should be in the contract document. Read it carefully. Remind yourself of what you were looking to achieve and make sure this aligns.

In conclusion, your agreement with an MSP forms the foundation of a strong partnership. Choosing the right MSP should be a strategic decision that impacts your business’s efficiency, security, and growth. With multiple options available, following these guidelines and conducting your own research will help you find the right fit. I sometimes talk about the utopian objective finding excellence in IT, the right MSP should help you towards that.

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Social Engineering: New year, new threats

Posted on January 2, 2024 by vickihorn - Blogs

Social Engineering: New year, new threats

Home » Cobweb Managed Services

Written By

Dan Raven

Publish Date

02/01/2024

Categories

Blogs

The start of a new year is often seen to be a time for reflection and setting goals. It’s also a time when social media is flooded with posts about new year’s resolutions and the iconic saying of ‘new year, new me’. Unfortunately, while there seems to be no harm in this, it can be easy to forget how effortlessly cyber criminals can take advantage of people’s eagerness to share their personal information online.

We now live in a world where everything is posted to social media. Social engineering is a type of cybercrime that involves psychological manipulation, getting you to hand over confidential information online. And what do these cyber criminals use as their prime source to ‘get to know you’? Social media. So remind yourself and your colleagues when they’re writing up their next LinkedIn caption or post their next job promotion, to think carefully about the information displayed and how it could be used against them.

For businesses, social engineering attacks can be particularly devastating. A single successful attack can result in the loss of sensitive data, financial loss, and damage to the company’s reputation, resulting in customer mistrust.

So how can businesses protect themselves from social engineering attacks?

1. Educate your employees.

Make sure your employees are aware of the risks of social engineering attacks and how to identify them. Provide regular training sessions to keep them up to date on the latest threats. More often than not, interactive training software retains information far better than a 20-minute presentation.

2. Monitor your accounts.

Regularly monitor your social media accounts for suspicious activity. If you notice anything unusual, investigate it immediately.

3. Limit access to sensitive information.

Be careful about what information you share on social media. Do not post sensitive information such as financial data, trade secrets, or customer information.

4. Switch to private.

Whichever social media platform you are on, most will have settings to privatise certain parts of your account. This acts as a barrier to cyber attackers gaining huge amounts of information.

5. Use strong passwords.

Many employees sign into their social media accounts such as LinkedIn on a work device. Make sure your employees use strong, unique passwords here to decrease the chances of their account becoming hacked. Using a password manager helps to keep track of all the complex passwords they (now don’t) need to remember!

As a business owner or IT manager, it’s crucial to remind your colleagues and employees of the dangers of social engineering. With the start of a new year, it’s an ideal time to make positive changes and step up your online security. While anti-virus and anti-phishing software are essential, your employees are pretty much your first line of defence. Unfortunately, according to email security provider Mimecast, more than 90% of security breaches involve an error by an employee, making it vital to keep them aware of the increasing cyber threats.

Our interactive training software, KnowBe4, provides non-intrusive, regular training to change behaviour and help employees retain information, keeping them up-to-date on the latest threats. Let’s face it, hour-long presentations aren’t going to keep your employees’ attention for long! Reach out to us today to see how we can help your business’s first line of defence – your people.

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IT Continuity over Christmas… No more sleepless nights

Posted on December 6, 2023 by vickihorn - Blogs

IT Continuity over Christmas… No more sleepless nights

Home » Cobweb Managed Services

Written By

Juan Lyall

Publish Date

06/12/2023

Categories

Blogs

The holiday season is often a time for celebration, but for businesses, it can also be a period of heightened stress, especially when it comes to IT continuity. With increased potential security threats and staff taking their well-deserved breaks, the risk of IT disruption is far higher. So how can you rest easy over the Christmas period if your IT systems aren’t being managed and your staff are off enjoying their Christmas pudding? Well, there’s a simple solution – you can partner with a Managed Service Provider (MSP).

The dreaded IT challenges during Christmas

During Christmas, depending which industry your business is in, you often face a surge in online activity which can frustratingly, strain your IT systems. The risk of cyber crime also rises as attackers know systems can be overrun and staff are more off the ball. But as many businesses are aware, uninterrupted IT operations during this busy period is crucial for maintaining customer trust and business continuity.

Advantages of partnering with an MSP

Proactive Monitoring and Support: With an MSP you can have 24/7 monitoring of your IT systems, ensuring that potential issues are identified and resolved before they escalate.
Expertise and Experience: Due to their experience, MSPs bring a wealth of knowledge when it comes to handling complex IT environments. Their expertise is invaluable when navigating unique challenges that your business may face during the festive season.
Scalability and Flexibility: A significant advantage of MSPs is the ability to scale resources according to the demand of your business. Directors and business owners often find that this flexibility is crucial over Christmas, especially when web traffic can increase, and additional support may be required.
Increased Security: Partnerships with MSPs involve tightening your security, which in turn ensures compliance (which is a pretty large component in business these days). Handing over your security won’t only help you to sleep better at a highly risky time but could also save you from losing lots of money if an attack were to cause a breach.

Cost-Effectiveness and ROI

Outsourcing IT management to an MSP can be cost-effective in several ways. Whether that’s downsizing on recruitment or having your IT staff focus on alternative in-house management, MSPs offer a predictable cost-effective model and can help reduce overall IT expenses while maximizing return on investment.

Partnering with an MSP this Christmas could be the solution you’ve always needed for your business. By ensuring uninterrupted IT services, enhancing your security, and having the ability to scale resources, you can focus on what truly matters (both within your company and at home over the holidays).

You deserve a Christmas just like the rest. In partnering with Cobweb, we can keep your IT seamless over the festive period (and every other day of the year!). To learn more about a Cobweb Managed Service and how we can help your business thrive during Christmas and the New Year, check out our services here.

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Navigating Compliance: Ensuring Data Security in Regulated Industries

Posted on November 14, 2023 by vickihorn - Blogs

A woman with a headscarf on is reading some paper documents in her hands. A white office with glass windows is the background.

Navigating Compliance: Ensuring Data Security in Regulated Industries

Home » Cobweb Managed Services

Written By

Keir Nolan

Publish Date

14/11/2023

Categories

Blogs

When we consider small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), it’s evident that they span a wide array of industries, processes, objectives, and offerings. Yet amidst how diverse each SMB can be, there’s one unifying factor that’s paramount for all businesses: compliance.

Beyond the typical day of an SMB, lies a complex web of rules and regulations, all designed to protect mass amounts of sensitive data. This is the world of compliance – a critical aspect of modern business that ensures personal and confidential information remains securely protected and ethically managed.

Unravelling the complexity of compliance:

Compliance isn’t confined to just large corporations as some may think; it’s a mandate that applies to SMBs as well. At times, there’s a misconception that only sectors dealing with sensitive data, like healthcare or finance, are required to adhere to compliance regulations and maintain backup protocols. But this simply isn’t true. If a company mishandles data or fails to comply with regulations, the outcomes could be dire, including reputational damage, financial losses, and erosion of trust. As a result, any one of these outcomes could result in an SMB to cease trading.

Navigating this landscape can be extremely overwhelming, especially for those without an in-house IT team to guide them through the complexity of GDPR and privacy laws. Keeping up to date with the latest regulations is not only timely, but also deters you away from what you do best – innovation. Ignoring the problem however, could result in a much larger consequence for your business…

How to comply without the hassle

Cobweb’s compliance solution:

Sometimes when things get a bit overwhelming, it’s best to not be left alone…

A Managed Service Provider (MSP) is the emerging norm for businesses seeking a reliable compliance solutions.

Outsourcing to an MSP enables companies to dedicate themselves to innovation while entrusting experts to manage internal systems, secure networks, apparatus, and data.

Your trusted compliance allies:

Partnering with an MSP is to form an alliance with expertise. These service providers extend their proficiency to compliance and data privacy matters, offering valuable recommendations to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.

Vigilance and threat detection:

The relentless demand for cyber security vigilance is nothing new. Businesses should have processes and software in place to mitigate risks, fend off breaches, and keep a constant data backup. However, for those without an in-house IT team to manage these systems, staying ahead can be challenging.

MSPs excel in constant network monitoring and vulnerability scanning, immediately alerting potential malicious content. They also conduct regular security assessments to uncover system vulnerabilities that hackers might use to their advantage. As a result, a competent MSP will provide clients with detailed reports from these assessments, giving recommendations and empowering your business to make informed decisions.

The MSP proactive advantage:

With an MSP by your side, compliance regulations are no longer a burden. The advantage of partnering with an MSP means proactive response mechanisms ensure that potential issues are identified and addressed before they snowball into significant problems. If consistent patterns of insufficient performance arise, a trigger for immediate action will occur, saving your business from expensive downtime disruptions.

Enforcing policies with precision:

Navigating ever-evolving data policies while aligning with industry regulations can be a daunting task. To eliminate these complexities, MSPs enforce data policies and access controls, allowing businesses to focus on core operations without compromising on their compliance.

Embrace data compliance with Cobweb:

Ready to safeguard the future of your business?

At Cobweb, our partnership goes beyond a simple connection – we become an extension of your team, dedicated to ensuring your security. With a loyal customer base of over 4,000 customers, we specialise in strengthening SMBs with the best IT solutions, tailored to their business. It’s time to ensure your business’s data integrity, and Cobweb is here to become your trusted compliance partner – why not have a chat with us about it?

Your Team, Extended.

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5 Signals It’s Time To Look For A New MSP…

Posted on November 7, 2023 by vickihorn - Blogs

A man looks down at his notebook with a laptop in front of him. He is thinking to himself.

5 Signals It’s Time To Look For A New MSP…

Home » Cobweb Managed Services

Written By

Juan Lyall

Publish Date

07/11/2023

Categories

Blogs

Is it time to re-evaluate your Managed Service Provider’s (MSP) effectiveness?

While changing MSPs might seem like a hassle, a poor relationship or lack of two-way communication with your provider can lead to bigger issues down the road, including cyber security vulnerabilities.

Here are 5 warning signs that suggest your company needs a new MSP:

They’re a one timer

An MSP should do what it says in the name – manage. This means frequently assessing and recommending improvements to your IT infrastructure. It should not just be a one-time job, just as it is not a one size fits all approach. Building a relationship with your MSP based on trust and frequent communication ensures a better understanding and personalised service for your business.

Unreliable customer service

What’s one of the main reasons a company will go to use an MSP? The expertise and skill they provide. If your current MSP doesn’t meet it’s SLA (Service Level Agreement), or is slow responding to queries raised, it’s a clear indicator that you may be better served elsewhere.

They are a supplier, not a partner

Your MSP should not merely offer basic licensing and support. Instead, they should act as a strategic partner and advisor, guiding you in mapping out future services and solutions, enabling effective budgeting and long-term strategic planning.

They lack transparency

Transparency is crucial in any MSP-client relationship. Your SLA should clearly outline:

The services
Monthly charges
Agreement limitations
Customer service options

The last thing you want is a surprise invoice or bill! Moreover, If you don’t understand some of the technical jargon used in the contact, your MSP should attend to this matter and never force you to sign into a contract which you don’t understand.

They don’t do their research

An effective MSP stays up-to-date with IT infrastructure and your company’s needs. Do you always find out the latest industry news, price increases and new offerings from your MSP? They should be there to guide you on industry changes to make sure you can plan and budget your IT roadmap.

If you’re not receiving this support and advise, it might be time for a change.

Don’t let your business be short-changed. At Cobweb, we offer highly personalised and flexible managed service options, empowering you to focus on innovation while we handle the rest. Book a free consultation with our experts to discover the right fit for your needs. Your success is our priority.

Build a partnership with us, today.

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