Tag: IT Solutions

5 Common Cybersecurity Myths Your Business Should Be Aware Of
Are you aware of the top cybersecurity myths?

What are the top cybersecurity myths you should be aware of in 2022? In this article, we’ll debunk some of the biggest misconceptions about digital security.

Thankfully, businesses are now more aware than ever of cyber threats and are starting to take cybersecurity very seriously. PwC found that nearly 64% of UK CEOs are concerned about how cyber threats could harm their ability to sell products and services.

Indeed, taking into proper account your organisation’s cybersecurity is a vital part of running a modern business. This keen focus on abating cyber threats, however, had led to many cybersecurity myths becoming commonplace.

Believing these ill-informed cybersecurity myths could leave your business vulnerable to threats and may render your security infrastructure ineffectively.

Myth 1: Hackers don’t target small businesses

We understand why some small business owners feel like cybersecurity isn’t important to them. Cybersecurity can be a big investment for smaller firms and start-ups and many decision-makers would prefer to spend that money on other sections of the business.

However, there’s no truth in the misconception that hackers don’t target small businesses. In fact, a report from Barracuda found that cybercriminals are up to three times more likely to target small businesses than larger firms.

Why? Hackers smaller businesses as ‘low-hanging fruit’ and target their inadequate security infrastructure and take advantage of insufficient security training for staff for social engineering attacks.

Furthermore, the lasting damage of cyber attacks to smaller businesses is greater than for enterprises. 60% of small businesses fail within six months of a cyber attack or data breach.

Myth 2: Antivirus and firewalls will protect my business

Firewalls and antivirus software are a brilliant first line of defence for your digital infrastructure – but attacks can and will get through them. A holistic cybersecurity strategy will need to use other methods of protection such as backups, cybersecurity awareness training and two-factor authentication.

First of all, antivirus software and firewalls are only effective if they’re regularly updated and configured correctly. Not quite sure how to make sure they’re running effectively? We recommend working with a Managed Service Provider (MSP) like ours to configure your security infrastructure for you.

Secondly, antiviruses and firewalls can only protect your business from malicious software and intrusions. They’re less effective at preventing social engineering attacks such as phishing scams, mishandled login credentials or internal threats. We’ll cover what’s needed to prevent these attacks later on!

Myth 3: Phishing attacks are easy to spot

A common misconception is that only the tech-illiterate fall for phishing attacks and that cyber awareness training is a waste of time for those who are “good with computers.”

In reality, this just isn’t the case. Phishing attacks – especially those specifically targeting your business for espionage – are becoming increasingly more convincing.

One of the most common forms of phishing is a spear phishing attack – where attackers use gathered intel about your business to make the email (or phone call) look legitimate. Over 65% of targeted attacks are done this way.

They commonly ask for payment or urgent action for a convincing reason. Attacks may also spoof a legitimate email – for example, a manager, the CFO or CEO.

Businesses need to train their staff on spotting phishing attacks and what sorts of emails to be suspicious about. However, even then, some phishing attacks may be too convincing to spot. For that reason, you’ll also need an email filter actively looking for possible phishing scams.

Myth 4: A long complex password will keep my account safe

A strong password policy is a cornerstone of a cybersecurity strategy. However, there are some other considerations to make other than having a long, complex password:
- Enforce a policy to regularly change passwords. Some hackers may gain login credentials through phishing or a data breach. Changing passwords regularly removes this opportunity.
- Encourage employees to remember passwords and not write them down. What’s the point of a complex password if it’s available for everyone to see on a post-it note or a text file?
- Your employees should never share their passwords – even with trusted colleagues, friends and family.
- Implement multifactor authentication to ensure that hackers can’t gain access to your employees’ accounts even if they have their passwords.
Myth 5: The only real concern is external threats

Insider threats pose just as much of a concern as external threats – if not, more as they’re difficult to protect against. According to Gurugul, 98% of companies are concerned about insider threats whilst only 11% believe they’re well protected from them.

Internal threats fall into three broad categories:
- Negligent Insider
- Stolen Credentials
- Malicious Insider
Negligent insider threats are when an employee or executive negligently exposes your business to a cyber vulnerability – but unintentionally (or at least without malice). This is is the most common insider threat.

These types of threats can be prevented through cyber awareness training or a Data Loss Prevention program.

Stolen credentials involve the loss of credentials – mainly through social engineering attacks such as phishing. Protecting from these attacks involves awareness training, two-factor authentication and suspicious activity detection.

The least common type of insider threat is the malicious insider attack – where an employee or business partner causes damages or steals data intentionally. This is by the hardest to protect from as companies generally assume all their employees aren’t out to sabotage them.

The best way to protect from this is by enforcing strict access permissions (and ensuring employees can only access the data they need) and using data loss prevention (DLP) and monitoring tools.

These steps prevented a huge data incident in October 2021 when a Pfizer employee uploaded 12,000 confidential files to a Google Drive account – according to Reuters. This suspicious activity was detected and prevented by DLP software. Turns out, the employee had accepted a job offer from competitor Xencor, and this was attempted espionage.

How we can help secure your business

Cybersecurity infrastructure is a long, complex process. However, the return on investment (ROI) of cybersecurity projects is immense due to security expenses avoided is immense.

For instance, according to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2021, the average cost of a data breach is $4.24M! That’s why we highly recommend upgrading your security infrastructure and protecting your business from increasingly dangerous cyberattacks.

Want to learn how we can help you secure your business? Looking to deliver effective cyber awareness training? Want to explore what software solutions are best for protecting your business?

Get in touch with us today and see how we can level up your business’s cybersecurity with Cyber Essentials.
August 10, 2022
Why a Cyber Essentials certification is important for SMBs

So why should you have cyber essentials certification?

In recent years, it has become increasingly important for businesses to secure their IT systems to reduce the chance of falling victim to a cyberattack. In the UK alone,39% of businesses were targeted by a cyberattack in the last 12 months. Whilst most cyberattacks target large businesses and enterprises, it is also just as common to happen to small businesses. This is because they are less likely to have invested in securing their IT systems. For this reason, all SMB owners should invest in strengthening their security posture and aim to achieve a Cyber Essentials certification.

What is a Cyber Essentials certification?

It is a UK Government backed scheme that is designed to protect companies against a wide range of cyberattacks. There are two levels of certifications: Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus. Cyber Essentials is a self-assessment, that ensures businesses have controls in place to protect against most common cyberattacks. Cyber Essentials Plus is a more in-depth certification and includes hands-on technical verification.

The certification covers many areas, including firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection, security update management and more. The Cyber Essentials certification lasts for 12 months. It is then regularly updated to make sure businesses are protected against basic attacks.

The importance of cybersecurity for SMBs in 2022

All small businesses are at risk of falling victim to a cyberattack. The most common cyberattacks being phishing, data breaches and ransomware attacks. All of these attacks can be awful for businesses, both in terms of the costs, as well as the costs associated with damages to a business’s reputation.

Thankfully, many of these attacks are carried out by relatively unskilled cybercriminals. So fortunately they can be stopped by implementing some basic security controls. In a recent blog we explained the benefits and added protection of companies outsourcing their cybersecurity to professionals. With a Cyber Essentials certification, these attacks are no longer viable.

Benefits of a Cyber Essentials certification for SMBs

Reduce the chance of falling victim to a cyberattack

The overall goal of Cyber Essentials is to reduce a business’s cyber risk. As the assessment covers most attack surfaces and the associated technical security controls, Cyber Essentials covers all the bases to protect from 80% of common cyberattacks. Although the methods that cybercriminals use are constantly changing, these technical controls will typically stop basic attack methods, especially if they are not highly targeted attacks.

Gain a competitive advantage

For small businesses within competitive industries, a Cyber Essentials certification can be a way to stand apart from the competition. The certification shows that your business takes security seriously. Therefore any customer, either consumer or corporate, doing business with you is less likely to have their data leaked as part of a customer data breach. After a business obtains their certification, they can also display the certification badge on their website and other marketing materials.

Find new business opportunities

A Cyber Essentials certification is mandatory for businesses considering submitting a bid for a contract with the NHS, Ministry of Defence, and UK Government. Many private sector businesses also look for the Cyber Essentials badge of approval when seeking new suppliers.

Improve credibility and reputation

The technical controls necessary to obtain the certification are relatively simple to implement, and the self-assessment is a quick and easy process. This simple and affordable option can add significant value to a business as it improves credibility and reputation. Having a Cyber Essentials certificate shows customers that a company is committed to protecting its data. It also shows they are taking action to reduce the chance of them falling victim to a cyberattack.

Free Cyber Liability Insurance

Once your business has gained its Cyber Essentials certification, your business is automatically entitled to free Cyber Liability Insurance to the total limit of £25,000 of indemnity. This also gives businesses access to a 24-hour hotline to report a cyber incident. This includes crisis management and incident response. For businesses that do not already have cyber insurance, this is a perfect option to recover from a small breach or incident. Many cyber insurance providers will also give discounts to businesses that are certified.

How we can help?

For businesses that are’t well versed in the world of cybersecurity, it can be difficult to implement the technical controls necessary to obtain a Cyber Essentials certification. We can help your business implement the technical controls. As well as this we provide additional security services to further reduce the chance of falling victim to a cyberattack. To find out more, contact us today.

August 2, 2022
July 2022 – Newsletter

Here at The Unite Group we are always looking for ways to keep our customers up to date with the latest deals, tips, industry news as well as what our fantastic team are getting up to! We are proud to produce a monthly newsletter to do this.

In this newsletter: we share the charity golf days we are participating in, celebrate 1 year of our newsletter, welcome 2 new team members to the Social+ team, showcase one of our fantastic customers Tumble Activity Centre, introduce the next Network+ event, talk all things cyber essentials & are looking for an individual to join our team!

To read The Unite Group’s July Monthly Newsletter, click on the image below!

To be added to our mailing list drop us an email, info@theunitegroup.co.uk or to speak to our friendly team call us on, 0191 466 1050

July 2022 Newsletter

July 26, 2022
Cybersecurity – 5 reasons why your business should outsource it

Cybersecurity with The Unite Group

Maintaining a strong cybersecurity posture is a significant challenge for most businesses. With complex cyberattacks becoming more common, all businesses are at risk of falling victim. To reduce this risk, businesses typically implement new technologies that focus on prevention, detection, and remediation.

However, this technology alone will not prevent a cyberattack, it will need to be supported by skilled security professionals. Many businesses choose to outsource this to a trusted third party to ensure their business is as safe as possible. In this article, we will discuss 5 reasons why businesses should outsource their cybersecurity.

Access to experienced professionals

Many businesses rely on their in-house IT teams to manage their infrastructure, as well as their cybersecurity. Depending on the size of the company, and the workload of the IT department, this can be an overwhelming task. This can then result in a poor security posture and an overworked team. This is made harder as there is a cybersecurity skills shortage. This makes it difficult for businesses to employ experienced cybersecurity professionals.

When a business outsources their cybersecurity to a trusted third party, they gain access to a team of cybersecurity specialists. Their experience ensures they will be able accurately find and plug gaps within a business’s security posture. And most importantly they are aware of the current cyberthreats, and the best way to avoid them.

Reduce costs

For businesses of all sizes, employing a new security professional or training an existing employee can be extremely expensive. For smaller businesses, it can sometimes be difficult to justify having an employee that is dedicated solely to security. In addition to the cost of employing or training someone, a business will still need to pay for cybersecurity technologies.

Whereas if a business outsources its cybersecurity, the cost is typically a fixed amount per month. This includes the technology, as well as access to the team of cybersecurity professionals. Whenever a business is considering the cost of outsourcing security, they should also consider the average cost of a cyberattack. Looking at the cost to the business if this was to happen can help estimate the return on investment.

Decrease workload for in-house IT teams

If your business has an in-house IT department, it is highly likely they already have a full workload maintaining the IT and assisting with support requests. This often leaves them with insufficient time to work on the perfect security solution, or threat monitoring.

With outsourced cybersecurity, the third-party provider is responsible for the planning, implementation and monitoring of a cybersecurity solution. This gives in-house IT departments more time to spend providing IT systems that help grow the business and provide better experiences for other employees and customers.

Improved incident response time

After a business falls victim to an attack, it is imperative that they respond quickly to reduce further damage and limit downtime. If a cybercriminal enters a network or system during the weekend, an in-house IT team may not notice until Monday morning. This will give the threat actor enough time to move laterally across a network and inflict even more damage. For example, it only takes 18 minutes for Russian nation-state hackers to move across a network.

Many cybersecurity providers offer 24/7 protection, detection and remediation to ensure that regardless of when an attack occurs, there is someone ready to swiftly take action. This is also a more cost-effective method of around the clock protection, as it would be extremely expensive to hire an internal team to work throughout the nights and on weekends.

Access to advanced technologies

There are many cybersecurity technologies out there which are designed to fulfil specific roles, including endpoint protection, email protection, autonomous detection, and many more. For an in-house IT department, they will not have experience with all of these advanced technologies, and it would be too costly and time-consuming to provide training for all solutions.

If a business chooses to outsources their cybersecurity requirements, they will be protected by a team of professionals that have experience in the cybersecurity technology. As this team live and breathes cybersecurity, they will also be able to accurately provide insights into which technologies are worth a business investing in.

Looking to outsource your cybersecurity?

In 2022, all businesses need to invest in cybersecurity, before it is too late. There are many advanced threats out there that most in-house IT departments are not prepared or able to defend against. For this reason, it is logical for businesses to outsource their cybersecurity to a trusted third-party provider. To find out more about how we can keep your business safe, contact us today.

July 21, 2022
A chat with Mike, our Technical Director

Mike, our Technical Director

Following on in our meet the team series, we introduce you to Mike. Mike is our Technical Director here at The Unite Group and mostly focuses on the IT side of the business.

We recently had a chat with him to find out a bit more about him and his role…

Growing up, what did you want to be?

I never really knew what field I wanted to go into when I was younger. However I did always enjoy engineering and problem solving. So naturally I ended up doing tech & sciences which led me into discovering a passion for IT and business. I was told by a careers advisor at school that as I was an early riser and liked the outdoors I should be a farmer, so I’m glad I didn’t follow that advice!

What is your role at The Unite Group and how did you end up where you are now?

I am one of the directors within the group and oversee most technical IT aspects of the company and IT projects. I have worked in IT for 23 years. In roles ranging from IT helpdesk, support desk team leader, IT consultant and GIS analyst. After starting SMT Technologies with Dean we later merged our business with Unite Communications. This formed The Unite Group, combining the IT expertise of SMT Tech with the comms expertise of Unite landing me here amongst a great team.

What does a typical day look like at The Unite Group?

As we service a whole host of companies for comms, IT and social media we don’t really have a typical day in the office. I can end up working on any project if the team escalates issues to me. This is one of the exciting parts of the job! Although to summarise a standard week I will mostly be working on planning projects and meeting with clients to discuss the IT options available to them, working with the team on any escalations and trying to fit in work on the groups IT and systems also.

What is your most and least favourite part of the job?

I most enjoy planning and deploying new solutions and systems to overcome issues for clients and our own business, it’s like solving a puzzle!

As for the least favourite part I would have to say, and Lorraine would probably agree, I don’t like completing the finance paperwork we need to keep on top of so I often cause her a headache chasing me to complete or submit information she needs.

What is your greatest achievement?

I would have to say it would be the hard work put into our company which saw us grow from a small 2 man firm into the group we are today. It’s a great source of pride and we really have a great team throughout which delivers a great atmosphere!

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Simply try your best and don’t give up, something instilled firmly by my family as a youth and as a married adult and its very much the theme of my favorite poem, IF, with the line “Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools very much instilling the fact that at times you will hit hardship and see a dream dashed but if you just keep on you can make something better. I think most people can relate closely to that with all the tragedies and hardships recently.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

We have some exciting plans to scale and grow the group and the offerings we deliver so I very much see myself still here, maybe with a 4 day week if I’m lucky! I don’t like having nothing to do so the hustle and bustle of the business is great.

How do you unwind outside of work?

I enjoy zoning out to music. I listen to anything from classical through to country and heavy rock & metal depending on my mood. My current favourite playlist is leaning very heavily to Pink Floyd and Creedence Clearwater Revival for a bit of a retro kick. I also enjoy cooking (when it’s not a rush just to get dinner out) and we as a family enjoy traveling when possible.

To arrange a chat with Mike, or if you want to see how The Unite Group can help you with your business technology needs, contact us on 0191 466 1050.

June 30, 2022
Six common IT challenges for fast-growing businesses

Extended periods of rapid growth are positive for most businesses. It means that the business is acquiring new customers, which is driving increased revenue and better business outcomes. These periods are exciting and necessary for the longevity of a business, but it also creates new challenges. We often see this regarding IT and technology. In this blog we will delve into 6 common IT challenges for fast-growing businesses. In this blog, we will look at how these problems can be solved with the help of a trusted IT provider.

Budgeting for Scaling Up

As businesses grow, they will also need their IT systems to grow with them. This includes everything from software licenses to cloud servers. If businesses are not careful, their IT spending can get out of control. This can leave them with a large invoice, exceeding their budget and eating into their profit margin. Often, fast-growing businesses are not getting the most value from their IT spend and deployment and implementation of technology is reactive, rather than proactive.

If a business partners with a third-party IT provider, the provider will typically be able to give a simple monthly cost per user, with everything included for the set-up. IT providers can also proactively forecast the cost of larger projects, making it easier for businesses to stick to their IT budget.

Receiving Adequate IT Support

As businesses grow, they have different requirements regarding IT infrastructure, as well as IT support. For businesses that already have an internal IT department, the team typically is forced to dedicate their time to research, and then setting up the new systems to support the growth. This results in less time dedicated to actioning support tickets which can decrease productivity within other departments and slow business growth.

If businesses involve a third-party IT provider, they can either outsource the implementation of new technologies or outsource their support desk. This gives IT departments more time to do what they do best to support the continued growth of the business.

Onboarding New Employees

Hiring new employees on short notice is always a challenge. However, this is only made more difficult due to the current chip shortage. Hardware procurement can be a lengthy process, and even if a business already has the device, it still needs to be reimaged and set up for the employee. If onboarding is not a smooth experience it can give a poor first impression of the company.

A trusted third-party IT provider can assist with the onboarding of new employees through the procurement and deployment of new devices. This ensures that every employee receives the right equipment and it is ready to use from day one.

Safeguarding Against Cyberthreats

Most cyberattacks that we hear about in the news are high profile multi-national enterprises. But we find that small businesses and fast growing businesses are just as likely to be targeted. This is due to the fact that cybercriminals view these companies as easy targets as they typically have invested less in security. If a business does get attacked, not only can it harm its reputation, but it can also lead to a large amount of downtime.

This challenge can be solved by looking into a strong security solution. Such a solution typically includes multiple layers of defence to ensure that even if a hacker gets through one layer, there are still many more to stop them from accessing confidential data. Most security solutions also include backup and disaster recovery functionality to ensure swift recovery after an attack.

Lacking Capital Expenditure

In the early stages of rapid growth, businesses may not have sufficient liquid cash to invest in upgrading IT systems. This is particularly true for infrastructure such as servers, which require a significant capital investment. Thankfully, with the rise of cloud servers, businesses can move away from capital expenses and move to operational expenses. As there is no upfront investment, but rather businesses only need to pay for what they use.

Managing Customer Relationships

Whilst small businesses can get away with using spreadsheets, this is not feasible once a business reaches a certain size. This can be solved through building in a customer relationship management solution. This is not a quick process, businesses should invest in a CRM solution early, to prepare for growth. This is something we as a company can help support with.

How we can help

For any business that is currently growing, or looking to grow, you don’t want IT to be holding you back. Our role as a third-party IT provider is to ensure that your IT works as intended. If you want to find out more about how The Unite Group can help your business, contact us today.

June 28, 2022
The role passwords play in a world of cybercrime

Protect your passwords against Cyber Crimes.

For businesses, one weak password can be the cause of a major cybersecurity incident. Here at The Unite Group, we help businesses take measures to ensure they are doing everything possible to reduce the chance of falling victim to an account compromise attack. Whilst having a strong password is a good start. There are other technologies and processes that businesses can implement to reduce this risk. In this article, we will discuss some common methods of password attack. Including how to create a secure password and other ways that businesses can stay safe in a world of cybercrime.

Common methods of password attack

Brute Force

A brute force attack is where a cybercriminal attempts to crack a password by submitting many passwords or passphrases with the hope that one of them will be correct. This is not a manual process. Instead hackers will use a tool that can submit millions of login attempts every second, each with a different credentials.

Dictionary Attacks

Dictionary attacks are a form of brute force attack whereby the cybercriminal runs through a list of common words in an attempt to find the correct password. More sophisticated dictionary attacks will also use words and phrases relevant to the target. This can include their name, pets’ names and birthdays.

Past Data Breaches

Many individuals will reuse passwords across multiple websites and systems. Therefore, if one of these websites has a data breach then all the users’ passwords are leaked. Cybercriminals can use these on other websites and systems.

Phishing

Phishing attacks are a form of social engineering where a cybercriminal imitates a trusted entity and tricks an individual into opening a fraudulent email, SMS, or instant message. This message is designed to deceive the victim. Often encouraging sharing sensitive information or clicking a link that will run malicious code. There are many forms of phishing attacks that range from untailored bulk emails to highly sophisticated spear-phishing attacks. Common credential phishing attacks include malicious emails that ask employees to reset or update their passwords.

How to create a secure password

An understanding of the common methods of credential attacks should guide how employees should create a secure password. In order to avoid brute force and dictionary attacks, passwords should be long and complex. This can include using numbers, symbols and uppercase letters, without using dictionary words or names.

For example, the password ‘janedoe’ would take 2.4 seconds for a hacker to crack. If numbers, symbols and uppercase letters are added to make ‘JaneDoe295!’, this would take 31 hours to crack. However, if a credential of the same length but with random letters and characters, such as ‘f^Hl86$p-x$’ is used, it would take 9 billion years, making it immune to brute force attacks.

In order to avoid a previous data breach being the cause of an account compromise attack, employees should not reuse passwords across multiple sites or services. However, the average organisation uses 80 SaaS applications, and it is unrealistic to expect an employee to remember 80 long and complex passwords. To solve this issue, and avoid credential attacks through phishing, we recommend businesses should also implement other technologies to increase security.

Other ways businesses can stay safe

To avoid phishing attacks, businesses should implement a comprehensive email security solution. Many modern email security solutions use AI to block such phishing attacks before they even land in an employee’s inbox. Some solutions also include web filtering. This will block any malicious URLs, further decreasing the chance of falling victim to an attack.

It should also be noted that passwords should not be the only line of defence against account compromise attacks. Here at The Unte Group we also recommended implementing multifactor authentication (MFA). MFA is an authentication process where a user must provide two or more forms of identification to log in to their account. Typically, the forms of identification are two of the following: something the user knows (such as a password), something they are (such as biometrics) or something they have (such as a hardware key or trusted phone). Deploying multifactor authentication is simple and it prevents 99.9% of all account compromise attacks.

As it is not possible to remember 80+ long, complex credentials, one solution is to make use of a password manager. A password manager can store passwords for an employee, which they can access with a single password. When using, it is essential that the master password is strong. Enabling multifactor authentication can improve security.

All businesses should be taking password security seriously as the consequences of poor password hygiene can be severe. To find out more about password security, or which solution is right for your business, contact us today.

June 14, 2022
Why You Should Consider Microsoft Office 365 as an IT Solution

A lot of common organisational and productivity-based problems in your business can be solved by simple IT solutions, one of which being Microsoft 365.

Business Continuity

Microsoft 365’s cloud infrastructure allows for enhanced business continuity. No matter the situation with your office, home-workers, or user devices all your data and emails are stored safely. This will make writing up your business continuity plan easier as Microsoft 365 covers a lot of the strategy. Furthermore, if one of your staff members was to accidently delete a file these can be recovered by the built-in file recovery system.

At The Unite Group we aim to provide you with effective IT solutions. That’s why we also provide you with managed backups to ensure your company date is safe, secure, and monitored.

Centralised Collaboration

Microsoft 365 gives your business the tools needed to centralise your team’s collaboration. Collaborative tools allow your team to have shared mailboxes, contacts, calendars, and the ability to edit and create documents at the same time.

SharePoint is key for collaboration and included in the Microsoft 365 package, especially with remote working having become the norm. Files can be accessed and synced on PC, Mac, and mobile devices. So, no matter where you or your colleagues are, everyone can be in the know and work together effectively.

Increased Return on Investment

Microsoft 365 allows you to replace many of your teamwork, compliance, and process automations systems you already have in place. This means that you can use Microsoft 365 as an IT solution to drive IT costs down and therefore increase your return on investment. At The Unite Group we can support you with reducing costs across your Managed IT systems. With us, your support is covered through a monthly cost and is charged per user rather than device. This means there are no hidden fees!

Familiar Applications

A huge issue with purchasing new software systems is the learning curve you and your staff are faced with. The time it takes to learn new software’s can affect staff productivity and can lead to frustration as daily procedures change.

Applications such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel are familiar to most people as they are Microsoft’s traditional products. Even if these have updated or changed slightly since some of your staff have used them, they are likely to be much more familiar with them than other IT solutions.

The Unite Group

As Microsoft Partners, at The Unite Group we have demonstrated our ability to meet customers evolving needs in today’s dynamic cloud marketplace. We also have access to dedicated partner support. Allowing us to provide a priority support service when we need Microsoft’s assistance to resolve any potential technical issues. As part of our Microsoft 365 Support Services, we can help you migrate to Microsoft Office 365.

If you are considering outsourcing your Managed IT Services, you can receive full-service IT support from The Unite Group. Enquire today on 0191 466 1050 or email us on info@theunitegroup.co.uk.

For more expert advice explore our LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram!

April 6, 2022
How does being ISO certified benefit your business?

Here at The Unite Group, we have recently achieved ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certification!

This achievement is something to celebrate. Having this ensures that we are providing an excellent standard of service to our loyal customers.

ISO 9001 is a quality management system and ISO 27001 is an information security management system.

Meeting the standards of an ISO certificate provides your business with a number of benefits. These will improve the validity of your company’s management processes.

ISO certification sets a standard for businesses and the daily processes which ensure customer requirements are being met.

This also means that each business has a set of high standardised procedures. By having these procedures in place it means any new employees can easily follow them.

Businesses that have been granted ISO certification are regulated by the BSI to ensure that any changes that have been made are still meeting the standards of the certification.

The ISO 9001 standards was updated in 2015. It is the world’s most popular quality management system standard.

Over one million organisations are ISO 9001 certified. Survey results have found that there is a 60% reduction in the likelihood of mistakes.

Results have also showed that, products and services provided by these organisations have improved by 66% since being certified.

Some customers may require that you are certified before agreeing to pay for a specific service. Therefore, showing that being certified can cause an increase in revenue.

ISO Standards

The ISO standards are compatible with other certifications, for example ISO 9001 is compatible with ISO 27001.

This allows businesses, like us, to improve the quality of their management and security processes at the same time.

This has a knock-on-effect and improves customer acquisition and retention.

ISO 27001 minimises the risk of a security breach which could have legal implications for your business.

By following the procedures put in place with the ISO 27001 certification, risk assessments are conducted, and security information is protected from any pre-anticipated risks.

71% of businesses feel more protected since being ISO 27001 certified.

BSI will work with you and your business to help you achieve improved management processes and integration with corporate risk strategies.

In order to continue meeting the standards of the certification, you must regularly risk assess your business and its procedures.

You must establish correct procedures throughout the company and implement internal reviews regularly.

By being certified, we have greater protection and confidence in our management procedures, ensuring that we are providing our customers with the best possible service.

You can call us on 0191 466 1050 or email us on info@theunitegroup.co.uk for more information.

The Unite Group, to book your free consultation.

June 8, 2021
The Cloud – What is it and How will it Transform Hybrid Working?

We always hear people talking about the cloud, iCloud, the ones in the sky – it can be somewhat confusing.

Therefore, here at The Unite Group, our aim is to remove all the jargon and to make understanding technology simple.

The cloud is essentially like a filing cabinet, with all your business’ files inside. Except there is no physical cabinet and everything is accessed via the internet.

Therefore, it enables multiple users to access the same files and applications across a number of devices.

Using a cloud computing service allows companies to stop making use of physical servers and allows them to migrate their data and files onto an online server that can be accessed from anywhere.

As long as you have internet access, your company’s files and data will be readily available to be accessed from the cloud.

By migrating your data to the cloud, hardware costs are reduced for small to medium sized companies. Therefore the need for these businesses to maintain and update their own servers is removed.

Not only is the cloud so easily accessible, 94% of businesses report to have seen improved online security since they migrated to the cloud.

Microsoft 365 is a widely used example of an app which allows you to store your files in the cloud.

Likewise, Google Drive is an example of a cloud computing service. Consumers often use Google Drive to store their files, photos and more.

So, now the question is how will it transform hybrid working?

Well it already has. At one point, everyone except essential workers were working from home and computing services, like the cloud, were an essential.

The past year the cloud has been vital to helping companies tackle one of their greatest challenges yet.

Hybrid Working Life

Office workers are now adjusting to a life of hybrid working models. Individuals may find that they spend two days in the office and three days at home.

Due to employee expectations since the pandemic, we are very much expecting hybrid working to stay.

But in order for this new working model to work both effectively and efficiently, businesses need a service like the cloud.

Cloud computing services make alternating between remote working and office working a smooth and simple process.

The main benefit being that the files and applications stored in the cloud can be accessed anywhere so long as there is a strong internet connection.

How can The Unite Group help?

Here at The Unite Group, we can migrate your data from your current mail server to the cloud. We can make sure that you take all your emails and contacts with you to avoid disruption.

Our specialist service allows collaborative working from any location to be immediately available for you and your business.

If you choose to migrate your data with the Unite Group, we will do all the hard work for you.

We will create and implement a seamless migration plan with little disruption to your working day.

If migrating to the cloud sounds like something you and your business would be interested in. Get in touch and contact The Unite Group today on 0191 466 1050 or email us on info@theunitegroup.co.uk.

June 2, 2021