Guides, articles and the Lanmark podcast.
Plain-English guides and articles on IT support, cyber security, Microsoft 365, cloud and AI for UK small businesses, plus the Lanmark IT support podcast. Use them to compare options, prepare questions for a provider and understand the rules.
Listen: the Lanmark IT podcast
Practical episodes on managed IT, Cyber Essentials, Microsoft 365, cloud, cyber security and AI.
- The Lanmark IT support podcast
Five episodes you can play on the page or find on Acast, with notes on each.
Cyber security
Threats, insurance, certification and what to do when something goes wrong.
- What your cyber insurer expects from your IT provider
Insurers ask about offline backups, backup protection and patching within 30 days. Here is what each question means and how to answer it honestly.
- The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill: what UK SMEs need to know in 2026
The Bill brings managed service providers into the regulated perimeter, so your IT supplier choice now matters. What SMEs should do now.
- What to do in the first hour after a suspected security breach
Disconnect the affected device from the network but leave it switched on, then tell your IT provider. A calm checklist for the first hour.
- Microsoft passkeys are replacing SMS codes: what UK businesses need to do
Passkeys became the Microsoft 365 default on 1 September 2026 and SMS codes retire on 1 February 2027. What UK businesses need to do.
- Understanding the new Willow question set for Cyber Essentials certification
The Willow question set replaced Montpellier on 28 April 2025. What changed for scope, firewalls, passwords, fixes and Cyber Essentials Plus.
- 5 common cybersecurity threats small businesses face and how to prevent them
Phishing, ransomware, insider threats, unpatched software and weak passwords are the top threats to small businesses. Here is how to prevent each.
- The essential role of cybersecurity in IT support services
Cybersecurity belongs inside IT support, not beside it. What to expect: awareness training, XDR, vulnerability assessments and Microsoft 365 backup.
Microsoft and cloud
Microsoft 365, Azure, Copilot and AI, licensing and migration.
- AWS vs Azure vs Google Cloud: a UK SMB comparison
For most UK SMBs already on Microsoft 365, Azure is the practical choice. AWS suits engineering-led firms, Google Cloud suits data-led ones.
- Azure cost optimisation for UK SMBs
Azure cost optimisation means paying only for the cloud resources you use. Where UK SMB Azure spend leaks and the controls that fix each leak.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot Business for UK SMBs
Copilot Business is Microsoft's AI assistant for SMBs on Business Standard or Premium. What it does, how it is licensed, and how to roll it out safely.
- Microsoft 365 licensing: a guide for finance directors
Most firms overspend on Microsoft 365 through unused licences, over-specified plans and duplicated tools. A plain-English guide for finance directors.
- Microsoft 365 migration readiness checklist
A step-by-step Microsoft 365 tenant migration checklist: audit, identities, permissions, pilot, cutover, rollback and go-live.
- The hidden cost of a bad Microsoft 365 tenant migration
The headline quote is rarely the real cost of a Microsoft 365 tenant migration. Where the hidden costs sit and how to avoid them.
- Microsoft AI Foundry: a practical guide for UK SMBs
Microsoft AI Foundry (formerly Azure AI Foundry) is the Azure platform for building and governing your own AI. Here is when a UK SMB needs it.
- Microsoft Copilot in 2026: Work IQ and Agent 365
Microsoft's 2026 Copilot update adds Work IQ (personal context) and Agent 365 (automated processes). What UK SMBs should do in the next 90 days.
- Microsoft Enterprise Agreement vs CSP: which is right?
EA is a three-year contract aimed at about 2,400+ users. CSP has no minimum and suits most UK SMBs. How to choose between them.
- ChatGPT and your client data: why UK SMBs are switching to Microsoft Copilot Chat
Staff pasting client data into free ChatGPT is a real UK GDPR risk for SMBs. Microsoft Copilot Chat is the safer option for firms on Microsoft 365.
- Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365: which is better for your London business?
Google Workspace suits collaboration-first teams. Microsoft 365 suits firms needing deeper integration, security and compliance. A comparison.
Choosing and running IT support
What to ask a provider, what outsourcing saves, and where AI is heading.
- IT support vs managed services: what the terms actually mean
IT support fixes problems after they happen. Managed services is ongoing management of your whole IT environment for a fixed fee, support included.
- What to ask before you hire an IT support provider
Before you hire or renew an IT support provider, ask about pricing, contracted response times, security credentials, incident handling and growth.
- The future of IT support: how AI is transforming MSPs and customer service
AI is automating routine IT support, helping technicians resolve faster and predicting faults. Humans stay essential, and data security needs care.
- How IT outsourcing saves money for London businesses
How much does outsourcing IT save a London business? A plain-English breakdown of in-house versus outsourced costs and the figures behind it.
- How to find a reliable IT support partner in London
A reliable IT support partner has a responsive helpdesk, proactive maintenance, real security, written SLAs and checkable credentials. How to assess them.
- Cloud solutions for small businesses in London
Cloud solutions let small businesses rent storage, computing and software instead of buying hardware. The main types, providers, costs and security checks.
By sector
IT strategy for specific kinds of business.
- Financial services IT strategy 2026: a UK SMB guide
For UK financial services SMBs, a 2026 IT strategy starts with FCA operational resilience, then cyber, cloud and AI. A practical guide with a checklist.
What do people ask about the resources?
What will I find in the Lanmark resources?
Plain-English guides and articles on IT support, cyber security, Microsoft 365 and cloud, and AI, written for UK small businesses, plus the Lanmark IT podcast.
Are the guides up to date?
Each guide shows when it was last reviewed. Where a rule or a price changes, we update the guide.
Can I ask about something that is not covered?
Yes. Tell us what you are trying to decide and we will point you to the right guide, or write one.
Where to go next
Book a free IT review.
We look at what you have, what it costs and where the risks are, and tell you plainly if you do not need to change anything.
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