Author: Guy Phoenix

Microsoft Copilot: The AI Revolution for Your Yorkshire Business

Guy Phoenix, Managing Director of Fresh Mango Technologies
Guy Phoenix, Managing Director of Fresh Mango Technologies

If you’ve spent any time in a Leeds coffee shop or a Ripon networking event lately, you’ve probably heard the term “AI” buzzing around more than a bee in a Yorkshire meadow. But for most small business owners, “Artificial Intelligence” sounds like something out of a sci-fi film: expensive, complicated, and perhaps a little bit daunting.

 

Enter Microsoft Copilot.

 

It isn’t just another tech trend. In fact, it is arguably the biggest shift in how we work since the invention of the spreadsheet. But what actually is it? And more importantly, why should a business right here in Yorkshire care?

 

At Fresh Mango, we’re all about making tech simple. We don’t do “IT speak,” and we certainly don’t want you to feel left behind. So, let’s take a look at how this AI revolution can help your business thrive without the headache.

What is Microsoft Copilot (In Plain English)?

Think of Microsoft Copilot as a very bright, very fast digital assistant that lives inside the apps you already use every day: Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams.

 

It doesn’t just sit there; it listens, learns, and helps you get stuff done. Whether you need to draft a proposal, summarise a long email chain, or find a specific bit of data in a spreadsheet, Copilot is there to do the heavy lifting for you.

 

Why is this a problem-solver? Because for most SMEs in Yorkshire, the biggest barrier to growth isn’t a lack of ideas: it’s a lack of time. Copilot is designed to give that time back to you.

Saving Time: From Hours to Seconds

Imagine you’ve just come back from a site visit in North Yorkshire and your inbox is overflowing. You have three missed Teams meetings and a pile of notes that need to be turned into a client proposal. Normally, that’s your entire afternoon gone.

 

With Copilot, the process changes completely:

 

  • Catching Up on Meetings: You can ask Copilot to summarise the Teams meetings you missed. It will tell you who said what, what decisions were made, and most importantly, what tasks were assigned to you.
  • Drafting Proposals: You can give Copilot a few bullet points and ask it to “write a professional proposal based on these notes.” In seconds, you have a solid first draft in Word.
  • Managing Email: Copilot can summarise long, rambling email threads and even draft a reply that matches your usual tone.

 

It’s about working smarter, not harder. By automating these repetitive tasks, you and your team can focus on what actually brings in the revenue.

Abstract Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365 technology interface with collaboration tools and business productivity visuals

Keeping Your Data Safe in the AI Age

We know what you’re thinking: “If I’m putting my business data into an AI, is it safe?”

 

This is a brilliant question. When people use free, public AI tools, their data can sometimes end up in the “public domain.” However, Microsoft Copilot for Business is built with enterprise-grade security. This means your data stays your data. It isn’t used to train the public AI, and it remains protected within your company’s “digital fence.”

 

At Fresh Mango, we take cyber security in Leeds and beyond very seriously. We ensure that when we set up Copilot for our clients, the permissions are configured correctly. You wouldn’t want a junior staff member to be able to ask the AI, “What is everyone’s salary?”, would you? We make sure the right people see the right things.

 

Proactive systems management is at the heart of what we do. We don’t just wait for things to go wrong; we set your systems up so they are secure and efficient from day one.

Why Local Support Matters for Your AI Journey

You might wonder why you need a local IT partner like Fresh Mango for something as “cloud-based” as Microsoft Copilot.

 

The truth is, AI is only as good as the data it has access to and the people using it. Setting it up requires a bit of “under-the-hood” tweaking to ensure your files are organised and your security is watertight.

 

We are Yorkshire-based (with offices in Leeds and Ripon), which means we can be on-site rapidly if you need us. But more than that, we speak your language. We understand the local business landscape, from the bustling digital agencies in Leeds to the established family firms in North Yorkshire.

The Fresh Mango Promise: Rapid Response

When you have a technical hitch, you don’t want to be stuck in a queue for hours. Our standard Service Level Agreement (SLA) is 4 hours, but here’s the Fresh Mango difference:

 

  • Our typical response time is measured in minutes.
  • 95% of support requests are resolved within a single hour.

 

We believe in peace of mind. Whether it’s a quick question about Copilot or a critical server issue, we’re here to help: often as late as 10:30 PM for those critical out-of-hours emergencies.

The Fresh Mango App: Support at Your Fingertips

If you run into a snag with Copilot or any other part of your IT system, you don’t need to go searching for a phone number. Simply open the app on your phone or computer and submit a ticket.

 

For simple issues, we even have a built-in AI Agent that can guide you through a fix instantly. It’s 24/7/365 support that fits in your pocket. Of course, if the issue is a bit more complex, our human technicians (the friendly ones!) are ready to jump in.

Is Your Business Ready for the Revolution?

Microsoft Copilot is more than just a fancy tool; it’s a competitive advantage. Small businesses in Yorkshire that embrace these tools now will find themselves miles ahead of those who wait.

 

However, we understand that “jumping in” can feel risky. That’s why we’re here to hold your hand through the process. From picking the right Microsoft 365 plan to training your staff on how to use AI safely, Fresh Mango is your local partner in progress.

 

Summary of Best Practices for AI Adoption:

  • Start Small: Pick one department (like Sales or Admin) to trial Copilot first.
  • Clean Your Data: AI works best when your files are organised.
  • Security First: Ensure your permissions are set up correctly before launching.
  • Get Training: A little bit of knowledge goes a long way in getting the most out of the tool.

We're Here to Help

We hope this guide has helped clear up some of the mystery surrounding Microsoft Copilot. If you’re a business in Leeds, Ripon, or anywhere across Yorkshire and you’re curious about how AI can work for you, we’d love to chat.

 

We respectfully request that you reach out to us via our website or, if you’re already a client, through the Fresh Mango App. Let’s make sure your business is ready for the future, with the local support you can trust.

Stop Your Emails Going to Spam: A simple guide to DMARC for small businesses

Stop Your Emails Going to Spam: A simple guide to DMARC for small businesses

Have you ever sent an important invoice or a friendly follow-up to a client, only to hear weeks later, “Sorry, I never saw that: it must have gone to my spam folder”?

 

It’s frustrating, isn’t it? For a small business in Yorkshire, your email is your lifeline.

 

When your messages disappear into the digital abyss, it’s more than just a nuisance; it’s a lost opportunity and a potential hit to your reputation.

 

In 2026, the rules of the road for email have changed. Giants like Google and Yahoo have tightened their security, meaning “standard” emails are now being scrutinised more than ever. But don’t worry: you don’t need to be a coding genius to fix this.

 

At Fresh Mango, we believe in speaking plain English. We’ve put together this simple guide to help you understand the three “magic” acronyms: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC that will keep your emails out of the bin and in the inbox.

Why is your email suddenly being treated like junk?

The internet can be a bit like the Wild West. Scammers often “spoof” email addresses, making it look like a message came from your business when it actually came from a server in a different country. To fight this, email providers now require digital “ID cards” for every email sent.

 

If you don’t have these ID cards set up correctly, Google or Outlook might look at your perfectly legitimate email and think, “I don’t recognise this sender: straight to the spam folder it goes!”

 

Why is this a problem now? Because as of late 2024 and throughout 2025/2026, these security checks are no longer optional. If you send more than a handful of emails a day, having these records in place is essential for your business to stay visible.

1. SPF: Your Approved Guest List

Imagine you’re throwing a party at a venue in Leeds. You give the bouncer a list of names. If someone isn’t on the list, they aren’t getting in.

 

SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is exactly that. It is a simple text record that sits in your website’s settings (the DNS). It tells the world: “These specific servers are allowed to send email on behalf of my business.”

 

A friendly conceptual illustration of a digital 'Approved Guest List' where a bouncer checks email envelopes against a list, representing SPF.

Why it matters:

If you use Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and maybe a newsletter tool like Mailchimp, they all need to be on your list. If they aren’t, the receiving server will see the email and think it’s an imposter.

The Action Plan:

  1. Identify every service you use to send email.
  2. Update your SPF record to include them all.
  3. Tip: You should only ever have one SPF record. If you have two, they can actually cancel each other out!

2. DKIM: The Digital Wax Seal

Back in the day, important letters were closed with a wax seal. If the seal was broken, the recipient knew someone had tampered with the message.

 

DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) is the digital version of that seal. It adds a hidden “cryptographic signature” to every email you send. When the email arrives, the receiving server checks the signature against a public key on your website.

 

A digital illustration of a formal letter being secured with a glowing blue digital wax seal, representing the security of DKIM.

Why it matters:

It proves two things: the email really came from you, and it wasn’t altered while it was travelling across the internet. It’s a huge “trust signal” for email providers.

The Action Plan:

Most modern email providers (like Google or Microsoft) have a button in their admin settings to “Generate DKIM.” You simply copy a piece of code they give you and add it to your website settings.

3. DMARC: The Bouncer's Instructions

If SPF and DKIM are the ID cards, DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) is the instruction manual you give to the bouncer.

 

DMARC tells the receiving server what to do if an email fails the SPF or DKIM checks. You have three choices:

  • “None”: Do nothing, just let it through but tell me about it (Great for testing).
  • “Quarantine”: Send it to the spam folder.
  • “Reject”: Don’t deliver it at all (The ultimate protection).

 

An illustration of a digital control room with switches for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, showing a 100% delivery rate.

Why it matters:

Without DMARC, a hacker could still try to pretend to be you. With DMARC set to “Reject,” you are effectively telling the world: “If it doesn’t have my ID cards, it’s a fake. Kill it.”

Even better, DMARC sends you a report every day telling you who is trying to send email as your domain. It’s like having a security camera on your front door.

How to get started (The Fresh Mango Way)

We know this sounds like a lot of “tech-speak.” But at Fresh Mango, our job is to handle the complicated bits so you can get back to running your business.

 

We recommend a simple, three-step approach for any small business:

 

  1. Audit: List every tool that sends your email (including your website contact forms!).
  2. Implement: Set up your SPF and DKIM records properly.
  3. Monitor: Start with a DMARC policy of “None” to make sure your legitimate emails are passing the test before you move to “Reject.”

We’re here to help

Managing DNS records can be a bit nerve-wracking: one wrong character can bring your website or email down. That’s why we offer proactive systems management. We don’t just wait for things to break; we ensure your security settings are up-to-date and compliant with the latest industry standards.

 

If you’re a Fresh Mango customer, you have peace of mind knowing we’re watching these things for you. If you ever notice a delivery issue, just reach out!

  • SLA Guarantee: Our support Service Level Agreement is 4 hours, but we pride ourselves on a much faster pace. Most of our requests are picked up within minutes, and 95% of issues are resolved within just one hour.
  • The Fresh Mango App: Need a hand? Don’t wait on hold. Use the Fresh Mango App or Portal to submit a ticket 24/7.
  • Meet our AI Agent: For simple queries or quick status updates, our AI Agent is available instantly to guide you through common issues.

A 3D mockup of the Fresh Mango Support App on a smartphone, highlighting the easy-to-use interface for submitting tickets.

Ready to secure your inbox?

We hope this advice has helped clarify some of the mysteries around email delivery.

If you’re worried your emails aren’t reaching your customers, or you’d like a professional “health check” of your cybersecurity, contact Fresh Mango today.

 

We’re your local, Yorkshire-based IT experts, and we’re always happy to have a plain-English chat about your business needs.

The Cyber Security Reality Check

The "Small Target" Myth

You’ve heard it before: perhaps you’ve even said it yourself: “Why would a hacker care about my small shop in Ripon? I’m not a big bank in London; I don’t have anything they want.”

 

It’s a comforting thought, isn’t it? The idea that being a local, hardworking Yorkshire business somehow makes you invisible to the digital predators of the world. But here is the cold, hard reality check: your size isn’t a shield; it’s a target. In fact, nearly half of all UK small businesses suffer a cyber incident every single year.

 

Why is this a problem? Because modern cyber-criminals don’t sit in dark rooms manually picking targets. They use automated “bots” that scour the internet for any open door, regardless of whether that door belongs to a global corporation or a family-run engineering firm in Skipton. To an automated script, your business isn’t a name; it’s just an IP address with a vulnerability.

 

At Fresh Mango Technologies, we see the fallout of this “invisible” mindset every week. Whether it’s a Leeds-based consultancy or a retail business in the Dales, the threat is real, it’s local, and it’s growing.

The Reality Check (Real Yorkshire Threats)

If we’re going to be honest with each other, we have to talk about what these threats actually look like in 2026. They aren’t just “viruses” anymore; they are sophisticated, often AI-driven attacks designed to trick the most sensible people.

 

1. The Rise of AI-Powered Phishing – Gone are the days of poorly spelt emails from “princes” asking for bank details. Today, attackers use Generative AI to craft perfect, professional-sounding emails. They might look like a legitimate invoice from a supplier you use every month or an urgent request from a director to “check this document.” If you or your staff are working from home, these risks are even higher.

 

2. Ransomware-as-a-Service – Ransomware is no longer reserved for the tech-savvy criminal. It’s now sold as a service, allowing almost anyone to launch an attack. They lock your files: your customer data, your accounts, your intellectual property – and demand a fee to release them. For a Yorkshire SME, the downtime alone can be fatal.

 

3. The “I Have Antivirus” Trap – One of the biggest myths we encounter is the belief that a basic antivirus subscription is enough. Real security requires a “layered” approach, including multi-factor authentication (MFA), regular backups, and proactive system management.

The Fresh Mango Shield

So, how do we fix it? At Fresh Mango, we don’t just “do IT”; we act as your helpful neighbour who happens to be an expert in cyber-defence. We know that as a business owner in West or North Yorkshire, you don’t want to hear “IT speak.” You want peace of mind.

 

Proactive Systems Management – We don’t wait for things to break. Our team proactively manages your systems to spot vulnerabilities before a hacker does.

 

Rapid Local Response – When you have a problem, you don’t want to wait in a queue for a call centre in a different time zone. We are Leeds and Ripon-based.

  • Our SLA: 4 hours.
  • The Reality: We typically respond within minutes.
  • The Success Rate: 95% of our support requests are resolved within just one hour.

Your Next Steps to Safety

Staying safe doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It starts with simple, actionable steps that we can help you implement today.

 

  • Audit Your Access: Ensure every member of your team is using Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). It’s the single most effective way to stop 99% of bulk hack attempts.
  • Educate Your Team: Your staff are your first line of defence. A quick “reality check” session can help them spot those AI-generated phishing attempts.
  • Use the Fresh Mango App: We’ve made getting help easier than ever. Our App and Portal allow you to submit support tickets 24/7/365.
  • Try our AI Agent: For simple technical issues or quick questions about your security settings, our AI Agent is available instantly to guide you through the basics.

 

If you’re worried about your current setup or just want a second opinion, we respectfully request that you get in touch. We speak plain English, we’re right around the corner, and we’re here to help you stay open for business.

Local vs Call Centre: Why Your Yorkshire Business Deserves Better Than a Script

We’ve all been there. You’re in the middle of a busy Tuesday morning in Leeds, your server has decided to take an unscheduled holiday, and your team is staring at blank screens. You call your IT support provider, hoping for a quick fix. Instead, you’re greeted by a robotic voice: “Your call is important to us. Please listen to the following ten options…”

 

Twenty minutes later, you finally reach a human—except they’re reading from a script in a city hundreds of miles away. They don’t know your business, they don’t know that your office is just off the Headrow, and they certainly can’t pop over to plug in that rogue cable that’s causing the chaos.

 

At Fresh Mango Technologies, we believe Yorkshire businesses deserve better. Whether you’re based in the heart of Leeds, the historic streets of Ripon, or the gateway to the Dales in Skipton, you shouldn’t be treated like just another ticket number in a national database.

The Call Centre Trap

National IT providers often sell themselves on their size. But for a small or medium-sized business (SME) in North or West Yorkshire, that scale can actually be a disadvantage.

 

1. The Scripted Response: Call centres rely on “Tier 1” technicians who follow rigid flowcharts. If your problem doesn’t fit into Box A or Box B, they have to “escalate” it. This means your issue sits in a queue while you wait.

 

2. The On-Site Logistics Nightmare: What happens when the problem can’t be fixed remotely? A national provider has to find a subcontractor. By the time they navigate the M62 or find a parking spot in Ripon, your business has lost hours.

 

3. The Lack of Context: A technician in a distant call centre doesn’t know your local infrastructure or if there’s a regional internet outage affecting the Aire Valley.

The Fresh Mango Difference

When we say we’re “Local,” we mean we are part of the Yorkshire business community. Our offices in Leeds and Ripon allow us to be your “helpful neighbour” in the world of technology.

 

Rapid Deployment: Our SLA is 4 hours, but because we are Yorkshire-based, our typical response is measured in minutes. 95% of our support requests are resolved within a single hour.

 

We Speak Your Language: One of the biggest complaints we hear about national helpdesks is the jargon. At Fresh Mango, we speak Plain English. We don’t talk about “Latency Overhead Protocol”; we talk about why your internet is slow. Building trust is more important than sounding “clever.”

24/7/365 Support

You might think a local provider can’t compete with the “24/7” claim of a giant call centre. Think again.

 

The Fresh Mango App & Portal: Need help at 2 AM? Submit support tickets at any time via our app. For simple issues, our AI Agent provides instant answers.

 

Support Until 10:30 PM: We know business doesn’t stop at 5 PM. We offer extended support hours, including out-of-hours critical support as late as 10:30 PM from our Caribbean tean.

 

If you’re tired of the call centre loop, give our local Leeds or Ripon offices a call. We’re here to help!

The Summer Tech MOT: Keeping Your Yorkshire Business Cool and Connected

As the sun finally begins to grace us here in God’s Own County, many of us are starting to think about summer holidays, ice creams, and perhaps even a bit of cricket. But while you’re planning your getaway from Leeds or your weekend in the Dales, is your business technology ready for the heat? Just like your car needs an MOT to stay roadworthy, your IT systems need a seasonal check-up to ensure they don’t wilt under the summer sun.

 

At Fresh Mango, we believe that proactive care is the secret to a stress-free summer. Whether you are running a busy office in the heart of Leeds or a boutique shop in Ripon, your tech is the engine that keeps everything moving. When that engine gets too hot, literally or figuratively, everything can grind to a halt. Why wait for a breakdown when a bit of “helpful neighbour” advice can keep you running smoothly?

 

In this guide, we’ll walk you through our recommended Summer Tech MOT. We’ll look at how to protect your hardware from the heat, secure your systems while the team is away, and why having managed IT services in Yorkshire is your best defence against seasonal downtime.

Don't Let Your Hardware Lose Its Cool

Have you ever noticed your laptop fan whirring like a jet engine on a warm afternoon? Computers and servers generate a lot of heat on their own; add a Yorkshire heatwave into the mix, and you have a recipe for hardware failure. Overheating is one of the most common causes of silent hardware damage, shortening the life of your expensive equipment or causing sudden, frustrating crashes.

 

So, how do we keep things cool? First, take a look at where your critical tech lives. Is your server tucked away in a tiny, unventilated cupboard? Is your desktop PC pressed right up against a sunny window in your Skipton office? Airflow is your best friend here. Ensuring that fans are clear of dust and that there’s plenty of space around your devices can make a world of difference.

 

We also recommend checking your office cooling systems. If your air conditioning hasn’t been serviced recently, now is the time. It’s not just about keeping your staff comfortable; it’s about keeping your digital infrastructure from hitting its breaking point. At Fresh Mango Technologies, our proactive monitoring often catches rising hardware temperatures before they cause a shutdown, allowing us to step in and fix the issue before you even notice a problem.

Securing the "Holiday Gap"

Summer usually means a revolving door of staff holidays. While it’s great for the team to recharge, it can create a “security gap” for your business. Cybercriminals know that when key staff are away, monitoring can be a little more relaxed, and out-of-office replies can provide just enough information for a clever phishing attempt.

 

Are your remote access policies up to date? If your team is checking emails from a beach in Spain or a cafe in Ripon, they need to be doing so securely. We always recommend using Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on every single account. It’s the digital equivalent of a sturdy Yorkshire deadbolt: even if someone gets your password, they still can’t get in.

 

Before the holiday season kicks into high gear, it’s a great idea to run a quick security refresh with your team. Remind them not to overshare travel details in their out-of-office messages and to be extra vigilant about “urgent” requests that seem to come from colleagues who are currently out of the country. A little bit of awareness goes a long way in keeping your data safe while you’re enjoying the sun.

The Power of Proactive IT Support in Leeds and Beyond

When you choose Fresh Mango for your IT support in Leeds or managed IT services in Yorkshire, you aren’t just getting someone to call when things break. You’re getting a partner who works behind the scenes to make sure things don’t break in the first place. This is what we mean by proactive systems management.

 

We keep your software patched, your backups verified, and your security settings tight. But we know that sometimes, issues do pop up. That’s why we offer a clear, reliable service level agreement (SLA). We guarantee a 4-hour response time, but in reality, we usually respond within minutes. In fact, 95% of our support requests are resolved within a single hour.

 

Whether you need IT support in Ripon or IT support in Skipton, our local technicians are ready to deploy rapidly. We don’t hide behind confusing “IT speak” or technical jargon. We’re your local experts, speaking plain English and focused on getting you back to work as quickly as possible. We build trust through transparency and results, ensuring you have total peace of mind all summer long.

Your Summer Checklist: Actionable Best Practices

To make things easy, here is your quick-fire Summer Tech MOT checklist:

 

  • Check the Airflow: Clear dust from fans and ensure servers have plenty of breathing room.
  • Test Your Backups: Don’t just assume they are working; perform a test restore to be certain.
  • Audit Your Access: Remove accounts for former employees and double-check that MFA is active for everyone.
  • Update Your Software: Ensure all patches are applied to close security vulnerabilities before the holiday season.
  • Review Your Power: Make sure your Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) are working in case of summer storms or power surges.

How to Get Support Fast

If you do run into a technical snag this summer, getting help is easier than ever. We respectfully request that all support tickets be submitted through the Fresh Mango App or our online Portal. It’s the fastest way to get your request into our system and assigned to a technician.

 

For those simple, “how-do-I-do-this” questions, why not try our AI Agent? It’s available 24/7/365 and can often solve minor issues in seconds, leaving our human experts free to tackle more complex challenges. It’s all part of our commitment to being the most customer-friendly IT support in Yorkshire.

 

We hope this advice has helped you feel a bit more prepared for the sunny months ahead! If you have any concerns about your tech or want to talk about how we can support your business, don’t hesitate to reach out.

 

Contact our friendly team here

Gone Fishing: Is Your Yorkshire Business Taking the Bait?

Remember the good old days of phishing? You’d open your inbox to find a message from a “Nigerian Prince” who, purely by chance, needed your bank details to transfer a £50 million inheritance. They were easy to spot, usually filled with more spelling mistakes than a primary school spelling bee and a tone so dramatic it belonged in a soap opera. We all had a laugh, deleted the email, and moved on with our day.

 

Well, the “princes” have retired, and they’ve been replaced by something far more clinical, professional, and local.

 

Today, phishing has evolved into a sophisticated industry. Instead of a distant royal, you might get an email that looks exactly like an invoice from a supplier in Leeds, a “missed delivery” notification from a courier you actually use, or a quick “can you check this?” message from your boss. It’s no longer about a big, obvious hook; it’s about a tiny, invisible lure designed to blend perfectly into your busy workday.

 

As we move through 2026, the question for every business owner across Leeds, Skipton, Ripon, and the wider Yorkshire area isn’t “Will I be targeted?” but rather “Is my team ready when the bait lands in their inbox?”

Why Yorkshire SMEs are the New Catch of the Day

There’s a common myth that cyber-attacks are only a “big city” problem or something that only happens to massive corporations in London. But if you’re running a small-to-medium enterprise (SME) in Leeds, Ripon, Skipton or across Yorkshire, you’re actually a prime target.

 

Why? Because attackers know that while a multinational bank has a hundred-strong security team, a local Yorkshire business might only have one “IT person” who is also wearing three other hats.

 

In 2026, cyber security in Leeds and cyber security in Ripon has become a hot topic for a reason. National data shows that while big breaches get the headlines, nearly 40% of UK small businesses reported a cyber breach in the last year alone.

 

For an SME, the impact of a successful phish isn’t just a headache. It can mean downtime, lost data, financial loss, and a lot of disruption when you can least afford it.

 

Small businesses are also seen as gateways. You might have a contract with a larger firm, and attackers want to use your email account to send a “trusted” message to their bigger prize. Your good reputation can be exactly what they try to exploit.

3 Signs You're Being Phished

The tricky part about modern phishing is that it doesn’t always look suspicious. Attackers now use AI to write polished, convincing messages, so you can’t rely on poor spelling to spot a fake. However, there are still three classic warning signs:

 

  • The “Urgent” Request for a Favour: Does the email sound rushed or pressured? Phishers love panic because panic stops people double-checking. If someone says, “I need this paid in 10 minutes,” pause first.
  • The “Almost Right” Address: This is a classic trick. An email address can look genuine at a glance, but contain one extra letter, a hyphen, or a slightly different domain.
  • The “Unexpected” Attachment or Link: If you weren’t expecting the file, invoice, or delivery message, don’t click first and think later. Stop and verify it.

 

At Fresh Mango, we always say: if in doubt, check it out, but not by replying to the same email. Call the person, message them another way, or walk over to their desk. A quick conversation can prevent a very expensive mistake.

How Fresh Mango Keeps the Sharks Away

We know you have a business to run. You can’t spend your day picking apart every email header. That’s where Fresh Mango Technologies comes in. We provide Yorkshire IT Support Services that help protect your business before a problem turns into real damage.

 

We don’t just wait for something to go wrong. We believe in proactive systems management. In plain English, that means we keep watch over your systems, look for unusual behaviour, and act early. We also use Managed EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response), which is a security tool designed to spot suspicious activity on your computers before it spreads.

Local People, Rapid Response

One of the biggest reasons businesses choose Fresh Mango for cyber security in Yorkshire is simple: we’re local.

 

If a phishing attack causes a problem, you’re not left dealing with a faceless call centre miles away. We have technicians in Leeds and Ripon, which means we can offer rapid on-site support across Yorkshire when it matters most.

 

Our support SLA is 4 hours, but our typical response is usually within minutes. In fact, 95% of support requests are resolved within an hour. We also provide extended-hours support, including critical out-of-hours help as late as 10:30 PM.

The Fresh Mango App: Security in Your Pocket

We’ve made getting help straightforward. Every customer has access to the Fresh Mango App and Portal.

 

  • Need support? Submit a ticket through the app or portal 24/7/365.
  • Got a simple issue? Try the AI Agent first. It’s ideal for quick questions and everyday problems.
  • Need a real person? Our friendly team is ready to step in when you need hands-on support.

 

We speak plain English. You won’t get buried in confusing jargon. You’ll get clear advice, practical help, and the reassurance that someone local is looking after your systems.

Don't Wait for the Hook to Sink In

The digital world can feel unpredictable, but it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.

 

With the right tools, sensible staff habits, and a trusted Yorkshire IT support partner by your side, phishing becomes much more manageable.

 

Why leave your business to chance? One convincing email can cause a lot of damage, but the right preparation can stop it in its tracks.

 

We respectfully request that you take a proactive step today. If you want help improving your cyber security, reviewing your current setup, or training your team to spot phishing attempts, Fresh Mango is here to help.

 

Ready to strengthen your defences? Contact Fresh Mango for a Cyber Security Audit and practical advice in plain English. We’ll help you understand where the risks are, what to fix first, and how to keep your Yorkshire business protected.

 

Contact our friendly team here and, if you’re an existing customer, please submit support tickets through the Fresh Mango App and Portal. For simple issues, we recommend starting with the AI Agent. We hope this advice has helped!

The Ultimate Guide to Cyber Security in Skipton

The Ultimate Guide to Cyber Security in Skipton: Everything You Need to Succeed with Local Clients

Cyber security for small businesses in Skipton, Yorkshire.

If you’re running a business in the “Gateway to the Dales,” you know that Skipton is a town built on community. Whether you’re near the Castle or at Acorn Business Park, your reputation is everything. People here buy from people they trust.

 

In 2026, that trust is about how well you protect your customers’ data. At Fresh Mango Technologies, we’re your helpful neighbours in IT.

Why Skipton Businesses are in the Cyber Crosshairs

Cyber criminals often look for the “unlocked doors” of smaller firms. Common threats include Phishing emails and Ransomware.

 

Robust cyber security is a selling point. When you can tell your local clients that you are Cyber Essentials certified, you stand out as a professional, reliable partner.

.

Rapid deployment IT support technician arriving at a Skipton office.

We are Yorkshire-based with offices in Skipton, Leeds and Ripon, allowing for rapid deployment to Skipton. Our typical response time is within minutes, and 95% of requests are resolved within an hour.

 

Ready for a check-up? Request your Free IT Audit or use the Fresh Mango App to chat with our team.

What is Managed Endpoint Detection and Response? (And Why Your Yorkshire Business Needs It)

Managed Endpoint Detection

If you run a business in Leeds, Ripon, or anywhere across the beautiful landscape of Yorkshire, you’ve likely heard the term “cybersecurity” more times than you can count. You probably already have an antivirus program installed on your computers. You might even think, “I’m sorted. My antivirus has got me covered.”

 

But here’s a question for you: If a sophisticated digital intruder managed to slip past your front door, would your antivirus tell you? Would it know how they got in, what they touched, or how to kick them out before they cause real damage?

 

This is where Managed Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) comes in. At Fresh Mango Technologies, we’ve seen how the digital landscape has changed. Traditional tools aren’t always enough to keep a modern Yorkshire SME safe. In this guide, we’re going to break down what Managed EDR actually is, in plain English, and why it’s becoming the “gold standard” for local businesses that want real peace of mind.

What is an "Endpoint" Anyway?

Before we dive into the tech, let’s clear up the jargon. In the world of IT, an endpoint is simply any device that connects to your business network. This includes:

 

  • The laptops your team takes home.
  • The desktop computers in your Ripon office.
  • The servers storing your customer data.
  • Even the smartphones and tablets used for work.

 

Think of each device as a doorway into your business. Managed EDR is essentially the high-tech security system that watches every single one of those doors, 24/7.

EDR vs. Antivirus: The Security Guard Analogy

Most of us grew up with standard antivirus. It’s the “old faithful” of the computer world. But to understand why your business might need more, it helps to use an analogy we can all relate to.

 

The Traditional Antivirus: The Bouncer with a List
Imagine a bouncer standing at the door of your office. He has a “blackbook” of known troublemakers… 

Managed EDR: The 24/7 Security Team and Surveillance
Now, imagine a team of security experts watching high-definition CCTV cameras throughout your entire building…

Antivirus vs. Managed EDR

Why "Managed" is the Secret Ingredient

This is where Fresh Mango Technologies makes the difference. When we say “Managed,” we mean we take the weight off your shoulders.

  • Continuous Monitoring: Our team and systems watch your endpoints around the clock.
  • Expert Investigation: If the system flags something odd, a real human expert investigates it.
  • Rapid Response: If a threat is real, we act instantly to isolate the affected device.

The Yorkshire Advantage: Local Support When It Matters

Whether you need IT support in Leeds, Ripon, or Skipton, Fresh Mango is right here. Our 4-hour SLA is the official limit, but in reality, 95% of our support requests are resolved within just one hour.

Summary: Peace of Mind for Yorkshire Business Owners

Cybersecurity can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Moving to Managed EDR means smarter protection and expert oversight.

Why Cyber Essentials Alone Isn’t Enough: Strengthening Your Cloud and AI Risk Posture

Why Cyber Essentials Alone Isn’t Enough: Strengthening Your Cloud and AI Risk Posture

Why Cyber Essentials Alone Isn’t Enough: Strengthening Your Cloud and AI Risk Posture

For many organisations, Cyber Essentials has become the baseline for security—and rightly so. It provides a strong foundation for protecting infrastructure and demonstrates a clear commitment to good practice.

 

However, as the threat landscape evolves, particularly in cloud-first environments, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Cyber Essentials doesn’t fully address some of the most pressing modern risks.

The Rise of Cloud-Based, Malwareless Attacks

We are seeing a significant increase in attacks that don’t rely on traditional malware. Instead, attackers are targeting cloud environments directly—exploiting misconfigurations, weak identity controls, and overly permissive access settings within platforms such as Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.

 

The challenge is that many organisations operate close to default configurations. While these are designed for usability, they are rarely optimised for security.

 

To address this, we support organisations with preventative audit and hardening aligned to recognised best practice frameworks, including:

 

  • CISA Secure Cloud Business Applications
  • Entra ID Security Configuration Analysis
  • CIS Microsoft 365 Foundations Benchmark

 

These frameworks help identify gaps in configuration and provide a structured approach to improving security posture.

A Practical Approach to Hardening

Security improvements need to be introduced carefully. Overly aggressive changes can disrupt day-to-day operations if user behaviours and existing processes aren’t fully understood.

 

That’s why we typically take a phased approach:

 

  1. Initial Audit – Identify configuration gaps against recognised benchmarks
  2. Impact Review (Optional) – Assess how proposed changes may affect users, workflows, and business operations
  3. Gradual Implementation – Introduce controls in a controlled, manageable way

 

This work can be delivered as a standalone exercise, with findings handed over to your existing MSP, or as part of a broader engagement where we collaborate directly with your provider on remediation.

Where Cyber Essentials Fits

Cyber Essentials remains a “must-have” baseline. It addresses key infrastructure risks effectively and should be part of any organisation’s security strategy.

 

However, it doesn’t fully address identity, cloud configuration, or the nuances of modern SaaS environments. Extending your approach beyond Cyber Essentials is no longer optional—it’s necessary.

Managing Risk in the Age of AI

Cloud security isn’t the only rapidly evolving challenge. The adoption of AI tools in the workplace is accelerating at a pace, often without the governance structures required to manage associated risks.

 

We are currently in a “gold rush” phase—teams are adopting tools such as AI note-takers, transcription services, and content generators with little consideration for:

 

  • Data governance
  • Data sovereignty
  • Confidentiality and data leakage risks

 

Without clear policies and oversight, organisations risk exposing sensitive business information or breaching compliance obligations.

Putting AI Governance in Place Early

Fresh Mango works with organisations to:

 

  • Review how AI tools are currently being used
  • Define clear policies for acceptable use
  • Establish approval and review processes before new tools are adopted

 

Taking an early, structured approach helps prevent avoidable mistakes—some of which could be financially or reputationally damaging.

A Positive Side Effect: Better Security Culture

Interestingly, these conversations often have a broader benefit.

 

When employees understand the risks—particularly in terms of how their own personal data could be exposed—they become more engaged with security practices overall. This leads to:

 

  • Greater awareness of risk
  • Stronger adherence to policies
  • A more security-conscious culture across the organisation

Prevention Over Response

Having spent many years involved in incident response, one lesson stands out above all others: prevention is always preferable to remediation.

 

Recovering from a breach or data loss event is costly, disruptive, and often avoidable. By taking proactive steps—whether in cloud configuration or AI governance—organisations can significantly reduce their exposure.

Final Thoughts

Cyber Essentials is a strong starting point, but it is only part of the picture. As organisations continue to adopt cloud services and AI tools, the need for deeper, more proactive governance becomes critical.

 

If you’re reviewing your approach to cloud security or AI usage—or simply want to understand where the gaps might be—it’s worth starting the conversation early. You can arrange a no-obligation call with us here.

This blog piece is courtesy of Mr Paul Roach, senior technical consultant.

Is Microsoft Copilot Safe for Your Data?

Is Microsoft Copilot Safe for Your Data?

Is Microsoft Copilot safe for business data protection in Yorkshire?

If you have spent any time online recently, you have likely heard the buzz about “AI.” It is everywhere, promising to write your emails and summarise your meetings. For many small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) right here in Yorkshire, Microsoft Copilot is the first major step into this world.

 

But with all that power comes a very big question: Is my data safe?

 

At Fresh Mango Technologies, we believe that AI shouldn’t be a source of stress. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how Microsoft Copilot handles your data and how you can prepare safely.

The Big Myth: Is Copilot "Stealing" Your Data?

One of the most common fears we hear is that Copilot will take your private business ideas and use them to help your competitors. Let’s clear that up: When you use the version of Copilot designed for businesses, your data stays your data.

 

  • No Training: Your prompts are not used to train public AI models.
  • Data Isolation: Your info is kept inside your own digital fence.
Microsoft Copilot and data permissions management for Leeds businesses.

The Real Risk: Internal Oversharing

The risk isn’t the AI—it’s “sloppy” permissions. If a junior staff member asks Copilot about “company salaries,” and those files aren’t locked down, the AI will find them.

 

At Fresh Mango, we provide proactive systems management to ensure your “digital fences” are in the right place before you turn on the AI.

 

We offer a 4-hour Support SLA, but in reality, we resolve 95% of support requests within a single hour. You can submit tickets 24/7/365 via the Fresh Mango App.

Looking For IT Support in Yorkshire?

Looking For IT Support in Yorkshire? Here Are 5 Things You Should Know Before Signing a Contract

Looking For IT Support in Yorkshire? 5 Things You Should Know Before Signing a Contract

If you run a business in Yorkshire, you know that your technology is the engine room of your operations. Whether you are managing a boutique shop in Skipton, a busy law firm in Leeds, or a manufacturing site in Ripon, when your computers stop working, everything stops. Choosing the right partner for Yorkshire IT Support isn’t just about finding someone who knows how to fix a laptop; it’s about finding a team that integrates with your business and keeps you moving forward.

 

However, many IT contracts are filled with small print that can leave you stranded when you need help the most. Before you put pen to paper, it is vital to look past the sales pitch. We have put together this guide to help Yorkshire SMEs navigate the often-confusing world of IT contracts. Here are the five things you need to consider to ensure your business stays protected, supported, and ready for growth.

1. Demand Plain English (No Jargon Allowed)

Have you ever looked at a technical agreement and felt like you needed a degree in computer science just to understand the first page? You aren’t alone. Many providers use complex terminology to hide what is, and isn’t, included in your service. When you are looking for IT Support Leeds or anywhere else in the region, you should demand a contract written in plain English.

 

Why is this a problem? If a contract is filled with terms like “proactive heuristic monitoring” or “asynchronous redundancy,” it becomes very easy for a provider to claim that a specific issue wasn’t covered because it didn’t meet a technical definition. At Fresh Mango, we believe that if you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough. Your contract should clearly state what devices are covered, what software is managed, and exactly what happens when things go wrong.

 

A good partner will talk to you like a helpful neighbor, not a textbook. If you find yourself scratching your head during the initial consultation, it might be a sign that the support won’t be much clearer when you’re facing a technical crisis. Always ask for a summary of the service in everyday language. If they can’t provide it, keep looking.

2. Response Times: The SLA vs. The Reality

In the IT world, you will hear the term “SLA” a lot. It stands for Service Level Agreement. Most providers will offer a standard 4-hour response time for critical issues. While that sounds okay on paper, think about what that actually means for your business. If your server goes down at 9:00 AM, a 4-hour response could mean you don’t even hear back from a technician until lunchtime. In a busy Yorkshire office, that is half a day of lost productivity, frustrated staff, and missed opportunities.

 

When reviewing a contract, look at the difference between the “guaranteed” response and the “actual” performance. At Fresh Mango, while our formal SLA might stay within industry standards, our real-world response is often measured in minutes. We are proud to say that 95% of our support requests are resolved within just one hour.

 

Why does this matter? Because a contract is a safety net, but the daily reality of your support is what keeps your business profitable. Ask your potential provider for their average resolution times, not just their contractually obligated response times. You need a partner who understands that every minute you are offline is a minute you are losing money.

3. Local Presence and Rapid Deployment

In an era of remote work, some IT companies try to support Yorkshire businesses from hundreds of miles away. While many IT issues can be fixed over the internet, there are times when you simply need a human being on-site. If your network switch blows or a piece of hardware fails, a remote technician in a different part of the country can’t help you much.

 

This is why local presence is a non-negotiable factor. Whether you need IT Support in Leeds, support in Ripon, or help in Skipton, you need to know that a technician can be at your door quickly.

 

At Fresh Mango, we pride ourselves on our local roots. Our “rapid deployment” capability means that if a problem can’t be solved remotely, we have the boots on the ground to get to your premises and get your hardware back up and running. When you are looking at Managed IT Services Yorkshire, check where their engineers are actually based. If they are all based in London or overseas, your “rapid” support might not be so rapid after all.

A Managed IT Services Yorkshire technician arriving for a rapid deployment visit at a client office in Ripon.

4. Proactive Systems Management (Fixing It Before It Breaks)

The old way of doing IT was “break-fix.” Something breaks, you call the IT guy, he comes and fixes it, and then he sends you a bill. This is a terrible way to run a modern business. It means your IT provider only makes money when you are having a bad day.

 

The modern approach is proactive systems management. Your IT partner should be monitoring your systems 24/7/365 to spot potential failures before they happen. Are your backups running correctly? Is your antivirus up to date? Is one of your hard drives showing signs of imminent failure?

 

A proactive contract ensures that these things are handled in the background. We believe in stopping the fire before it starts, rather than just being good at putting it out. When you sign a contract for Yorkshire IT Support, make sure it includes regular health checks and automated monitoring. This shift from reactive to proactive is the biggest step you can take toward total business continuity.

5. The App and Extended Support Hours

The standard 9-to-5 workday is a thing of the past for many Yorkshire SMEs. You might be catching up on emails at 8:00 PM or preparing a presentation on a Sunday evening. If your IT support shuts down the moment the clock strikes five, you are left vulnerable.

 

Before you sign a contract, ask about their extended hours. FM UK provides support as late as 10:30 PM, ensuring that those who work outside the traditional window aren’t left in the dark.

 

Furthermore, how do you actually get help? Waiting in a phone queue or sending an email into a “black hole” is frustrating. We have revolutionized this with the Fresh Mango App. It’s a portal that sits right on your device, allowing you to submit tickets instantly. It even features an AI engine that can help you resolve simple issues immediately, without even needing to wait for a human. It’s 24/7/365 access to the help you need.

A business owner using the Fresh Mango App on a smartphone to request IT Support in Skipton.

Summary Checklist: What to Look For

Before you commit to a long-term relationship with an IT provider, run through this quick checklist:

 

  • Is the contract jargon-free? Do you actually understand what you are paying for?
  • What is the real resolution time? Don’t just settle for a 4-hour response; ask how many tickets are closed within an hour.
  • Are they truly local? Can they get a technician to Leeds, Ripon, or Skipton today if needed?
  • Is it proactive? Are they watching your systems while you sleep, or waiting for you to call with a problem?
  • Are the hours flexible? Do they offer support into the evening and provide an easy-to-use app for ticket submission?

 

Choosing the right partner for your Managed IT Services Yorkshire is one of the most important decisions you will make this year. It’s the difference between a business that struggles with constant tech headaches and one that is free to focus on growth and serving its customers.

A group of happy Yorkshire SME employees working efficiently thanks to reliable Yorkshire IT Support.

We Are Here to Help

At Fresh Mango, we don’t just provide technical support; we provide peace of mind. Our team is dedicated to supporting the local business community with friendly, expert advice and lightning-fast resolution times.

 

If you are currently reviewing your IT arrangements or if your current contract is coming to an end, we respectfully request the opportunity to show you how we do things differently.

 

Ready to experience IT support that actually works for you? Contact us today and let’s get your Yorkshire business running at its best.

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Antivirus vs Managed EDR: Which Is Better For Your Leeds Business?

Antivirus vs Managed EDR: Which Is Better For Your Leeds Business?

Antivirus vs Managed EDR comparison for Leeds businesses

If you’re running a business in Leeds, Skipton, or anywhere across the beautiful landscape of North and West Yorkshire, you already know that the world of work has changed. In 2026, we’re more connected than ever. But with that connection comes a bit of a headache: keeping our data and our customers’ details safe from people who want to cause trouble.

 

At Fresh Mango Technologies, we’re often asked a very important question: “Is my basic antivirus software enough, or do I need this ‘Managed EDR‘ thing everyone is talking about?”

 

It’s a fair question. You want to protect your business without spending a fortune on things you don’t understand. So, let’s sit down and have a proper chat about it. We’ll break down the differences in plain English—no “IT speak” allowed—and help you figure out what’s best for your Yorkshire business.

What Is Traditional Antivirus? (The Digital Flu Shot)

Think of traditional antivirus software like a flu shot. It’s designed to recognize specific “germs” (viruses) that have been seen before. When a piece of software tries to get onto your computer, the antivirus checks its ID against a big database of known “bad guys.” If it finds a match, it blocks it. Simple, right? This is what we call “signature-based detection.”

 

  • Why it was great: For years, this was all we needed. It was like a bouncer at a club in Leeds city centre with a “banned” list. If your name isn’t on the list, you’re coming in.
  • Why it’s struggling in 2026: Hackers have become much smarter. They create “zero-day” threats—attacks that have never been seen before. If the “bad guy” isn’t on the bouncer’s list yet, the antivirus just lets them walk straight through the front door.
Digital threats bypassing a locked gate, showing why Leeds businesses need more than basic antivi

What Is Managed EDR? (The Digital Bodyguard)

If antivirus is a flu shot, Managed EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) is more like having a professional bodyguard watching your business 24/7. Instead of just checking IDs at the door, EDR watches how everything behaves once it’s inside. It doesn’t just look at who a file is; it looks at what it’s doing.

 

  • How it works: Imagine someone walks into your office. They have a valid ID, so the bouncer lets them in. But then, they start trying to pick the locks on your filing cabinets. A traditional antivirus wouldn’t stop them because their ID was fine. An EDR system, however, would see that “lock-picking” behaviour and stop them instantly.
  • What makes it “Managed”?: The “Managed” part is where Fresh Mango Technologies comes in. EDR systems generate a lot of data. For a busy Leeds business owner, looking at these reports is a full-time job. Our team monitors those alerts for you. If something suspicious happens at 2:00 AM, we’re already on it, investigating and fixing the issue before you’ve even had your first brew.
Protective digital shield over a Yorkshire workplace representing Managed EDR.
FeatureTraditional AntivirusManaged EDR from Fresh Mango
DetectionOnly knows “known” threats.Spots “weird” behaviour (new threats).
ResponseJust deletes or blocks a file.Can “roll back” your computer to before the attack.
Human ExpertYou’re on your own if it fails.Our team watches it 24/7.
VisibilityYou don’t know how they got in.Shows us the whole story so we can stop it happening again.

Why Does Your Leeds Business Need Better Protection Now?

You might be thinking, “I’m just a small business in Ripon. Why would hackers care about me?” The truth is, 2026 has seen a huge rise in automated attacks. Hackers use AI bots to scan the internet for any open window.

 

  1. Ransomware is everywhere: Antivirus often misses these until it’s too late. EDR catches the “locking” behaviour and stops it instantly.
  2. Remote working: Many of your team might be working from home in Skipton or a cafe in Leeds. This makes your business harder to defend.
  3. Cyber Insurance & Compliance: To get insurance these days, or to pass Cyber Fundamentals requirements, you often need more than just basic antivirus.

How Fresh Mango Technologies Makes It Easy

We know you have a business to run. We’ve designed our Leeds IT Support to be as helpful and stress-free as possible.

 

  • Rapid Local Deployment: Because we’re local to Yorkshire, we can get your systems protected quickly. Whether you’re based in the heart of Leeds or need Ripon IT Support or Skipton IT Support, we’re just around the corner.
  • Support When You Need It: Our official support SLA is 4 hours, but honestly? 95% of our requests are resolved within just one hour. We also offer extended hours support because we know Leeds businesses don’t always stop at 5:00 PM.
  • The Fresh Mango App: Getting help is simple. Use our AI Agent for quick fixes or submit a ticket to our friendly human team via the portal.
Secure laptop in a modern Leeds office representing professional Yorkshire IT support.

Ready to Level Up Your Security?

At Fresh Mango Technologies, we’re all about helping local businesses thrive through better technology. We don’t just sell software; we provide a friendly, helping hand.

 

If you’re unsure about your current setup, why not take a look at our Service Selector? We’d love to help make your Leeds business the most secure it can be.

7 Mistakes You’re Making with Your Windows 11 Rollout (and How to Fix Them)

7 Mistakes You’re Making with Your Windows 11 Rollout (and How to Fix Them)

7 Mistakes You’re Making with Your Windows 11 Rollout (and How to Fix Them)

It is hard to believe we are already well into 2026. For many businesses across Leeds, Ripon, and Skipton, the transition to Windows 11 has moved from a “maybe next year” task to a “we need this done yesterday” priority. As Windows 10 reaches its final sunset, the rush to upgrade the Windows 11 rollout is on.

 

But here is the thing: a Windows rollout isn’t just about clicking “Update” and hoping for the best. We have seen plenty of Yorkshire SMEs hit avoidable speed bumps that cost time, money, and a fair amount of Friday afternoon frustration. At FM UK, we believe technology should just work, so you can focus on running your business.

 

If you are planning your migration or are currently in the thick of it, here are the seven most common mistakes we see, and more importantly, how you can fix them.

1. Assuming Every PC is "Windows 11 Ready"

Why this happens

The biggest hurdle for a Windows 11 rollout isn’t the software itself; it is the hardware underneath. Microsoft introduced strict requirements, specifically around a little chip called the TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module).

 

Many business owners assume that if a laptop is only a few years old, it will be fine. However, we often find older machines in offices from Leeds to Skipton that simply don’t meet the security specs. Trying to force an installation on unsupported hardware is a recipe for system crashes and “blue screens of death” down the line.

 

The Fix: Use the PC Health Check tool or, better yet, let us run a remote audit of your entire fleet. We can quickly identify which machines need an upgrade and which ones are ready for a rapid deployment. This prevents nasty surprises halfway through your rollout.

A glowing TPM 2.0 chip on a motherboard illustrating Windows 11 hardware compatibility requirements.

2. The "Big Bang" Rollout Strategy

Why this happens
It is tempting to try and get the whole office upgraded in one weekend. You go home on Friday with Windows 10 and want everyone to arrive on Monday to a shiny new Windows 11 interface. While we love the enthusiasm, this “Big Bang” approach often leads to a “Big Headache.”

 

If there is a compatibility issue with a specific piece of niche software your accountancy firm uses, or a driver conflict with a specialised printer in your Ripon workshop, you’ve just stopped your entire workforce from being productive in one fell swoop.

 

The Fix: Pilot first. Choose a small group of “champion” users across different departments to test the rollout. They can spot the quirks and bugs before you push the update to the rest of the team.

 

A phased approach ensures that if something goes wrong, it only affects a few people rather than the whole company.

3. Forgetting the Human Element (User Training)

Why this matters

Windows 11 looks different. The Start menu has moved to the centre, the right-click menus have changed, and the Settings app has had a major facelift. It might seem intuitive to a tech enthusiast, but for a busy employee trying to hit a deadline, even a small change in layout can cause significant “UI friction.”

 

Why is this a problem? Because when people can’t find their files or don’t know how to pin an app, they stop working and start calling for help.

 

The Fix: Communication is key. Before the rollout, send out a simple “What’s Changing” guide. Better yet, use the Fresh Mango App to push out a quick video tutorial.

 

If your team knows what to expect, they’ll spend less time hunting for the Start button and more time getting things done.

4. Skipping the Backup Safety Net

Why this matters

“It’ll be fine; it’s just an update.” Famous last words. Even the smoothest rollouts can be interrupted by a power cut, a lost Wi-Fi connection, or a random hardware failure during the installation process. If that happens mid-update, you risk data corruption or a completely bricked machine.

 

The Fix: Never, ever start an OS migration without a verified backup. We recommend a proactive systems management approach where your data is backed up to the cloud automatically. Before we touch a client’s machine for a rollout, we ensure there is a “point-in-time” recovery option available. If the update fails, we can have you back to where you were in minutes, not days.

A digital safety net protecting data folders symbolizing cloud backup and recovery solutions.

5. Relying on Outdated Security (The SMS Trap)

Why this matters

Windows 11 is built for a higher level of security, but it’s only as strong as the locks you put on the door. Many businesses are still using SMS-based Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). While it’s better than nothing, SMS codes are increasingly vulnerable to “SIM swapping” and phishing attacks.

When you move to Windows 11, it is the perfect time to modernise your security posture.

 

The Fix: Move away from SMS and toward Authenticator Apps or hardware keys. As part of our Complete Cyber Security packages, we help Yorkshire businesses implement robust MFA that integrates seamlessly with Windows 11’s “Windows Hello” biometrics. It’s more secure and, honestly, much faster for your staff.

6. Overlooking Network Bandwidth

Why this matters

A Windows 11 installation file is several gigabytes. If you have 30 staff members in a Leeds IT support environment all trying to download that update at 9:00 AM on a Monday, your office internet will likely crawl to a halt. We have seen entire VoIP phone systems drop out because the network was choked by Windows Update traffic.

 

The Fix: Schedule your deployments. Use an automated patch management system to stagger the downloads or push them out after hours. If you are working with a managed service provider like FM UK, we handle the heavy lifting behind the scenes so your bandwidth remains dedicated to your business operations, not your downloads.

7. The "Set It and Forget It" Mentality

Why this matters

The rollout doesn’t end when the desktop appears. Windows 11 requires ongoing management to ensure security patches are applied and performance remains high. Many SMEs make the mistake of thinking the job is done once the software is installed, only to find that six months later, half their machines are behind on critical security updates.

 

The Fix: This is where proactive systems management truly shines. We don’t just “fix things when they break.” We monitor your systems 24/7.

 

At Fresh Mango Technologies, our support SLA is 4 hours, but if you ask our clients in Leeds, Skipton or Ripon, they’ll tell you our typical response time is actually within minutes. In fact, 95% of our support requests are resolved in under an hour.

A friendly IT professional providing managed support services in Leeds.

How Fresh Mango Makes the Transition Easy

We know that for many Yorkshire business owners, the thought of an IT overhaul is daunting. That is why we focus on being your “helpful neighbour” in the tech world. We speak your language: no confusing jargon, just clear solutions.

 

Need help during your rollout?

 

  • Fresh Mango App & Portal: The quickest way to submit a support ticket.
  • AI Agent: For simple “how-to” questions or quick fixes.
  • Local Support: If things get complicated, our engineers are right here in Yorkshire. Whether you need Skipton IT support or help in Ripon, we’re nearby.

Ready to Make Your Windows 11 Rollout Easier?

A Windows 11 rollout is a fantastic opportunity to refresh your business tech and boost security. If you want a professional hand to guide the way, we would love to help. Contact us today!

A fresh Windows 11 laptop setup on a wooden desk with a mango.

7 Mistakes You’re Making with MFA and Cloud Security (and How to Fix Them)

MFA and Cloud Security

As we move further into 2026, the way we work in Yorkshire has changed forever. From the bustling financial hubs in Leeds to the independent businesses in Skipton and Ripon, the “cloud” is no longer a buzzword: it is the office. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is often touted as the “silver bullet” for cloud security, but simply “having it” isn’t enough if it is configured incorrectly.

At Fresh Mango Technologies, we see many local businesses making the same fundamental errors. Here are the seven most common mistakes businesses make with MFA and cloud security, and how you can fix them today.

1. Relying on Weak MFA Methods (Like SMS)

Many businesses believe any MFA is sufficient. However, receiving a code via SMS is now considered a “weak” method due to “SIM swapping” attacks.

 

The Fix: Move toward “App-based” authentication like Microsoft Authenticator or hardware tokens (like YubiKeys). For more info, check out the NCSC resources on MFA.

2. Assuming the Cloud Provider Handles All Security

One of the biggest misconceptions in managed IT services in Yorkshire is that the cloud provider is responsible for everything.

 

The Fix: You are responsible for the data and identities inside the cloud. Don’t assume default settings are enough; they are often designed for ease of use, not maximum security.

3. The "VIP Exception": Not Enforcing MFA for Everyone

Secure hardware MFA key and smartphone on a desk.

Senior management often exempts themselves from MFA because it’s “inconvenient.” This is dangerous as they are “High Value Targets.”

 

The Fix: MFA must be mandatory for every user. If friction is a concern, our team can streamline the process so it’s secure without being a burden.

Digital security shield protecting business professionals.

4. Forgetting About "Shadow IT"

  • Shadow IT refers to employees using apps like Trello or Dropbox without IT’s knowledge. These accounts rarely have MFA, creating a back door into your business.

     

  • The Fix: Conduct a “cloud audit” and bring these tools under the umbrella of your managed IT services Leeds.

5. Ignoring Session Timeouts and "Remember Me" Risks

Staying logged in for 30 days is convenient but risky. If a device is stolen, an attacker can hijack that session without needing a password.

 

The Fix: Configure sensible session timeouts, especially for sensitive finance or HR portals.

Laptop screen showing a Session Expired notification.

6. Lack of Training on "MFA Fatigue" Attacks

Attackers send dozens of push notifications hoping a tired user will click “Approve” just to make them stop.

 

The Fix: User training is key. Your team needs to know to Deny any request they didn’t trigger. Learn more about our cyber security Yorkshire approach.

7. Not Having a Local Partner to Manage Security Proactively

Cloud security isn’t “set and forget.” Relying on a reactive provider who only fixes things when they break is a recipe for disaster.

 

The Fix: Partner with a proactive IT support Leeds provider like us, who monitors your systems 24/7/365.

Windows 11 rollout

Why Fresh Mango Technologies?

  • Rapid Response: Most requests resolved within an hour.
  • Proactive Management: We stop threats before they reach your inbox.
  • The Fresh Mango App: Instant support and AI Agent help 24/7/365.

Ready to bolster your defences?

Contact Us Today

7 Mistakes You’re Making with Cyber Essentials

7 Mistakes You’re Making with Cyber Essentials in 2026 (And How Yorkshire Businesses Can Fix Them)

7 Mistakes You’re Making with Cyber Essentials in 2026 (And How Yorkshire Businesses Can Fix Them)

If you’re running a business in Yorkshire, Ripon, or anywhere across the Broad Acres, you’ve likely heard of Cyber Essentials. It’s the UK government-backed scheme that helps protect your organisation against the most common cyber attacks.

 

But here’s the thing: it’s now 2026, and the goalposts have moved. The latest v3.3 requirements kick in on April 26, 2026, and many Yorkshire SMEs are finding that old security habits are no longer enough. At Fresh Mango Technologies (UK), we see these hurdles every day. We’re your local IT support Yorkshire experts, and we’re here to make sure your accreditation doesn’t feel like a trip to the dentist.

1. Thinking 'Cyber Essentials' is a One-Time Job

The biggest mistake? Treating Cyber Essentials like a MOT you only think about once a year. In 2026, cyber threats move at lightning speed. It’s not a “set and forget” project; it’s a standard for how you manage your IT every single day.

 

How to fix it: Shift your mindset to “continuous compliance.” This means having managed IT services Yorkshire teams like ours proactively monitoring your systems to ensure your firewalls and settings stay compliant all year round.

Modern Yorkshire office with a holographic calendar showing continuous Cyber Essentials protection.

2. Weak MFA on Cloud Accounts (The "It’s the Provider’s Job" Trap)

Under the new 2026 rules, cloud services are firmly in scope. If a service offers Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), you must use it. Even one user without MFA enabled is an automatic fail.

 

How to fix it: Audit every cloud tool. If it’s got MFA, turn it on. If you’re unsure, our Cyber Security experts can help set it up seamlessly.

3. Ignoring Mobile Security (The 'Work from Anywhere' Trap)

Whether you’re in a cafe in Headingley or on the train, personal phones used for work (BYOD) are in scope. If it’s not updated or lacks a pin code, your certification is at risk.

 

How to fix it: Use Mobile Device Management (MDM) to separate work data from personal data without spying on employees’ photos.

4. Not Patching Quickly Enough (Still Using 2024 Tech!)

Critical vulnerabilities must be patched within 14 days. If your tech is from 2024 and hasn’t had an update, you’re sitting on a ticking time bomb.

 

How to fix it: You need a documented schedule. Our Managed IT Services team uses automated tools to push updates the moment they land.

Futuristic server room representing fast software updates.

5. Forgetting About Guest Networks and IoT

If a visitor’s phone can “see” your server via the Wi-Fi, you won’t pass.

 

How to fix it: Segment your network. Put smart devices and guests on a separate VLAN. It’s a standard part of our small business IT support Yorkshire setup.

6. Lack of Staff Training (Humans are the Weakest Link)

Technology is only half the battle. Your team needs to spot 2026-era deepfakes and phishing scams.

 

How to fix it: Regular, bite-sized cyber awareness training. Run “fake” phishing tests and build a culture where it’s okay to double-check suspicious requests.

Managed EDR Leeds

7. Relying on an IT Provider Who Doesn't 'Speak Yorkshire'

Don’t get stuck in a national phone queue. You need someone who knows the local landscape and gives straight-talking advice.

 

How to fix it: Choose a local partner. Fresh Mango is built on Yorkshire expertise and no-nonsense advice.

Why Fresh Mango Makes Cyber Essentials Stress-Free

  • Proactive Management: We manage systems 24/7.
  • Rapid Deployment: Get MFA or MDM setup quickly.
  • Fresh Mango App: Submit tickets 24/7/365.
  • SLA Promise: 95% of requests resolved in under an hour.
Cyber Essentials help

Ready to Secure Your Business?

Contact Fresh Mango Today

How to Choose the Best IT Support in Leeds (Compared)

If you run a business in Leeds, you already know that this city moves fast.

How to Choose the Best IT Support in Leeds (Compared)

If you run a business in Leeds, you already know that this city moves fast. Whether you’re based in a sleek office near Park Square, running a retail spot on Briggate, or managing a warehouse out in Holbeck, your tech is the engine that keeps everything running. But what happens when that engine starts smoking? Or worse, what happens when it just stops?

Choosing the right IT support isn’t just about finding someone who can fix a broken laptop. It’s about finding a partner who understands the Yorkshire business landscape and won’t leave you hanging when the “blue screen of death” makes an unwelcome appearance on a Monday morning.

And if you’ve been Googling things like IT Support Leeds, Business IT support Leeds, or Outsourced IT support Leeds, you’re not alone. Plenty of local teams are also searching wider for it support Yorkshire and small business IT support Yorkshire because the right support should still feel local, even when you’ve got staff spread across the region.

With so many providers across West Yorkshire, how do you separate the “tech wizards” from the “troubleshooters”? Let’s dive into what you should actually be looking for when comparing IT support in Leeds.

Why "Local" Really Matters (It’s Not Just a Buzzword)

You might see national companies offering IT support at bargain-bin prices. They promise 24/7 remote monitoring and “instant” ticket logging. Sounds great, right? Until you realise their “local” engineer is actually stuck in traffic on the M25, three hundred miles away.

In Leeds, local presence is your secret weapon. When your server goes down or your office Wi-Fi decides to take an unscheduled holiday, you don’t want a “virtual assistant” in another time zone. You want someone who knows the shortcuts through the city centre and can get to your door before your coffee gets cold.

At Fresh Mango, we pride ourselves on our rapid deployment. We’re properly Yorkshire-based, with offices in Leeds and Ripon, so you’re not just getting a remote helpdesk—you’re getting a nearby team that can turn up when it matters. If a problem can’t be fixed remotely, we’re out the door and on our way to you (and yes, we cover the wider patch too—if you’re looking for IT Support Skipton or IT Support Ripon, you’re in the right place).

Local IT support

Comparing Response Times: The SLA vs. Real Life

When your team can’t access their emails, every minute feels like an hour. So yes, response time matters. But here’s the bit that often gets muddled: there’s the SLA response time (the formal promise) and there’s the typical response (what actually happens day-to-day).

At Fresh Mango, our SLA is a 4-hour response time. That’s the contractual safety net, so you know you’re covered.

But in real life? We typically respond within minutes, and 95% of support requests are sorted within an hour.

Why does that difference matter? Because a “response” can sometimes be nothing more than an automated email saying, “We’ve received your ticket.” That doesn’t get you back to work. When you’re comparing providers, ask these simple, plain-English questions:

  • Does “response” mean a real human has picked it up and started working it?
  • What’s your typical first response time (not just the SLA)?
  • What percentage of tickets do you resolve within an hour?

Less Firefighting: Proactive Management That Prevents Issues

Here’s the truth: the best response time is the one you never need.

A solid IT partner should be doing proactive systems management in the background—keeping devices updated, monitoring for early warning signs, and fixing small issues before they turn into “everyone’s down tools” disasters. That proactive approach reduces the need for reactive support in the first place, which means fewer interruptions for you.

Easy Ticket Logging: Our App + Portal (With an AI Agent)

You also want support to be easy to reach, not just fast.

That’s why we provide an App and client Portal that lets you raise support tickets directly into our system anytime—24/7/365—without hunting for an email address or waiting on hold.

And for the simple, common stuff? The Portal includes an AI Agent that can assist with straightforward issues (like forgotten passwords), so you can get moving again even quicker. If it’s not simple, no stress—your ticket is still routed to the right person on our team.

If you want a feel for how we tailor support to different businesses, you can check out our service selector.

The "Jargon-Free" Zone: Do They Speak Human?

Have you ever called a helpdesk and felt like you needed a degree in Computer Science just to understand the answer?

  • “We need to reconfigure the DNS records and check the DHCP handshake on the VLAN.”
  • Translation: “We need to fix the bit that connects your computer to the internet.”

One of the biggest complaints we hear from Leeds business owners moving from other providers is that they felt “talked down to.” IT shouldn’t be a dark art. A great IT partner should be able to explain what’s wrong and how they’re fixing it in plain English.

Why is this important? Because if you don’t understand the problem, you can’t make informed decisions about your budget or your security. At Fresh Mango, our brand tone is “Friendly” for a reason. We’re here to help, not to show off how many acronyms we know.

Security: Beyond Just "Antivirus"

Cyber threats aren’t just something that happens to giant corporations in London or New York. Yorkshire businesses are targets every single day. When comparing IT support in Leeds, you need to look at their approach to complete cyber security.

This is where location matters too. If you’re searching cyber security Yorkshire or more specifically Cyber Security Leeds, you’re usually looking for a team that can do both: lock things down properly and show up if you need hands-on help. And if you’re outside the city, the same applies for Cyber Security Ripon and Cyber Security Skipton—you want a local-ish partner, not someone treating Yorkshire like a pin on a map.

Does the provider offer:

  1. Cyber Essentials certification? This is the baseline for UK business security.
  2. Managed Endpoint Detection? (That’s a fancy way of saying “active monitoring that stops threats before they spread”).
  3. Employee Training? Most breaches happen because someone clicked a link they shouldn’t have.

If a provider just installs an antivirus and calls it a day, they aren’t protecting you; they’re just waiting for you to get hacked. You can read more about how to protect yourself from a data breach on our blog to see the level of detail you should expect.

And one more plain-English tip: when you see people searching “Cyber Security Companies near me”, what they usually mean is “who can actually help fast, explain it clearly, and reduce my risk without making my head spin?” That’s exactly the standard you should be holding any provider to.

Cyber Security Companies near me

Support Hours: Is Anyone Home After 5 PM?

Leeds is a city that works hard. If you’re a law firm on The Headrow, you’re likely working late. If you’re a restaurant in the Trinity Centre, your busiest times are evenings and weekends.

Many IT companies stick to the standard 9-to-5, Monday-to-Friday routine. But tech doesn’t care what time it is. If your system crashes at 5:15 PM on a Friday, you don’t want to wait until Monday morning for a fix.

  • When comparing providers, check their extended hours.
    Some providers only operate during standard business hours (roughly 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM).
  • Others offer proactive monitoring, which means they’re spotting and fixing issues before you even notice—often outside of your normal working day.

At Fresh Mango, we understand that “business hours” are a suggestion, not a rule. We offer support that fits your schedule, ensuring your Yorkshire business stays online when it matters most.

Comparing the "Hidden" Costs

Price is always a factor, but the cheapest quote isn’t always the best value. Some providers lure you in with a low monthly “per user” fee, but then charge you extra for:

  • On-site visits.
  • New user setups.
  • Strategic advice or “vCIO” (Virtual Chief Information Officer) services.
  • Emergency call-outs.

A “cheap” contract can quickly become the most expensive thing your business pays for if every little fix comes with an invoice attached. Look for a provider that offers managed IT services Leeds or managed IT services Yorkshire (same idea, just different coverage): a flat monthly fee that covers everything. It makes your budgeting easier and puts the onus on the IT company to keep things running smoothly (since they don’t get paid extra when things break!).

Looking for IT Support in Skipton or Ripon?

While Leeds is the hub, we know that many fantastic businesses are located just outside the city in places like Skipton, Ripon, or Harrogate. The same rules apply! You need a provider who is willing to make the trip up the A61 or A65 without charging you a “travel fee” that looks like a phone number.

If you’re in these areas, our Leeds computer repairs and support services extend across the region, bringing that same friendly, rapid-deployment mindset to North Yorkshire too. With offices in both Ripon and Skipton we are ideally located to assist.

How to Make the Switch (Without the Headache)

A lot of businesses stay with “okay” IT support because they’re terrified of the “big switch.” They worry about losing emails, downtime, or things going missing.

A professional IT partner should handle the entire transition for you. They should talk to your current provider, get the keys to the kingdom, and migrate your systems with zero disruption to your workday.

Here’s a quick checklist for your first meeting with a potential new IT partner:

  • Can you show me your average resolution time for the last 3 months?
  • Will I have a dedicated account manager who knows my business?
  • Do you offer “Cyber Essentials” as part of your package?
  • What happens if my server goes down at 8 PM on a Tuesday?
  • Can you explain your pricing in one page without hidden fees?

Summary: The Fresh Mango Difference

We know you have choices when it comes to IT support in Leeds. You could go with a massive national firm, or a one-man-band working out of a spare room.

Fresh Mango sits right in the “sweet spot.” We have the resources and team size to handle complex infrastructure and serious cyber threats, but we’re small enough to care about every single client. We’re the “helpful neighbour” who also happens to be an expert in server virtualisation and data security.

Whether you’re looking for high net worth individual support or a complete overhaul of your office tech, we’re here to help.

Ready to see what friendly, local IT support actually looks like?

We hope this guide has helped you narrow down your choices! If you’d like a no-obligation chat about how we can support your business, why not get in touch with our team today? Let’s get your tech working for you, rather than the other way around.

The Top 5 Phishing Techniques Targeting Staff This Year

The Top 5 Phishing Techniques Targeting Staff This Year

And how Fresh Mango Technologies helps you stay one step ahead

Why Phishing Attacks Are Increasing in the Workplace

Phishing attacks remain the number one cause of cyber security breaches, and this year attackers are more sophisticated than ever. While organisations continue to invest in firewalls, email filtering, and endpoint protection, cyber criminals are increasingly focusing on the easiest target: people.

 

At Fresh Mango Technologies, we work with UK organisations every day and see first‑hand how phishing techniques are evolving. Below are the top five phishing methods targeting staff this year—and how the right training and awareness can stop them.

The Top 5 Phishing Techniques Targeting Staff in 2026

1. AI‑Powered Spear Phishing

Attackers are now using AI to generate highly convincing emails that reference real projects, colleagues, or suppliers. These messages are well written, professional, and often completely free of spelling or grammar mistakes.

 

Why it works: Staff are used to spotting obvious errors, but AI‑generated emails remove those traditional warning signs.

 

How Fresh Mango helps: Our Cyber Awareness Training focuses on recognising suspicious behaviour and context, not just poor wording.

2. Business Email Compromise (BEC) Attacks

BEC attacks impersonate senior leaders or finance teams, requesting urgent payments, bank detail changes, or sensitive information—often late in the day or before weekends.

 

Why it works: Urgency and authority pressure staff into acting quickly without verification.

 

How Fresh Mango helps: We train staff to pause, verify, and challenge unusual requests using realistic scenarios delivered through CyberShield.

3. MFA Fatigue Attacks and Push Notification Attacks

Instead of stealing passwords, attackers bombard users with repeated MFA push notifications until someone eventually clicks “Approve” just to stop the alerts.

 

Why it works: Users assume the prompts are system errors or routine login requests.

 

How Fresh Mango helps: Our training explains exactly when MFA requests are suspicious and what staff should do instead.

4. QR Code Phishing (Quishing) Attacks

QR codes embedded in emails, invoices, or posters redirect users to fake login pages designed to harvest credentials.

 

Why it works: QR codes bypass traditional email scanning and feel convenient and trustworthy.

 

How Fresh Mango helps: We highlight mobile‑based threats that many organisations forget to address.

5. Cloud App and OAuth Consent Phishing

Attackers trick users into granting permissions to malicious apps within Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, giving attackers long‑term access without stealing passwords.

 

Why it works: No credentials are entered, so users don’t realise anything is wrong.

 

How Fresh Mango helps: We teach staff how to identify legitimate consent requests and spot abuse.

Building a Human Firewall with Fresh Mango Technologies

Technology alone cannot stop phishing. The strongest defence is a well‑trained and regularly reminded workforce.

 

Fresh Mango Technologies supports organisations with:

  • Cyber Awareness Training that is practical, engaging, and written in plain English
  • CyberShield, our monthly phishing and security awareness email subscription
  • Real‑world attack scenarios based on current threats, not outdated examples

 

Phishing attacks will continue to evolve—but with the right training and reinforcement, your staff become your strongest line of defence.

 

If you want to reduce risk, improve resilience, and stop phishing attacks before they succeed, Fresh Mango Technologies is here to help.

 

Because cyber security isn’t just about systems—it’s about people.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common phishing techniques targeting staff this year?

Common techniques include AI‑written spear phishing, business email compromise (BEC), MFA fatigue attacks, QR code phishing (quishing), and cloud app consent/OAuth phishing. They’re designed to look legitimate and bypass basic checks.

How can employees spot a phishing email quickly?

Look for urgency, unexpected requests for payments or logins, mismatched sender addresses, and links to unfamiliar domains. If it pressures you to act fast, stop and verify using a trusted method.

What is Business Email Compromise (BEC) and why is it dangerous?

BEC is where attackers impersonate a senior leader or supplier to request money, bank detail changes, or sensitive data. It’s dangerous because it exploits trust and process rather than malware.

What is MFA fatigue and how do you prevent it?

MFA fatigue is repeated push prompts sent until someone approves one. Prevent it by rejecting unexpected prompts, enabling number matching where possible, and reporting repeated prompts immediately.

What is QR code phishing (quishing)?

Quishing uses QR codes to send users to fake login pages or malicious sites. Treat QR codes like links—only scan expected codes from trusted sources and report suspicious requests.

What is cloud app consent (OAuth) phishing?

OAuth phishing tricks users into granting permissions to a malicious app in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. Because no password is entered, it can feel safe—staff should check permissions carefully and report anything unexpected.

Does cyber awareness training reduce phishing risk?

Yes—ongoing, practical training improves detection and encourages safe verification habits. The best results come from regular reinforcement, not one‑off sessions.

How can Fresh Mango Technologies help prevent phishing attacks?

Fresh Mango provides Cyber Awareness Training and CyberShield, a monthly email subscription that reinforces phishing awareness with current examples and actionable guidance.

What Fails Most Cyber Essentials Assessments — and How to Avoid It

What Fails Most Cyber Essentials Assessments — and How to Avoid It

Preparing for Cyber Essentials certification is one of the most effective ways to strengthen your organisation’s cybersecurity posture, but many businesses still fail to address avoidable issues. Recent assessment insights show that most failures stem from gaps in basic cyber hygiene rather than advanced threats.

 

The most common reason organisations fail is outdated or unsupported software. Assessors frequently discover end‑of‑life operating systems, unpatched routers, old browsers, and mobile devices that haven’t received security updates within the required 14‑day window. Even a single unsupported device can result in automatic failure because Cyber Essentials requires all critical updates to be applied promptly. Many teams simply aren’t aware that some systems are out of support, underscoring the importance of strong asset management and consistent cyber awareness.

 

Another major source of failure is misconfiguration and weak internal processes. Organisations often believe they are compliant, but vulnerability scans expose hidden issues, missing documentation, and poor evidence of patching or MFA enforcement. These gaps remain some of the most frequently cited pitfalls in audits.

 

From April 2026, Multi‑Factor Authentication (MFA) becomes even more critical. Where a cloud service offers MFA, and it is not enabled, the assessment will automatically fail—no exceptions. This reflects MFA’s role in preventing credential‑based attacks, especially as AI‑driven cyber threats escalate.

How to Avoid These Common Failures

  • Keep a complete and current asset inventory
  • Apply critical patches within 14 days
  • Enable MFA on all cloud services
  • Strengthen organisation‑wide cyber awareness
  • Conduct pre‑assessment scans to identify misconfigurations early

How Fresh Mango Technologies Can Help

As qualified Cyber Essentials Assessors, Fresh Mango Technologies can guide you through every step of the certification process—from readiness checks to remediation support—ensuring you meet the latest requirements with confidence.

Why Cyber Essentials Still Matters in an AI-Driven World

As AI tools become embedded in everyday business operations, many organisations assume that newer technology automatically delivers stronger security without the rigorous processes of Cyber Essentials accreditation. In reality, most successful cyber attacks still exploit basic, preventable weaknesses — not advanced AI systems.

Issues such as weak passwords, unpatched software, poor access controls, and low staff cyber awareness remain the most common entry points for attackers. That’s why Cyber Essentials accreditation continues to play a critical role in modern cyber risk reduction.

Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed cybersecurity framework designed to help organisations defend against the majority of common cyber threats. It focuses on practical, high-impact controls including secure configuration, device protection, access management, malware defence, and update management. These foundations are even more important when businesses adopt AI platforms and cloud services, which expand the attack surface.

Achieving Cyber Essentials certification is not just a compliance exercise — it is a business resilience strategy. It demonstrates security maturity to customers, partners, and insurers while reducing the likelihood of costly incidents.

Fresh Mango Technologies supports organisations through Cyber Essentials certification, cyber awareness training, and AI risk governance. The goal is not only to meet standards, but to build confident, secure ways of working with both traditional IT and emerging AI tools.

Strong security fundamentals still stop most attacks — even in an AI-driven world.

The Hidden Cost of Convenience: AI, Data Privacy, and Business Risk

Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini are now part of everyday business life and make AI Data Privacy a real concern. They help teams work faster, generate ideas, and reduce manual effort. Used well, they can be a real competitive advantage.

However, like any powerful technology, AI comes with risks — particularly around data privacy, security, and compliance. These risks are often overlooked in the rush to adopt new tools.

What Really Happens to Data Entered into AI Tools

Most public AI platforms improve their performance by learning from user interactions. This means that information entered into prompts may be stored and reused as part of ongoing model development.

If employees paste in sensitive material — such as client contracts, internal reports, pricing models, or proprietary ideas — that data may no longer be fully under your organisation’s control. While this doesn’t mean the information will be openly shared, it does introduce a real risk of unintended data exposure.

Why This Matters for Businesses

For organisations, this goes beyond general privacy concerns. Uploading personal or sensitive information into public AI tools can create regulatory and legal exposure, particularly under data protection laws such as:

  • GDPR (UK and EU)

  • HIPAA (health data in the US)

  • CCPA (consumer data in California)

Once data has been absorbed into an AI model, it cannot realistically be removed. This makes post-incident remediation extremely difficult and undermines obligations such as the “right to be forgotten”.

The Rise of Shadow AI

A growing challenge for many businesses is Shadow AI — the use of AI tools by employees without formal approval, guidance, or oversight from IT or security teams.

Without clear policies or enterprise safeguards, sensitive company information may be uploaded to third-party platforms with unclear data handling practices. This can expose intellectual property, commercial strategy, and customer data to unnecessary risk.

Using AI Safely and Effectively

At Fresh Mango Technologies, our advice is straightforward:

Never treat public AI tools as secure data environments.

Best practice includes:

  • Anonymising information before analysis

  • Avoiding the use of personal data, client details, or confidential material

  • Educating teams on what is — and is not — appropriate to share

For organisations that want to use AI at scale, enterprise-grade AI solutions offer a safer path forward. These typically include data isolation, strong security controls, and contractual assurances that business data will not be retained or used for training.

AI Is a Tool — Governance Makes It an Asset

AI has enormous potential to improve productivity and decision-making. But without proper controls, it can quietly introduce risk into the heart of your organisation.

In today’s digital economy, data is one of your most valuable business assets. Protecting it isn’t about slowing innovation — it’s about enabling AI adoption in a way that is secure, compliant, and sustainable.

Used responsibly, AI becomes a powerful partner. Used carelessly, it becomes an invisible liability.

How Cyber Essentials is having a demonstrable positive impact

Cyber Essentials positive impact

The evidence is now clear and unequivocal – Businesses that adopt Cyber Essentials experience a huge reduction in cyber incidents.

IASME (Information Assurance for Small and Medium Enterprises), who oversee the CE scheme, has been gathering data from insurance companies. The results are eye-opening.

Insurance data indicates that certified organisations are 92% less likely to make a cyber insurance claim than those without the certification. Additionally, implementing the scheme’s core controls can prevent around 80% of common cyber attacks, according to IT Governance Ltd. Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

Reduced Cyber Insurance Claims

The Cyber Essentials certification is associated with a substantial decrease in the likelihood of needing to file a cyber insurance claim.

Prevention of Common Attacks

The scheme’s technical controls are designed to stop the vast majority of basic, “commodity” cyber attacks.

Third-Party Risk Management

Cyber Essentials is also used as a tool to manage risks within supply chains, leading to fewer cyber incidents overall.

Specific Case Study

The financial services company, St. James’s Place, saw an 80% reduction in cyber incidents after requiring its partners to become Cyber Essentials Plus certified, according to IASME.

So, the data and evidence are compelling. If you would like to get started on your Cyber Essentials journey, contact Fresh Mango today.

Why do people fall for cyber scams?

Why Do People Fall for Cyber Scams?

In today’s digital age, cyber scams are more sophisticated than ever, yet people continue to fall victim to them. But why? The reasons are more complex than mere gullibility—they stem from psychology, social engineering, and even human nature.

The Psychology of Deception

Scammers understand human psychology better than most. They exploit emotions like fear, urgency, and greed. An email warning that your bank account has been compromised triggers panic, leading you to act before thinking. Similarly, an offer promising quick riches plays on greed, clouding judgment.

Social Engineering Tactics

Cybercriminals use social engineering — manipulating people into revealing confidential information. They impersonate trusted entities like banks, government agencies, or even colleagues, making their requests appear legitimate. When faced with an urgent message from “the boss” demanding sensitive information, people may comply without second-guessing.

Lack of Cyber Awareness

Despite increased awareness campaigns, many people still lack a solid understanding of online security. Weak passwords, clicking on suspicious links, or failing to verify sender authenticity—these mistakes expose them to cyber risks. Scammers rely on ignorance, creating convincing schemes that seem entirely plausible.

Technology Making Cyber Scams More Convincing

Advancements in AI and deepfake technology make scams harder to detect. Phishing emails look more authentic, fraudulent websites appear legitimate, and voice scams can mimic real people. As cyber criminals refine their techniques, distinguishing between genuine and fraudulent messages becomes increasingly difficult.

How to Avoid Cyber Scams

While scams are constantly evolving, vigilance remains key. Always verify sources, question unexpected requests, and stay informed about the latest cyber threats. Cyber awareness isn’t just for IT experts—it’s essential for everyone navigating the digital world.

Have you ever encountered a cyber scam? What made it convincing?

Continue reading “Why do people fall for cyber scams?”

The Importance of Anti-Spam Software in Cybersecurity

The Importance of Anti-Spam Software in Cybersecurity

In today’s digital age, email remains a primary communication tool for both personal and professional use. However, this widespread usage also makes it a prime target for cybercriminals. Spam emails, which are unsolicited and often malicious, can flood inboxes, leading to potential security risks. As a cybersecurity analyst, it’s crucial to understand the role of anti-spam software in protecting against these threats.

What is Anti-Spam Software?

The software is designed to prevent potentially harmful emails before they reach the user’s inbox. These tools use a combination of techniques, including content filtering, blacklisting, and machine learning algorithms, to identify and filter out spam.

Key Features of Anti-Spam Software

  1. Content Filtering: This involves analyzing the content of emails for common spam indicators such as suspicious links, excessive use of certain keywords, and unusual formatting. Content filtering helps in identifying and blocking spam based on the email’s content.
  2. Blacklisting: The software maintains a list of known spam sources. Emails from these sources are automatically blocked. This list is continuously updated to include new spam sources as they are identified.
  3. Machine Learning: Modern tools leverage machine learning algorithms to improve their detection capabilities. These algorithms analyze patterns in email data to identify new types of spam and adapt to evolving threats.

Benefits of Using Anti-Spam Software

  • Enhanced Security: By blocking spam emails,the software reduces the risk of phishing attacks, malware infections, and other cyber threats.
  • Improved Productivity: With fewer spam emails to deal with, users can focus on legitimate communications, leading to increased productivity.
  • Cost Savings: Reducing the risk of cyber attacks can save organizations significant amounts in potential damages and recovery costs.

In conclusion, anti-spam software is a vital component of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. Effectively filtering out unwanted and harmful emails helps protect users and organizations from a wide range of cyber threats. As cyber threats continue to evolve, the importance of robust anti-spam measures cannot be overstated.

Computer Studies ‘O’ Levels in Abu Dhabi

Continuing my recent blog theme about being one of the first ‘home user’ computer generation, I’m moving on to the first time I had to take exams seriously – ‘O’ Levels (GCSEs as they are now called).

It’s fair to say that my school in Abu Dhabi had no experience of providing this course. So they brought in a teacher specifically to teach Computer Studies, so at the end of the year we could take our ‘O’ Level.

Well, I don’t know where the teacher came from, but everyone in the class (keeping in mind we were 15 or 16 years old) had a sense that he wasn’t qualified to be a teacher. He knew his way around 3 computer programs and that was about it. The programs were very early versions of Word Processor ans spreadsheet software. Of course they were very heavy going compared with what we expect from Microsoft today.

 

There was also the ability to program in Fortran (a computer language I never really mastered) and BASIC. Now I knew BASIC pretty well from my home computer that I spent most evenings on. Unfortunately the version of BASIC on my Atari 800 was different to the version we had at school. The basics were the same (pun intended) but it meant that if I worked on a program at home, it had to be rewritten to work on the computer system at school. A nuisance but good programming experience I guess…

Anyway, back to our teacher. He was a rather tall gangly fellow, and quite ungainly in his manner. He was also ridiculously unforgiving. Keeping in mind we were trying to learn, any mistake would be ceased upon as a reason to give us detention! Not exactly a nurturing teaching environment. As a result, it’s fair to say he became rather unpopular. So much so that we nicknamed him ‘E.T.’. The movie had only juist come out, and our teacher would shuffle about in a similar manner to everyone’s favourite Alien.

He also had a bit of the Darth Vader about him. With the advent of the Empire Strikes Back, and the all-time shocking revelation of Luke’s father, we would parody him about this. After class my classmates would take turns asking ‘Tell me Sir, is Darth Vader my father’, resulting in everyone falling about laughing. (Hey – we were 15 years old, what do you expect?!)

Anyway, the upshot was that students without a home computer were at a severe disadvantage, especially when it came to the ‘O’ level exam, which bore little resemblance to what we were taught at school. Fortunately there was a practical element – we had to write a program – and since that represented 50% of the overall exam most of us managed to scrape through.

 

 

I got a ‘C’, which in those days was the lowest score above a fail. I was gutted (Only A’s and occasional B’s for me…) but nonetheless, of all the exams I took in my life, this was the standout memory. 

 

 

And it’s all thanks to E.T…! 

How a Microsoft Phone Scam nearly destroyed a business

How a Microsoft Phone Scam nearly destroyed a business

It was a normal day in Fresh Mango’s BVI office on Tortola when the telephone rang.

It was one of our clients based on the island of Virgin Gorda, and judging by the shouting they were not happy. 

It took a while for our technician to calm him down. Having eventually done so he was able to ask what the problem was. It turned out that the client had received a telephone call from Microsoft. The caller had advised that our client’s computer systems were not secure. They had not been kept up to date and they were in need of urgent security updates, or else our client was at risk of a cyber hack.

‘I mean, for goodness sake, I pay you a monthly retainer to manage my IT systems! What do I pay you for if you can’t do something as basic as updates!!!’

The Fresh Mango technician immediately recognised this for what it was (a Microsoft Phone Scam) but needed more information. 

‘When did they call you?’ He asked.

 

‘About half an hour ago’.

 

‘I see, and how did you leave it with them?’

 

‘I haven’t left it’ said the client. They are on the other line. They needed to access my computer to implement all of the necessary updates.‘

 

Now very worried, the Fresh Mango Technician asked ‘You mean you have given them access to your computer and they are on it now?’

 

‘Yes, of course’.

At this point our technician had no choice but to tell the client what was going on. ‘You need to disconnect your computer from the internet RIGHT NOW. You are being scammed and hacked.’

 

 

Silence on the other end of the line. Our technician imagined a penny dropping.

 

 

‘You, you mean it isn’t Microsoft?’

 

 

‘No, it’s a scam. Disconnect your device now and hang up the other line to the caller. 

Then confirm to me when you have done so.

A few moments later the client confirmed all had been disconnected.

Our technician then advised he would catch the next ferry to Virgin Gorda and would need to conduct a complete security sweep of the client’s systems.

Epilogue

The ‘Microsoft’ caller had installed key logging software and monitoring software on the client’s systems. Fortunately the hadn’t been able to access financial data or client data since we had that locked down.

A couple of months later I bumped into the client in a local bar. He was most grateful for what we had done, he realised that his business could have been severely compromised financially.

 

‘No problem’ I said. ‘That’s what you pay us for.’

Postscript

Never act on a call from someone claiming to be from Microsoft (or any other company for that matter). Ask them for a reference number and tell them you will call them back. Do not call any number the caller provides (!) – use the number on the website for the company. Or call Fresh Mango.

 

And, for the record, we conduct monthly security patching (as well as emergency patches) for all our retainer clients, diligently.

Why Cyber Essentials has a positive impact for SMEs

Fresh Mango Technologies has been assisting companies in achieving Cyber Essentials accreditation for several years now.

We were recently asked if we could provide examples of how CE accreditation has benefitted clients who we have assisted. Great question! A simple way to find out – we asked them! We’re pleased to share some of their answers below.

Why Cyber Essentials? Client 1 - Move to a Better Solution

A customer prior to achieving CE accreditation had 3 on-premises servers and separate MDM software for mobile devices.

 

Undertaking CE allowed a better solution to be proposed, Intune. This removed the requirement for 3 servers and a separate MDM software, bringing it all into one place.

 

KISS, “Keep It Simple Security”. The importance of simplicity in security measures to make them more effective and easier to manage was achieved by implementing Cyber Essentials.

Client 2 - Upgrading Hardware

Prior to implementing CE, this customer was using basic and unsupported networking equipment.

 

This was upgraded to meet the CE specification and provide constant resilience to provide daily protection from threats before and within the network.

Why Cyber Essentials? Client 3 - Implementing Secure Configuration

Before implementing Cyber Essentials, this customer was using shared accounts and no multi-factor authentication.

 

Subsequently, as part of the CE accreditation, all accounts and permissions were separated out, and multi-factor authentication was enabled.

 

This ensures constant resilience by reducing the threat landscape as no shared accounts, and correct file permissions will always be in place and reduce the risk of unauthorised access.

Client 4 - Compliance with Contracts

Cyber Essentials helps businesses see the importance of cybersecurity and how It affects all their stakeholders, not just themselves.

 

It demonstrates how important it is to have secure systems to protect other people’s data and systems.

 

Increasingly procurement departments are requiring CE accreditation from suppliers. This is because they know that CE helps identify companies who understand how resilience with cyber security is key to successful operations, not just a small add-on.

So there you have it – straight from the horse’s mouth! So, now that you’ve seen how Cyber Essentials has benefitted some of our clients, isn’t it time to get your business CE accredited?

 

Contact Fresh Mango today to commence your CE journey. 

How professional IT Support improves your cyber security

A couple of years ago we were contacted by a local business that we had never dealt with before. They wanted us to take a look at their IT systems because they had been the victims of a cyber attack. 

 

Sure, no problem.

So we visited their site and the story was simple – someone had changed the bank account details in their accounting package for their largest suppliers. So when automatic scheduled monthly payments were made, they did not go to the suppliers, but to a single account that was clearly controlled by whoever had made the changes.

The company did not have anybody managing their IT professionally, and the evidence and consequences of this quickly became apparent.

The most immediately obvious (and concerning) issue was the use of a USB drive. They ran their business using third party software. They suspected that one of the PCs in their accounts department had been hacked, so they had isolated it from the network (good). Unfortunately, on advice from their third-party software supplier, they had copied essential data from that PC, via a USB stick, to other PCs that were on their network. It simply did not occur to them that they could be spreading malware by doing this (and shame on the third-party supplier for their ‘advice’!)

What happened?

We conducted a forensic investigation and we found that there had indeed been a hack. However, it could have been stopped in its tracks had the most basic IT precautions been in place. This is what happened:

An email with an ‘invoice’ attachment was sent to the client’s generic email address, with the message ‘please forward to the accounts department’. The recipient forwarded it. First opportunity to avoid the hack missed.

4 people had access to the accounts@ email address. By chance only 1 person was in that day. She opened the email and attempted to download the attachment. Nothing happened, the attachment would not download. She thought no more about it and left the office at the normal time. Second opportunity to avoid the hack missed.

That evening, the hackers accessed the accounts dept PC remotely. The ‘invoice’ was in fact remote access software that had been installed when the lady in accounts attempted to download it. NB – had the principle of least privilege been applied to all PCs on the network, the software would likely not have been downloaded. Third opportunity to avoid the hack missed. Furthermore, the company did not have a commercial anti-virus software installed, again this would likely have detected the malware. Fourth opportunity to avoid the hack missed.

Since the PC had Administrative rights, the hackers then discovered they could access the server and the accountancy software package, neither of which were password protected. Fifth and sixth opportunities to avoid the hack missed.

The hackers spent just under an hour on the client’s systems, during which time they changed the bank account details for the largest suppliers. They then logged off and waited for the money to roll in, which it duly did at the end of the month.

So, the story shows how just the most basic of professional IT support can help to avoid cyber attacks. The above scenario would be avoided with a professional IT support company implementing the following:

  • Basic user awareness training
  • Principle of least privilege
  • No administrative access for any staff
  • Strong passwords implemented for all systems and software
  • Two-factor authentication on critical systems eg Accounting software
  • A professional anti-virus solution in place

So, the moral of the story is simple – ensure you have professional IT Support in place for your business and you will go a long way to improving your cyber security. 

What happened in the end

If you’ve read this far you’re probably keen to know what happened. Well, we conducted a forensic cyber analysis and handed it to the police. With our evidence, they found and successfully prosecuted the hackers, and all but £9k of the funds stolen (which were in excess of £100k) was recovered. A happy ending in the circumstances, but I’m sure you would agree best to avoid it in the first place!

My first home computer

The Atari 800

This is my latest blog piece delving into nostalgia of how IT was an integral part of my youth and upbringing.

This time I’m writing about my first ever home PC. With the advent of home computers such as the Commodore 64, Apple II and Spectrum ZX-81, the home PC market was created and began to gain traction in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Atari recognised, rightly, that while these gadgets in the home could be useful for balancing chequebooks, keeping recipes or perhaps writing letters, one of the big uses was going to be computer games. As they were then masters of the computer game business with their 2600 console (which I wrote about here), they decided to build two computers? One could take on the Apple II, but also plug and play cool cartridge games (the Atari 800). The other, a cheaper model, could be marketed as a games machine but could also be used as a real computer (the Atari 400).

Atari 800

So I asked for – and was kindly given – a birthday present of an Atari 800 home computer. It had a ground-breaking 48k of memory (yes that is a k, not an M or a G!). It had a standard QWERTY keyboard with 62 full-travel keys and 4 special keys to the right of the keyboard.

It was easily one of the best-looking models available. It also stood out amongst the other computer offerings of the day with its graphics and sound capabilities. It was capable of producing up to 256 colours. It’s fair to say that in the Atari 800 was in another league compared with any of the competitor models available at the time. Like all home computers of that time, it could be attached to a TV, but uniquely it could also be attached to a high-resolution monitor.

So what did I do with the Atari 800? Well I didn’t play games on it (I had the Atari 2600 for that!). I actually learned to program on it, in the BASIC computing language. This stood me in good stead when I subsequently studied computing studies and took an ‘O’ level in the subject (to younger readers that’s like a GCSE).

Unfortunately for Atari, they got themselves caught in a strategic dilemma in the 1980s, trying to be both game company and home PC company. Ultimately this was to be their downfall, but that’s another story. So there weren’t many Atari home PCs after the 800.

As I sit here writing this blog on a Dell laptop with 64GB of RAM, it’s almost unfathomable that I could ever have written programs on a home PC with 48k of memory. But I did, and one of them carried me through my ‘O’ levels as well as school tests.

 

So there you have it, my favourite computer of all time, the Atari 800.

Atari Game Console

The 'Game changing' Atari Game Console

I’m continuing my theme from last month of influences on me which resulted in a career in Information Technology and computing. This month – the Atari Game Console.

I still remember the feeling of awe when I first heard about the Atari Game Console as a child. It was simply unbelievable!

 

I was playing the state-of-the-art tennis game on my TV – people of a certain age may remember it as ‘Pong’. You plugged the console into your TV and it allowed one or two players to move a ‘bat’ up and down, to ‘hit’ a ball that was bouncing horizontally across the screen.

 

For anyone who doesn’t remember, there is a Youtube link below that demonstrates it.

This was as good as home video games got in the early 1980’s!

 

Then a friend of my parents visited us, saw me playing ‘Pong’ and told me all about the new games that were coming out. He described being able to control a small biplane and shoot at another biplane on screen.

 

For a nascent teenager who was into ‘gaming’ it was mind-blowing!

Before too long I got to hear all about it – it was called Atari and it wasn’t limited to just one game – there were hundreds! You simply plugged in the relevant game cartridge and away you went.

 

The true genius of the Atari game console was that it recreated arcade games in your own home. I was fortunate to receive one for Christmas, and of course, all my friends, and friends of my parents in the older generation, were all completely hooked.

 

There is an interesting Youtube video below on the evolution of the Atari Game console.

I don’t recall all of the games I had, but I think it’s safe to say my favourites were the ones I still remember today:

 

  • Space Invaders (of course!)
  • Defender

 

Clearly some love of science fiction was already built in (I was in the Star Wars generation after all!)

So there you have it. The Atari Game Console was an early indicator of where my eventual career would lie. By modern standards of course the games look  remarkably primitive. Yet I think there is an innocent purity to them. The game designers achieved amazing results with very limited computing power, and they deserve great credit for that.

 

I hope you’ve enjoyed this trip down memory lane. Next month, another Atari….

 

Guy Phoenix

How long have you been in IT?

I’m often asked if I’ve been in IT all my life. In terms of career roles, the answer is ‘no’ since I’ve been fortunate to hold a variety of positions in the companies I’ve worked for and owned.

 

But I thought about the question a bit more recently and realised that I’ve had an interest in electronics/IT/computers for as long as I can remember. I can still remember the surprise (or was it exasperation?!) on my parent’s faces when they asked me what I would like for my birthday, and I told them I would like one of the new electronic calculators that had just come out.

 

I was 7 years old!

 

I’ve turned the house upside down but can’t find that original calculator. I was able to unearth a picture of one like it and attach it here. It’s interesting to see that calculators haven’t actually changed that much, so it was amazingly ahead of its time.

 

So there you have it, my new answer to the question of ‘how long have you been in IT’ will be ‘as long as I can remember’!

 

IT all my life

 

Guy Phoenix is the Managing Director of Fresh Mango Technologies and Their sister company in the British Virgin Islands.

Going to the Dentist

Your IT Team - like your Dentist only without the pain

What on earth is he on about in this blog? What has dentistry got to do with IT or computers? He’s obviously still in the ‘Christmas Spirit’…

 

Well maybe (although in my defence I first thought about writing this in early December, just didn’t get the chance. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it…)

 

OK bear with me here. Try to remember the last time you had to go to the dentist – not for a check-up and clean – but because you were in pain. If you’re anything like me you would have put up with it for a while, in the delusional belief that it will somehow go away all on its own. But it doesn’t, it gets worse and at some point, the pain reaches a tipping point and you finally make an appointment to see the dentist.

 

You get there, explain the problem and they take a look. They identify the offending tooth/teeth and take appropriate action to resolve it.

 

The relief! Suddenly this constant pain that you have been living with has instantly gone!You leave the dentist walking on air, feeling like you’re ten years younger.

 

Drive home, an hour later you’ve pretty much forgotten all about it and are back to dealing with whatever matters you have to deal with in your everyday life or job. Certainly, within a couple of days, the whole thing is a distant memory.

 

Now remember the last time you’re email didn’t work. Or your printer. Sod’s law guarantees that they stopped working at the worst possible time. You need to get an email to your client within the next hour. You’re trying to print a document that you need before heading out of the door to a meeting. Arrgh!

 

Believe me, even though I work in IT I still experience these same frustrations. The simple fact is that computers and their systems sometimes go wrong. And just like your toothache, it’s painful and incredibly inconvenient.

 

So you ring one of the Tech guys at Fresh Mango. They fix your email or printer, and you’re back in business (literally). The only difference with the dentist is that you have almost certainly forgotten the issue within a matter of minutes. After all, we’re all incredibly busy.

 

What’s the point of this blog? Well, there isn’t one really, other than to spare a thought for the IT Technician who just fixed your email or printer.

 

Remember he or she is doing this all day long for people just like you. And just like your dentist, they’re helping you get on with your life as efficiently as possible. Yes, it’s their job, but believe me a simple ‘thank you’ goes a long way to making their day that little bit better as well.

 

Wishing you a Happy New Year and a prosperous 2024!

The importance of cyber awareness aka cyber hygiene

From the outset I want to be very clear. ‘Cyber awareness’ doesn’t mean being aware that there are cyber risks, or that there are hackers ‘out there’.

 

It means being aware of what those actual risks entail. It means being aware of the methods (or vectors) that attackers use to gain access to IT systems. It means knowing how to avoid successful hacks. It means knowing what to do in the event of a breach.

 

But most of all, the absolute number one thing to understand, is that there is no technical solution that can guarantee 100% IT/cyber security. That’s because hackers don’t always look for technical weaknesses. They look for – in fact rely upon – human fallibility.

 

The cyber media conducts annual surveys of cyber threats and attacks and consistently finds that 4 out of 5 successful cyber attacks can be traced back to poor cyber hygiene from internal staff.

 

Believe it or not, your staff can inadvertently allow or help hackers to gain access to your systems.

 

 

That’s why Cyber Awareness (or Cyber Hygiene) for all computer users in an organisation is of paramount importance. It needs to be deployed alongside technical measures. This combination represents the most powerful cyber security defence.

 

Fresh Mango Technologies provides cyber-awareness training to staff in companies across the UK, USA and Caribbean.

 

What to expect from Cyber Awareness Training

Fresh Mango’s Cyber Awareness Training covers all of the areas described above. These include:

 

  • Phishing
  • Passwords and Authentication
  • Responding to a Cyber Attack
  • Staying safe online
  • Reporting cybercrime
  • Malware Attack
  • Protecting your business from cyber attacks
  • Safe Device use
  • Whaling Attack
  • Handling data

 

Cyber hygiene training opens eyes to the threats that are out there; not just in emails, but on Facebook, websites, LinkedIn, pretty much anywhere online! Cyber hygiene refers to how you and your staff conduct yourselves from an online perspective.

 

So, it’s not just about IT usage within your business, but also an individual’s overall approach to internet usage and your internal policies and processes.

 

 

 

The Training event

 

The training can be conducted over Teams video or in person. It typically lasts 2 hours.

 

Provided by qualified and experienced instructors, our cyber awareness training is designed to provide more depth and detail than standard e-learning packages.

 

Our instructors share real-life experiences and examples of the latest cyber-attacks and threats. Current best practices and the best techniques for avoidance of cyber issues are discussed in detail. We’ll advise how to stay cyber-safe within the workplace and at home.

 

There is a test at the end and participants will be issued with certificates on completion of the training.

 

In Conclusion

 

Every organisation should take appropriate technical and procedural measures to ensure that you are as robust as possible against the cyber threat. Achieving Cyber Essentials accreditation is an excellent means of achieving this.

 

In tandem with these measures, regular (at least annual) cyber hygiene training will ensure everyone in your organisation understands what to look for and how to deal with it.

 

Top Three Cyber Security Tips

Cyber Security Tips

 

Cybersecurity is never out of the news these days. A day doesn’t go by without news of a company having a data breach or a threat from a new cyber Actor. With so much in the news, it can be quite overwhelming and difficult to know what to do.

 

So, herewith are our main Cyber Security Tips for maintaining the security of your IT systems:

 

  1. Ensure your server, network equipment and computers are updated with the latest versions of their operating software regularly. The best way of ensuring this is to engage professional IT support.
  2. Implement Two-factor authentication (TFA). Fresh Mango uses Duo TFA on all of our systems, and many of our customers have implemented TFA. The increases in security and peace of mind far outweigh any minor annoyances of having to go through an extra security step when accessing systems.
  3. Don’t fall for scams. It’s so easy to do so, especially when busy. The key issue to look out for is urgency. If you receive a phone call and it relates to anything financial or IT, and the caller is saying it’s an urgent issue, hang up. Call the actual business they claimed to be from (e.g. your bank) to verify. The same applies to emails. If in any doubt call your supplier on the number you have on your records to verify an invoice.

Please contact us to find out more about our cyber security services and to get more cyber security tips!

Cyber Security Tips

Did you forget your Microsoft 365 password?

Did you forget your Microsoft 365 password?

 

In these days of multiple logins, it’s all too easy to forget your password!

 

Here’s how to reset your Microsoft 365 password if you forget it.

Reset your password


If the password you typed is incorrect, you’ll see a message that says:

Your account or password is incorrect. If you don’t remember your password, reset it now.

 

Tip: We recommend following the steps below to resolve your password issues. If you already tried this but it didn’t work, use the Microsoft Sign In Helper tool.

 

1. Select Forgot password


If the Enter password window is still open select Forgot password?

(Or go directly to Reset password and enter the username name again for the account you’re trying to reset and select Next).

 

2. Verify your identity


For your protection, Microsoft must verify your identity before you can proceed with resetting your password.

 

How to verify your identity depends if you previously added security info to your account and if you can still access them. Select from the two options below.

 

Option 1: You received and can select a verification option

Select which option to send the verification code to.

Select Next.

 

Option 2: No verification options are given or you can no longer access any of the options

If you don’t see an option for where to send a code or you no longer have access to any of the verification options shown, you won’t be able to reset your password this way.

Tip: If these steps didn’t work, or you have other account sign-in issues, use the Microsoft Sign In Helper tool.

 

3. Get a verification code

Depending on the contact method you chose, retype the first part of the email address or the last four digits of the phone number hinted at in the previous window.

 

Select Get code.

 

Microsoft will send a verification code to the email or phone number you selected.

Go to the recovery phone or email where you expect to receive the code.

 

Tip: If you didn’t receive a message, check your junk folder or if you selected the phone option, make sure your phone has service and can receive texts, and verify your phone isn’t set up to block texts from unknown numbers.



4. Enter code and reset password


Paste or type the code you received and select Next.

 

Type your new password and select Next.

How Professional IT Support saves money

We’re often asked how professional IT Support saves money for businesses. Clearly, we believe it does (we would, wouldn’t we?!) and in this blog, we set out the reasons why.

 

If you’re reading this then it’s likely that you fall into one of two kinds of business. It could be that you don’t have any professional IT Support in your company, or it could be that you do and for whatever reason, you’re dissatisfied with it. Either way, the savings rationale that follows will apply to you.

 

Firstly, let’s think about your car (Stick with us!). Most modern-day cars have sophisticated engine management systems that pretty much make maintaining the car yourself impractical. So you take it to a garage to do the maintenance work, whenever the next service interval comes along.

 

Even if you have (say) a classic car that allows you to do the servicing yourself, you accept the need for servicing the car, right? Of course, you do. If you don’t maintain the car, its performance will degrade and eventually, it will let you down. You depend on your car. It cant let you down. It’s a no-brainer.

 

So, back to the point. Your business depends on your computer systems, however simple or sophisticated they may be. So why wouldn’t you maintain them? Why would you allow them to gradually degrade in performance, and inevitably let you down? Surely that’s a no-brainer too?

 

If you agree, you’ve understood the first reason why professional IT Support saves money for businesses. 

 

Efficiency

 

So now you’re getting your IT systems maintained professionally, how is it saving you money? Well, one word – efficiency. 

 

Professionally-maintained systems don’t go wrong very often. So that means all your employees can get on with their jobs. We have gotten IT out of the way, as it should be. It should be there to facilitate, not frustrate your business.

 

The other efficiency gains come from having IT Technicians readily available for any issues that may come up. Instead of potentially wasting hours trying to fix them yourself. A huge efficiency gain.

 

We put it like this: there are two aspects to how professional IT Support saves money for businesses.

 

  • The proactive maintenance that we conduct (patching, health checks and so on) to ensure everything is running smoothly

 

  • The reactive support that we provide, when you do need help with something.

 

So there you have it! Professional IT Support, thanks to efficiency savings in your business, more than pays for itself. 

 

If you would like to get in contact for a no-obligation consultancy on how Fresh Mango will help your business save money, please do so here.

 

I’m CEO, I should have Admin credentials!

“I’m in charge of the company, surely I should have Admin credentials for our IT systems?”

 

It’s fair to say we hear this comment/complaint a lot.  We take time to explain why it’s a really bad idea for the most senior person in the company to have ‘access to all areas’ of their IT systems, but often times we can tell they are unconvinced.

 

We will set out the reasons for this policy below, but firstly here are a couple of things that happened to two clients in the last fortnight.

 

Client 1 – Hit by Ransomware.

Client 1 came back to work on Monday to find their entire system locked out by ransomware. We were tasked with trying to recover their systems without resorting to them paying the Bitcoin demands in the ransomware.

 

Long story short, after a week and a half we were able to get them up and running again, although they had lost a lot of data.

 

Moreover, they had not been able to operate during the interim period.

 

Despite this they were delighted that we had been able to recover anything at all.

 

The frustration for us was that it was entirely avoidable and we had been warning them for years – no exaggeration – that this may happen. Why were we warning them? Simple – they disregarded all of our upgrade proposals including:

 

  • Server upgrade – current OS out of support from Microsoft making it a cyber risk
  • Anti-virus software (!)
  • Cyber hygiene training for staff
  • Implementing non-Admin privileges for all staff

 

These last two points were the kickers – one of their staff, with full Admin privileges on their PC – clicked a phishing email that led to the Ransomware locking out the entire company.

Client 2 – Ransomware near miss

 

Client 2 contacted us last week advising one of their major customers had been hit by ransomware. We ran some checks on our client’s systems and confirmed all was OK. 

 

The reasons they went unscathed were simple:

  • Good cyber awareness amongst their staff
  • Commercial anti-virus and anti-spam in place
  • No Admin credentials for any of their staff.

 

Simply put, Client 1 had repeatedly ignored our advice, and Client 2 had embraced it.

 

Admin Credentials – principle of least privilege

 

These stories lead us to the opening topic of this blog piece – Admin credentials. There is simply no need for anyone in a company to log into the system on a regular basis with Administrative credentials. The only time it’s needed is for maintenance and software upgrades.

 

If a user has Admin credentials, the software can be installed on their computer. This is how ransomware and other malware gets in. If a user is a ‘Standard user’ it’s much harder for malware to be installed on their system.

 

This is why the “principle of least privilege” is an essential element of any professional IT setup. And it’s why the CEO or head of the company, or anyone else in the company, should have standard access privileges only.

 

Indeed, the CEO, as the most visible person in the company, can often be targeted by hackers. All the more reason to have the least access possible!

 

We hope you have found this Blog piece helpful and please do contact us if you would like to find out more about the principle of least access.

 

 

Why engage an IT company rather than a ‘one-man-band’?

We sometimes find that businesses rely on sole contractors (“IT one-man bands”) for their IT Support. Whilst they may find this works for them from a cost perspective, it does pose some challenges.

 

What happens if the contractor is on holiday?

 

What if they’re off sick?

 

Availability issues aside, what assurances do you have that they are maintaining their standards and capabilities in line with the latest technologies? Information Technology is the fastest-moving industry on the planet, and it’s no exaggeration to say that last year’s latest technology is already outdated today.

 

Furthermore, how proactive are they? Are they monitoring your systems continuously? Are they conducting regular patching (particularly important from a cyber security perspective)? Or do they just work on issues on an ad hoc basis?

 

Given the importance of IT to your business (ask yourself honestly- how long could you operate without your IT systems?) is it really something that should be left to an IT one-man-band to take care of?

 

That’s why when you engage a professional IT support company – such as Fresh Mango Technologies – it is so important for your IT Support. In one fell swoop all of the above concerns go away:

  • We have a team of IT Support technicians so there will always be someone available to assist you
  • We train our staff on a continuous basis – weekly internal training and all technicians are required to continue their education with external qualifications every year
  • We monitor client systems continuously and conduct regular server health checks as well as backup checks, and conduct regular patching.

 

If any of this sounds familiar and resonates with you, maybe it’s time to contact Fresh Mango for a no-obligation IT audit – we’ll be pleased to assist and provide our recommendations for smooth and secure management of your IT systems.

 

It’s time to make IT Mango!

Do I have to upgrade to Windows 11 yet?

Short answer – no you don’t have to upgrade to Microsoft Windows 11 yet! Windows 10 will remain in support by Microsoft until 2025.

For the longer answer, read on!

WINDOWS 10 VS 11

Less noise, clutter, and chaos. Microsoft reimagined the way a PC should work for you and with you. Take a look at some of the new features and where they’ve made some improvements.

The newest edition of Windows, Microsoft Windows 11, was released by Microsoft on 5th October 2021. You can find out more about the latest Microsoft operating system below, there are a few key points to note:

  1. There is no rush to upgrade your operating system from Windows 10 to 11. Windows 10 remains in support until 2025.
  2. Windows 11 does have some minimum system requirements. Therefore it may not be possible to upgrade without upgrading the hardware on your PC or laptop or completely replacing it.
  3. Windows 11 is still in the early stages of its release, like any new software it is possible there will be bugs or issues that will be ironed out in time.

For these reasons, our recommendation is to stick with Windows 10 for the time being. However, if you are considering purchasing a new PC or laptop in the near future, please do check to ensure the specification allows it to be upgraded. Fresh Mango will be pleased to advise you.

The latest Windows OS has easy-to-use tools that can help you optimise your screen space and maximise your productivity. Combine that with a Microsoft 365 subscription and nothing will stop you from getting tasks done.

Upgrading

Find out more about upgrading to Microsoft Windows 11 by contacting Fresh Mango. We’ll be pleased to advise on the best approach depending on your business or personal requirements. We can also advise on whether your existing PC/laptop can accept the new operating system.

IT Whack-a-mole

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE PLAYING IT WHACK-A-MOLE? ONE PROBLEM GOES AWAY, AND ANOTHER ONE APPEARS? WORSE, THE SAME ONE COMES BACK?

 
 

 

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Do you feel like you’re playing IT whack-a-mole? One problem goes away, and another one appears? Worse, the same one comes back?

Proactive IT support from Fresh Mango Technologies is designed to stop the problem from occurring in the first place! And when you do get a problem, we fix it AND the cause. So you won’t have to ‘whack’ it again!

Stop playing whack-a-mole with your IT support with proactive IT support from Fresh Mango Technologies UK.

You’re not alone. ‘IT Whack-A-Mole’ issues affect the entire IT world. Many modern professionals in IT use the term ‘IT Whack-a-mole’ to refer to processes or pervasive problems that just keep occurring, even after you think you’ve fixed them.

These types of problems are common in a lot of businesses, with hardware & software that fails routinely such as printers, monitors or email. These sorts of issues have become so commonplace in many places they’re the expected norm. We want to change that.

We understand that these are critical tools you need to get your job done and losing them, again and again, sets your business back exponentially. Failure in even one of these areas can bring work to a halt for many businesses, costing you time, resources and money.

We believe the route of these issues lies in poor IT support from companies or individuals who lack the expertise and knowledge to offer truly proactive IT support. Support from Fresh Mango Technologies UK, however, is different. Our team is reliable, dependable, experienced and professional, offering a unique approach to support.

Our approach to IT support means our technicians not only resolve the issues at hand but go above and beyond to ensure the stability of your system even after we’ve stopped working on it. We answer why and how a problem occurred and better yet, provide you with professional experienced advice on how your systems can be improved and adapted to never experience this issue again.

With over 30 years of successfully providing computer, website and IT support across the UK and Caribbean, you know you’re in safe hands. We pride ourselves on rapid response and our friendly, professional, highly qualified engineers who are trained to understand your needs and deliver sound advice and the right solution the first time.

You may also be interested to read our blog piece on the ideal IT System setup.

If you enjoyed this article you may also be interested in Children & Technology: Cookies, Webs & Touchscreen.

Microsoft Out of support dates

When you hear ‘Microsoft Out of Support’ mentioned it may not be clear what that actually means. We’ll explain it below, as well as advise on some of the key dates relevant to Microsoft Products.

Microsoft Out of Support products

When you hear ‘Microsoft Out of Support’ mentioned it may not be clear what that actually means. We’ll explain it below, as well as advise on some of the key dates relevant to Microsoft Products.

What does Microsoft Out of Support mean?

Very simply it means that an item of Microsoft software or a Microsoft operating system will no longer be updated by Microsoft. The software or operating system will continue to operate, but will no longer receive updates.

Microsoft usually reduces support in a step called Extended Support before finally ending all support.

Extended Support means that the products won’t receive any new features or changes anymore, and updates will focus on fixing security issues and major stability issues only.

End-of-Support means there are no further updates of any kind. The lack of ongoing security updates means that the relevant software and operating system will become increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. You should note that no amount of security software (Anti-virus, anti-spam, cyber protection) can prevent this. Therefore at end-of-support (before preferably!), you should plan to upgrade accordingly.

You will find the Microsoft Out-of-support dates for Office, PC operating systems and server operating systems below. If you are operating with any items that are out-of-date, please contact us for advice on upgrading.

 

Microsoft Office Out-of-Support dates

If you are using Microsoft Office  the out-of-support dates are as follows:

Client operating systemsEnd of mainstream supportEnd of extended support
Office 2010no longer supportedOctober 13, 2020 – Ended
Office 2013no longer supportedApril 11, 2023
Office 2016no longer supportedOctober 14, 2025
Office 2019October 10, 2023October 14, 2025
Office 2021October 13, 2026October 13, 2026

Pre-Windows-10

Client operating systemsEnd of mainstream supportEnd of extended support
Windows 8.1January 9, 2018January 10, 2023
Windows 7, service pack 1*January 13, 2015January 14, 2020 – Ended

Windows-10

Windows 10 version historyDate of availabilityEnd of service for Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations editionsEnd of service for Enterprise and Education editions

Client operating systemsEnd of mainstream supportEnd of extended support 
Windows 10, version 21H2Nov 16, 2021June 11, 2024 
Windows 10, version 21H1May 18, 2021December 13, 2022 
Windows 10, version 20H2October 20, 2020May 9, 2023 
Windows 10, version 2004May 27, 2020December 14, 2021 
Windows 10, version 1909November 12, 2019May 11, 2021 
Windows 10, version 1903May 21, 2019December 8, 2020 
Windows 10, version 1809November 13, 2018November 10, 2020*** 
Windows 10, version 1803April 30, 2018November 12, 2019 
Windows 10, version 1709October 17, 2017April 9, 2019 
Windows 10, version 1703April 5, 2017*October 9, 2018 
Windows 10, version 1607August 2, 2016April 10, 2018 
Windows 10, version 1511November 10, 2015October 10, 2017 
Windows 10, released July 2015 (version 1507)July 29, 2015May 9, 2017 

Server Operating Systems

Client operating systems End of extended support
Windows Server 2022 (Datacenter, Datacenter Azure Edition, Standard) October 14, 2031
Windows Server, version 20H2 (Datacenter, Standard) May 10, 2022
Windows Server, version 2004 (Datacenter, Standard) December 14, 2021
Windows Server, version 1909 (Datacenter, Standard) November 12, 2019
Windows Server, version 1809 (Datacenter, Standard) November 13, 2018
Windows Server 2019 (Datacenter, Essentials, Standard) November 13, 2018
Windows Server, version 1803 (Datacenter, Standard) April 30, 2018
Windows Server, version 1709 (Datacenter, Standard) October 17, 2017
Windows Server 2016
Datacenter, Essentials, Standard)		 October 15, 2016
Windows Storage Server 2016 October 15, 2016
Windows Server 2012 R2 October 10 2023
Windows Server 2012 October 10 2023
Windows Server 2008 R2 February 22, 2011
Windows Server 2008 SP1 April 20, 2009

Microsoft Upgrade Advice

Contact Fresh Mango Technologies today to ensure you have the latest Microsoft packages in place for your business.

Contact Fresh Mango today!

A Day in the Life of an IT Support Technician

I thought it may be interesting to write up what a typical day as an IT Support Technician at Fresh Mango Technologies is like.

 
 

 

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I thought it may be interesting to write up what a typical day in my life as an IT Support Technician at Fresh Mango Technologies is like. So I worked with one of our team members on a random day (a Tuesday last month) and kept a diary of everything he did that day.

It turned out to be a lot of fun and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it!

IT Support Technician – a ‘typical’ day

Well let’s put something to rest immediately – there’s no such thing as a typical day for an IT Support Technician! We certainly plan the weekly work for the team, and so on a day-to-day basis, they always have a clear schedule in place. However, we never know when a customer may have an urgent IT matter that requires a ‘DER’ (Drop-everything request) and so all plans are fixed in stone until they aren’t!

Fortunately, we don’t get many DERs – with continuous monitoring of customer systems and regular ‘patching’ and other health checks – we keep problems to a minimum. That doesn’t mean they don’t occur though, as we were to see on this particular Tuesday… Here’s how it played out. It’s written in the first person from our technician’s perspective.

Leaving Home

I left home at 730AM to ensure I could beat the traffic and be at our customer premises near Leeds for an 8 AM scheduled onsite visit. The relatively early start was to ensure minimal disruption to the customer (their staff mostly start at 9 AM). This particular customer has quarterly visits and their systems are relatively new, so I anticipated a pretty smooth visit.

After checking in I went to the server room to conduct physical checks and updates of systems. This took around an hour, and then I did a ‘touch check’ of every PC and laptop available. This entails simply talking to every member of staff and asking if they have any IT issues. We find that sometimes people will suffer an annoying issue and they don’t raise it as a support request. By ‘touch checking’ everyone we can iron out any niggles whilst on-site and it’s always appreciated.

At the same time, I handed out special offer cards, ensuring each PC is labelled and had ‘How to contact us’ stickers on them. I found a couple missing and added them.

10 O’Clock

Back to the Leeds office and to my desk to conduct scheduled work and to help deal with any tickets (support requests). It was a busy day. Microsoft had issued an ‘Emergency patch’ update overnight. This means that Microsoft has found a security issue with their operating software, and so the software needed to be updated on all customer computers as soon as possible. So I set about scheduling overnight updates for the customers that had been assigned to me.

Lunchtime (1230)

Having gotten through all my updates, I headed for some lunch. I usually bring something into the office, but I had another scheduled on-site visit with a customer south of Leeds so decided to eat ‘on the hoof’. This was for a straightforward installation of 2 new PCs.

I arrived at the customer premises at around 1 PM and installed the computers. I asked the users to ensure they were set up to their liking (they were) and also did a quick check of their server (not scheduled but I think it’s good practice). Just as I was getting ready to head back to the office, I received a call from Bruno (our Technical Manager). He wanted me to head straight to another customer just a couple of miles away. They had just called to say they thought they may have been hacked. OK, foot-down time!

245 PM

Arrived at the customer’s premises. Bruno had briefed me en route and one of our senior technicians was also accessing their systems remotely to run security checks. Strictly speaking, we didn’t necessarily need someone on-site, but when a customer thinks they have been hacked we always establish an on-site presence as quickly as possible. This is in case we need to isolate a device, or the entire network if a sustained cyber attack is underway.

Fortunately, that was not the case with this particular event. We quickly found the source of the hack – a single PC – and so I immediately quarantined it. This is of course disruptive for the individual using it, but we can’t risk a hacker gaining access to other systems, nor do we wish to see ransomware spread across their network. Having confirmed with Bruno that all scans were negative, I headed back to the office with the quarantined computer so we could diagnose what happened and clean it of any malware.

4 PM

Arrived back at the office, and with assistance from Bruno, we began the diagnosis. As is so often the case, we found that the user had clicked on a ‘phishing’ email. This particular link took the user to a convincing, but fake, Microsoft login screen. This in turn asked for credentials that they had entered. So, the first thing to do was to reset their password, which I did. We then ran a full security sweep of the PC and confirmed no other ‘nasties’ were on it.

That was a close shave for the customer – fortunately the individual who had clicked on the link had the presence of mind to realise something may have been untoward and had notified us accordingly.

545 PM

Time to head home. I arranged for another member of the team to return the quarantined PC to the customer first thing tomorrow since my schedule was taking me to see three clients in North Yorkshire.

So there you have it – a typical day for an IT Support Technician. And it’s still only Tuesday…!

 

 

Computer tax relief

The Chancellor recently announced an extension to the super-deduction corporation tax relief measure, effectively providing computer tax relief.

Computer tax relief – New temporary tax reliefs on qualifying capital asset investments from 1 April 2021

The Chancellor recently announced an extension to the super-deduction corporation tax relief measure, effectively providing computer tax relief.

This means when you purchase (not lease) qualifying investments you can claim 130% tax relief on them until 1st April 2023. This means you should be able to obtain computer tax relief on any computer systems you purchase until that date.

Of course, you should check the position with your accountant before claiming computer tax relief.

So, don’t delay, now’s a great time to commence your computer system upgrades!

You can read the full report from HMRC here.

What you should consider for your IT systems

First and foremost you should review your computer server and determine if it is time to upgrade. If you are still operating on Windows server 2012 then you really have no choice, since this will soon be out of support by Microsoft. Notwithstanding that, if your server is (or will be) 5 or more years old, it’s really time to consider a new one.

Associated with servers is network equipment. Lead times for this equipment, notably switches, are hugely problematic. You should plan on a 6-month lead-time. That means you should start planning now if you wish to have your new IT system in place before the April 2023 deadline.

Finally, you should consider upgrading all your PCs and Laptops. If they are still operating on Windows 10, keep in mind that Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 in 2025. At that point you will need to upgrade to Windows 11. Note that in order to run Windows 11, PCs require a minimum hardware specification. So it is worth considering making the change to Windows 11 now.

Excerpts from the report

General description of the measure

This measure will temporarily introduce increased relief for expenditure on plant and machinery. For qualifying expenditures incurred from 1 April 2021 up to and including 31 March 2023, companies can claim in the period of investment:

  • a super-deduction providing allowances of 130% on most new plant and machinery investments that ordinarily qualify for 18% primary rate writing down allowances
  • a first-year allowance of 50% on most new plant and machinery investments that ordinarily qualify for 6% special rate writing down allowances

Policy objective

This measure is designed to stimulate business investment. It does so by increasing the incentive to invest in plant and machinery by offering higher rates of relief than were previously available.

 

Add extra security to your systems with TFA

In this blog piece, I’ll discuss how to add extra security to your systems with two-factor authentication (TFA). It’s actually very straightforward and provides a step-change improvement to your security.

In this blog piece, I’ll discuss how to add extra security to your systems with two-factor authentication (TFA). It’s actually very straightforward and provides a step-change improvement to your security.

What is Two-factor Authentication?

Two-factor authentication protects your applications by using a second source of validation, like a phone or token, to verify user identity before granting access. It is engineered to provide a simple, streamlined login experience for every user and application, and as a cloud-based solution, it integrates easily with your existing technology.

Add extra security to your systems – Our recommended TFA solution

We have tested several solutions for TFA/MFA and have chosen ‘Duo’ as our preferred offering. Duo is fast and easy for users to set up, and with several available authentication methods, they can choose the one that best fits their workflow. No headaches, no interruptions — it just works.
Because Duo functions like a gateway for your existing and future IT infrastructure, it’s the perfect solution for growing businesses of any size. Set up new users and support new devices at any time, and protect new applications almost instantly — without impacting legacy technology.
Duo natively integrates to secure any application or platform, so whether you’re adding 2FA to meet compliance goals or building a full zero trust framework, Duo is the perfect addition to your security portfolio.

  • Multi-cloud, hybrid, or on-premises environments
  • SAAS tools, critical infrastructure, custom applications, and even SSH
  • Secure remote access

Add extra security to your systems – An example deployment

We use a bespoke management system called JIM. We continuously maintain and improve the security of the system. We implemented Duo so that, even in the unlikely event that a hacker cracks one of our encrypted passwords, they would still not gain access. The account owner would receive a TFA push request on their smartphone, and be immediately alerted to the attempted unauthorised access. So a double-win! Hacker prevented from access, user alerted to attempted hack.

Get Started with TFA!

So why not get started and add extra security to your systems with TFA? It’s straightforward to set up and for your team to use. What’s more, you’ll sleep that little bit easier knowing you have significantly improved your online security.

Current Supply Chain and Cyber challenges

Wow, nearly May already! Another month chalked off 2022, the year is whizzing by again… This month we have two updates from the world of IT that are impacting everyone.

Network switch availability is a major concern

Wow, nearly May already! Another month chalked off 2022, the year is whizzing by again… This month we have two updates from the world of IT that are impacting everyone.


Firstly, the supply chain. With all that is going on in the world, notably in China, current IT hardware prices and lead times are hugely problematic. In particular, network switch availability is the biggest concern. Switch lead times are now at four months. As with any material scarcity, the laws of economics apply and so prices are increasing significantly at the same time.


We are increasing our own stock holding of switches three-fold, but this will take time given the lead times stated above. Therefore we are asking all clients to work with us to forward-plan as much as possible. Any office moves planned in the next 6 months, any planned upgrades etc, we need to order suitable equipment soonest. Please do get in touch if we aren’t already in discussion with you on this.


Secondly, cyber-attacks have reached a never-before-seen height (due in part to the Russia-Ukraine conflict). Cyber software and other IT measures help, but the number one threat to a business remains the internal threat. Over 80% of successful cyber-attacks are a result of poor cyber hygiene by staff. We recommend at-least annual refresher training on cyber hygiene for all staff. Again, please get in touch if you would like to arrange Cyber hygiene training.


That’s it for this month, a bit of a doom-mongering message I’m afraid, but with all the other challenges businesses are facing hopefully the above will assist you with your business planning.

FRESH MANGO TECHNOLOGIES TESTIMONIAL

Allott and Associates Ltd’s relationship with Fresh Mango (originally CCS 2000) has flourished since they came to our rescue when we had server issues caused by a hard disc problem…

Allott and Associates Ltd’s relationship with Fresh Mango (originally CCS 2000) has flourished since they came to our rescue when we had server issues caused by a hard disc problem. This involved working to a critical deadline – which our original supplier based in Wales was unable to meet.

At short notice Fresh Mango was able to resolve the issue, installing new mirror drives. Since then, the companies’ relationship has gone from strength to strength. Fresh Mango now supplies Allotts with computers, supports our entire network and successfully deals with any technical challenges ranging from system failures to resolving encryption issues to ensure our UK GDPR compliance.

Overall, we are delighted with the service provided by Fresh Mango and recently renewed our contract for a further 12 months. Keep up the good work!

Testimonial – Philip Allott – Allott and Associates Ltd 

The Ideal setup for your IT Systems (Part 1)

In this blog, I will set out the ideal setup for your business IT systems. It represents current best practices for small and medium-sized businesses, with an…

The ideal setup for your IT Systems

In this blog, I will set out the ideal setup for your business IT systems. It represents current best practices for small and medium-sized businesses, with an ever-increasing eye on cyber security.

Initially, I thought it would be a single blog, but it turns out there is a lot to write about! I’m therefore going to publish it in a series of blog pieces. This is Part 1.

Part 1 – Server and Network Equipment

Server (On-premises) with UPS

Whether or not you need a server depends on the size of your business, typically if you have 6 or more staff a server becomes something of a necessity for productivity. An on-premises server, as the name suggests, is a physical server located in your offices.

Servers provide numerous benefits:

  • At a most basic level, sharing documents across your company
  • Business servers assist in handling communications, database functions or hosting business applications for multiple users
  • Protecting your data – once all your business data and software is on a server (instead of dispersed across desktop computers and laptops) you can deploy a backup system to protect your business from data loss.
  • Running security suites to secure your network through firewalls, intrusion detection, user access management, and software updates.
  • Servers tend to be used to centralise data management and file sharing, as well as managing shared resources such as printers and storage devices. They can also be used to manage things like user identities, logins to the network, access priorities and many aspects of your new system.

More information on servers is available on our website.

Server (Cloud)

There is a lot of misinformation surrounding cloud servers, I will attempt to bring some clarity to it here. A cloud-based server is still a physical server, it simply happens to be located somewhere else (ie not on your premises). Ordinarily, this would be in a data centre.

In order to access your server files etc, you need to do so over the internet (an on-premises server is accessed via your local, internal network).

Aside from that, there is very little difference to an on-premises server. So your server and network still need to be professionally maintained and managed, having a cloud server does not change that.

Hybrid Cloud (Ideal setup for your IT Systems)

Increasingly companies are adopting a hybrid server solution – both an on-premises server and a cloud server. This provides the ‘best of both worlds’ eg:

  • Sensitive data can be retained on your physical server, with the added security that provides
  • Data that you wish to make available to third parties or even staff working off-site can be stored in the Cloud and made available accordingly
  • Software and applications that can only operate in an on-premises environment can still be used (sometimes these may be lost if the software is not cloud-compatible)

Next, I’ll review network equipment for the ideal setup for your IT Systems.

Professional grade router and modem

To complement your server, it’s important to ensure you have professional-grade networking equipment. This means your Router, switches and modem. Professional-grade equipment, as well as being better quality (and therefore longer lasting) has regular ‘firmware’ updates from the manufacturers.

These updates often bring improvements and upgrades to the network kit. Increasingly they also bring security updates as manufacturers try to keep pace with vulnerabilities to cyber-attacks.

Networked Printer(s)

Networked printers allow everyone on the network to print, copy and scan (depending on the printer features). This allows companies to reduce capital expenditure on printers. It also allows your IT Administrators to deploy firmware upgrades to the networked printers.

Centralised IT management is a key feature of professional IT management since it is more efficient and reduces downtime on IT systems.

UPS (Ideal setup for your IT Systems)

Your server should have an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). As the name suggests this is a battery backup of the server. Why is it important? Well, there is nothing that servers (and computer equipment in general) like less than instant power loss. It degrades the life of the equipment, causes data loss and can cause configuration problems. A UPS allows a server to be shut-down in an orderly manner in the event of a power loss.

Modern UPS also have additional levels of sophistication, notably the ability to ‘clean’ power before it reaches your server (and any other equipment connected to the UPS). Again, computer equipment does not respond well to ‘dirty’ power. As well as compromising the ability of the equipment to operate correctly, it degrades the equipment over time.

Next Time – Ideal setup for your IT Systems

In Part 2 I will discuss the ideal PC setup.

You may also be interested in this article.

Why Hackers Hack

Victims of hacks and attempted hacks often take it personally. Why did they come after me? I’m not famous or rich. Why did they come after my company? We’re just a small business…

Why do Hackers Hack?

Victims of hacks and attempted hacks often take it personally. Why did they come after me? I’m not famous or rich. Why did they come after my company? We’re just a small business.

That’s a perfectly natural human reaction. The fact is that cyber-attacks are rarely personal or business-specific.

Hackers are ready to exploit any security crack without taking into consideration who you are or what you do. Here are some of the things that motivate them:

Money

Cyber-attacks do not often result in immediate monetary gain. Hacks allow cybercriminals to extract information that can be exploited for financial gain. For example:

  1. Credit card information
  2. Contact information to be sold to unethical marketing lists.
  3. Username and password logins, to access and take over server resources, and to attempt dictionary attacks.
  4. Sensitive or proprietary information to sell or extort.
  5. High-security information to compromise the premises of a facility

Resources

You might think that your business is not big enough for someone to be interested in tapping into your traffic or your authority. However, cybercriminals will often attack an entire web server.  As a result, your small website might just end up being a part of a big hack.

Cudos

Some hackers break into targets just to prove they can. They also show off their craft by forcing access and stealing valuable information.

Social Justice

Hackers may pursue a religious or political agenda and use their skills to deface targets.

 

So if (when…) it happens to you, try not to take it too personally…

Why don’t I have Administrator Credentials on my PC or Laptop?

Why don’t I have Administrator Credentials?! We’re asked this question from time-to-time, and the short answer is it is standard IT policy for any professionally managed IT network…

Why don’t I have Administrator Credentials?! We’re asked this question from time-to-time, and the short answer is it is standard IT policy for any professionally managed IT network. If you’re keen to understand why this is the case then read on!

IT History – Standardisation

In any business or organisation, standardisation in your IT systems is an essential factor in ensuring smooth and efficient operation. Imagine a situation where every single device was set up in a bespoke manner. No standardisation, differing password policies, differing software, differing access rights to directories and so on. Every user of any device able to make amendments to their PC/laptop as they see fit.

Now try to imagine administering and managing such an IT system from an IT Management perspective. Any time a staff member had a problem, the IT technician would have to run a huge amount of diagnostics in order to figure out what may be going wrong. This is because each PC/laptop has a non-standard setup and settings may have been changed by the user since the last time the computer had an issue.

It shouldn’t be too difficult to realise that managing such a chaotic approach would make the IT management nigh-on impossible. This would lead to significant knock-on effects, not the least of which would be dramatically reduced inefficiencies in the workforce.

So, in keeping with any operation, standardisation is the watchword for efficiency. IT is no different.

That’s the backdrop for why standard IT policies are so important. To the specific issue raised in the blog-title, standard users don’t have the ability to change settings on their system or download software. The former is part of IT standardisation, the latter relates to cybersecurity, which I will come onto next.

Why do you need Administrator credentials?

If a user is insisting on Administrator credentials, the question you need to ask is ‘why do they need them?’ Most people leave car maintenance to the experts. In these days of electronic engine management, it takes an expert to conduct a full car service or repair.

In other words, just because you can drive the car, you don’t mess with what’s under the bonnet (the hood for our US readers). Just because you know how to use your PC/laptop – why do you want or need the ability to mess with ‘what’s under the bonnet’?

Administrator credentials are best left in the hands of professionals who, to be blunt, know what they are doing.

The Cybersecurity problem

Let’s say you, the user of your computer, have Administrator credentials. Let’s also say you don’t go near the operating system or settings. What you do, however, is download software. It may be perfectly legitimate software. So what’s the problem?

Imagine you click on a link in an email. The email looked legitimate. Nothing happened when you clicked the link. No foul no harm, right?

Wrong. The link has opened up a channel to a hacker, and because you are an Administrator, they too can download software to your computer. Be assured that the software they put on your device is not there to help you – it’s there to get your data and to steal funds.

I can provide numerous references of businesses who have fallen victim to cyberattacks that could have been avoided by the simple measure of removal of Administrative rights for all staff – including directors.

Still think you want Admin rights for your computer? Then don’t take my word for it – take a look at the National Cyber Security Centre website. It’s a standard recommendation. It’s worth noting your organisation will receive an immediate-fail on any Cyber Essentials assessment as well.

 

As we say to all our customers – please listen to our advice. We’re offering it in your own best interests!

 

PS – in case you’re wondering – I’m a standard user at Fresh Mango Technologies. Just because I’m the MD I neither want nor need ‘Admin rights’. If I need software to be installed on my computer, I do the same as we ask of our customers – I log a support request ????

Why you should leave your computer switched on

We’re often asked if its best to switch your computer off every day. Our answer is ‘no’, and in this article, we set out why we recommend leaving PCs switched on is the good practice today…

We’re often asked if it’s best to switch your computer off every day. Our answer is ‘no’, and in this article, we set out why we recommend leaving PCs switched on is the good practice today.

Switching a computer off is something of a hangover from the early days of PCs. When desktop computers were first introduced they were power-hungry. Their monitors – which were usually integrated – were huge and consumed a lot of electricity. Similarly, the computers generated a lot of heat and needed power-hungry internal fans to keep them cool.

All of this added up to a big electricity bill, especially for larger companies with lots of staff and computers. So the message was drummed into all computer users – switch off before you go home.

Fast forward to the present day and we have a very different scenario. Monitors are now separate devices to computers, with their own power supplies. Monitor technology is LCD, which means they consume far less power than monitors of old.

The PCs themselves still require fans (unless you have a Mac or tablet) but the miniaturisation of components means the power-demand of cooling fans has also decreased.

So all this means that concerns over power-consumption have been largely alleviated. Of course, there is still some power consumption, so why do we recommend leaving PCs switched on? Isn’t there a cybersecurity issue to consider as well?

These are all good points, here is the rationale for leaving your PC switched on when you leave the office (or kitchen table if working from home) for the day:

  1. It ensures your IT team can conduct updates, health-checks, anti-virus scans and other remote work out-of-hours. This minimises disruption to your business during working hours
  2. It allows your IT team to conduct emergency security patching out-of-hours in the event of a cyber-attack – an increasingly regular occurrence
  3. It prolongs the life of your equipment. Turning your PC on and off every day shortens its life.
  4. As for your electricity bill, your IT team should ensure all displays (the biggest drain on electricity) automatically go to sleep after a few minutes.

So far as cybersecurity is concerned, your IT team should ensure that your login credentials are ‘standard user’ only – ie non-Administrative. So, anyone who successfully hacks your login account remotely won’t get very far – a Standard User has very limited rights for this very reason.

So there you have it – the rationale for leaving your PC switched on! By the way, if your current IT team don’t have your PCs set up as described above, it may be worth getting in touch with the IT professionals at Fresh Mango Technologies!