We cut through the hype to bring you practical, relevant technology news and guidance for business owners in the South Wales Valleys. No jargon — just what matters for your business.
AI is no longer the preserve of large corporations. Today's AI tools are accessible, affordable, and genuinely useful for businesses of all sizes — if you know where to start.
Microsoft 365 Copilot is now available to businesses of all sizes. It can draft emails, summarise meetings, create reports, and analyse data — all from within the apps you already uses. Here's how to evaluate whether it's right for you.
Read more →ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and Claude are all examples of LLMs. In plain terms, they're AI systems that understand and generate human language. They can handle customer queries, summarise documents, write proposals, and much more.
Read more →Tools like Microsoft Power Automate combined with AI can automate repetitive admin tasks — invoice processing, scheduling, data entry, email routing. Many SMEs are saving 5–10 hours per week per employee.
Read more →AI productivity tools have moved from hype to genuine utility. The question for most business owners isn't whether AI is useful — it clearly is — but which tools are worth deploying, and how to do it sensibly without creating new problems in the process.
Microsoft 365 Copilot is the most practical entry point for most businesses already using the Microsoft stack. It integrates directly into Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams. Common use cases include: automatic meeting summaries and action items, drafting emails and documents from bullet points, analysing spreadsheet data with natural language queries, and creating PowerPoint presentations from a document or prompt.
Customer-facing AI is within reach too. AI chatbots can handle routine customer enquiries 24/7, reducing the load on staff and improving response times. For businesses with high enquiry volumes, this can translate directly to staff time savings.
Before implementing any AI tool, it's important to consider: what data will the tool access? How is that data handled? Does it comply with your GDPR obligations? We help clients navigate these questions before deployment, not after.
The bottom line: AI tools are most valuable when they're introduced thoughtfully, with clear use cases and appropriate staff training. We can assess your current workflows and identify where AI can deliver genuine, measurable benefit for your specific business.
Cloud adoption continues to grow — but the right strategy depends entirely on your business. Here's what you need to know.
Both platforms have evolved significantly. We compare the key differences from a practical SME perspective — pricing, functionality, security, and which sectors lean toward each.
Read more →What does a cloud migration actually involve? We walk through the key phases — assessment, planning, migration, and training — and explain the common pitfalls that catch businesses out.
Read more →Cloud subscription bloat is widespread. Many businesses are paying for user licences for former employees, unused storage tiers, and redundant applications. Here's how to audit and trim your costs.
Read more →Cloud computing has transformed what's possible for small businesses — providing enterprise-grade infrastructure, collaboration tools, and security at a fraction of traditional costs. But the marketing around cloud often oversimplifies the reality.
What cloud does well: Collaboration and remote working (Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive), email and calendaring (Exchange Online), business-critical application hosting (Azure), and off-site backup. For most businesses, these are genuinely compelling reasons to move.
Where cloud isn't always the answer: Latency-sensitive applications (manufacturing MRP, CAD, video editing), very large local file shares, and situations where local connectivity is unreliable. A hybrid approach is often the most practical solution.
Our advice: Don't move to the cloud because it's fashionable. Move because it solves a specific problem or delivers a clear benefit for your business. I'll give you an honest assessment.
Cyber threats targeting UK businesses continue to grow in volume and sophistication. Here's what you need to know right now.
Reports of ransomware incidents affecting small businesses in South Wales have increased significantly. We explain how attacks typically happen and the practical steps you can take to reduce your risk.
Read more →Modern phishing emails are now AI-generated, grammatically perfect, and increasingly personalised. The tell-tale typos and awkward phrasing are gone. Your staff need updated awareness training.
Read more →GDPR compliance isn't a one-time exercise. Staff change, processes evolve, and new systems are added. This quick checklist helps you identify gaps before the ICO does.
Read more →The good news: most cyber incidents affecting small businesses are preventable with straightforward measures. The challenge is that many businesses have never had a systematic review of their security posture.
On all accounts, especially email and cloud services. This single measure prevents most account compromises.
Unpatched systems are the primary attack vector. Ensure Windows, applications, and firmware are kept current.
Backups that have never been tested are backups you can't rely on. A 3-2-1 strategy is the standard recommendation.
People are the most common vulnerability. Regular, practical phishing awareness training is essential.
Modern EDR tools go beyond traditional antivirus, detecting behavioural threats that signature-based tools miss.
Ensure you have a data register, privacy policy, and breach response procedure. Review annually.
Microsoft ends mainstream support for Windows 10 in October 2025. If your business still has Windows 10 machines, now is the time to plan the migration to Windows 11 — or assess hardware refresh needs.
Get migration advice →The Openreach full fibre (FTTP) rollout is expanding across Rhondda Cynon Taf. Gigabit broadband can transform remote working reliability and cloud performance for businesses that have struggled with ADSL or FTTC speeds.
Check your options →BT's analogue phone network switch-off is now underway. If your business still uses traditional phone lines, including broadband over copper, you will need to migrate to a VoIP or digital alternative. We can help plan and manage the transition.
Plan your migration →