👉Before Working with Me A growing company with 200 hosts in its network was aware of the increasing risk of cyber threats but lacked visibility into their security weaknesses. Their IT team had been managing updates and security internally, but they hadn’t conducted a structured vulnerability scan to assess their risks comprehensively. 👉The Problem They knew cybercriminals constantly look for weak points—outdated software, misconfigurations, or security gaps—but without a proper scan, they couldn’t identify or prioritise vulnerabilities. This left them exposed to potential breaches, regulatory fines, and operational downtime. 👉The Root Cause Like many businesses, their security strategy was reactive rather than proactive. They relied on general IT maintenance rather than a structured approach to vulnerability management. Without a clear view of their security posture, they were operating with blind spots that could be exploited. 👉The Impact of the Problem By not identifying vulnerabilities, they faced: 🚨 The risk of hackers exploiting weaknesses to gain access to sensitive data. 💰 Potential financial losses from cyber incidents, fines, and downtime. ⚠️ Compliance risks with security standards like Cyber Essentials and PCI-DSS. 🔍 A lack of clarity on where their security priorities should be. 👉The Lost Opportunity Without addressing these risks, they were missing the chance to strengthen their security posture, build customer trust, and meet compliance requirements. More importantly, they were unknowingly leaving the door open to cybercriminals who could cause significant disruption to their business. 👉The Solution: A Comprehensive Vulnerability Scan I provided a two-day vulnerability scan covering their entire network, identifying security weaknesses before exploiting them. The process included: ✅ Scoping and defining deliverables. ✅ Setting up and configuring vulnerability scanning tools. ✅ Running network-wide scans to detect risks. ✅ Eliminating false positives to ensure accuracy.

Last week, a client upgraded their server, meaning their old machine had to go. But before it did, I had one key job – make sure no data was left behind. The old server had four drives, each 512GB, 72,000 RPM, and around 11 years old. Simply deleting files isn’t enough. Data can still be recovered unless properly erased. That’s why we used US DoD 5220.22-M (3 passes with verification) to securely wipe them. The average wipe time per drive was 10 hours and 14 minutes – thorough but necessary. Once wiped, the remaining server was sent off for recycling. Why is this Important? Old hard drives contain emails, customer details, financial records, and confidential files. If not wiped properly, this data can be recovered and misused, leading to data breaches, GDPR fines, and reputational damage. A simple format won’t do – secure erasure is the only way to eliminate the risk. For every device we erase, we provide a certificate with details like size, serial number, and confirmation of secure erasure – giving businesses full compliance and peace of mind. I typically charge £50 + VAT per drive.

👉Overview A mid-sized company with 60 employees approached me with concerns about their cybersecurity. They wanted to enhance their security posture, protect sensitive data, and ensure they were proactively defending against cyber threats. They recognised the need for a robust security solution but lacked the expertise and resources to implement and maintain it effectively. 👉The Problem The company had a growing IT infrastructure but relied on outdated security measures. They had basic antivirus protection, but it wasn’t enough to detect and respond to modern cyber threats. They were concerned about: - Potential ransomware attacks - Phishing attempts targeting employees - Advanced malware evading traditional security measures - A lack of visibility into potential threats on their network 👉What Was Causing the Problem? The primary issue was the absence of a proactive security solution. Their existing antivirus software only provided reactive protection, meaning it could detect threats once they were already inside the system but lacked real-time monitoring and automated response capabilities. Additionally, without dedicated cybersecurity personnel, any security incidents were left unaddressed for hours—or even days—leaving them vulnerable. 👉The Impact Without an advanced security system in place, the company was exposed to: - The risk of costly downtime due to ransomware - Potential data breaches that could damage their reputation - Compliance issues that could result in fines or penalties - Increased workload on their IT team, who were already stretched thin 👉The Opportunity They Were Missing By not implementing a robust cybersecurity solution, the company was leaving its business exposed to unnecessary risks. It had valuable data, employee credentials, and client information that could be stolen or encrypted in an attack. Every day without proper security increases the company's risk of falling victim to cybercriminals. 👉The Solution: Implementing 24x7 Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

👉Before They Came to Me A long-time client relied on a special-purpose software system built years ago by an external consultant. It handled their core business operations, processing orders and keeping everything running smoothly. Over the years, only minor customisations had been made, and while it was outdated, it was functional, so they left it as it was. 👉The Problem They Faced A critical component of the software suddenly failed. This wasn’t just an inconvenience; their entire order processing system was offline. Suddenly, the company was at a standstill, unable to operate. 👉The Root Cause The issue stemmed from a software component that the vendor had retired years ago. The system was built around it, and although upgrading would have been the smarter long-term move, the business had opted to keep it running—assuming there were no security vulnerabilities and no immediate need for change. 👉The Impact With their system down, the company couldn’t process orders, bringing operations to a halt. To make matters worse, the original consultant—who was being paid a monthly fee for maintenance and backups—was unable to fully assist. They had no immediate way to restore their system. Every hour of downtime cost them money, frustrating customers, and risking their business reputation. 👉The Missed Opportunity By avoiding proactive upgrades, the business had put itself in a vulnerable position. While everything worked fine for years, this sudden failure meant they were now facing an urgent, high-risk recovery process that could have been avoided with regular security reviews and modernisation. 👉The Plan to Fix It That’s when I was called in. Handed a backup of the data, I had to reverse-engineer the entire system—figuring out how everything was connected, how the software functioned, and what was needed to get it running again. Rather than patch things up, I took the opportunity to future-proof their system: ✅ Rebuilt a new server from scratch – ensuring a stable and modern foundation.

(Jan 2025) Microsoft has rolled out updates to address 161 security vulnerabilities across Windows and related software, including three actively exploited zero-day flaws. ❗This release represents the most significant fixes issued in a single update since 2017❗. I’m busy updating all my customers with the latest patches this week. To streamline the process, I rely on automation tools to deploy updates and track progress. Here’s my approach: 1️⃣ Inform the Client: I notify my clients that updates have been released, explaining their importance in a non-technical manner to help them understand how these updates protect their systems. 2️⃣ Test Deployment: I deploy the updates on my test machines and monitor online communities for any reported issues. Let’s face it: we’ve all encountered cases where patches are rolled back or essential technology—like printers—suddenly malfunctions. 😱 3️⃣ Backup Verification: Before deploying updates to critical systems, I ensure a successful backup has been completed, safeguarding client data and minimizing risks. 4️⃣ Approval and Scheduling: Once I’m confident the updates are stable, I approve them and schedule a deployment time that minimizes disruption to client operations. 5️⃣ User Notification: After updates are deployed, end users are greeted with a message informing them of the changes. They have up to 8 hours to reboot their machines to complete the process. 6️⃣ Monitoring and Troubleshooting: I closely monitor the deployment process and quickly resolve any issues that arise to maintain system stability and performance. 7️⃣ Post-Deployment Validation: Using an independent solution, I conduct an authenticated vulnerability scan against the updated systems to verify the patches have been correctly applied and to ensure quality control. 8️⃣ Final Client Communication: I inform clients once the updates have been successfully deployed. If any updates remain outstanding, I provide a risk assessment detailing their potential implications and work with the client on the next step.