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Are you tired of wasting precious time in meetings, only to leave feeling confused and disorganised?

Do you struggle to keep track of all the action items and follow-up tasks that come out of these meetings?

Microsoft Teams has launched a new feature which could solve your problems and boost productivity.

Meeting Recap is an AI-based intelligent meeting recap feature, available exclusively to Teams Premium subscribers. This innovative feature harnesses the latest in artificial intelligence technology to generate comprehensive summaries of your meetings.

That means no more tedious recaps… but hello to accurate and efficient summaries that capture all the key points from your meetings.

The Meeting Recap feature doesn't stop there. It automatically identifies action items and follow-up tasks, assigns them to team members, and even sets deadlines for completion. This means that everyone involved in the meeting knows exactly what they need to do and when it needs to be done. A great way to improve communication and collaboration within your team.

But it's not just about efficiency. The meeting recap feature also offers customisable options to tailor the feature to your specific needs. Choose what information is included in the summary to ensure that you receive the most relevant and useful information possible.

If you’re not a Teams Premium subscriber, are there benefits of investing in this new feature?

Yes! For starters, it streamlines your workflow, saving you both time and money.

You don’t have to waste hours trying to decipher meeting notes and action items. Instead, you'll have access to a clear and concise summary that you can refer back to any time.

Additionally, it improves organisation and accountability within your team. With assigned action items and deadlines, everyone knows exactly what is expected of them.

Don't underestimate the power of this new Meeting Recap – it's a game-changer for businesses that want to increase productivity.

Don’t wait. If you need help upgrading to Teams Premium, we’re here for you.

You may think that cyber attacks only happen to large corporations. But unfortunately, that's not the case.

According to a recent report, almost two-thirds of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) suffered at least one cyber attack over the past year. That's a staggering number, and it should serve as a wake-up call for businesses everywhere.

But it gets worse.

More and more businesses are also experiencing repeat attacks, with 87% reporting at least two successful attacks over the past year. And on average, a company suffers almost five successful cyber incidents.

Terrifying.

The question is, why are these attacks happening, and what can you do to prevent them?

The most common types of cyber attack that businesses face are malware and ransomware.

Malware is malicious software. It invades your system and can cause all sorts of problems, from slowing down your operations to stealing your data.

Ransomware is even more dangerous as it encrypts your data, making it impossible for you to access it unless you pay a ransom fee. This can be devastating for any business and can lead to significant losses and downtime.

What factors are contributing to more successful attacks?

One reason is the rise in BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). This means employees using their personal devices to access company information, which can be risky.

Another factor is the explosion of productivity apps, which can create security vulnerabilities if not properly secured.

Finally, the number of devices we're using now means there are more entry points for cyber criminals to exploit.

The good news is that there are steps you can take to protect your business. Here are five solid security steps you can take.

1. Use strong passwords: Passwords are your first line of defence, so make sure they're strong and unique. Better yet, use a password manager that can create and remember randomly generated passwords
2. Keep software up to date: Software updates often contain security fixes, so make sure you're always running the latest version. This applies to both your operating system and all applications you use
3. Train your staff: Educate your employees on how to identify phishing emails and other scams. You can also run regular security awareness training sessions to keep everyone up to date
4. Backup your data: Doing this means if you do suffer a cyber attack, you can restore your systems quickly and with less disruption
5. Use antivirus software: This can help protect your systems from malware and other threats. Make sure you're running a reputable and up-to-date solution

Remember, prevention is always better than cure. Take action today to help you stay protected.

And if that seems like a lot of extra work, let us help. Get in touch today.

In the fast-evolving world of technology, business owners and managers like you are always looking for the next big thing to give them a competitive edge.

Have you considered how AI tools might be able to help?

ChatGPT – or Generative Pretrained Transformer, if you want to get technical – has been making big waves all year. It’s an AI model developed by OpenAI that’s designed to generate human-like text based on the prompts it's given. Think of it like having a professional writer at your beck and call, ready to generate content, answer queries, or even draft emails whenever you need.

Lots of other AI models have also been released, including one from Google called Bard. Unlike ChatGPT, Bard can browse the web for its answers (you can do this in ChatGPT, but you must be a paying Plus subscriber and have switched on web browsing in the settings).

Some businesses are already using AI tools, mainly for customer service and content creation. That’s like buying a Ferrari to drive to the supermarket. They can do so much more!

Here are three of the other ways an AI tool can turbocharge your business…

1. Stay ahead with trend detection: Remember the feeling when you realised too late that the last ‘big thing’ could’ve been a gold mine? With an AI tool, you'll set the trends, not follow them. Ask it to "Provide a short analysis of the latest [insert your industry] trends", and you're armed with powerful knowledge.
2. Enhance productivity with keystone habits: Increased productivity is the holy grail for any business owner. With an AI tool, you can tap into cutting-edge research to supercharge your work habits. Ask for the "top 5 latest ways to [improve a specific area]". We bet you spot a new idea you’d never thought of.
3. Make better decisions with summaries of complex events: Ask your tool to explain [something complex] to a 12-year-old… that’s a clever way to get a summary anyone can understand.

ChatGPT, Bard and all the others are more than just AI writing assistants… they’re your secret weapon in the business world. It's time to stop using your Ferrari just for the supermarket run and start taking it for a real spin.

If we can help you use AI more in your business, get in touch.

How often have you been in the middle of an urgent email, attaching a critical file, only to be met with the dreaded notification – "file too large to send"?

Frustrating.

Well, Microsoft has heard our collective sighs of exasperation. They've announced an update that promises to banish the 'file too large' issue.

And this is one of those rare times where something that feels too good to be true is actually true!

In an official post on the Microsoft 365 roadmap, the tech giant’s revealed its plan to integrate Outlook with Microsoft's OneDrive cloud storage platform.

It means when you hit that attachment size limit, Outlook will ask you to upload your file to OneDrive, so your document still reaches the intended recipient.

Clever, don't you think?

Android devices get this new feature first, but the rollout is due this month for everyone else. We don't have long to wait.

Soon you’ll no longer need to compress, resize, or even abandon your large files. Or turn to third-party services (which can be a security risk). Microsoft's paving the way for a smoother, more efficient email experience.

If you’d like a hand getting more from your Microsoft 365 subscription, get in touch.

If there’s one thing that’s 100% certain when it comes to protecting your business data, it’s that you need to be aware of phishing emails.

First things first, what exactly is a phishing email? Picture it as a wolf in sheep's clothing, posing as a legitimate communication to deceive unsuspecting recipients. These emails often contain malicious links, attachments, or requests for sensitive data, all disguised as a business or person you already know and trust.

And you know what they say: Knowledge is power. One of the best ways to stay safe is to stay informed. We can do that by looking at the most common phishing emails of last year.

There are three main categories of phishing themes: Major, moderate, and minor.

Major themes

The biggest category is finance-related phishing emails, making up a huge 54% of attacks. These emails often contain pretend invoices or payment requests, aiming to lure recipients into giving away financial information.

Following closely are notification phishing emails, making up 35% of attacks. These emails prey on urgency, claiming your password is about to expire or you must take some urgent action.

Moderate themes

Document and voicemail scams take centre stage here, accounting for 38% and 25% of attacks respectively. These tactics involve deceptive files or messages designed to trick you into compromising your security.

Minor themes

While less common, minor phishing themes still pose a risk to people who don’t know what to look out for. These include emails related to benefits, taxes, job applications, and property.

Why should you be concerned about phishing emails? Falling victim to these scams can have serious consequences, including financial loss, data breaches, and damage to your company's reputation. It's essential to educate your employees about the dangers of phishing and put in place robust cyber security measures to protect your business.

Awareness and vigilance are your best defences against phishing attacks. By staying informed, training your employees, and using strong security protocols, you can safeguard your company's valuable assets from cyber threats.

We help businesses like yours stay safe. If you’re not 100% sure you’re fully protected… let’s talk.

It’ll come as no surprise, but Microsoft has yet more exciting news for us. Sometimes we wonder if they allow their employees to sleep!

This time it’s a new browser explicitly aimed at businesses: Edge for Business.

The updated browser has security and productivity features perfect for employers and their teams.

Edge for Business could become the best choice for browsing the web on work-related devices, whether they’re managed or unmanaged. That’s because it will allow companies to maintain a level of control over employees without intruding on their privacy.

And that’s perfect for the way many of us work today. If you're a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) company, Edge for Business will also be the perfect solution for you.

One of the best things about Edge for Business is that it separates work and personal browsing automatically into dedicated browser windows. It has its own favourites, separate caches and storage locations.

And some sites will automatically open in the relevant browser like Microsoft 365 will go straight to your work browser, whereas a shopping site will open in your personal browser.

That means you don't have to worry about accidentally sending a colleague that funny meme you saw on social media.

Edge for Business is currently available to test, but although we understand that you’ll be eager to try it, we advise holding off until its official launch in the autumn. Let others be the guinea pigs.

And Microsoft has yet to add custom branding capabilities for businesses, but they promise that’s coming soon. The anticipation is half the fun, right?

Edge for Business aims to bridge the gap between work and personal on the same device, ensuring that personal and professional information remains separate and secure. With this new and exciting business browser, you’ll enjoy heightened productivity and security.

If we can help you stay productive and secure in the meantime, get in touch.