Simply IT LLC

Thinking about using Copilot for your business? Microsoft has dropped an important Transparency Note - and it’s something you’ll want to pay attention to. AI tools like Copilot can make your life a whole lot easier, helping with tasks like summarizing emails, creating reports, and even predicting trends. But it’s important to make sure you know how to manage AI the right way before you jump in. Why does this matter for businesses? Well, while Copilot uses advanced AI models to answer prompts and create content, AI isn’t perfect. To use it well, you still need to know how AI works, what it can do, and where its limits are. If your business handles sensitive data, you also have to make sure you are following legal regulations and compliance rules. Microsoft assures us that data is encrypted and won’t be used to train their AI, but it’s still on you to keep things secure at your end. The bottom line? Copilot can help your business run smoother and smarter, but you have to make sure you’ve got the right safeguards in place. My team can help you do that. If you don’t know where to start, get in touch. #MicrosoftCopilot #AI #DataSecurity

Ransomware attacks are becoming a big problem for business owners - and it’s not something you’re going to want to deal with. If you become a target, cyber criminals can lock you out of your own files and then demand a ransom (usually paid in Bitcoin) to get your files back. If that’s not scary enough, wait until you hear how much they are demanding. The latest average ransomware demand is a huge $1.5 million. And no business is safe from being hit, including yours. So, how can you stop your business becoming a victim? First, protect yourself by making sure the security software and firewalls are up to date on all of your team’s devices. Also make sure you keep your software updated - cyber criminals love to find weaknesses in outdated software. Don’t forget your people either. A little training goes a long way. Make sure everyone knows how to spot suspicious emails and links, so they don’t open the door to attackers. One last thing: Always back up your important data. This way, if an attack does happen, you’ll still have your files without having to pay to get them back. Encrypting sensitive information is also a smart move - it keeps your data safe, even if it’s stolen. You should always have a strategy in place so that everyone knows what to do if your business comes under attack. Has your team got a solid strategy to defend against cyber attacks? We can help you build one. Get in touch. #Ransomware #CyberSecurity #ResilienceStrategy

Ever wished you could access your Outlook emails without being connected to the internet? Good news! The Microsoft Outlook app for Windows will soon be able to be opened offline. It used to be that you couldn’t run the Outlook app unless you were online. The new update (coming later this month) changes this. Now you can open or restart Outlook even when you’re not on Wi-Fi. Business owners are so happy, they’re jumping up and down. You can keep working even when you’re out of range, like when you’re on a flight, working in a place with no Wi-Fi, or you’re having connection issues. It’s a small change with a big impact on productivity. Now you and your team can open your emails anytime, from anywhere. Are you using the new Outlook app for Windows yet? Are you looking forward to the update? #Microsoft #Outlook #OfflineAccess

Ever feel like you need a second monitor to juggle all your tasks? With Windows 11's split screen feature, you can easily manage multiple apps on a single screen - no extra monitors needed. Imagine comparing documents side-by-side, keeping an eye on your social feed while working, or following a tutorial while checking your emails, all on one screen. Windows 11 makes this simple with its 'Snap' feature. Here’s how it works: Simply drag your app to the side or corner of the screen, or hover over the maximize button to choose from several layout options. You can even use handy keyboard shortcuts (like Win + left/right arrow) to snap your windows into place. Once you’re set up, Windows 11 will even suggest apps to fill the remaining space. My team and I are full of useful advice like this. If you want more, get in touch. #Windows11 #ProductivityHacks #multitasking

Imagine you’ve got a two hour video lesson saved on your computer, and you need to find a specific part, fast. Soon, Windows 11 could make that a reality with a cool new feature called 'Intelligent Media Search.' This feature could allow you to search within your video and audio files for specific phrases or spoken words. No more hunting through hours of content to find that one key moment. Here’s how it would work: Windows 11 will start indexing your media files, setting up an AI model to transcribe them. Once that’s done, you’ll get a notification letting you know that your files are ready for content-based search. This means you can quickly locate the exact spot where a specific word or phrase is mentioned. Whether you’re reviewing a recorded meeting, searching through a podcast for a quote, or just trying to find a specific topic in a video, this feature could save you loads of time and effort. Can you imagine you and your team using this? #Windows11 #MediaSearch #ProductivityBoost

Once again, Microsoft Teams is getting even better. Now you can set your work hours and location directly in the app, so your people know when and where you’re available. It will also suggest changes to your work hours based on your activity. For example, if you're working outside your scheduled hours, Teams might recommend updating your working time to reflect your actual availability. It’s a smart way to make sure your profile stays accurate… and you can easily turn off these suggestions if they’re not for you. This update is rolling out on all platforms (Android, iOS, desktop, and Mac), and is part of Teams' ongoing promise to make work easier and more efficient for everyone. It’s all about keeping your business running smoothly. Are you looking forward to trying out this new feature in your business? #MicrosoftTeams #Productivity #BusinessTools

On this day in 1958, something happened that would change the world of technology forever. Jack Kilby, working at Texas Instruments, successfully tested the very first integrated circuit (IC). What is that? You might know it as a chip. Think of it as the brain behind almost all modern electronics. It's a tiny piece of semiconductor material (like silicon) that holds all the essential components - like resistors and capacitors - needed to make electronic devices work. Kilby’s first IC was a simple sliver of germanium with just five components connected by wires, but it paved the way for the powerful technology we rely on today. For businesses, the development of the IC was a game-changer. It led to the creation of smaller, faster, and more efficient devices that have transformed everything. So, as we acknowledge this anniversary, let’s take a moment to appreciate how far we’ve come thanks to that first successful test. Nice work, Jack. #RetroGaming #SinclairSpectrum #FunTech

Cyber criminals are nothing if not creative. This time they’ve got a scam using Microsoft Sway - a cloud-based 365 tool most people have never heard of (it’s used for creating interactive presentations and reports). It’s a niche product. And unfortunately it’s now being exploited to host phishing pages. Recently, a 2,000-fold increase in attacks using Sway was seen. Cyber criminals are using it to create presentations that include QR codes, which then redirect victims to fake Microsoft 365 login pages. If someone falls for it, they unknowingly hand over their login credentials. What makes this scam difficult to spot is that QR codes, typically seen as harmless image files, can bypass antivirus tools and email protections. Plus, they’re often scanned on phones, which can have weaker security than computers. So, what can you do to protect your business? Stay vigilant! Always be skeptical of emails that seem urgent or out of the blue, especially if they ask you to scan a QR code or log in somewhere unexpected. Double-check the sender’s information and, when in doubt, contact the sender directly through a known and trusted method. If you’re worried, my team and I can help you stay secure. Get in touch. #CyberSecurity #PhishingScam #Sway

Heads up: Microsoft Teams is getting a major security upgrade this October that will make your workspace safer. It’s introducing new rules. Admins must evaluate apps and extensions before they’re deployed. So, what does this mean for your business? Starting next month, your IT admins will have tools to check the safety of apps and Copilot extensions. This includes detailed security and certification information such as results from Microsoft 365 security tests, and proof provided by app creators. For apps that aren’t yet certified, admins will get info on how the app handles data and its overall security. This new feature is part of Microsoft’s ongoing effort to improve security across its platforms, especially Teams. Do you look at security info or, like many business owners and managers, just assume the platform is on top of it? #MicrosoftTeams #CyberSecurity #BusinessSafety

Tell me... do you use Microsoft Forms in your business? Then here’s some good news. Microsoft’s just announced a better syncing solution that makes it easier and more reliable to sync your Forms data with Excel. Up until now, syncing wasn’t perfect. It only worked with certain types of forms and could be unreliable. The older syncing method will be phased out by October 20. So it's important to upgrade your workbooks to keep everything running smoothly. If you don't upgrade, your existing data will still be there, but new responses won’t sync automatically. If you manage forms through OneDrive, SharePoint, or Teams, you’ll soon notice a prompt to upgrade your sync. For once it’s genuinely easy – just a click, and your data will be reliably synced. More good news: While syncing only works with Excel for the web, Microsoft is working on bringing this improved functionality to Excel for Windows and macOS. This will make life so much easier, right? #Microsoft #Forms #BusinessTools