An IT Support Blog from London

London maintains a prominent position as a global financial centre: it facilitates substantial capital flows and processes high volumes of complex transactions daily. But there’s a key operational efficacy behind it, enabling the competitive positioning of financial institutions in London.

It requires sophisticated, high-performance, and secure information technology systems that supports stringent requirements for rapid execution, data integrity, and robust security protocols, the demands placed upon IT infrastructure are considerable – and often warrant involving an IT support company.

IT support as we know it today looks so vastly different from the traditional break/fix model that businesses used in the past. Several factors have contributed to this evolution: cloud environments, remote workforces, and a steadily increasing array of devices and applications. In addition, organisational leaders and users now have higher expectations when it comes to resolving tech issues. For example, system downtime should be minimised and password resets shouldn’t take more than a few hours.

Companies across our capital face this question: should they build an in-house IT team, or should they partner with a Managed Service Provider (MSP), an IT support company.

It’s further complicated by London's unique characteristics: factors such as stringent financial sector compliance, the rapid growth of the tech startup scene, and the fierce competition for top IT talent.

This article aims to provide a concise comparison to empower London businesses to make informed choices that align with their specific needs and drive their success.

What began as a necessity in the wake of a global pandemic has now become a firmly established work approach. According to ADP Research Institute’s People At Work 2024 Report, 12% of employees globally are fully remote, while 33% work in a hybrid setup. The report also reveals that 37% of workers say their company has become more flexible about remote work in the past year. Now whether the number of work-from-anywhere employees rises or falls, one thing remains clear: remote work is a standard operating model for many organisations.

This shift offers significant benefits for both businesses and their employees. Remote workers can pursue an improved work-life balance, while companies gain access to a wider talent pool. However, this work arrangement has opened distinct challenges for IT support teams who are tasked to maintain productivity, security, and connectivity across a distributed workforce. Providing remote IT support in this landscape requires a strategic approach that combines automation, cloud tools, and proactive security measures.

If you're like most remote workers, your VPN is an essential tool that keeps you connected to your organisation’s network resources and IT solutions. When the VPN works, it's practically invisible and it’s all business as usual. But when issues arise, these can put a huge dent on your productivity.

Remote working continues to be a work approach that many businesses embrace, and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) play a crucial role in this arrangement. VPNs secur remote work environments by encrypting internet traffic and ensuring secure access to corporate resources. However, despite their benefits, VPNs can sometimes present challenges that disrupt workflows.

VPN management by your remote IT support team or a third-party provider is often necessary to minimise downtime and maintain seamless connectivity. However, being a remote worker means you could be halfway across the globe or in a different time zone from your London-based main office, for instance. In this case, being able to do some core troubleshooting can help you get back to work quickly or provide valuable information to your helpdesk.

London businesses rely heavily on technology so it’s no wonder that downtime is expensive: IT downtime can run into the millions in costs, never mind lost productivity. Finding the right IT support is critical but can be a tough call in London's crowded marketplace.

It’s tough to compare diverse service models, pricing structures, and to pick a partner that ensures consistent reliability.

In this article we’ll make a few suggestions to help you choose the ideal IT support partner in London – and we’ll look at factors such as the available service options, and also answer essential questions which you need to ask of potential providers.

In today's fast-paced business environment, enterprises of all sizes depend heavily on their IT systems to maintain operations. When these systems fail, the impact is immediately felt—and costly to boot. Recent studies show that the cost of IT downtime is currently estimated at about $9,000 per minute for large enterprises. While smaller companies may face lower direct costs, the relative impact on operations is still something that your business may not be able to handle.

The reality is that organisations can't afford IT disruptions, and this has highlighted the need for efficient and reliable IT support services. Recognising the challenge, many companies are turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a transformative solution. AI is revolutionising IT support services by automating repetitive tasks, accelerating problem resolution, and delivering personalised support.

Companies across London use essential IT for everything under the sun: from communication and data management to customer relations and product development.

It’s a dynamic business environment, characterised by rapid growth and intense competition – and London-based companies need reliable IT to make the most of it. The diverse range of commercial sectors present specific IT hurdles.

There are other factors, too, like high-density urban infrastructure and stringent data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR). Add to that constant pressure to innovate, and it’s easy to see that London-based companies need an IT support company with a solid understanding of the local landscape.

It’s an interconnected online world so cyberattacks are no longer a matter of "if" but "when." It’s an escalating threat landscape which is becoming a huge challenge for B2B enterprises.

Targets are broad too: from sensitive data. to the IT systems of a company, and through to the interconnected networks companies rely on. These are all lucrative targets for cybercriminals. 

In this article we explore the critical role of cybersecurity training for employees in the enterprise environment. We demonstrate how you should not see cybersecurity training as a cost but instead, as a crucial investment.

Gone are the days when IT support was just considered a convenience. Today, it’s a lifeline for most organisations. For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) especially, quick resolution of tech issues, timely software updates, and prompt response to network troubles are no longer optional. These are essential for keeping things running smoothly. Reliable IT support ensures that employees stay productive, systems remain secure, and businesses adapt to an increasingly digital world.

But here’s the catch, though. Most small enterprises don’t have the resources for a full in-house IT team. That’s where remote IT support services, usually contracted through managed services providers, can come in and provide valuable tech expertise. In this blog post, we dive in and discuss how you can ensure your remote support strategy can contribute most effectively to your success.