Straight answers to the questions small business owners actually ask about Microsoft 365, security and IT costs.
No, not in the way most people think. What Microsoft 365 keeps, for how long, and why UK small businesses still need a separate backup of email, OneDrive and SharePoint.
2 min read · 8 October 2026The warning signs that a Microsoft 365 mailbox has been taken over, and exactly what to do in the first hour if you think yours has.
4 min read · 8 October 2026Step-by-step: set up a new starter in Microsoft 365 (Office 365), from creating the account to giving them a licence, plus the security steps people forget.
3 min read · 8 October 2026Find out exactly which Microsoft 365 (Office 365) licences your business pays for, who's using them, which are spare and when they renew, in about five minutes.
2 min read · 8 October 2026Step by step: recover deleted files from OneDrive and SharePoint recycle bins, restore older versions, roll back a whole OneDrive, and recover deleted emails.
4 min read · 8 October 2026How to switch who you buy Microsoft 365 from without losing email or data, whether you buy through an IT company or direct from Microsoft.
3 min read · 8 October 2026Seven ways UK small businesses cut their Microsoft 365 bill without losing anything, from removing leavers' licences to paying annually.
3 min read · 8 October 2026How to set up you@yourbusiness.co.uk in Microsoft 365: adding and verifying your domain, the DNS records you need, and how to switch without losing email.
4 min read · 8 October 2026Forgotten password, locked account, new phone or blocked sign-in? How to get back into Microsoft 365, and when it could be a break-in attempt.
4 min read · 8 October 2026A plain-English comparison of Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard and Premium for UK small businesses, with prices including VAT and who each plan suits.
3 min read · 8 October 2026A simple checklist for when Outlook stops sending or receiving email, from the Work Offline button to a full mailbox, and when to call IT.
4 min read · 8 October 2026SPF, DKIM and DMARC in plain English: what each one does, why your emails may land in junk without them, and how to set them up for Microsoft 365.
4 min read · 8 October 2026What the Microsoft 365 "Permissions requested" screen means, when it's safe to click Accept, and why fake apps use it to read your email.
4 min read · 8 October 2026New starter missing from Outlook? Why people take time to appear in the address book, how to check, and what to do in the meantime.
4 min read · 8 October 2026Why your work laptop asks for an admin password when you install software, why businesses do this, and how to get the apps you need.
4 min read · 8 October 2026Why a SharePoint or OneDrive link says "You need permission" or "Access denied", and how to fix it, whether you're opening or sharing the file.
4 min read · 8 October 2026A plain-English comparison of Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO 27001 for UK small businesses: what each proves, cost, effort and when you need it.
6 min read · 8 October 2026Cyber Essentials explained for UK small businesses: what it covers, the latest rule changes, and how Microsoft 365 helps you meet the requirements.
4 min read · 8 October 2026ISO 27001 explained in plain English for UK small businesses: what it is, what certification involves, how long it takes and whether it's worth it.
4 min read · 8 October 2026Yes, almost always. How number porting works for UK business landline, 0800 and mobile numbers, how long it takes and the mistakes to avoid.
4 min read · 8 October 2026A plain-English guide to FTTC, FTTP (full fibre) and leased lines for UK small businesses, and how to pick the right one for your office.
4 min read · 8 October 2026How to set up bank holiday greetings and call routing on a cloud phone system, what a good holiday message says, and how to test it.
4 min read · 8 October 2026The old copper phone network ends on 31 January 2027. What the PSTN switch-off means for UK small businesses, what to check and what to do now.
4 min read · 8 October 2026VoIP explained in plain English for UK small businesses: how internet phone systems work, what you need, the useful features and the things to watch.
4 min read · 8 October 2026How to work out whether slow office internet is your broadband connection or your Wi-Fi, and what to do about each, in plain English.
4 min read · 8 October 2026How to check who legally owns your business domain name, why it's often not you, and how to move it somewhere you control.
4 min read · 8 October 2026Why browsers show "Not secure" next to your website, the usual causes, how to check your certificate and what to ask your web host to fix it.
4 min read · 8 October 2026How to free up space on a Windows 11 laptop safely, from Storage Sense and temporary files to OneDrive "Free up space", and what never to delete.
4 min read · 8 October 2026A plain-English checklist for buying business laptops in 2026: Windows 11 Pro, memory, storage, warranty and setting them up automatically.
4 min read · 8 October 2026How long business laptops last, the signs it's time to replace them, and what the end of Windows 10 support means for your business.
3 min read · 8 October 2026