With Valentine’s Day looming, cards & hearts appearing in all the shops and Lindor introducing their valentine’s chocolate box (yum!), we’re jumping on the band-waggon and turning our attention to helping you find the perfect <IT Support> Partner! Are you looking for a team with a GSOH? Or perhaps a Partner who is DTE (down…
Do you use any of these extremely popular – and eminently hackable – passwords? If so, Philip Muncaster from our security partner, ESET, has a New Year’s resolution for you! Security experts have been predicting the death of the password for well over a decade. But it’s still the main way we log-in to our online accounts…
We are delighted to have recently completed our Cyber Essentials Accreditation and are now helping several customers achieve theirs too. This is a government-backed scheme that will help protect your organisation, whatever its size, against a whole range of the most common cyber-attacks. With Cyber hackers becoming more intelligent and adapting to many counter-hacking measures,…
Hoping the latest tech may be waiting under the tree for you this Christmas? When the time comes, be sure to recycle any unwanted IT equipment in line with data deletion guidelines & existing laws on disposal of electrical goods. According to Health & Safety Executive (HSE), Recycling of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)…
First established by Robert Creech on 1st December 1997, VCI is excited to be celebrating 25 years in business! We are even more delighted to still be supporting our very first customer – AEL Solutions – who have recently given us this lovely five-star review! Since 1997, our customer base has widened, our skill-set has…
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday fast approaching, consumers are being warned to be vigilant when shopping in this week’s sales, with a rise in scams expected to cost shoppers millions. According to Barclays Bank data, the number of reported purchase scams rose by 34 per cent immediately after Black Friday and Cyber Monday last year…
How secure are your systems and data? Are your systems regularly monitored for cyber-attacks? Can you be sure any security breaches are stopped in their tracks immediately? Dealing with advanced threats is the most significant concern for cybersecurity professionals and organisations these days. With system downtime, disruption of business operations and reduced productivity costing businesses…
The first rule of passwords is, “We do not use the same password everywhere.”The second rule of passwords is “WE DO NOT USE the same password everywhere!” There have been plenty of well-publicised losses of data by various organisations where user names, email addresses and passwords have been obtained. You may have never actually purchased…
At VCI, we are all about family. And we want to help look after yours too. With children spending a lot of time online these days and with many potential risks lurking online, it is essential we teach our children how to read and understand online information and navigate the internet safely. As children get…
Let’s face it – it is a tough time for businesses of all shapes and sizes right now. But have you considered outsourcing your IT services in order to save you time, money and stress? Whether you’re a one-man band working from a single laptop and printer or you have a team of people needing…
Are you concerned that your PC has been hacked? Whatever happens, don’t panic! Here Philip Muncaster from our security partner, ESET, explains ten signs that show your PC has been hacked and gives you handy tips on how to fix it. Global cybercriminals make trillions of dollars each year. Much of their success comes from exploiting the…
We hope you’ll be able to switch off, unwind and enjoy your Summer holiday! But we also know that many of us will slip our laptop into our suitcase…just in case! Here we give you the 7 essential measures to help you secure your laptop this summer! According to the technology research firm Gartner, a…
Hopefully business is booming during the Summer months but we also know that some of you may be hit by the holiday exodus and find yourself with a little extra time. We would always advise you to switch off and enjoy these quieter periods but, if you are working and fancy making the most of…
How active are you at work? Are you often on your feet or do you tend to sit at a desk for long periods of time? If the latter applies to you, it is worth considering installing a standing desk to encourage healthier living. So many of us are now working from home and we…
With the realisation that remote working can often bring about huge cost savings and an increase in productivity, many organisations are now introducing Hybrid working – a combination of home-working and hot-desking. Hot-desking is the practice in an office of allocating desks to workers for the days when they are required or on a rotating…
As the war in Ukraine sadly continues, so does the potential for further escalation in kinetic hostilities. At the same time, the odds that the conflict may lead to major cyberattacks against targets beyond Ukraine’s borders seem to shorten. This has put the world on heightened alert, and one critical component of today’s digital-centric world…
The concept of the password has been around for centuries and one reason for the enduring popularity of passwords is that people know instinctively how they work. But there’s also a problem, as Phil Muncaster from our Security Partner, ESET, goes on to explain. Passwords are the Achilles’ heel of the digital lives of many…
Short on time? Always looking to work efficiently & most productively? Using keyboard shortcuts will help you get around much faster and can cut down the time needed to complete a task. Here we’ve put together a handy Infographic to show the key Keyboard Shortcuts – some you may recognise, others you can have fun…
Looking to 2022, for most people a New Year’s Resolution is all about self-improvement, trying to be that little bit better than last year. However, you don’t need a fad diet, a new exercise routine or time to contemplate and achieve peace of mind. If you want a better, stress-free day look no further than…
Are you currently looking to open a new office or relocate to new premises? The key to a smooth move is plenty of planning well in advance so there are no hidden surprises! We are delighted to have recently helped several clients open new premises and understand just how stressful it can be. At its…
Are you hoping to book a much-needed getaway for next year? Did you know your browsing habits could affect the price you pay? Find out how you can Clear Cookies and save money! Every time you visit a site Cookies are created to track and monitor your movement around the web. You are probably all…
Passwords definitely have their disadvantages so could passwordless authentication be the answer? As Microsoft further nudges the world away from passwords, Phil Muncaster from ESET explains what your organisation should consider before going password-free. For such a clumsy sounding word, “passwordless” actually promises to make life a lot easier – for both users and security teams….
From phishing and clones, to romance and verification badge scams, Amer Owaida at our Security Partner, ESET, explains the most common tactics fraudsters use to trick us on Instagram. Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms. Indeed, with over one billion monthly active users it is among the top four most popular social media networks in…
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday fast approaching, consumers are being warned to be vigilant when shopping in this week’s sales, with a rise in scams expected to cost shoppers millions. Police said crime over the Black Friday and Cyber Monday period last year defrauded online shoppers in Britain of £2.5m. Many never received goods they ordered from…
We’re delighted to welcome Connor Chiles to the VCI Team! Connor joins us an IT Support Apprentice so will be on the phone helping to resolve any IT queries you may have, alongside studying at Reading College. His love of all things IT means Connor is already fitting in brilliantly & will be a great…
At first glance, this looks like just a bit of fun! A trip down memory lane, your place of birth, your month of birth, your first holiday abroad… But all is not as it seems – and just look at the number of comments attached to these posts, the number of people taken in by…
Read the 7 essential steps to take in order to keep your laptop, mobile devices & data secure when you’re back on the road for work.
So, how have your fitness levels survived Lockdown? Perhaps you’ve been self-motivated enough to tune into Joe Wicks daily, work up a sweat with his high intensity interval training workouts and now feel fitter than ever? Or, like us, have your motivation levels for exercise slipped somewhat over the lockdown months? As a team of…
With many of us currently working from home, it seems that we’re becoming more sedentary than normal. Rather than the usual commute to work which will involve at least some movement, even if that’s just to and from the car, our ‘commute’ nowadays to our desks can often be made in just a few paces….
So, how have your weekends been recently? Are you missing your regular Saturday night out with friends or your Sunday roast with family? Or have you been getting creative and making the most of technology to bring you all together and still have fun? With so many new online apps & ideas out there, we…
With Coronavirus seemingly getting ever closer and the prospect of self-isolation becoming ever more real, here we offer you some handy tips to help you prepare for the possibility of working from home if you’re not already set up to do so. One positive thing to note in all this is that, with ever-advancing technology,…
With Ransomware increasingly in the news, it is worth remembering the current advice on how best to protect our businesses against Ransomware and ensure these security procedures are in place and fully supported company-wide. 1. Run Software Updates Are you ever tempted to skip software updates as they take up valuable time and perhaps seem…
When running a start-up or SME, we understand that there are so many things for you to focus on. Not only are you trying to perfect your product or service, you have to think about sales, investors, customer service and logistics, at the same time as building the right team. You may be a one-man…
In today’s society, we all seem so busy, juggling the many hats we wear, often over-committing and feeling under significant time pressure. Technology, specifically social media, can sometimes be the cause of this. Seeing the happy faces of friends and family enjoying festivities can lead to a feeling of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), whilst…
With less than a month to go now until Christmas Day and Black Friday on the horizon, here are a few things to consider when carrying out your Christmas shopping online! Compassionate Christmas Shopping Did you know that there are sites which give a percentage of your spend as a charitable donation every time you…
Changing situations present new opportunities for the dishonest minority and scams, whether by email or telephone, are no exception and are constantly being adapted to spoof the unsuspecting. Many of us will have received emails advising that we are in line for a small fortune of overseas wealth……subject to confirming our banking details or covering…
Communication is key to a successful business these days but just what is key to successful communication? With information being exchanged through a variety of communication channels both internally and externally, an organised set up and system for each chosen communication channel will help your company run efficiently, boost productivity and reduce stress. Companies and…
Well, we really hope you’re having a fabulously sunny Summer holiday! My husband and I have just got back from a weekend of camping with the kids, in Norfolk, in the rain! We went crabbing in Wells-next-the-Sea. We caught 37 crabs (one of which is featured above) – and 1 shrimp (as my son keeps…
With Summer here, temperatures soaring and holiday plans afoot, we hope you’ll be able to swap your laptops for flip flops! We also understand that some of you will be trying to juggle work responsibilities with family time. So, for those moments when you have to log-in to a vital meeting or send off an…
With school out for Summer, hopefully there’ll be lots of time for fun and games in the sun! But sometimes we all need a little down-time in the shade and perhaps the odd device may be brought out for a relaxing minute or two..! With technology continuing to advance at a sometimes terrifying pace, keeping…
From new-fangled exercise equipment to the latest wearable technology, find out more about the many aids to help us trim down and tone up for Summer.
Whether you’re on the road with work or trying to work whilst on a road-trip, we have several hints and tips to make your travel with technology easier.
Short on time? Always looking to work efficiently & most productively? Check out our handy Infographic showing the key Keyboard Shortcuts to help!
It all started when we had a power cut…my alarm didn’t go off…and the next thing I knew it was 8am…! We were in a panic, we were in a rush, kids dressed, quick breakfast, no coffee, brush teeth, grab bags…and we’re out of the door…! I’m off to a meeting at an office I’ve…
With twinkly lights going up, shops stocking up on mince pies and the first of the mulled wine being sampled, it’s beginning to feel a little like Christmas..! And no doubt lots of you are much more organised than us and have even actually started Christmas shopping already! Well, for those of you turning your thoughts to…
Desk risers come in many shapes and sizes. The more basic models simply lift the monitor or laptop off your desk, helping to improve posture and clear your work area, whilst other more substantial desk risers are installed to convert a sitting desk to a standing desk. Sit-stand desks, commonly referred to as “standing desks”,…
With the start of school for the autumn term and my children now tackling the challenges of year 2 and foundation, I’m continuously learning how computers are changing the educational experience within the classroom. It was recently announced in the weekly electronic newsletter – incidentally delivered via the ParentMail app on our phones – that…
When running a start-up or SME, we understand that there are so many things for you to focus on. Not only are you trying to perfect your product or service, you have to think about sales, investors, customer service and logistics, at the same time as building the right team. You may be a one-man…
Having been lucky enough to enjoy a long weekend in Palma recently – a friend’s big birthday, incidentally, for which celebrations seem to be lasting the entire year! 😉 – I came to realise how much technology has eased the world of travel. Of course, booking flights online has always been fairly easy, with the…
Following on from our recent articles ‘Don’t be Spooked by GDPR!’ and ‘Ensure GDPR compliance with VCI Systems’, in which we encouraged you to 1. Be Aware, 2. Prepare and 3. Protect your data, here we tell you about the final two steps in the process of becoming GDPR compliant. 4. Detect a Data Breach…
Having only just managed to limp around the Reading half marathon last year, I have the greatest respect for all those training for the London marathon and wish them all the best of luck. I also have a newfound understanding and admiration for just how much technology can help support and motivate you during those tougher…
Following on from our recent article ‘Don’t be Spooked by GDPR!’, in which we encouraged you to 1. Be Aware and 2. Prepare for GDPR, here we tell you about the next step in the process of becoming GDPR compliant. 3. Protect Once you know where you hold personal data, you need to be sure…
With the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) coming into force on 25th May 2018, we take a look at the initial strides you can take in ensuring your data and IT systems will be fully compliant. The changes in regulations may seem a little daunting but hopefully, as with everything, breaking them down into more…
As technology continues to advance at a sometimes terrifying pace, keeping up-to-date with what our children are doing online can be a daunting prospect, especially as some of us parents feel that our children know more about the internet than we do! Whatever the age of your children, here are a few technical hints and…
Does your PC take an age to start up in the morning? Do you dread rebooting your PC knowing you’ll have about half an hour or so of sluggish behaviour to sit through? If it has got to the stage where you’re considering a replacement, and a fast start-up time is important, it may be…
Did you know it’s been 200 years since the first bike was invented? To celebrate this momentous occasion, Pete and I jumped on our bikes (no bone-shakers in sight, thankfully!) on 11th June to ride 30 miles in support of Tour de Purley and the local Purley Primary School. Take a look here at some of…
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