Welcome to our Summer newsletter

This summer, it’s all about adapting to change and staying ahead of the curve.

In this edition, we look at how organisations are responding to the latest wave of cyber attacks, with practical tips for those who want to strengthen their defences without getting lost in the tech detail.

We also dive into the evolving role of AI in the workplace, from quick wins in Excel using Copilot, to the bigger picture of how “Frontier Firms” are using AI to drive transformation.

Plus, a nod to Wimbledon’s tech evolution, and a celebration of a much-loved team member who’s been delivering human happiness for two decades.

"The Dragon wants to talk to you..."

That was part of the message the BBC reported was sent to Marks & Spencer’s CEO by the DragonForce criminal gang.

This quarter’s high-profile cyber attacks on Marks & Spencer and Co-op have prompted a number of organisations to reassess their cyber security.

We’ve had an increased number of requests for cyber risk assessments, and it seems we’re not alone. Food Navigator, which provides “news and analysis on Food & Beverage Development & Technology”, reported a 320% surge in cyber security interest.

This article is for individuals with limited time and technical expertise who need high quality cyber threat risk assessments and want to implement effective mitigations.

Put your best cyber security foot forward.

Struggling with PivotTables? Make Copilot do the heavy-lifting

Want to quickly summarise your data but not sure where to start? You can use Microsoft Copilot in Excel to create a PivotTable in seconds.

With just a few words, you can build advanced data summaries, without touching a single formula or field list. Copilot can help transform your Excel experience into a quick and stress-free one, and save you from spending countless hours inside your spreadsheets.

The power of PivotTables is their ability to present data from different viewpoints. Stay tuned for our other tips in this series on using PivotTables with the help of Copilot. Next up? Editing PivotTables and creating a graph to visualise your data.

Got a productivity challenge? If there's something you're stuck on and think a quick video tip could help, let us know! We're always on the lookout for new ideas and want to make sure we're sharing tips that really make a difference.

Create PivotTables with Copilot.

From experiment to competitive advantage

Last year we ran a briefing on using Copilot to get better results in less time. It outlines ways to get started and save yourself 30 minutes a day.

The briefing referred to Microsoft’s Work Trend Index 2024: a survey of good habits to adopt when getting started with Copilot.

This quarter has seen the release of Microsoft’s Work Trend Index 2025. It introduces the term “Frontier Firm”, a name for organisations that are not only encouraging individuals’ use of Copilot but are also reshaping teams and work processes around AI tools. In doing so, Frontier Firms are developing a competitive advantage.

This article provides our summary of the latest Index, provides links to this and last year’s survey, and a link to our webinar should you have missed it or want a refresher. 

Get ahead with Copilot.

You cannot be serious?!

The world of work moves on...

This newsletter comes out the week Wimbledon dispenses with human line judges, relying solely on the electronic system, which gives faster, more accurate and less contentious calls. It’s pleasing though that the electronic system will still be voiced by real backstage Championship workers.

We summarise Microsoft’s Frontier Firms Work Trend survey which explores organisations who are boldly going where no one has gone before by combining digital and human teams. There's also a look at how to mitigate risks for those wanting to put their best cyber security foot forward, even if they are not sure how.

It seems fitting to say a heartfelt “thank you” to our friend and colleague, Mansukh Vekaria. He’s been with us 20 years this quarter (longer than Hawkeye has been at Wimbledon)! As our Customer Service Director, he has done much to keep us techies focused on delivering human happiness.

Thank you for reading and sharing. If you have any questions about the content in this newsletter or you'd like to discuss IT support, call 020 7572 0000, send Simon an email or connect with Simon on LinkedIn.