Introduction
Welcome to the June edition of Focus Tech Insider – your monthly guide to smarter, safer IT.
In this issue:
Is AI a risk or a reward?
Why staff confidence can lead to cyber threats
A Teams update that makes meetings smoother
A hidden danger in “free” file converters
And a spotlight on one of our own stars at Focus
Let’s make tech work better for your business 👇
AI Is Changing Everything – But Should You Be Concerned?
We’re hearing it from every direction: AI is the future.
But that doesn’t stop business owners from feeling a bit uneasy.
AI tools like Microsoft Copilot promise faster workflows, smarter emails, and slicker presentations. Sounds great… but what about the security risks? What happens to your data when you feed it into an AI model?
You’re right to ask these questions.
The UK government recently warned that AI adoption is driving a significant rise in cyberattacks, with nearly 2,000 incidents logged last year alone. It’s a wake-up call that shows why AI needs to be embraced with both excitement and caution.
The reality is that AI can be both a game-changer and a threat—if it’s not used properly. That’s why businesses that get ahead will be the ones who stay curious, cautious, and in control.
Take Copilot: Microsoft has built it right into tools like Word, Excel and Outlook. It operates securely within your existing Microsoft 365 environment. So, unlike many free tools, it’s not siphoning off your data to public servers.
The trick is this: know what your people are using. Consumer-grade AI apps often require uploading files to external servers—where you lose oversight of who sees them or how they’re stored. That’s risky.
The good news? There’s a safe way to embrace AI. Start small, stay informed, and build security into every new tool you test.
What's Inside Our Disaster Recovery Emergency Kit?
Spoiler: It’s not all serious stuff.
Watch our short video where the Focus team unpacks a “survival” kit for tech disasters.
From rubber rings to emergency pants—it’s a light-hearted take on a serious topic.
But here’s the real message:
Your business needs a backup and recovery plan that actually works.
Overconfidence: The Cyber Threat No One Talks About
Here’s a stat that might surprise you:
86% of employees say they can confidently spot a phishing email…
But over half of them have fallen for one.
That confidence? It’s often misplaced.
Phishing attacks aren’t just obvious spam anymore. They look like bank emails. Invoices. Password reset requests. Sometimes they even appear to come from colleagues.
When someone believes they’re too smart to be fooled, they stop being cautious—and that’s exactly what scammers want.
The solution?
Run regular phishing simulations
Offer short, practical training (we can help with that)
Encourage a “see something, say something” culture
Cybersecurity isn’t about intelligence—it’s about vigilance.
Employee Spotlight
Ryan has been going above and beyond lately – from sorting urgent tickets in record time to making clients feel genuinely cared for.
Quickfire Q&A with Ryan
1. What’s your go-to desk drink?
Aussie lemonade monster
2. If you weren’t working in IT, what would you be doing?
Bartending
3. What’s your favourite way to switch off after a busy day?
Wine & a movie, or sleep 💤😴
Teams Just Got a Little Less Awkward
We’ve all been there…
You’re in the middle of presenting, and suddenly you’re the one saying:
“Next slide, please.”
“Can you move to the next one?”
“Sorry, can you go back one?”
It kills the flow.
But Microsoft’s new Teams update finally fixes it. You can now share slide control during a meeting, letting multiple presenters take the wheel without interruptions.
Why it matters:
Smoother webinars and internal updates
More professional delivery
No more awkward handovers
This tiny tweak makes a huge difference to how your team shows up online.
PRO TIPS OF THE MONTH
Phone thefts are up—especially when people use them near roads.
If it’s unlocked, a thief could get into:
Your bank apps
Emails and messages
Business info
Stay safe:
Hold your phone tight
Turn on Theft Detection Lock
Turn on ‘Find My Phone’
Add PINs to banking apps
Takes seconds. Saves headaches.
Before You Use That Free File Converter…
Let’s say you need to quickly turn a Word doc into a PDF. You Google “free converter”… and click the first link.
What you don’t see? That site might be silently installing malware.
According to the FBI, some of the most dangerous ransomware attacks started with a “harmless” file conversion.
Why? Because free tools can:
Contain hidden spyware
Steal sensitive data from uploaded files
Lock you out of your systems (ransomware)
Here’s our advice:
✅ Only use trusted, professional tools
✅ Avoid anything that needs a download you didn’t expect
✅ Talk to your IT team (or us!) before using new software
Need secure alternatives for common tasks? We’ve got plenty to share.
Got a Question? Need a Hand?
Whether you’re thinking about AI, levelling up your security, or just want fewer IT headaches – we’re here for it.
📞 01942 835 912
📧 help@focustechs.co.uk