What's included in this month's insider?
As autumn gets underway, we’re tackling everything from data dread to dodgy downloads. Whether it’s fake CV scams, public Wi-Fi risks, or the latest updates in AI, this month’s newsletter is packed with insights to keep your business secure and running smoothly.
Here’s what’s inside:
Data dread – How tech can turn anxiety into confident decisions
Scam warning – Fake CVs targeting business owners
Community spotlight – Highlights from Orrell Live
Cyber security update – Juice jacking and public Wi-Fi traps
Keyboard shortcuts – Fresh time-savers for Windows and Mac
Client feedback – Cast your vote for this month’s winner
Microsoft Edge – A safer way to share passwords
AI explained – Generative AI vs. Agentic AI
Engineer insight – Why rebooting beats shutting down
Got a question about any of these? We’re only ever a quick message away.
Can tech cure your team’s “data dread”?
You’ve just wrapped up a busy week and your team shares the latest report. It’s packed with numbers, spreadsheets, and charts.
But instead of feeling excited about what the data could reveal, your heart sinks.
Where do you even start?
This is a growing challenge for businesses of all sizes.
New research shows that while companies are gathering more data than ever, most employees don’t feel confident using it.
In fact, almost 9 out of 10 people now handle spreadsheets daily. But over a quarter say they’d avoid them if they could.
And this isn’t just a dislike of spreadsheets. It’s what experts are calling “data dread.” People feel anxious, not because they don’t care, but because the tools and training they’ve had so far haven’t helped them make sense of it all.
Good news: Technology can help. This is where modern tools can make a real difference.
Today’s best data tools don’t only crunch the numbers. They’re designed to help ordinary people – not just analysts – turn those
numbers into clear, meaningful insights.
For example, many platforms now let you build charts, graphs, and dashboards with just a few clicks, making it easier to spot patterns and share findings with others.
And because visuals are often easier to understand than rows of figures, your people feel more confident presenting
their ideas and making decisions.
What’s more, the latest tools don’t expect everyone to master complex formulas or wrestle with clunky spreadsheets. Instead, they focus on user-friendly features that guide people through tasks and highlight what’s important.
That means less time fiddling with data and more time acting on it. Boom.
Your business doesn’t need to turn everyone into a data scientist. But with the right tech tools, you can help your team stop fearing data and start using it to power smarter decisions.
We can help you find the right tools to help your people get over the data dread. Get in touch.
Did you know...
…to be cautious of CVs?
Scammers are posing as jobseekers on LinkedIn to target business owners with dangerous malware.
They create fake profiles and realistic CV websites that seem safe but are designed to trick people into downloading a hidden backdoor called “More
Eggs.”
This malware can steal passwords, run commands, and install more malicious software. It’s a sophisticated scam that relies on gaining trust first.
So, if you’re hiring, be cautious about clicking on CV links or downloading files from people you don’t know.
Focus at Orrell Live
Last weekend we were proud to sponsor Orrell Live, a fantastic community event packed with live music, food, and family fun.
It was brilliant to see so many people come together and enjoy a great day out. For us, supporting Orrell Live wasn’t just about putting our name on the banner, it was about backing an event that brings the community together and creates memories for local families.
A big thank you to the organisers for putting on such a well-run event and to everyone who came along and made it such a success.
We’re already looking forward to the next one!
Technology update
Fresh warnings over cyber security in public places.
Hackers are tampering with USB charging stations to steal data. This trick, called “juice jacking,” allows them to install malware or extract data from your phone the moment you plug in.
Another common tactic is fake public Wi-Fi networks. Once you’re connected, they can grab passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive info.
Stick to your own charger or power bank and avoid logging into anything important on public Wi-Fi.
Quick IT Tip: Keyboard Shortcuts You’ll Actually Use
Here are three new shortcuts to save you time this month:
Windows
Windows + L – Instantly lock your computer when you step away.
Ctrl + Shift + Esc – Open Task Manager directly (great for closing frozen apps).
Alt + Tab – Quickly switch between open programs.
Mac
Command + Space – Open Spotlight Search (find files, apps, or do quick calculations).
Control + Command + Q – Lock your Mac screen instantly.
Command + Tab – Switch between open apps.
Client Feedback of the Month - You Vote, They Win!
Last month’s winner was Ryan Perkins, with the following comment:
“Brilliant. Great team! Thanks for all your help. Focus are always very responsive to our needs, listening to what’s really required, working through the problem and ultimately finding the solution. Couldn’t recommend enough. We need more organisations like Focus Technology. Local, approachable, understanding and solutions-focused!”
He is recognised for his great work. A big well done from all of us at Focus.
Now it’s time to choose this month’s winner. Every time we support a client, they get the chance to leave a comment. We’ve picked three that really stood out and we’d love your help deciding which one deserves the top spot.
The engineer behind the top comment gets a little thank-you from us, because great service deserves to be recognised.
New To Microsoft
Edge makes sharing passwords safer
Microsoft Edge for Business has a new feature to make shared passwords safer.
If your team has ever shared passwords by email or (we can’t believe this still happens) sticky notes, this is for you.
The secure password deployment tool lets people log into approved websites with autofill. But they can’t see, edit, or export the passwords. Everything is encrypted and tied to their work account.
So, you stay in control of who can access what. It’s an easy way to keep credentials safe without making life harder for your team.
Get to know your artificial intelligence: Generative AI vs. Agentic AI
Artificial intelligence seems to come with a new buzzword every week. You’d be forgiven for getting lost among the jargon.
Generative AI… agentic AI… large language models… it’s no wonder many business owners feel overwhelmed.
But at the heart of it are two types of AI that could change how businesses like yours work:
Generative AI
Agentic AI.
And no, they’re not the same thing.
Generative AI is the type most people have come across by now, such as ChatGPT. Simply put, it creates something when asked, whether that’s writing text, generating images, or summarising reports.
It’s great for saving time on routine tasks. But it’s reactive. It waits for instructions. You ask, it delivers.
Agentic AI takes things further. This is AI that doesn’t just wait for a prompt, it acts. Give it a goal, and it can figure out what to do, plan the steps, and get on with the job.
Imagine AI that helps reduce customer churn by spotting patterns in data, testing ideas, and even launching follow-up campaigns, all without your constant input.
Both types of AI can be powerful tools for businesses:
Generative AI boosts productivity by helping create content or ideas faster.
Agentic AI helps businesses work smarter by taking initiative and handling tasks more independently. But with that extra autonomy comes the need for more oversight. Agentic AI relies on good data and clear guardrails to make sure it acts in the right way.
So, is it for you?
Whether it’s AI that creates or AI that acts, these tools can support your team and help your business run more efficiently… so long as they’re used thoughtfully.
We Asked Our Engineers: “What’s One Thing You Wish Clients Knew?”
This month, Phillip one of our engineers said:
“The difference between rebooting your PC and shutting it down.”
Many people think shutting down their computer is the same as restarting it, but it’s not!
Shut Down – Closes everything and powers off your machine. But with modern PCs, this can still leave some background processes and drivers in a “sleep” state.
Reboot / Restart – Fully refreshes your operating system, clears temporary files, implements security updates and reloads drivers. This can fix issues like slow performance, frozen apps, and connection problems.
