Ethan Fernandes

Senior IT Infrastructure & Security Engineer

Founder of Senri. Over 10 years of experience managing IT environments with 1,000+ users and 500+ devices. Based in London, specialising in Microsoft 365 security, AI automation, and cybersecurity for small businesses.

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IT Support

12 August 2026

Backups Are Not Disaster Recovery (And the Difference Could Save Your Business)

Most small businesses think having backups means they're covered. But when something goes seriously wrong, backups alone won't get you back up and running. Here's what disaster recovery actually looks like.

29 July 2026

Microsoft 365 vs Google Workspace: Which Is Better for Small Business?

Both platforms do the job. But for most small businesses, one is a clearly better fit. Here's an honest comparison based on what actually matters.

29 July 2026

What to Do When Your IT Person Leaves

Your one IT person just handed in their notice. Here's a practical checklist for small businesses to avoid a crisis.

29 July 2026

What Is a Managed Service Provider? (And Does Your Small Business Need One?)

MSP, IT provider, helpdesk — the labels blur together. Here's what a managed service provider actually does and how to tell if your business needs one.

15 July 2026

IT Support for Charities: What You Actually Need (Without the Enterprise Price Tag)

Most charities overpay for IT they don't need or go without and struggle. Here's what good IT support looks like for nonprofits and how to get it right.

14 July 2026

IT Support for Schools: What Headteachers and School Business Managers Actually Need to Know

Schools face unique IT challenges from safeguarding compliance to stretched budgets. Here is what good IT support looks like for primary and secondary schools.

13 July 2026

IT Support for Healthcare Practices: What GPs, Dentists, and Clinics Need to Get Right

Healthcare practices handle some of the most sensitive data in the UK. Here is what proper IT support looks like for GP surgeries, dental practices, and private clinics.

12 July 2026

IT Support for Law Firms: What Solicitors and Practice Managers Need to Get Right

Law firms handle highly confidential client data and face strict SRA compliance requirements. Here is what proper IT support looks like for legal practices.

11 July 2026

IT Support for Estate Agents: What You Need Beyond a CRM Login

Estate agents handle sensitive property and client data, process financial transactions, and face growing compliance requirements. Here is what proper IT support looks like.

10 July 2026

IT Support for Accountants: What Your Practice Needs to Stay Compliant and Secure

Accounting firms hold the financial keys to every client's business. Here is what proper IT support looks like for practices handling sensitive financial data.

9 July 2026

IT Support for Construction and Trades: What You Need When Your Office Is a Building Site

Construction companies and tradespeople face unique IT challenges from site connectivity to mobile workforce management. Here is what actually works.

2 June 2026

How Much Should IT Support Cost a Small Business?

IT support pricing is deliberately confusing. Here's a transparent breakdown of what's reasonable, what's overpriced, and what to watch out for.

19 May 2026

New Starter Monday: What Should Happen vs What Usually Happens

The difference between a managed onboarding process and 'here's a laptop, ask Dave for the WiFi password.'

5 May 2026

What Happens When Your Only IT Person Is the Office Manager

The hidden cost of no IT support: lost time, security risk, and the stress of being responsible for something you're not trained in.

24 June 2026

Microsoft 365 Setup Guide for Small Teams (Step by Step)

Setting up Microsoft 365 properly from the start saves months of cleanup later. Here's exactly what to configure for a team of 5 to 30.

16 June 2026

How to Choose an IT Support Provider in London

Not all MSPs are the same. Here's what to ask, what to watch for, and how to tell a good provider from a bad one before you sign anything.

30 May 2026

The Complete Remote Working IT Setup for Small Business

Your team works from home some or all of the time. Here's how to set up the IT properly. Secure, reliable, and without overcomplicating things.

28 April 2026

Cloud vs On-Premise: What Makes Sense for a Small Business in 2026

The file server in the corner might feel safe, but it's probably costing you more than the cloud alternative. Here's how to think about the decision.

31 March 2026

7 Signs Your Business Has Outgrown Its IT Setup

Things that worked for 5 people don't work for 15. Here's how to tell when your IT setup is holding your business back.

17 March 2026

How to Back Up Your Business Data Properly (Not Just OneDrive)

OneDrive sync is not a backup. Here's the difference, why it matters, and how to set up backups that actually protect your business.

3 March 2026

Microsoft 365 vs Google Workspace: Which Is Right for Your Small Business?

Both platforms do the job. The right choice depends on what your team actually uses, how you work, and what security you need.

30 January 2026

IT Budget Planning for Small Business: What to Spend and Where

Most small businesses either overspend on IT they don't need or underspend on IT that's critical. Here's how to get the balance right.

10 September 2026

How to Choose IT Support for a Law Firm

Law firms have unique IT requirements — SRA compliance, client confidentiality, email security. Here's what to look for when choosing an IT provider.

10 September 2026

What Dental Practices Need from an MSP

Dental practices have unique IT challenges — CQC compliance, patient records, practice management software. Here's what to look for in an MSP.

10 September 2026

IT Support for Accountancy Firms: What to Look For

Accountancy firms handle sensitive financial data and face strict compliance requirements. Here's what your IT support should actually deliver.

10 September 2026

Choosing IT Support for a Small Healthcare Practice

Small healthcare practices face strict data rules and rely on clinical systems that must always work. Here's how to choose the right IT provider.

10 September 2026

What Insurance Brokers Need from Their IT Provider

Insurance brokers face FCA scrutiny, handle sensitive client data, and rely on policy management systems. Here's what your IT provider should deliver.

10 September 2026

How Much Does IT Support Cost for a Small Business in London?

A plain-English breakdown of IT support pricing tiers for small businesses in London — what's included, what's not, and what to ask before signing anything.

10 September 2026

Average IT Response Times: What's Normal and What's Not

Industry benchmarks for IT support response times, what small businesses should realistically expect, and how to read an SLA without getting misled.

10 September 2026

Is OneDrive a Backup? (No — Here's Why)

OneDrive syncs your files, but it is not a backup. Here's the difference, what happens when ransomware hits, and what actual backup looks like.

10 September 2026

What IT Support Do Charities and Non-Profits Actually Need?

Charities need the same cybersecurity as any business, plus donor data protection, Cyber Essentials for grants, and smart use of non-profit licensing.

10 September 2026

IT Support for Schools: What You Need and What You Don't

Schools need safeguarding-compliant filtering, device fleet management, and classroom platform support. Here is what actually matters and what you can skip.

10 September 2026

What IT Does an Estate Agency Actually Need?

Estate agents need reliable CRM and portal integration, mobile access for agents on the move, and solid data protection for client information.

10 September 2026

IT Requirements for Recruitment Agencies

Recruitment agencies need a reliable ATS, bulletproof email deliverability, and airtight candidate data protection. Here is what to prioritise.

10 September 2026

IT Support for Creative Agencies: What Actually Matters

Creative agencies need large file handling, Mac and Windows support, Adobe licence management, and reliable backup for project files.

10 September 2026

What IT Does a Construction Company Need?

Construction companies need site-to-office connectivity, rugged device management for field teams, and secure access for subcontractors.

10 September 2026

IT Support for Retail Businesses: What You Actually Need

Retail businesses need reliable POS systems, PCI DSS compliance for card payments, and IT that handles seasonal peaks without falling over.

10 September 2026

What IT Does a Restaurant or Hotel Actually Need?

Hospitality businesses need IT that works at the speed of service — POS systems, booking platforms, guest Wi-Fi, and staff turnover management.

10 September 2026

IT Requirements for Architecture and Engineering Firms

Architecture and engineering firms need IT built for large files, high-spec workstations, and project collaboration — not generic small business support.

10 September 2026

What IT Does a Consulting Firm Need?

Consulting firms need IT that protects client data, enables hybrid working, and keeps Microsoft 365 running properly — here's what that looks like.

10 September 2026

IT Support for Logistics and Distribution Companies

Logistics companies need IT that connects warehouses, vehicles, and offices — with device management for drivers and real-time system reliability.

10 September 2026

What IT Do Training and Education Providers Need?

Training providers need IT that supports online learning, protects learner data, and keeps LMS and virtual classroom tools running reliably.

10 September 2026

IT Support for Marketing and PR Agencies

Marketing agencies need IT that handles large creative files, multi-platform tools, mixed Mac/Windows environments, and client data separation.

10 September 2026

What IT Does a Veterinary Practice Need?

Vet practices need IT that keeps practice management systems running, protects client records, and supports multi-branch operations reliably.

10 September 2026

Break-Fix vs Managed IT: Which Model Actually Works for Small Businesses?

Comparing the reactive break-fix approach with proactive managed IT support to help small businesses choose the right model for reliability, cost, and growth.

10 September 2026

In-House IT vs Outsourced IT: What Makes Sense for Small Businesses?

A balanced comparison of hiring an in-house IT person versus outsourcing to a managed service provider, with practical guidance for businesses with 1 to 50 staff.

Cybersecurity

29 July 2026

How to Spot a Phishing Email: A Guide for Small Business Staff

Phishing emails are the number one way small businesses get breached. Here are the red flags your team should know, with real examples.

28 July 2026

WordPress wp2shell Vulnerability: Patch Your Site Now

A critical unauthenticated remote code execution chain is being actively exploited against default WordPress installations. If you run WordPress 6.9 or 7.0, update immediately.

21 April 2026

What 'Zero Trust' Actually Means for a 15-Person Office

Strip the jargon out. Zero Trust isn't a product you buy. It's three simple principles that any business can apply.

7 April 2026

Your Team Is Your Biggest Security Risk (And That's Fixable)

Most cyber attacks don't exploit software vulnerabilities. They exploit people. Here's what you can actually do about it.

24 March 2026

We Found 979 Phishing Emails in 7 Days. Here's What Was Missing

A single anti-phishing policy deployment revealed nearly 1,000 spoofed emails reaching inboxes unfiltered. Here's what happened.

9 March 2026

The £0 Security Checklist Every Small Business Should Do Today

Six things you can do right now, for free, that will dramatically reduce your risk of a cyber attack.

28 June 2026

Best Cybersecurity Tools for Small Business UK (2026)

You don't need enterprise software to protect a small business. Here are the tools that actually matter, most of which you already have.

8 June 2026

Why Every Small Business Needs a Password Manager

Shared passwords, sticky notes, and 'Password1!' If this sounds familiar, a password manager will change your life for a few pounds a month.

22 May 2026

What Is Cyber Essentials? (And Does Your Small Business Need It?)

Cyber Essentials is the UK government's baseline cybersecurity certification. Here's what it involves, what it costs, and whether it's worth it.

14 May 2026

SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Explained (Why Your Email Isn't Secure Without Them)

These three protocols stop attackers from sending emails that look like they come from your domain. Here's what they do and how to set them up.

14 April 2026

What to Do When Your Business Gets Hacked (Step by Step)

The first 60 minutes after a breach determine how bad it gets. Here's exactly what to do, and what not to do.

17 February 2026

Does Your Small Business Need a Cybersecurity Policy?

A cybersecurity policy sounds like a big-company thing. It's actually a two-page document that protects your business and takes an afternoon to write.

15 January 2026

Why Hackers Target Small Businesses (And Why You're Not Too Small)

43% of cyber attacks target small businesses. Not because they have valuable data, but because they have weak defences.

10 September 2026

Cyber Essentials Certification: Costs, Pass Rates, and What's Involved

Everything you need to know about Cyber Essentials certification — the five controls, costs, CE vs CE Plus, pass rates, and common reasons businesses fail.

10 September 2026

Do I Need Cyber Essentials for Government Contracts?

Yes, for most UK government contracts involving sensitive data. Here's exactly which contracts require it, the 2014 mandate, MOD rules, and how to get certified.

10 September 2026

Cyber Essentials vs Cyber Essentials Plus: Which Certification Do You Need?

A clear comparison of the two Cyber Essentials certification levels, what each involves, and how to decide which one your business should pursue.

Web & Digital

25 June 2026

Is Your Website Mobile-Friendly? (It Probably Isn't)

More than half your visitors are on their phone. If your site doesn't work on mobile, you're turning away customers without knowing it.

12 June 2026

Your Website Doesn't Need to Cost £5,000

Agencies love selling five-figure websites to five-person businesses. Here's what you actually need, and what it should cost.

AI & Automation

20 February 2026

Why Your CRM Is Useless If Nobody Opens It

You have a CRM full of leads you never follow up. Here's why, and how automated re-engagement changes the game.

5 February 2026

We Built a Quote Generator That Turns Call Notes Into Proposals in 2 Minutes

A behind-the-scenes look at a real automation build: what the client needed, how we built it, and what it changed.

22 January 2026

AI Won't Replace You. But It Will Replace the Boring Parts

What AI automation actually looks like for a small team. No robots, no sci-fi, just workflows that give you your time back.

8 January 2026

5 Tasks Every Small Business Should Automate Tomorrow

Invoice chasing, lead follow-up, appointment reminders, data entry, and report generation. Practical examples with real time savings.

20 June 2026

AI Automation for Small Business UK: A Practical Guide

AI automation isn't about replacing staff. It's about removing the repetitive work that stops your team from doing their actual jobs.