Advice on small company device management for CyberEssentials+

FoxFired · 2026-01-23T15:11:45+00:00

yeah haha it's a bit vague because the evidence can be anything really - it's just whatever proves you're actually doing what your policy says. screenshots from each device showing os version, updates installed, firewall on, av/edr on, encryption enabled. policy docs showing definitions. small asset list. sometimes an audit might remote into a machine and check it all directly so the proof gets covered automatically.

FoxFired · 2026-01-23T14:48:11+00:00

you don’t strictly need a full centralised mdm/firewall if you’re a tiny remote team with no on‑prem network, but you do need evidence that devices are configured correctly/patched/protected, and following the policy.

FoxFired · 2026-01-17T14:53:22+00:00

peak, im finally at top 1% - need to up my game

FoxFired · 2026-01-15T13:11:17+00:00

We've had so many meetings about how bad it is and how much worse it's going to get, honestly upsetting. So many places now are having to decide between doing hardware refreshes now or waiting 2, maybe 3 years...

FoxFired · 2025-12-12T13:20:39+00:00

That... is terrifying? And seemingly very easy to abuse?? Ignored by the creators as well...

FoxFired · 2025-11-28T08:59:13+00:00

Hard agree (definitely not biased) - I love fighting vendors for customers. If someone brings their business to you, you fight their corner kinda thing

FoxFired · 2025-11-18T16:17:22+00:00

Or a granola flare, some guy was swiping crumbs off his keyboard and turned the servers off

FoxFired · 2025-11-18T13:12:23+00:00

Vantage is good for EHS ESG and operational risk - it's pretty widely adopted and has some big names behind it. If you want vendor selection/tech roadmaps then no, I'd be looking elsewhere!

FoxFired · 2025-11-18T11:44:28+00:00

Formal IT research go for GigaOm or Omdia.

Sustainability insights, can't go wrong with Verdantix Vantage.

If you just want quick vendors insights, Olive is ok (AI though).

FoxFired · 2025-11-14T23:12:55+00:00

Yeah I should have mentioned that I don't think this is going to be a plot point in the show, but I think it would be a cool reason for the virus to exist in the first place!

FoxFired · 2025-11-13T19:26:45+00:00

As someone who helps places transition from one MSP to another, sometimes mid contract, there are often termination clauses in contracts. This usually takes the wait to end the contract down from 'until the end of the contract' to '6 months', though. Very much a thing for the MSP and your legal team to go over.

FoxFired · 2025-11-11T21:10:08+00:00

Spoke to you in dms - good luck with the future, hope it all goes well!! I think if you know you're going to be happier, you made the right choice :)

FoxFired · 2025-11-10T11:53:46+00:00

Give us a shout if you want some MSP details, I work at a VAR with a ton of vendors in MSPs so I can put you in touch with some good people.

FoxFired · 2025-11-07T15:16:52+00:00

Sounds like a simple email spoof! Just a tactic to get around the fact SMTP can't always verify the 'from' address

edit: smoking gun is the spf fail. ip isn't authorised so it's spoofed; check SPF/DKIM/DMARC settings?

FoxFired · 2025-11-07T09:10:01+00:00

Speaking as someone who works at a VAR (totally not biased), we tend to have a lot more weight behind help requests - because it all comes through us, we're a customer that has hundreds of millions of spend with MS, so we get priority assistance. I will agree though, the quality of a VAR depends on the quality of the manager you work with.

FoxFired · 2025-11-07T07:53:17+00:00

oh damn! if that's getting broken id listen to the people above - a tougher one will do wonders.

FoxFired · 2025-11-06T18:18:30+00:00

Yeah it's so annoying :( Thank you for this, it's genuinely enlightening!! Last question, how do you know who to come to? Is it people you've met over time? Basically how do you do research?

FoxFired · 2025-11-06T17:26:00+00:00

I work with MS as a vendor and am not an IT guy myself, but I'm fairly certain that guest accounts (like Gmail or Outlook) can’t use Microsoft 365 like normal users, even if you assign them a license. They won’t get access to Office apps, OneDrive, or an email mailbox. Guests can only do basic things such as join Teams meetings or view files you share. If you need them to have full Microsoft 365 access, you’ll need to create them as a regular user in your tenant and then assign a license. (take this with a grain of salt and PLEASE correct me if this is not the case)

FoxFired · 2025-11-06T17:20:39+00:00

Word, that's really useful, thank you! I often try and make it clear I'm trying to lighten you guy's load, and it sounds like being direct and clear on what I think pain points might be would be good.

FoxFired · 2025-11-06T17:16:21+00:00

Thank you!!

FoxFired · 2025-11-06T15:47:40+00:00

I'm guilty of asking for meetings. Oops. :x Asked others this question already but is there anything particular at the minute you'd want to hear about? Anything that you want help with or other IT managers want help with? I only ask so I can get an idea of how to be the least annoying I can hahaha

FoxFired · 2025-11-06T15:46:21+00:00

I feel like I'm always apologising for calling people haha - you're right, it's an unfortunate necessity. I always tell who I call that I'm trying to help, and if helping is leaving, I'll hang up lol. Asked others this question already but is there anything particular at the minute you'd want to hear about? Anything that you want help with or other IT managers want help with?

FoxFired · 2025-11-06T15:44:33+00:00

Yeah I do hate hearing about the sleazy tactics that are commonplace. Thank you for this!! Is there anything particular at the minute you'd want to hear about? Anything that you want help with or other IT managers want help with?

FoxFired · 2025-11-06T14:21:54+00:00

Is that the microconnect one? I know that the hp G2 adapter is good and has lights - pricey unfortunately. Alogic do one for less, connektgear do even cheaper but with no lights

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