Cobalt

04/11/2026

The worst thing about an email breach is that you often won't notice it's happened.

As our CEO Ian Dunstan puts it, hackers frequently play the long game. Once inside an account, they'll quietly read incoming messages and observe transactions until a valuable opportunity presents itself.

Relying on gut feeling or obvious red flags won't keep you safe. You need layered security and active monitoring that flags abnormal logins the moment they appear.

Good thing that's what we do best.

29/10/2026

If you outsource your IT, this recent ICO warning is a must-read.

When a forgotten test account triggered a recent cyber breach, the ICO held both the business and its IT provider accountable. Why? Because neither side had ever explicitly agreed on whose job it was to clean up old user accounts.

Before assuming your network is completely secure, it's worth checking a few essentials with your provider. Take a look at your contract to ensure it explicitly states who handles account creation and deletion, double-check that old leaver and test accounts are being systematically purged and confirm that Multi-Factor Authentication is enforced by default for every single remote user.

If you're not sure where to turn, give us a call on 01392 662600. We'd love to help.

Read more about the breach and our quick summary to see what the ICO expects from your business and your IT partner here:

The ICO reprimanded Ogi Networks and Data Cymru after a Password1 test account let ransomware in. The six lessons it set out for anyone who outsources IT.

27/10/2026

We're pleased to announce that our very own Ash Clelland has been promoted to Sales Manager at Cobalt.

Having spent five years with us, Ash knows our business, our customers and our team inside out. He's worked hard, built some brilliant relationships and thoroughly deserves this next step.

Jim Taylor, our Sales Director, couldn't be happier:

"It's always special to promote someone from within, particularly someone who's put so much into the business. Ash has earned this opportunity through hard work, commitment and a genuine passion for looking after our customers. He's a great example of what can be achieved when you've got the right attitude, and I'm really looking forward to seeing him make his mark in this new role."

A big congratulations from all of us, Ash. Very well deserved.

23/10/2026

Are you one of the 350,000 businesses running out of time?

The clock is ticking on the UK's old telephone network, and Openreach has issued another warning.

Around 350,000 UK business premises are still relying on traditional copper phone lines, with the switch off deadline fast approaching.

31 January 2027. It's closer than you think.

And it's not just your phones at risk. Payment terminals, security alarms, lift systems and other essential equipment could all be affected.

The good news? Moving to digital doesn't need to be a headache.

At Cobalt, we'll check your existing setup, explain what needs to change and make sure your business is ready for the switch.

Don't leave it until the last minute.

Not sure if your business is affected? We'd love to hear from you.

Openreach says 1.2 million lines, 350,000 of them business premises, still have to migrate before 31 January 2027. What the fallback is and what to check.

22/10/2026

A big welcome to Infinity Fitness Dawlish, the latest business to join the Cobalt family.

With ambitious growth plans ahead, we're delighted to be providing the IT support, cyber security and telephony solutions to help them get there.

And a massive shout out to our very own Jake for bringing this one home! Here he is with Infinity Gym owner Stephen, and judging by the smiles, we'd say the feeling is mutual.

We can't wait to get cracking.

20/10/2026

The best IT problems are the ones that never happen.

Nobody wants to start their Monday with a crashed server, a laptop that won't cooperate or a team that can't get online.

And yet, too many businesses still wait for something to break before calling IT support.

We think there's a better way.

Our Proactive Tech Support keeps an eye on your systems 24/7, spotting potential problems, managing updates and keeping everything running as it should.

And behind it all? Real people, like Sophie and Sam, who are part of our brilliant team of engineers keeping our customers' businesses ticking along.

Fewer interruptions. Less downtime. A lot less frustration.

Because your IT should be help your business, not hold it up.

Fancy fewer IT headaches? We'd love to hear from you.
https://cobalt.so/proactive-tech-support

19/10/2026

Microsoft fixes over 1,400 security flaws. Then breaks a few connections.

You couldn't make it up.

The latest round of Microsoft security updates is one for the record books, fixing more vulnerabilities than ever before.

But there's a catch.

Changes to the way Windows handles older authentication methods mean some businesses are having trouble connecting to their networks and VPNs.

It's not a bug, either. It's a deliberate security change that's caught some older systems out.

A good reminder of why proactive IT support matters. Updates are essential, but knowing what you're updating, and what might be affected, is just as important.

We've explained what's happening and what it means for your business.

https://cobalt.so/news/october-2026-patch-tuesday-record-ntlm-networking-breakage

Need a hand keeping your business connected, secure and running smoothly? We'd love to hear from you.

14/10/2026

Cyber Essentials is about getting the fundamentals right.

Weak passwords, outdated software and poorly protected devices can all create unnecessary gaps in your security.

We’ll help you find those gaps, fix them and guide you through the Cyber Essentials process without making it more complicated than it needs to be.

And once you’re certified, we can help you keep improving your security as your business grows.

No scare tactics. No jargon. Just practical protection that makes sense.

Find out more here - https://cobalt.so/cyber-essentials

12/10/2026

Is your business confident in the cybersecurity basics?

A recent UK government study revealed that 57% of businesses lack confidence in carrying out at least one fundamental security task, with detecting and removing malware topping the list.

The good news? It’s not necessarily that businesses are getting worse, but that teams are becoming more aware of what needs attention.

We’ve broken down the 9 fundamental tasks every business should review and how to address any hidden gaps in your setup.

Check where your business stands:

The government's 2026 cyber skills study finds 57 per cent of UK businesses not confident in at least one basic security task. The nine tasks, and what to do.

08/10/2026

Pe*******on testing is about finding the gaps before someone else does.

Your systems can look secure on the surface, but it only takes one overlooked vulnerability to create an opportunity.

We test your systems as an attacker would, identify weaknesses and show you exactly what needs attention.

But the real value is what happens next.

With Cobalt, you’re not left with a technical report and a list of problems. We help you understand the risks, prioritise the fixes and strengthen your setup afterwards.

Because finding the gap is only useful if you know how to close it.

Find out more:
https://cobalt.so/penetration-testing