Optimising IT

27/08/2026

Last night, some of the Optimising IT team joined CCPCharity, local businesses and fellow Big Sleep Out supporters to come together ahead of the 2026 event, all in support of people experiencing homelessness in our local community.

The Golf Rooms in Cheltenham were a brilliant setting for the evening. It was great to see so many people connecting, sharing ideas and showing their support, there was a real sense of community in the room.

So, what is the Big Sleep Out?
In short, the Big Sleep Out brings businesses and volunteers together for one night outdoors to raise vital funds and awareness for people experiencing homelessness in our local community.

This year’s event takes place on 1st October at Cheltenham Racecourse, where volunteers will spend the night outside with their sleeping bags, taking time to reflect, raise awareness and support those without a safe place to call home.

For us, taking part is about doing the right thing. It’s about showing up, supporting our local community and using our platform to help raise awareness for those who need it most.

We’re proud to have signed up as a team and will be raising funds to support CCP’s important work across our local community. 💚

If you’re able to support us, we’d be so grateful for any donation towards this important cause: https://ccp.enthuse.com/pf/optimising-it

21/08/2026

Congratulations to Will McElroy, Service Desk Engineer, for passing the Apple Device Support exam last month! 🎉

The Apple Device Support exam demonstrates knowledge of Apple devices, services and troubleshooting, helping our team continue to support customers across both Windows and Apple environments with confidence.

At Optimising IT, we're always encouraging our team to take advantage of training opportunities, build their skills and continue delivering excellent support for our customers.

If you're in need of support with Apple devices, get in touch with our team today: https://optimisingit.co.uk/contact/

Well done, Will! 👏

20/08/2026

Are you planning your September events?

Ahead of Cyber Security Awareness Month in October, Optimising IT are joining C2S Growth Consultancyl for a Cyber & Tech Focus session, where our Managing Director, Todd Gifford, will present The Dark Side of AI.

But don't let the title scare you off, it's not all doom and gloom!

Todd will explore the risks, responsibilities and security challenges of AI, from regulation and emerging vulnerabilities to practical ways businesses can manage AI safely and effectively.

When & where:

📅 10th September 2026

🕘 9:00am-11:00am

📍 C2S HQ, Apson House, 21 Bamfurlong Industrial Park, Staverton, Cheltenham, GL51 6SX

Book your place here: https://www.c2sgrowth.com/events/cyber-tech-focus/

We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us for our next Cyber & Tech Focus, where Todd Gifford, Managing Director of Optimising IT will present The Dark Side of AI*.* This session will help businesses understand how to make the most of…

18/08/2026

Customer feedback we love to hear! 🤩

A big thank you to our clients who take the time to share feedback once their ticket is closed. It means a great deal to our team to know the positive impact we’re making, and it's always brilliant to celebrate the people behind that service.

And of course, thank you to our team members who leave such a great impression and receive this excellent feedback!

If you're one of our customers, you'll see three options when your ticket is complete: happy, neutral or sad. Whether the feedback is positive or constructive, we always appreciate hearing where we're doing well and where we can improve.

Did you know our service stats are live on our website? We're currently sitting at 98% customer satisfaction. 🙌

So, if you're looking for a supportive, cyber-focused managed IT service provider to help run, protect and grow your business, get in touch with our team today: https://optimisingit.co.uk/contact/

17/08/2026

While the summer holidays are typically a quieter time for many businesses, it’s a good opportunity to start preparing for what’s ahead.

From 1st September, Microsoft is transitioning to passkeys as the default authentication method. This move shouldn’t come as a surprise, as the NCSC is already encouraging consumers and businesses to adopt passkeys as a safer alternative to phishable authentication methods.

So, what’s the difference between a passkey and a password? And how can your business prepare?

We answer these questions in our latest blog. Read it here: https://optimisingit.co.uk/blog/what-is-a-passkey-are-they-replacing-passwords/

Want to speak to our team about the next steps for your business? Get in touch today: https://optimisingit.co.uk/contact/

06/08/2026

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. 💚

This National Wellness Month, we're celebrating the ways we support our team's wellbeing, from professional development and industry certifications to private health and dental cover, gym and cycle-to-work schemes, paid volunteering time, team socials and more.

Most recently, two members of our team completed Mental Health First Aid training, helping us strengthen the support available across the business and reinforcing our commitment to creating a positive, supportive working environment.

Because when people feel supported, connected and able to grow, everyone benefits.

How is your business supporting employee wellbeing this month?

17/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for our Cyber Security Landscape 2026 webinar with Sasha Roshan from Huntress. 💙

Sasha has been part of quite a few events with Optimising IT this year in person but this time we went digital with our first webinar!

We always take away something new from these sessions, and we hope all the attendees enjoyed the webinar and we value any feedback you provide us.

Sasha covered:

- What cyber threats really look like in 2026 for organisations

- How attacks actually happen today, from bypassing MFA to the growing role of AI

- What you should be looking out for

And much more…

If you missed the session, reach out to our team and we can send you the recording.

Want to see more webinars like this from us? Let us know in the comments. 👇

14/07/2026

What an incredible evening for a quiz!

Last night, some of the Optimising IT team put their thinking caps on as Helen, Annie, Steve and Dan M took on the Randall & Payne LLP and WSP Solicitors Charity Quiz under the team name "Optimistically Incorrect".

The event raised funds for two fantastic causes, Maggie's Centres and Meningitis Now, whilst bringing together businesses from across the local community for an evening of friendly competition.

Helen, our quiz enthusiast, took charge as team captain and scribe for the evening, keeping us on track as we worked our way through the questions. 🧐

While we may not have taken home the top prize, we're pleased to report that our donated iPad was a big hit on the raffle table!

The team also made the most of the excellent food on offer, with plenty of praise for the hog roast, halloumi burgers and vegan burger.

Most importantly, the atmosphere throughout the evening was fantastic. The room was full of energy, laughter and a healthy dose of competitive spirit, with everyone coming together to support two incredible charities.

A huge thank you to our team for giving up their evening to take part, and to Randall & Payne, WSP Solicitors and everyone involved in organising and supporting the event.

Supporting charities and our local community is incredibly important to us, and we always enjoy opportunities to come together with fellow B Corps and like-minded businesses to make a positive difference.

Congratulations to everyone involved. 👏

08/07/2026

Do you think cybercriminals only target large organisations?

Think again... 👀

Join us on 16th July at 11:00am for a free webinar with Sasha Roshan from Huntress, where we'll uncover the latest tactics hackers are using to target businesses and share practical steps you can take to stay protected.

With AI making cyber attacks more sophisticated, now is the perfect time to understand the risks and how to reduce them.

Spaces are filling up, so register now and join us next week 👉 https://www.tickettailor.com/events/optimisingit/2264324

03/07/2026

What a night! 🎉

Last night, the Optimising IT team had a fantastic evening at the C2S Growth Consultancy Business Awards 2026 at Cheltenham Racecourse.

The event brought together some of the South West's most inspiring businesses for an evening filled with great conversations, delicious food, live music and plenty of sunshine.

While we didn't take home the Cyber & IT Business of the Year award this time, we're incredibly proud to have been named a finalist and to receive Highly Commended recognition alongside so many outstanding organisations.

As a cyber-focused managed service provider, it's an honour to be recognised for the work our team does every day to help organisations stay secure, productive and resilient.

Congratulations to all of the winners and highly commended businesses. The event showcased the incredible talent, innovation and success stories that continue to shape the South West business community.

A huge thank you to Suzanne Hall-Gibbins, Angela Director Co-Founder at C2S Growth Consultancy, and the entire team at C2S Growth Consultancy for organising such a fantastic event and bringing the region's business community together for a memorable night.

We're already looking forward to next year! 🙌