Have you ever been concerned about your credit card or personal data getting stolen while shopping online? You’re not alone. Each holiday season, as millions of shoppers flock online for convenience, hackers ramp up their activity.

Most organisations have realised that AI is not a sentient system looking to take over the world, but rather an invaluable tool. They have come to utilise it to improve their productivity and efficiency. AI solutions have been installed at an astounding rate. The crux of this conundrum is how the power of AI can be harnessed to remain competitive while eliminating cybersecurity risks.

Traditionally, Black Friday tech deals surrounded gaming platforms and entertainment technology, but that has changed. Now, businesses recognise that there are numerous deals on the latest technology that offer real-world value to improve collaboration and productivity.

Meet Matthew – Level 1 Engineer at 5C Services
Just over a year ago, Matthew joined 5C Services as a Trainee Engineer. His journey is a great example of how hands-on learning, mentorship, and a supportive team culture can shape a successful career in technology.

Stop Account Hacks: A Guide to Protecting Your Small Business Logins

Last week, we attended the Powys Business Awards 2025, this time not as nominees, but as proud sponsors. The event was a brilliant showcase of the innovation, dedication, and resilience that define the Powys business community.

Digital employee experience (DEX) is just a fancy way of saying “the quality of every tech interaction your people have at work.” That covers hardware, software, and the IT processes in between. It’s not just whether a device turns on quickly. It’s also about how easy a tool is to use, how responsive IT support is when something breaks, and whether systems actually help people get work done.

We understand that our potential customers are faced with a huge task when trying to decide on an IT Support Company. There are so many to choose from and services offering and cost can vary widely, so how do you know which is best for you?

In order to assist you with this huge task we have provided some quick points that we think you should ask and consider to put your IT Support Providers through their paces.

Few things are more frustrating in the workplace than unreliable Wi-Fi. One minute everything’s fine, and the next, video calls freeze, files refuse to upload, and deadlines slip. It’s not just inconvenient, it drains productivity and damages morale.

The good news? You don’t need to rip out your whole system. Most businesses can solve Wi-Fi issues with a few smart changes and the right IT partner by their side.

Back in 2018, we were honoured to receive the Small Business Growth Award at the Powys Business Awards, a milestone that marked an exciting chapter in our journey. That recognition gave us momentum, visibility, and encouragement at a pivotal time.

Today, we’re proud to return to the Powys Business Awards in a new role - as one of this year’s sponsors. It’s a real privilege to support an event that celebrates the passion, innovation, and resilience of local businesses across Powys.

Your office thermostat, conference room speaker, and smart badge reader are convenient, but they’re also doors into your network. With more devices than ever in play, keeping track can be tough, and it only takes one weak link to put your entire system at risk.

In our guide to strong passwords and authentication, we explained why secure credentials and multi-factor authentication (MFA) are essential. But the reality is simple: passwords alone are no longer enough. A single stolen login can be all it takes to disrupt an entire business. Here at 5C we utilise Duo’s access management solution.

For many businesses, the cloud is essential: powering remote work, customer apps, and day-to-day operations. But without the right controls, monthly bills can spiral, hitting cash flow and profit margins hard. As your IT support partner, we help you avoid “bill shock” by making cloud costs predictable, efficient, and aligned with your business goals.

You might have firewalls, antivirus, and strong passwords in place. But what if a hacker slips in through one of your suppliers instead? That’s exactly how many UK businesses are being breached today. Criminals no longer just target your systems, they look for weaknesses in the software, cloud services, or vendors you rely on. For SMEs, this can feel daunting. You can’t control everything your suppliers do, but you can reduce risk with a few practical steps.

Our customers rely on us to be available whenever an outage occurs. Any downtime in their business is in our hands to troubleshoot and resolve as quickly as possible. The RMM monitoring helps us move away from reactive support to a proactive model by being ahead of our customer’s needs

If you run a small business, you’ve probably dealt with outdated tech more than once. Sure, squeezing extra life out of old equipment feels economical, but it often costs more in the long run.

Here at 5C, we pride ourselves on our successes supporting new entrants into the sector, providing an opportunity and platform for them to launch their IT career. Meet Edmund Wozencraft, a former apprentice at 5C Services, who has a lot to share about his experience with the company.

We're Here to Help You Transition

As implemented on 1st July 2025, Microsoft are discontinuing the free grant offers for Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Office 365 E1 for non-profits. If your organisation currently uses these free licenses, they will expire at your next renewal date.

As your trusted IT support partner, we’re here to help you understand what this means and how to prepare.

Have you ever wondered how vulnerable your business is to cyberattacks?

According to recent reports, nearly 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses, often exploiting weak security measures.

One of the most overlooked yet highly effective ways to protect your company is through Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). This extra layer of security makes it significantly harder for hackers to gain access, even if they have your password.

Choosing the right cloud storage solution can feel a bit like standing in front of an all-you-can-eat buffet with endless options- so many choices, each promising to be the best. Making the wrong decision can lead to wasted money, compromised data, or even a productivity bottleneck. For small business owners, the stakes couldn't be higher.