Computer Culture

🤔Productivity and growth was the 4th top issue identified by Canterbury businesses in Business Canterbury's latest Quarterly Survey.   If that sounds familiar to you, when was the last time you looked closely at how your tech is supporting your growth?   Good IT isn't just a working printer, a stable network and devices that don't lag.   Good IT goes further. It helps: ✅your team work faster and smarter ✅removes friction from daily tasks ✅keeps you secure while you innovate.   Good IT evolves with your business, so your systems don't hold you back as you grow.   If increasing productivity keeps being thrown around your board room and your tech hasn't had a proper rethink recently - chat to your IT provider, you might be surprised with the returns.

Cyber security isn't optional. It's non-negotiable. That's why we're proud to share that we've achieved SMB1001:2026 Level 3 (Gold) certification through CyberCert. For our customers and partners, it's not just a badge. It's independent proof that protecting your data, systems, and trust is taken seriously at every level of our business. This certification reflects our commitment to: - Protecting our business to independent standards. - Safeguarding our customers, partners, and their information. - Continuously improving and strengthening our cyber security posture. This isn't a 'tick-the-box and move on' exercise. Cyber security is an ongoing discipline, and this certification is part of that bigger journey. Big shout out to our team and technical specialists whose consistent work and focus help us achieve this. You can view our certification here: https://lnkd.in/erUpivQe

🤔 We're constantly learning when it comes to AI. How we interact with our tools, what outputs are actually based on and how we can improve the experience for everyone. So, we absolutely love it when we see our team stay curious. Pushing tools further and asking better questions to get deeper insight. Even better is what comes after. The sharing of learnings, reflections and practical takeaways. Thoughtful questioning makes all the difference. Thanks Stephen Shaw for modelling this so well.

Did you grab a Copilot licence last year, give it a quick try, feel a bit underwhelmed… and never really go back? A lot of the AI buzz has centred on ChatGPT and Claude. For those of us working day‑to‑day in Microsoft environments, it’s sometimes felt like we were watching the fun from the sidelines. That’s changed. Over the past few months, Microsoft has made significant advances with Microsoft Copilot. It’s now genuinely worth revisiting as a practical sidekick inside the tools most of us already live in — Excel, Word, Outlook, and the wider Microsoft suite. In the short video below, you’ll see Copilot working directly inside Excel (make sure you watch to the end to see the summary of recommendations if produces) 👇 Full disclosure from us: - The video has been edited to remove some of the “thinking time”. - The final clip runs for 1:46. - However, the full data interrogation exercise with Copilot only took 3:25 end‑to‑end. One extra bonus - Copilot Chat also created the Excel dummy data worksheet we used. 🤔If you’ve been using Copilot recently, we’d love to hear: - Tips that saved you real time - Features that surprised you - Ways it’s earning its keep in your daily work

🌟Come help our clients succeed through first-class technology systems and meaningful relationships 🤝 We're on the hunt for a Systems Engineer to join our Christchurch-based Technical Services team. If you're someone who: - builds trust easily - can follow processes and document solutions - doesn't fold under pressure - can prioritise workload effectively - is happy to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in. Annnnnd, you think you'd thrive in an environment which offers: - a supportive, tight-knit team - mentorship from experienced Senior Systems Engineers - genuine opportunities to develop and progress your career - exposure to a wide range of technologies and client environments - a modern and collaborative workplace then you should check out our job listing on seek 👇 https://lnkd.in/eJS-z27U To see what makes Computer Culture tick, and find out who you'd be working with head to our website: https://lnkd.in/ea-ng2VM

Most businesses have a gap in their security posture they don't even know about. Not a sophisticated vulnerability. Simply, that former employee whose account is still active 💻 Poor IT onboarding and offboarding is one of the most common (and most overlooked) security risks we see. And it's not just a security problem. It's a cost problem too. It shows up in your bottom-line with licences still running for people who left six months ago. The good news? It's one of the most fixable problems in your IT environment. When onboarding and offboarding is done well, it's almost boring. 1. Access granted on day one. 2. Revoked on the last. 3. Costs that reflect your actual headcount. This process definitely deserves a spot at the top of your IT priorities this quarter.

Most businesses trust their IT provider, and that trust is usually well earned. What’s often missing isn’t capability. It’s visibility. When IT is running quietly in the background, it becomes difficult to measure: - IT performance - Security risk - Value delivered Over time, this lack of clarity can make IT feel purely transactional. Costs become harder to explain, systems feel less efficient, and conversations stay focused on fixes instead of progress. Shifting the focus from "trust" to "understanding" changes that. ✅Clear responsibilities ✅Meaningful reporting ✅Jargon-free explanations. This is what gives leaders and boards true confidence. And, what turns an IT provider into a long-term, strategic partner.

🎣Phishing emails are getting smarter. Is your team ready to counter them? This is a people problem as much as a tech problem. One wrong click can cause lead to a world of pain. Our simple guide helps your team know exactly what to do when a suspicious email lands in their inbox. Swipe through to learn: ✅How to tell if an email is worth a second look 📞The safest way to verify if it's legit 📢How to protect the wider business 🫸Options for repeat offenders. A few simple habits can help your team become a knowledgeable, fast-acting first line of defence for your business.

In many businesses, IT is doing the right things behind the scenes - and doing them well. But without regular reporting, it's hard to see how that work connects to budgets, risk, and future plans. When visibility is low, planning becomes harder. And conversations stay reactive instead of strategic. Good monthly IT reporting changes that by showing: ⭐What’s being managed ⭐What’s coming up ⭐Where attention is needed. This gives IT managers the clarity they need to speak confidently with leaders and boards. And over time, those insights build better roadmaps and more predictable budgets.

Using Microsoft Copilot at work? 💻 Finding it kind of helpful, but thinking it could be better... Responses feeling a little too vague, too agreeable or missing key context? The good news is you can give Microsoft Copilot custom instructions so it responds the way you prefer. For example, you can tell Copilot to: - Use clear, simple language - Avoid making assumptions - Ask for missing information when context is unclear - Challenge your thinking instead of always agreeing. It only takes a moment to set up. 👇Watch the quick 'how-to' video below to see how it works. Got your own Microsoft Copilot tips or favourite instructions? Drop them in the comments, we'd love to hear what's working for you.