Insights

Guidance on IT, cyber security and compliance.

Costs, requirements and decisions. Guides to planning your IT, preparing for certification and using software and AI at work.

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By Daniel McClure Fisher, Managing Director. CISSP, MCIIS.

Dead Simple Computing · Reading, Berkshire

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Cyber security

The office of tomorrow: a Cyber Essentials short film

Watch our independent newsreel-style film about AI, office habits and the five Cyber Essentials controls. With narration, captions and a full transcript.

Published Reviewed

Cyber security

DCC Level 0 requirements

DCC Level 0 is three controls and six questions. What each one asks, what counts as evidence, and the two scope mistakes that fail an assessment outright.

Published Reviewed

Cyber security

DCC vs Cyber Essentials

Cyber Essentials is not an alternative to Defence Cyber Certification, it is part of it. How the two relate, and the order to do them in.

Published Reviewed

Cyber security

DEFCON 658 explained

DEFCON 658 brings the Cyber Security Model into your MOD contract and makes you flow it down to subcontractors. What it requires, and what to do first.

Published Reviewed

Cyber security

Def Stan 05-138 explained

What Defence Standard 05-138 requires, how Cyber Risk Profile levels 0 to 3 decide which controls apply to you, and how it connects to DEFCON 658 and DCC.

Published Reviewed

Governance and audit

Technology due diligence checklist (UK)

A UK technology due diligence checklist for PE deal teams and advisers: the six areas to examine and the custom-software question most reports miss.

Published Reviewed

Cyber security

How much does Cyber Essentials cost?

What Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus really cost in the UK: the certification fee, the work to get ready, and how to keep the spend sensible.

Published Reviewed

Cyber security

Cyber Essentials Requirements

The five Cyber Essentials controls explained, and why Cyber Essentials Plus requirements are the same five controls verified differently rather than a longer list.

Published Reviewed

Cyber security

EDR vs MDR vs XDR vs SOC vs MSSP

EDR, MDR, XDR, SOC and MSSP explained: what each one does, how they differ, and which one a business of your size needs.

Published Reviewed

Software and AI

What the July 2026 Microsoft Copilot changes mean

From 1 July 2026 Microsoft bundles Copilot into Microsoft 365 Business plans and raises the standalone price. What it means for your business, and what to do.

Published Reviewed

Software and AI

How much does Microsoft Copilot cost?

Microsoft Copilot pricing after the July 2026 changes: bundled Business plans with Copilot versus the standalone licence, and how to choose what fits.

Published Reviewed

Software and AI

Is Microsoft Copilot safe for business?

Whether Microsoft Copilot is safe for business depends on your Microsoft 365 permissions and data. The risks that matter, and how to address them first.

Published Reviewed

Software and AI

Microsoft Copilot security

The Microsoft 365 controls to put in place before you switch Copilot on: oversharing, sensitivity labels, DLP, identity and conditional access.

Published Reviewed

Cyber security

How to prepare for Cyber Essentials Plus

The five Cyber Essentials controls, how Plus verifies them through technical testing, and common preparation gaps to address before your assessment.

Published Reviewed

Cyber security

How much does ISO 27001 cost?

ISO 27001 certification cost and price explained: body fees, internal effort, consultancy, plus surveillance and recertification. Indicative UK ranges.

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Software and AI

How to stop staff leaking data to ChatGPT and AI tools

How to stop staff leaking company data into ChatGPT and AI tools: an acceptable use policy, sanctioned tools, Microsoft 365 DLP and sensitivity labels, training.

Published Reviewed

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