The Small Business
Cyber Security Guy
Welcome to my blog and podcast, where I share brutally honest views, sharp opinions, and lived experience from four decades in the technology trenches. Whether you're here to read or tune in, expect no corporate fluff and no pulled punches.
Everything here is personal. These are my thoughts, not those of my employer, clients, or any poor soul professionally tied to me. If you’re offended, take it up with me, not them.
What you’ll get here (and on the podcast):
Straight-talking advice for small businesses that want to stay secure
Honest takes on cybersecurity trends, IT malpractice, and vendor nonsense
The occasional rant — and yes, the occasional expletive
War stories from the frontlines (names changed to protect the spectacularly guilty)
I've been doing this for over 40 years. I’ve seen genius, idiocy, and everything in between. Some of it makes headlines, and most of it should.
This blog and the podcast is where I unpack it all. Pull up a chair.
Action Plan: Moving Beyond Your Single Point of IT Failure
Enough theory. Time for action. Here's your step-by-step plan to move from "Dave does everything" to sustainable IT support that won't collapse when Dave finally reaches breaking point. Start tomorrow.
Building Sustainable IT Support: Beyond the Single Dave Model
You don't need to choose between Dave and professional IT support. The best approach? Dave becomes your strategic IT leader while specialist MSPs handle the complex stuff Dave shouldn't have to figure out alone.
Documentation: Getting Critical Knowledge Out of Dave's Head Before It's Too Late
Dave's the only one who knows the admin passwords. Dave's the only one who understands the custom configurations.
Dave's the only one who knows which cables do what. When Dave goes, that knowledge disappears. Forever.
Warning Signs Your IT Manager is Drowning (And You're Ignoring Them)
Dave's first in, last out every day. Dave hasn't taken a proper lunch break in months. Dave gets defensive when you ask about the systems. Sound familiar?
Your IT manager is drowning, and you've been pretending not to notice
Analyzing the Patterns: When Single IT Manager Models Fail Spectacularly
Let's examine the data: 30 years of single IT manager failures. The patterns are consistent, the outcomes predictable, and the business impact devastating. Here's what happens when your "Dave from IT" model reaches its inevitable breaking point.
The Financial Madness: Expecting £400k Worth of Expertise for £50k
You want a network admin, security expert, help desk manager, systems architect, IT consultant, cloud specialist, compliance officer, and data protection expert. For £50k. Are you having a laugh? Here's what you're actually asking for.
Why "Dave from IT" is Your Business's Biggest Security Risk in 2025
It's Monday morning. Your server's having a wobble. Your email's down. Half your team can't access the customer database. And where's Dave? Probably fixing Janet's printer. Again. Welcome to the single point of failure that's about to snap and take your business with it.
⚠️ Full Disclaimer
This is my personal blog. The views, opinions, and content shared here are mine and mine alone. They do not reflect or represent the views, beliefs, or policies of:
My employer
Any current or past clients, suppliers, or partners
Any other organisation I’m affiliated with in any capacity
Nothing here should be taken as formal advice — legal, technical, financial, or otherwise. If you’re making decisions for your business, always seek professional advice tailored to your situation.
Where I mention products, services, or companies, that’s based purely on my own experience and opinions — I’m not being paid to promote anything. If that ever changes, I’ll make it clear.
In short: This is my personal space to share my personal views. No one else is responsible for what’s written here — so if you have a problem with something, take it up with me, not my employer.