What is the difference between business broadband and residential broadband?

The key differences are: business broadband includes a priority repair SLA (typically next-day versus 72 hours for residential), a static IP address, lower contention ratios for more consistent speeds during business hours, and UK-based business support. The underlying cable technology may be identical, but the service level is not.

Does a small business need a static IP address?

Yes, if you run a VPN, host any services that need to be reached externally, or use IP-based security rules for banking or email. Business broadband typically includes a static IP as standard. Residential broadband provides a dynamic IP that changes periodically.

How much does business broadband cost for a small business?

Small business broadband with a proper SLA typically costs between £50 and £100 per month depending on speed and provider. A 4G/5G failover line adds around £20-£30 per month. Compared to the potential cost of a 72-hour outage, the price difference from residential broadband is negligible.

Do small businesses need a broadband failover?

Yes, strongly recommended. Even with a business SLA, outages happen. A 4G/5G failover router that kicks in automatically when the main line drops costs around £20-£30 per month and prevents a cable fault from halting your entire operation. For businesses that cannot function without internet, this is essential.

What does a managed service provider (MSP) do?

A managed service provider takes responsibility for your IT so you do not have to. They monitor your systems proactively, manage patches and updates, provide helpdesk support when things go wrong, handle cyber security controls, and manage your Microsoft 365 or other cloud services. You pay a fixed monthly fee per user or device.

What is the difference between an MSP and break-fix IT support?

Break-fix support means you call when something breaks and pay per incident. An MSP proactively monitors and maintains your systems to prevent problems occurring. MSPs typically work on a fixed monthly fee, giving you predictable costs and an IT provider who is financially motivated to keep things running well.

How much does managed IT support cost for a small business?

For most small businesses in Kent and the South East, managed IT support costs between £40 and £70 per user per month, depending on the scope of service. For a 10-person team, that is approximately £500 to £850 per month, including proactive monitoring, patch management, and helpdesk support.

What should I look for in a managed service provider?

Look for clear response-time commitments in writing, an engineer who will know your systems rather than starting from scratch each time, transparent monthly reporting, and a proactive approach (they should tell you about problems, not wait for you to notice). Also check their experience with businesses similar to yours in size and industry.

Should a small UK business use Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace?

For most UK small businesses, Microsoft 365 is the better fit. The UK business world runs on Word and Excel, Microsoft 365 includes full desktop apps that work offline, and Teams integrates more deeply than Google Meet for structured business use. Google Workspace is a genuinely good alternative for businesses that work primarily in a browser and prioritise real-time collaboration.

Is Google Workspace cheaper than Microsoft 365?

Google Workspace Business Starter (around £5 per user per month) is cheaper than Microsoft 365 Business Standard (around £10-£11 per user per month). However, Microsoft 365 Business Basic (from around £4.50) is comparable in price if you only need web-based apps. The cost difference narrows significantly when you factor in features and compatibility.

Can you switch from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365?

Yes, migration from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 is straightforward for most small businesses. Email, calendars, and contacts can be migrated, and Google Drive files can be converted to OneDrive. An IT provider can typically complete a 10-person migration within a week with minimal disruption.

What should a small business password policy include?

A small business password policy should cover: minimum password length and complexity (current NCSC guidance recommends length over complexity, with 12+ character passphrases), which accounts require MFA, rules on password sharing and reuse, what to do when a password is compromised, and the consequences of not following the policy.

Should a small business force regular password changes?

No. Current NCSC guidance advises against mandatory periodic password rotation unless there is a suspected breach. Forced changes typically result in predictable patterns (Summer2024, Autumn2024) that are less secure. Instead, use a password manager so every account has a unique, randomly generated password.

Is a password policy a legal requirement for small businesses?

Not strictly, but UK GDPR requires appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data. A password policy is one of those measures, and its absence would be relevant if a data breach occurred. It is also required for Cyber Essentials certification and increasingly for cyber insurance.

Blog

News, advice and guides for small business IT in Kent and the South East.

A small business reception area with a visible internet router showing flashing amber lights and a frustrated receptionist on a video call

Written by Phil on 17 July 2025.

The Hidden Cost of Cheap Broadband for Your Business

I regularly visit small businesses in Kent running their entire operation on a residential broadband line because it is £20 a month cheaper than the business alternative. The broadband is technically identical in terms of cable and speed. The difference shows up when something goes wrong, or when twelve people try to use Teams simultaneously on a Friday afternoon.

Here is what you are actually buying when you pay for business broadband, and how to decide whether the saving is worth the risk.

A laptop screen mid-update with a progress bar and a wall calendar in soft focus with a Tuesday circled

Written by Phil on 10 July 2025.

Patch Tuesday: Why Software Updates Matter and How to Stop Them Breaking Your Day

If you ask most small business owners about software updates, the response is somewhere between "we do them eventually" and "we keep clicking Remind Me Later because we cannot afford to restart right now." Both are understandable. Both also leave the business exposed in ways that are increasingly likely to cause real problems.

Here is why updates matter, what "Patch Tuesday" actually is, and how to manage the process without it disrupting your working day.

An IT engineer working alongside a small business owner looking at a laptop together in a collaborative office

Written by Phil on 03 July 2025.

What a Managed Service Provider Actually Does Day-to-Day

If you have been researching IT support for your business, you will have seen the term "Managed Service Provider" or MSP. It sounds corporate, and a lot of IT companies use it to describe themselves without explaining what it actually means in practice.

Here is what an MSP does in plain English, what you should expect from a good one, and what questions to ask before signing anything.

Two laptops side by side showing different business email interfaces on a shared desk

Written by Phil on 19 June 2025.

Microsoft 365 vs Google Workspace for Small UK Businesses: An Honest Comparison

Almost every small business I speak to is on one or the other: Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. Occasionally both, which usually means nobody made a decision and things just accumulated. Here is how I think about the choice, based on what I see working day-to-day with small businesses in Kent and South East London.

I will be direct: for most UK small businesses, Microsoft 365 is the better fit. But Google Workspace is genuinely excellent for certain types of business, and the honest answer depends on how your team actually works.

A printed Password Policy document on a wooden desk next to a keyboard and coffee mug

Written by Phil on 05 June 2025.

Why Your SME Needs a Proper Password Policy (Not Just "Use a Strong Password")

When I ask a small business owner whether they have a password policy, the usual answer is: "Yes, we tell everyone to use a strong password." That is not a policy. It is a suggestion, and suggestions are not enforceable, auditable, or recoverable when something goes wrong.

A written password policy takes about two hours to write and costs nothing. Here is what it needs to say, and why it matters more than the password itself.