As data becomes more and more important for all kinds of businesses, from the biggest corporations down to the one man enterprise, so has the necessity of having a working, easily accessible and highly reliable business continuity plan.

Now that we are on the cusp of the New Year, and as businesses around the country are starting to look for better ways to keep operations running smoothly once everyone is back at the office in January, now is the best time to have a look at some of the 2024 Business Continuity trends. 

Business Continuity Trends to Use in 2024

Having a disaster recovery plan, one that is specifically tailored to your business needs, is a non-negotiable necessity in this data driven era. To ensure that your business is up to date with all of the latest business continuity developments, these are some of the trends to be aware of, and to try out, in 2024.

1. AI And Machine Learning Will Improve (Almost) Everything

We might as well put AI right at the top at the list of trends. This technology is not going anywhere; in fact it is fast tracking tech developments of all kinds, including those in the world of business continuity solutions.

In 2024, AI and Machine Learning are set to be used to make business continuity plans more resilient and a lot more focused. Other ways that this tech will influence business continuity plans include:

• Assisting businesses to identify potential business disruptions and fully automate the recovery process by using predictive analytics.
• Improved security using blockchain technology and by assisting existing cyber security measures.
• And, using the Internet of Things will give businesses the ability to monitor their data in real time.

• Cloud Based Solutions Will Be The Most Sought-After

Cloud Based technology is already widely adopted by companies. When used for business continuity, such a system allows for the immediate recovery of data, allowing businesses to carry on as usual. As we go into 2024, Cloud Base Solutions will allow for more flexibility and scalability, they will become cheaper, they will remove the need for physical data centres in various locations, and they will enable a faster recovery.

• Supply Chain Diversity Is Going To Become More Important

Supply chains have become more fragile since the pandemic of 2020, and for some companies this means supply chain diversity is something that needs to be included in their business continuity plan.

Companies should not only find a variety of suppliers to suit their requirements, but they should also consider using localised production. And the list of suppliers should be backed up and protected by the business continuity plan, to ensure that this vital information is never lost.

To make the supply chain even more robust, companies can consider partnering up with suppliers in their industry, and create a separate business continuity plan that solely protects the supply chain.

Tips For Preparing Your Business Continuity Plan in 2024

Preparing for the future means anticipating the things that could go wrong and then planning a system around the disaster. As you work on your business continuity plan for 2024, here are some tips that you should keep in mind.

1. Cyber-attacks are constantly evolving as technology advances and hackers find new and creative ways to steal. Always stay up to date with the latest threats (or work with an IT company that can do that for you).
2. Don’t make your plan too complex as this can have the opposite effect, and leave your company vulnerable to problems (too many layers can create gaps that you don’t see).
3. Move with the times. Your current system might work well, but technology is advancing all the time and there might be something out there that is cheaper and more effective.

Need assistance? 24/7 IT Services can help your business get ready for 2024. Along with offering companies create effective business continuity plans, we also assist with cyber security solutions and managed IT support. Contact us today for a consultation.

The post Future-Proof your Business with these 2024 Business Continuity Trends appeared first on 247 IT Services.

The last update for those using this version of Windows will become available on the 13^th of June 2023, and after that all services and support will be stopped.

Trying to stop the Windows 11 upgrade might just leave you with a system that is vulnerable to hacking and other malicious attacks, as further updates for Windows 10 21H2 won’t be coming.

There is no definite date yet for when users can expect the system to be upgraded but it is now a guarantee that it will come sometime after the June update.

This essentially means that Windows 10 22H2 will be the very last version of this operating system, and Microsoft has already said that it will continue to provide support to Windows 10 22H2 until the 14^th of October 2025, with Enterprise users being given a few extra years with their system.

Windows 11 Is Growing in Popularity (But Only a Little)

Along with the news that Windows 11 is coming to Windows 10 21H2 users, the latest stats from Statcounter are showing that the operating system is gaining a few fans.

Although many users will say that Windows 10 is so far the best, Windows 11 is growing on people, and it recently hit an all-time high user share percentage.

Although the statistics aren’t looking too bad, Microsoft is said to be a little be disappointed at the low uptake of its latest Windows offering.

By comparison, towards the end of the Windows 10’s time on the market, it was experiencing a phenomenal user market share of 76%, and seeing that so many people are happily using Windows 10 for such an extended period of time, you can understand why they weren’t in such a rush to embrace the newest version.

Ultimately, because most users, both individuals and companies, are unlikely to make a move over to any other type of operating system, Windows 11 will eventually dominate the scene.

But whether or not it becomes memorable, for all the right reasons, remains to be seen.

And while the operating system is gaining more users, Microsoft’s built in internet browser just keeps on taking knocks, as Edge, which was supposed to be a huge improvement on Internet Explorer, has lost its standing to Safari.  

A Snippet About Windows 11

Windows 11 was released to much fanfare in October of 2021, and it became available to all users in 2022.

As with all the versions of Windows, this latest one had quite a few growing pains, with most of the more obvious problems having now been resolved.

Windows 11 brings with it so many much-welcomed new things such as the much-hyped inclusion of AI technology. Although the layout of Windows 11 takes some getting used to, if you are a long-time user of the operating system, you shouldn’t have too much of a problem getting the hand of things.

* Struggling to decide if it is time to introduce Windows 11 to your business? Or maybe you need help installing this upgrade? At 24/7 IT Services, we provide our clients with a range of fantastic IT solutions which include managed IT support and various IT consultancy options. For more information, give us a call.

The post Microsoft to Upgrade Windows 10 21H2 Users appeared first on 247 IT Services.

As tech remains in the grips of the first flush of AI infatuation, Microsoft users will be among the first to learn more about the capabilities of this technology as the company continues to develop new ways to harness the power of AI.

The latest Microsoft AI venture is Microsoft 365 Copilot, which is going to be used to turn the words that you create into a tool that is guaranteed to improve your workplace productivity. The announcement of this new development was made on March 16^th 2023, with the technology already in full development and currently being tested by a select few commercial customers.

What customers can look forward to with Microsoft 365 Copilot

Microsoft says that its goal with Copilot is to “unleash creativity, uplevel skills and unlock productivity.” And for the users, there are a few ways that they will be able to experience this new type of technology.

1. Users will find that the AI is going to be integrated into pretty much all of the 365 products that they use and have come to depend on. Along with Teams already getting an AI boost, with Copilot, products like Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook are all going to have AI integration.
2. Business Chat, a new product, will also be introduced to the public. Business Chat is being designed to work across various Microsoft products, including Microsoft 365. This product will be able to generate statuses about meetings and emails, which will bridge gaps in communication.

What is going to be really most welcomed by users is the fact that although the product is powered by AI, the user will have full control.

How Copilot will be integrated

Copilot will be used in different ways, unlocking new potential in each Microsoft product it is integrated with. At the moment, here’s what you can expect:

Word – With Microsoft Word, Copilot will be used to create summaries, to write and to edit alongside the person using the programme.

Excel – Copilot will be able to use Excel data to identify trends, create beautiful visual representations of the data, and to highlight new insights which the user can then capitalise on.

Outlook – Copilot will be used to better manage the often overcrowded Outlook inbox, giving the user more time to properly answer emails.

PowerPoint – In PowerPoint, Copilot will allow the user to turn their ideas into visuals, through the use of language rather than complicated coding or commands.

With all of the new and exciting possibilities that Microsoft’s AI developments will bring, the company remains steadfast in its commitment to data protection and privacy. The new tools are the result of many years of research and a dedication to AI principles, and Microsoft intends to protect data and other sensitive information the AI will access.  

Copilot will come ready to use, rather than need additional training, and it will become the first programme of its kind in the world.

In the near future, Microsoft will release more information about the pricing of these advanced tools as well as the licensing. The hope is that one day tools like Copilot will be able to greatly empower both the businesses that make use of the technology and the people who use it.

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At 24/7 IT Services, we are a professional, hands on IT company in London, focusing on providing our clients with the best services, including Business Continuity, Cloud Computing, and Network Services. We also have extensive experience with all of the various Microsoft products, especially Microsoft 365. For more information about how we can help your business, you can contact us today.

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