This week’s 10-minute presentation at BNSL was delivered by Simon Goodman of Beyond Beige, who combined education and entertainment with an engaging quiz focused on cyber security, passwords, backups and common IT pitfalls.
Beyond Beige provides IT support, cyber security advice, Microsoft 365 services and technology solutions to businesses throughout Leicestershire and the surrounding areas. Simon’s practical, jargon-free approach helps businesses make the most of technology whilst staying secure and productive.
Find out more about Simon and his services at www.beyondbeige.co.uk.
Simon describes himself as a “Software Tart”, explaining that he isn’t tied to any particular software provider and is happy to recommend whichever solution is most suitable for a client’s individual needs.
This practical and independent approach is one of the reasons businesses trust Simon for their IT support and advice.
Testing the Group’s IT Knowledge
Rather than delivering a traditional presentation, Simon challenged members with a ten-question quiz designed to test their knowledge of everyday cyber security and IT best practice.
The questions covered a range of topics that affect businesses of all sizes, including:
- Password security
- Data backups
- Software updates
- Laptop maintenance
- Phishing emails
- Cyber criminals
- Business IT resilience
As always, some questions were easier than others, and a few sparked lively debate around the room.
Practical Cyber Security Advice
The quiz highlighted several important lessons for business owners.
Members learned that:
- The most common passwords remain surprisingly simple and insecure.
- If a laptop fan suddenly becomes noisy, checking airflow and vents should be one of the first things to investigate.
- Hovering over links before clicking can often reveal suspicious or fraudulent emails.
- Business data should ideally be backed up automatically every day.
- Software updates should generally be left to complete rather than interrupted.
- Password managers provide a safer and more secure way to manage credentials.
- Cyber criminals target organisations of every size — not just large corporations.
Throughout the session, Simon reinforced the importance of adopting simple habits that significantly reduce cyber security risks.
And the Winner Was…
The competition was close, with several members demonstrating a strong understanding of cyber security and IT best practice.
However, the clear winner on the day was Carolyn Murphy of Carter Oliver Estate Agents, who achieved an impressive 9 out of 10 correct answers.
Considering some of the questions covered specialist topics such as password management, phishing detection, software updates and cyber security threats, it was an excellent score.
🏆 Congratulations Carolyn!
As a reward for her IT knowledge, Carolyn was presented with a box of chocolates courtesy of Simon.
The result also demonstrates that whether you’re selling houses or managing technology, paying attention to detail can certainly pay off!
Why Cyber Security Matters
One of the key messages from Simon’s presentation was that many cyber incidents are entirely preventable.
By following basic security principles and seeking expert advice when needed, businesses can dramatically reduce their exposure to cyber threats, downtime and data loss.
Simon’s practical approach makes technical subjects accessible and understandable, helping business owners make informed decisions about their IT systems.
About Beyond Beige
Beyond Beige provides IT support, cyber security advice and technology solutions to businesses throughout the region.
Simon prides himself on providing straightforward, jargon-free advice and recommending solutions that genuinely fit each client’s requirements.
Whether it’s cloud systems, backups, cyber security, Microsoft 365, hardware procurement or general IT support, Simon focuses on helping businesses work smarter and more securely.
If you’re looking for reliable IT support or expert advice on protecting your business from cyber threats, visit www.beyondbeige.co.uk to learn more.
Final Thoughts
Thank you to Simon for another entertaining and informative presentation.
The quiz format kept everyone engaged while delivering practical cyber security lessons that every business owner can benefit from.
Congratulations once again to Carolyn Murphy of Carter Oliver Estate Agents on her excellent winning score and thank you to Simon for providing the prize and organising such an enjoyable and educational session.
Sessions like this are a great reminder that a little knowledge and the right support can go a long way towards protecting your business.
Visit BNSL
At BNSL, our weekly member presentations help members better understand each other’s businesses, strengthen relationships and generate quality referrals.
If you’d like to visit a friendly and supportive business networking group in South Leicestershire, we’d love to hear from you.
👉 Visit: https://businessnetworkingleicestershire.co.uk/contact-us/
— The BNSL Committee
