TL;DR: Based in Milton Keynes and still running your business on old tech and manual tasks? Here are 10 simple ways to save time, stay secure, and work smarter in 2025, without the stress.
Milton Keynes is growing fast. From innovative startups to established local businesses, everyone’s trying to do more with less. But if your tech hasn’t kept up, it could be holding you back.
Whether you’re in Bletchley, Stony Stratford, or the heart of the business district, these 10 tips will help you use the tools you already have to boost productivity and reduce hassle, without splashing out on things you don’t need.
1. Unlock the full value of Microsoft 365
You’ve got it—now use it properly.
Most Milton Keynes businesses already use Microsoft 365, but we often see people missing out on the good stuff. Tools like Planner, Loop, and Power Automate can replace clunky spreadsheets and repetitive admin. AI tools like Copilot take it a step further, summarising meetings, generating content, and answering questions on the spot.
👉 Copilot users report up to 30% productivity improvements.
Benefit: Save time, reduce admin, and make smarter use of the software you already pay for.
🔗 See our Microsoft 365 support
2. Turn email signatures into a branding tool
Your team sends hundreds of emails, make them count.
With branded, consistent email signatures (set using a tool like Exclaimer), every message becomes a mini billboard. Promote your services, add a testimonial banner, or show off a recent award.
And because they’re set centrally, it helps block spoofing attacks that mimic your team’s emails.
Benefit: Boost professionalism and trust, while subtly marketing your business.
3. Don’t let old devices hold you back
Still using a laptop from 2018? It shows.
Old devices slow your team down and make hybrid working harder. They also leave security gaps. The FSB reports 30% of UK SMEs suffer downtime from ageing tech.
Newer devices are faster, lighter, and better suited for flexible working.
Benefit: Improve security, speed, and staff satisfaction.
4. Audit those sneaky software subscriptions
Paying for tools no one uses? You’re not alone.
UK businesses waste £1.7 billion a year on unused or duplicated software. Audit your Microsoft 365 licences and other tools. Look for features no one touches, users who’ve left, or better-value alternatives.
Benefit: Save money and keep your tech lean and focused.
5. Automate repetitive jobs
Copying and pasting into forms isn’t a growth strategy.
Automation tools like Power Automate and ChatGPT can streamline approvals, report creation, customer emails, you name it.
Businesses embracing automation report up to 40% time savings on admin tasks.
Benefit: Let your team focus on the work that actually grows the business.
6. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
An easy win for cyber security.
MFA blocks 99.9% of login-based attacks, but lots of businesses in Milton Keynes still haven’t switched it on fully. It only takes a few minutes with Microsoft 365.
Benefit: Stronger protection, lower risk, and better client trust.
🔗 Boost your team’s cyber security awareness
7. Secure your team’s devices, wherever they are
You can’t protect what you don’t manage.
If your team works remotely or on the go, you need proper device management. Microsoft Intune lets you enforce policies, track kit, and wipe it remotely if needed.
Benefit: Stay compliant and protected, even with hybrid teams.
8. Use Microsoft Teams for more than meetings
Ditch the endless email chains.
Teams can be your business hub: file sharing, chat, shared task lists, co-authoring documents, and even working with external contacts securely.
Benefit: Collaborate more effectively and keep everything in one place.
9. Switch to a password manager
Still using ‘Summer2023!’? Let’s fix that.
Weak passwords are still the top cause of breaches. A tool like Keeper helps your team store, share, and manage passwords safely.
No more “forgotten login” drama.
Benefit: Better security, smoother onboarding and offboarding.
10. Use the cloud to stay flexible
Whether you’re in the office or at home, your files should just work.
SharePoint and OneDrive let your team access files securely from anywhere, with automatic backups, permissions, and version control.
Benefit: Easy collaboration, better security, and no lost files.
Based in Milton Keynes? Let’s make IT easier.
Whether you’re scaling, streamlining, or just tired of your tech slowing you down, Cloud & More is here to help.
We’re local, relationship-first, and big on cyber security. No jargon. No ticket numbers. Just real support from people who answer the phone like they know you—because we probably do.
📍 Milton Keynes
📞 Call 0333 577 0966
🌐 www.cloudandmore.co.uk
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Need help figuring out where to start?
If you’re not sure which tech tip will make the biggest difference for your team, let’s chat it through. We’ll keep it simple, no jargon, no pressure, just honest advice from a team that understands Milton Keynes businesses.
👉 Book a free cyber security vulnerability assesment or just drop us a message to say hello.
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