Cloud IT solutions

Choosing a Managed Service Provider (MSP) is one of the most important technology decisions a UK business will make in 2026. With MSPs now responsible for cyber security, cloud management, remote working, data protection, and everyday IT operations, selecting the wrong partner can create major business, financial, and regulatory risks.

As of 14 October 2025, Microsoft officially ended free security updates for Windows 10. Organisations that continue operating Windows 10 devices today - in 2026 - are now doing so in a post‑support environment, relying either on paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) or accepting increasing cyber risk. Windows updates are the backbone of endpoint security, identifying new vulnerabilities and closing them before attackers exploit them. Since the end of support deadline passed, unpatched vulnerabilities accumulate quickly, creating growing exposure across any estate still running Windows 10. Continuing with Windows 10 in 2026 can lead to: Higher cyber‑attack risk, particularly ransomware Compliance issues (Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001, GDPR, FCA/financial sector requirements) Reduced software compatibility with modern applications and security tools Increased helpdesk overhead due to outdated hardware and OS issues For organisations, this is no longer preparation for a future deadline - it’s about reducing risk now and completing the transition to a modern, supported operating system. Your organisation’s options in 2026 Businesses now have three strategic pathways depending on their hardware, budget cycle, and deployment readiness. 1. Upgrade existing compatible devices to Windows 11 If your current hardware meets Microsoft’s requirements, upgrading remains the fastest and most cost‑effective way to move away from Windows 10 ESU dependency. Benefits include: Ongoing security updates Modern protection (TPM 2.0, enhanced kernel security, improved identity protection) Support for AI‑powered features and future Microsoft roadmaps Lower risk and long‑term stability If your business has Windows 10 machines still capable of upgrading, this should be the first route explored. 2. Refresh your estate with Windows 11‑ready devices Many Windows 10 machines still in use in 2026 are now five to eight years old, and often: Fall below modern security standards Cause productivity bottlenecks Increase support tickets Consume disproportionate IT resources A structured hardware refresh offers: Predictable lifecycle management Improved reliability and performance Standardisation across departments Compatibility with modern security and MDM tooling Wavenet supports staged refresh programmes aligned with fiscal planning, ensuring minimal business disruption. 3. Continue using Windows 10 with Extended Security Updates (ESU) Microsoft’s Windows 10 ESU programme is still available, but it is: Paid per device, per year Increasing in cost each year (designed to encourage migration) Security‑only - no features or performance improvements A temporary safety net, not a long‑term strategy ESU is most appropriate when: Line‑of‑business applications are not yet Windows 11 certified You need additional time for a phased rollout Budget cycles are delaying upgrades or refresh Remote / operational environments require longer transition periods Most organisations still using ESU in 2026 should plan to exit it within the next 12–24 months. Assessing your Windows 11 readiness in 2026 At this stage, businesses need more than a simple device‑level compatibility check. A comprehensive analysis includes: Hardware readiness across the estate Application and vendor compatibility Driver and firmware validation Intune / MDM alignment Security baselines and policy impacts User profile and data considerations Deployment sequencing and pilot planning Wavenet offers full readiness assessments to provide a clear view of which devices can be upgraded, which require replacement, and where ESU may remain temporarily necessary. Why 2026 is a critical year for migration With the end of support now behind us, delaying migration further increases: Security exposure Operational risk Compliance penalties ESU costs End‑user frustration from aging hardware A well‑structured migration programme delivers: A secure, modernised endpoint environment Lower long‑term support cost Improved employee experience Better alignment with Microsoft’s cloud and security roadmap Many organisations are now accelerating migration to remove the remaining Windows 10 footprint entirely. How Wavenet supports your Windows 11 journey Wavenet provides end‑to‑end Windows 11 migration services, including: Estate discovery & readiness assessment Hardware lifecycle planning and procurement Application compatibility testing Managed upgrade or Autopilot deployment Configuration, security baselines, and Intune alignment ESU planning (where absolutely necessary) Phased rollouts with minimal disruption Whether you’re upgrading compatible devices, refreshing your estate, or transitioning off ESU entirely, Wavenet ensures a smooth, secure, and controlled migration.

From industry insight to impact: winning moves for 2026 2026 is not a typical planning cycle, it is a structural shift. AI is becoming a core drive or enterprise value1, cyber risk now sits firmly on the board agenda, and regulatory pressure is reshaping how organisations scale and compete. The leaders pulling ahead are those who move fast, secure their digital core, and align technology with growth.

If you stream films on Netflix or check your email from anywhere in the world, you’re already using the cloud. But for large enterprises, cloud computing is far more than consumer convenience - it’s the foundation for operational agility, cost optimisation, and long‑term resilience. Today, the cloud underpins digital transformation across every industry. It removes the limits of traditional on‑premises infrastructure, replacing them with scalable, secure, and cost‑efficient services delivered over the internet. So, what is cloud computing really? Think of it like a global utility grid Just as organisations don’t generate their own electricity, they no longer need to build and maintain vast IT estates to power their operations. Instead, they plug into a global network of hyperscale data centres and pay only for the capacity they consume. This model transforms IT from a capital‑intensive function into an agile, consumption‑based platform that can grow or shrink instantly with business demand. Demystifying “the cloud”: what it actually is Despite the name, the cloud isn’t ethereal. It’s built from thousands of enterprise‑grade servers housed in heavily protected data centres around the world. These provide: Always‑on global availability Enterprise‑grade physical security Redundant power, cooling and connectivity High‑performance compute and storage resources Instead of storing your data on a single device or server, the cloud stores information across these resilient environments, enabling global access, multi-layer redundancy, and seamless continuity. Reducing enterprise IT costs without compromising capability Historically, enterprises spent heavily on hardware refresh cycles, data centre space, maintenance, and large support teams. Cloud computing removes these constraints. With a cloud operating model, organisations can: Shift from CapEx to OpEx Subscribe to the compute, storage and applications you need - instead of owning hardware. Avoid hardware lifecycle management Infrastructure is continuously refreshed by the cloud provider. Optimise usage Pay only for what you consume, with autoscaling to manage peaks and troughs. Reduce hidden overheads Power, cooling, physical security, patching and maintenance are no longer your responsibility. For large organisations with complex estates, this delivers predictable budgeting and measurable savings. Resilience and data protection: your always‑on safety net Enterprise outages can halt business operations. Traditional on‑premises infrastructure creates single points of failure. Cloud architecture removes this risk with: Built‑in geo‑redundancy Automated backups Multi‑site replication High availability by design If a device is lost, a server fails, or a site experiences disruption, your systems and data remain secure and accessible. This ensures continuity, protects reputation, and reduces recovery time dramatically. Scalability at enterprise scale: power for any demand Scalability is essential for large organisations with fluctuating workloads or global operations. Cloud platforms automatically scale to handle: Seasonal or event‑driven spikes Large-scale data processing Rapid user onboarding Global expansion Capacity expands the moment it’s needed - and scales back down afterwards - allowing enterprises to stay agile and cost‑efficient. Enabling hybrid work and seamless collaboration Enterprise teams are now spread across regions, countries and time zones. Cloud‑based collaboration tools eliminate version control issues and data silos. With cloud productivity solutions: Teams work from a single source of truth Multiple users can co-edit in real time Permissions and governance are centrally managed Hybrid workers get the same consistent experience This dramatically improves operational efficiency and supports a modern, flexible workforce. The cloud isn’t the future - it's the enterprise advantage today For large organisations, the cloud delivers: Lower infrastructure costs Stronger resilience and security Rapid scalability Higher productivity and collaboration Simpler hybrid working Freedom from legacy limitations It’s not a future trend - it’s the foundation of modern business.

AI isn’t a future concept anymore – it’s transforming the way we work today. For UK organisations, Microsoft 365 Copilot is already delivering results: saving time, improving productivity, and streamlining workflows. But simply switching it on won’t guarantee success. To unlock real value, you need a plan that balances innovation with security and governance.

Over the past decade, higher education has undergone a digital transformation unlike any other sector. Cloud platforms such as Microsoft 365 have redefined how they deliver learning, conduct research, and collaborate globally.