Nexus Open Systems

Not every networking event needs a name badge and a PowerPoint!
Sometimes all you need is a bowling ball, a bit of friendly rivalry, and a group of local businesses willing to embarrass themselves for a good cause.

Our team headed to Ocean in Exmouth for the latest Funder Games event this week. We didn't quite trouble the podium, finishing 4th, but there was plenty of team spirit, laughter, and questionable bowling techniques on display 👀

Events like this are a great reminder that strong teams aren't just built in the office. Getting together, having fun, and supporting causes that matter is just as important.

It was also great to have the Misfits team taking part alongside us. We always enjoy having the guys from Triangle Networks join the fun – although we're still debating whether they're better at sports than ourselves! 😆 Jury is out Bob Irwin

Next stop: golf. ⛳

🚨 The Misfits team still has a few spaces available, so if you fancy joining a great group of local businesses for an evening of golf, networking, and raising money for a fantastic cause, get in touch! 🚨

(Hopefully our handicaps are better than our bowling averages - we're not holding our breathe though).

Another fantastic event, and we're proud to continue supporting Hospiscare as headline sponsor through the Funder Games series.

Hilton Ames Chauffeurs

Two of the biggest challenges facing businesses right now:

🤖 How do you make the most of AI?

🛡️ How do you protect your organisation from growing cyber threats?

If you missed our workshops at Digital Devon, you can now watch both sessions on demand.

In these practical sessions, we explore:
✅ How businesses are already using AI to improve productivity and reduce costs
✅ The cyber threats affecting organisations today
✅ Real-world examples and practical advice you can apply immediately
✅ The opportunities and risks business leaders need to understand

Whether you're a business owner, senior leader or IT decision-maker, there's plenty to take away.

🎥 Watch the AI session:
https://youtu.be/57CR3FnTNCo

🎥 Watch the Cyber Security session:
https://youtu.be/4dCLIyI7NN0

A big thank you to the Devon Chamber for hosting another fantastic Digital Devon event.

We employ project engineers...not just helpdesk engineers.
In fact, one of the things that surprises many organisations when they start working with Nexus is the size and depth of our technical team.

With a team of 50 specialists, we don't just support IT environments – we design, build, migrate, secure and transform them.

Our engineers specialise in:
☁️ Microsoft Azure and cloud transformation
🔄 Virtualisation and VMware alternatives
📞 Unified Communications and Teams Phone
🎧 Luware Contact Centre solutions
🛡️ Cyber security and Microsoft security technologies
💾 Nexus Cloud Connect backup, disaster recovery and business continuity
🖥️ Infrastructure, networking and modern workplace technologies
🤖 AI and Microsoft Copilot adoption

Need to migrate a data centre?
Move to Azure?
Replace VMware?
Deploy a contact centre?
Modernise your infrastructure?
Strengthen your cyber resilience?

That's what our project teams do every day.

Many MSPs focus almost entirely on support.

We've spent over 25 years building the technical capability to deliver the projects that move organisations forward.

Because great IT isn't just about fixing problems, it's about having the expertise to deliver what's next.

Got a project we can help with?

Get in touch on 01392 205 095 or email [email protected]

Last Tuesday, we had the pleasure of talking at the Devon & Somerset Law Society Compliance Conference – and what a brilliant event it was!

Following our recent appointment as the Devon & Somerset Law Society's IT Partner, it was fantastic to spend time with so many legal professionals from across the region, sharing ideas, experiences and practical advice.

A huge thank you to Tony Steiner for the invitation, and to everyone who joined our Operation Director, John Brett's session on cyber security.

The legal sector continues to be a prime target for cyber threats, and the conversations in the room reinforced just how important it is for firms to remain vigilant, informed and proactive.

Cyber resilience is no longer a "nice to have" – it's a business imperative.

One of the things we love most about these events is how collaborative and supportive the legal community is. There is a genuine appetite to learn from one another and strengthen the profession together.

And the excitement isn't over yet...

We're looking forward to seeing many of you again this Thursday evening at the Devon & Somerset Law Society Awards at the University of Exeter. It's set to be a fantastic celebration of the people, firms and achievements that make this region's legal community so special.

See you there - and good luck to all of the finalists. 🍾✨

Many organisations move to Azure expecting lower costs.
Then six months later they’re asking the same question:
"Why is our Azure bill so high?"

The reality is that Azure isn't expensive. Poor visibility and unmanaged growth are.

We've seen businesses paying for:
• Resources that are no longer being used
• Oversized virtual machines
• Unnecessary storage costs
• Workloads running 24/7 when they don't need to

The challenge is that cloud costs rarely arrive as one big mistake. They build up gradually through small decisions over time.

The good news? Most organisations can make meaningful savings without reducing performance or compromising security.

We've pulled together some practical Azure cost optimisation tips that can help identify quick wins and create better long-term control of cloud spending.

If Azure costs are starting to creep up, it's worth a read.

👉 Read the blog: Azure Cost Optimisation Tips https://www.nexusos.co.uk/azure-cost-optimisation-tips/

🌡️ The UK’s having its first proper heatwave of the year…
…and while everyone's worrying about keeping cool, some IT environments are feeling the heat too. 🔥 👀
If your infrastructure is still sitting on Windows Server 2012 or ageing 2016 environments, the temperature is rising there too.

Unsupported servers don’t just slow businesses down, they increase cyber risk, create compliance headaches and leave organisations exposed when something eventually fails.

The reality?
A server migration isn’t something you want to panic-buy during an outage or security incident.

Our latest guide breaks down:
☁️ Windows Server EoL timelines
🔒 The security and compliance risks of delaying
⚡ Cloud vs on-prem vs hybrid refresh options
📋 A practical migration roadmap for SMEs
💡 How to avoid the “reactive firefighting” approach

With Windows Server 2016 support ending in January 2027, now’s the time to start planning, before everyone else joins the migration queue.

Read the full guide: Windows Server EoL: How to Plan Your Server Migration
https://www.nexusos.co.uk/windows-server-eol-lifecycle-refresh-migration-guide/

Game 1 done ✔️ ...and somehow, we didn’t come last. 😮😂
Last night saw the launch of the with the first event, Dodgeball – and what a way to kick things off!

Huge shoutout to our brave (and slightly chaotic) team:
Mitchell Pask, Mitch Morgan, Joshua Anderson, Joshua Page and a last-minute sub in from Stuart Wilson, who stepped in with approximately 12 seconds of preparation. 👏

Against all odds, Nexus finished 5th out of 8 teams – which, considering the amount of dramatic diving, questionable throwing accuracy and flexing for the cameras, honestly feels like a win. 💪

Special mention to Joshua Anderson for those flexin' poses alone. How Becky Brennan at Simpkins Edwards LLP wasn't instantly won over, we'll never know 😅

As headline sponsors, we’re so proud to be supporting the Funder Games and helping raise money for our charity of the year Hospiscare ❤️

Thank you Hilton Ames Ltd for making this all happen and Paul Newman for putting his heart into it.

Next up: Table Tennis next month 🏓

And if your business is feeling a little left out… good news – we still have a few spaces available to join the games.

Trust us, you’ll regret missing it.

Another £1m ICO fine.
Another cyber attack that started with a phishing email.
Another organisation that thought it was “probably fine”.

This one hits hard for businesses because the findings weren’t about some advanced Hollywood-style hacking operation.

The ICO found:
• Attackers remained undetected for 20 months
• Only 5% of the IT estate was being monitored
• Unsupported legacy systems were still in place
• Basic security controls were missing

And the ICO made something very clear:
Proactive cybersecurity is no longer optional.

This is exactly why “reactive IT” is becoming such a dangerous approach for businesses.

Waiting until:
❌ systems go down
❌ staff can’t work
❌ customers are impacted
❌ or a ransom note appears
…is simply too late.

Most cyber incidents we see today aren’t caused by magic.

They’re caused by gaps that quietly build up over time:
🔸 unsupported infrastructure
🔸 lack of monitoring
🔸 poor visibility
🔸 unpatched vulnerabilities
🔸 weak user awareness
🔸 nobody strategically reviewing risk

Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT problem. It’s a business resilience issue.

And increasingly, regulators expect organisations to prove they were proactive before an incident happens, not after.

This is why businesses are moving towards:
✅ 24/7 monitoring
✅ vulnerability management
✅ proactive alignment reviews
✅ phishing protection & training
✅ stronger backup & recovery strategies
✅ security-led IT partnerships

Because prevention is dramatically cheaper than downtime, fines, reputational damage and operational chaos.

Reactive IT is dead.

Or at the very least… becoming very expensive.

Want to explore proactive IT for your business? Get in touch today.

🚨 TOMORROW. IT. BEGINS. 🚨
The launch of the is finally here… and it’s going to be absolute chaos in the best possible way. 😅
First up: 🏐 DODGEBALL.

Yes… actual businesses throwing dodgeballs at each other after work for charity, bragging rights and summer glory. What more could you want?

We’ve got an incredible mix of businesses taking part, loads of networking, loads of laughs and a seriously competitive atmosphere already building 👀

And somehow… there are STILL 2 places left for businesses brave enough to jump in last minute.

If your team wants:
🔥 A genuinely fun summer series of events
🔥 Team bonding that isn’t awkward
🔥 Networking without the corporate stiffness
🔥 To support an amazing local cause - Hospiscare
🔥 And the chance to become Funder Games champions…

This is your sign.

This is shaping up to be one of the BEST business events Exeter will see this summer ☀️

Last chance to join us before the whistle blows tomorrow ⏳

Drop Paul Newman or Sarah Bailey a message ASAP if you want one of the final spots.