IT Partners

Cyber Smart Week starts today with a session aimed squarely at directors and senior leaders.

The point NCSC is making is one we hear more and more from insurers and regulators. After a cyber incident, the hard questions don't go to the IT team, they go to the board.

A tip from Tim, our Chief Information Security Officer: make cyber a standing item on the board agenda, not an annual update. Each time, ask three questions:
1. What are our biggest cyber risks right now, and who owns each one?
2. If we were hit tomorrow, how quickly could we recover, and when did we last test that?
3. Would our cyber insurance pay out based on the controls we have in place today?

If you can't answer those with confidence, that's your starting point.

Today's webinar runs 1pm to 2pm with NCSC's Catriona Robinson, Kendra Ross from Sidekick and Declan Ingram from Trust Hound. Sign up here: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01q3zl0

Cyber Smart Week kicks off on Monday, and NCSC is running a series of free webinars to help New Zealanders protect themselves, their businesses and their customers online.

At IT Partners, cyber security isn't an add-on. It's a fundamental part of the service we provide to every client, so this week is close to our hearts.
Next week we'll post alongside each day's webinar, sharing a practical tip from our team that lines up with the topic NCSC is covering.

The line-up:
➡️ Monday 5 October: Cyber security, the business risk no executive can ignore
➡️ Tuesday 6 October: How to spot scams and stay safe online
➡️ Wednesday 7 October: Protecting your data, plus AI in cyber defence
➡️ Thursday 8 October: Cyber security essentials for the AI age

We strongly encourage you to sign up for the sessions that suit you and your team.

Full details and registration here: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01pVCz0

A change of scenery for the ITP team this week.

While the office move is keeping us busy, Dan P got a group of us down to The Yard Gym for a strength and a HIIT session.

It was a great opportunity to step away from the screens and get moving together.

🔒 New software vulnerabilities are discovered every day, but it's how quickly they're addressed that makes the difference.

Effective patch management is one of the most important ways organisations can reduce cyber risk. Applying updates promptly, restarting devices when required, and maintaining regular patching cycles all help close security gaps before they can be exploited.

Read our recent blog on why patch management is so important for all kiwi businesses: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01nC_B0

Patch Management: Why Updates Are Only Half the Job It's Wednesday morning. You've received an email from IT Partners about a critical vulnerability. There's a severity score, some technical jargon, and a request to restart your device.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the AI landscape. With new tools and announcements every day, it can seem like everyone else is already ahead.

But the estimates in this graphic offer some perspective: globally, around 71% of people have never used generative AI, and only 1% pay for an AI subscription.

If you’ve been feeling behind, you’re not alone. Many are still at the starting line, which is exactly why now is a good time to take your first step.

For your business, that could mean identifying one repetitive task, exploring how AI could help and giving your team the guidance to use it confidently and responsibly.

Keen to talk through what a sensible first step looks like for your business? Get in touch.

We gathered yesterday to celebrate Baylie ahead of her maternity leave 💙

Baylie is a familiar face to many of our clients and a vital part of our Sales team. We'll miss having her around the office, but we're just as excited for her next chapter.

Wishing you and your family all the best, Baylie. We can't wait to meet the newest member of the ITP team.

On Saturday, Nigel, Kat, Lance and Mitchell represented IT Partners at the Velodrome corporate Team Challenge.

It capped off six weeks of committing to 6am training sessions to get ready for the day.

They gave it everything and just missed out on the bronze medal.

Congratulations to our team, you did us proud!

💡 Did you know?

88% of organisations use AI in at least one business function, and 71% use generative AI. But just 38% have a formal AI policy.

Clear guidelines help your team understand which tools they can use, what information they can share and how to take responsibility for AI outputs.

Our Professional Services team works with organisations across New Zealand on AI adoption, from strategy and governance to team training and custom solution development.

Do you know where AI is being used in your business? If the answer is no, we have the tools and expertise to help you find out and put the right guidance in place.

https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01mBBb0

The 2026 Waikato Business Award finalists are out, and we're proud to see several of our clients on the list.

Congratulations to Hamilton Airport NZ, Hamilton & Waikato Tourism, Fieldays, Waitomo Group, Montana Food and Events and Between Two Beers Podcast.

Good luck to all, we'll be cheering you on.