Plum Networks · Free guide
The 15-point
IT safety checklist.
The practical basics worth getting right — no jargon, no scare stories. If you can tick every box
below, you're in far better shape than most small businesses.
1 · The essentials (do these first)
Backups run automatically, every dayNot "someone remembers to back up" — set-and-forget, off the main device.
Backups are actually testedA backup nobody's tried to restore isn't a backup, it's a hope.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is on for emailThe single biggest thing that stops most account break-ins.
Everyone uses a password managerNot the same three passwords reused everywhere.
Computers install updates automaticallyMost break-ins exploit known, already-patched holes.
2 · Around the office
Your WiFi has a separate guest networkVisitors and staff shouldn't be on the same network.
Old accounts get switched off when people leaveEx-staff logins are a common, avoidable gap.
Laptops and phones have a screen lockA lost device shouldn't mean an open device.
You know who can access whatNot everyone needs admin rights to everything.
3 · Email & the human side
Staff know how to spot a dodgy emailMost incidents start with a click, not a hack.
There's a simple way to report "did I just click something bad?"No blame, just a quick call — speed matters more than perfection.
Payments over a certain amount need a second checkA quick phone call stops most invoice-fraud attempts cold.
4 · Keeping it going
You know who to call when something breaksOne number, not a scramble to remember three different suppliers.
Someone reviews all this once in a whileNot constant meetings — just checked in on, not forgotten about.
Your internet connection has a backupIf it's business-critical, one failure point isn't enough.
How many did you tick? Most small businesses we meet get 8-10 out of 15 — completely normal,
and fixable in a few weeks, not a big project.
Want us to go through this with you?
A free, no-pressure look at where you stand against this list — usually a 20-minute chat.
0208 905 9060
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm · London & Hertfordshire · office@plumnetworks.co.uk