The F1 Blog

IT and cybersecurity, in plain language.

Practical insights from our team on security, AI and managed IT, for businesses across South Africa, the UK and Europe.

14 September 2026F1 IT Solutions

Four Breach Notices, One Shared Vendor

EasyEquities, Cell C, Bidvest Bank and Peregrine all warned customers within hours of each other. The common thread was a single compliance provider.

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14 September 2026

Shadow IT: The Apps Your Staff Connected to Your Data

Staff sign up for cloud tools and click Accept on permission prompts. Here is how to find what is connected to your data and bring it under control.

7 September 2026

Employee Offboarding: The Access Your Leavers Still Have

Most businesses disable the email account when someone leaves and stop there. Here is what a proper offboarding process closes, and why it matters.

F1 IT Solutions and Panorays official partnership announcement

1 September 2026

F1 IT Solutions partners with Panorays to bring world-leading third-party cyber risk management to South Africa

F1 IT Solutions is now an approved Panorays MSSP partner, bringing continuous third-party cyber risk management to South Africa, the UK and Europe.

31 August 2026

Still on Windows 10? Your Grace Year Ends This October

Windows 10's first extended-support year ends on 13 October 2026. Here is what changes, what delaying costs, and how to plan a move to Windows 11.

24 August 2026

Cyber Insurance: What Insurers Now Check Before They Cover You

Cyber insurance applications have become technical audits. Here is what underwriters now check, and what a declined claim usually comes down to.

18 August 2026

AI Done Properly: Why ‘It Works’ Is Not the Same as ‘It’s Safe’

Anyone can build a working AI app now. Far fewer can build one that is safe for real customer data. The five gaps we see most often, and how to close them.

17 August 2026

Supply Chain Attacks: When Trusted Software Becomes the Way In

Attackers get in through a trusted supplier or a routine software update, not your front door. Here is how supply chain attacks work and how to reduce the risk.

11 August 2026

SPF, DKIM and DMARC: Why Unauthenticated Email No Longer Gets Delivered

Mailbox providers now reject email that fails SPF, DKIM and DMARC checks. What the three records do and how to roll them out without breaking mail.

3 August 2026

Microsoft 365 Security: Why the Default Settings Aren’t Enough

Migrating to Microsoft 365 isn’t the same as securing it. Here’s what business owners and IT managers often miss once the mailboxes go live.

27 July 2026

POPIA Compliance: A Practical Data Protection Checklist for SA Businesses

A practical POPIA checklist for SA businesses: the eight conditions, Information Officer registration, operator contracts and breach reporting.

23 July 2026

Why You Need a Cybersecurity Defence System, Not More Products

Most businesses own plenty of security tools but no security system. Here is what a layered cybersecurity defence system looks like, and why SIEM matters.

20 July 2026

MFA Fatigue Attacks: Why ‘Just Add MFA’ Isn’t Enough Anymore

Attackers now bypass MFA by spamming approval prompts until someone taps yes. Here’s how MFA fatigue attacks work and how to stop them.

14 July 2026

Why Ransomware Defence Is a Stack, Not a Single Product

One tool will not stop modern ransomware. Here is the layered protection stack every business needs, from prevention through to tested recovery.

13 July 2026

If Banks Rehearse Cyber Attacks, Your Business Should Too

South Africa’s banking regulator now watches banks rehearse cyber attacks. Here is what those exercises reveal, and why smaller firms should copy them.

13 July 2026

Why Your Backup Plan Might Fail When You Need It Most

Having backups isn’t the same as being able to recover. Here’s why recovery testing matters more than backup frequency, and how to start.

12 July 2026

Deepfakes and Fraud-as-a-Service: The New Fraud Economy

Deepfake calls, hijacked accounts and fraud kits for hire. South Africa’s banking regulator says digital fraud is escalating in scale and sophistication.

11 July 2026

What SA’s New Cyber Rules Mean for Financial Firms

Joint Standards 2 of 2024 and 4 of 2023 set firm expectations for cybersecurity and IT governance in South African financial firms. A plain-language guide.

7 July 2026

Managing Third-Party Vendor Risk: A Practical Guide

Your vendors can open the door to attackers even when your own systems are secure. Here’s how to manage third-party risk without drowning in paperwork.

23 February 2026

AI-Powered Cybersecurity

Artificial intelligence is reshaping cybersecurity. As criminals use AI for smarter phishing and ransomware, businesses need to respond strategically.

10 February 2026

Business Email Security: The Real Risk

For most businesses in Cape Town, email is the heart of daily operations — and it remains the number one entry point for cyber attacks and fraud.

2 February 2026

What Managed IT Really Looks Like

Many businesses still think IT support is about fixing computers when something breaks. In a managed IT environment, that thinking is outdated.

7 November 2025

Dark Web Monitoring: Find Your Stolen Credentials First

Corporate logins leak in breaches long before anyone notices. What credential monitoring can see, what it cannot, and how to respond when a match lands.

14 October 2025

AI Security Paradox & Data Protection in Cape Town

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping cybersecurity: it empowers defenders with speed and precision, and arms cybercriminals with smarter ways to attack.

16 July 2025

Is Your Business Cyber Ready? Cybersecurity Solutions in Cape Town

Cybersecurity is essential for protecting your business from data breaches, financial loss, and operational disruptions. It is no longer optional.

15 July 2025

RMM: How Remote Monitoring Keeps IT Problems Small

Remote monitoring and management catches small IT faults early — and turns patch latency into a security metric instead of an admin chore.

26 March 2025

Avoiding Downtime: Why You Need IT Services in Cape Town

Technology is the backbone of productivity and growth. When it goes wrong, the cost is more than frustration: lost revenue, lost time, and lost trust.