# IT Consultancy for Small Businesses Source: https://dijitulsupport.co.uk/it-consultancy/ Updated: 2026-10-10 > dijitul support gives UK small businesses independent, plain-English IT advice: what to replace and when, which Microsoft 365 licences you actually need, whether to keep a server, and how to meet security expectations from insurers and customers. We have been in business since 2006. Short advice calls are £45 an hour + VAT; larger reviews are quoted. ## Common symptoms - You are not sure whether to replace your server or move to the cloud - Your Microsoft 365 bill keeps rising and nobody knows why - An insurer or customer has sent a security questionnaire you cannot answer - Several PCs are on Windows 10 and you need a replacement plan - A supplier is pushing an upgrade and you want a second opinion - IT decisions are made in a hurry when something breaks ## Key facts - We do not resell hardware or phone lines, so our advice is independent - Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025 - Windows Server 2016 extended support ends on 12 January 2027 - Microsoft 365 Business Premium adds Intune and Entra ID P1 (Conditional Access) over Business Standard - The UK analogue phone network is due to close on 31 January 2027 - Advice calls are £45 an hour + VAT; written roadmaps and reviews are quoted ## What our IT consultancy covers Small businesses rarely need a full-time IT manager, but they do need someone to ask before spending money. Typical questions we help with: - **Server or cloud?** Whether to replace an ageing Windows Server or move files and logins to Microsoft 365. See server support and cloud migration. - **Licensing**: Business Basic, Standard or Premium, and which add-ons you are paying for but not using. - **Device replacement**: which PCs can run Windows 11, which cannot, and what specification to buy next. - **Security**: what is reasonable for your size and sector, and how to answer insurer and customer questionnaires honestly. - **Phones and connectivity**: planning for the end of analogue lines and choosing between VoIP options. - **Supplier proposals**: a second opinion on quotes from other IT, software or telecoms suppliers. ## Key dates that affect your plans Several deadlines are driving IT spending for UK small businesses right now: | Change | Date | | Windows 10 end of support | 14 October 2025 (passed) | | Windows Server 2022 mainstream support ends | 13 October 2026 | | Windows Server 2016 end of extended support | 12 January 2027 | | UK analogue PSTN switch-off | 31 January 2027 | | Microsoft-provided SMS and voice MFA retired for most Entra ID users | 1 February 2027 | We help you turn these into a schedule and a budget, so replacements are planned rather than forced by a failure. ## Getting more from Microsoft 365 Many small businesses pay for Microsoft 365 and use a fraction of it. Business Premium, for example, includes Intune for device management, Entra ID P1 for Conditional Access and Defender for Business for endpoint protection. If you already have it, you may not need separate antivirus, a VPN or a third-party device management tool. If you are on Business Basic or Standard, we look at whether upgrading some or all users replaces other costs. We also find licences assigned to former staff, shared mailboxes that have been given full licences, and add-ons nobody remembers buying. ## How we work An engagement usually starts with a call to understand your business: how many people, where they work, what software you depend on and what has been going wrong. For a quick question, that call may be all you need. For a bigger decision, we review your systems, often as part of an IT audit, and give you a written plan with priorities, rough costs and dates. ### Security questionnaires and insurance Cyber insurers and larger customers increasingly send small suppliers long questionnaires: do you enforce MFA, do you have tested offline backups, are devices encrypted, do you patch within 14 days? Answering 'yes' when the honest answer is 'partly' can cause problems if you ever claim. We go through the questions with you, tell you which you can truthfully answer today, and what it would take to close the gaps. The Cyber Essentials controls are a sensible baseline for most small businesses because they line up with what insurers usually ask. ### Planning replacements A simple device register with purchase dates lets you replace three or four laptops a year instead of ten in one painful month. We set this up as part of a roadmap. We write in plain English. If something is a genuine risk we say so; if it can wait, we say that too. We do not resell hardware or phone lines, so we are not paid more for recommending you buy more. ## Cost Advice calls and short pieces of consultancy are £45 an hour + VAT, with a 30-minute minimum and then 15-minute blocks. Written IT roadmaps, audits and project plans are quoted upfront. If you want ongoing help putting the plan into action, the Complete plan at £99 a month + VAT includes 3 hours of work each month plus IT and Microsoft 365 helpdesk support. See support plans or ask for a quote. ## FAQs ### Do small businesses need IT consultancy? Not a full-time IT manager, but most benefit from independent advice before spending on servers, laptops, phone systems or software. dijitul support gives plain-English advice for UK small businesses, with short calls at £45 an hour + VAT and larger reviews quoted upfront. ### Is your IT advice independent? Yes. dijitul does not resell hardware, phone lines or broadband, so we are not paid more if you buy more. We recommend what fits your business and budget, and we tell you when something can wait. ### Which Microsoft 365 plan does my business need? Business Basic suits staff who only need email and web apps. Business Standard adds the desktop Office apps. Business Premium adds Intune, Conditional Access and Defender for Business. dijitul reviews how your team works and recommends the right mix. ### Should we replace our server or move to the cloud? It depends on what the server does. If it mainly holds files and handles logins, Microsoft 365 can often replace it. If it runs a desktop database or specialist software, you may still need one. dijitul reviews each workload and gives a clear recommendation. ### Can you review a quote from another IT supplier? Yes. dijitul gives a second opinion on quotes for IT, software, phone systems and connectivity, checking whether the specification fits your needs and whether anything is missing or unnecessary. Short reviews are £45 an hour + VAT. ### How much does IT consultancy cost? Advice calls and short consultancy are £45 an hour + VAT, with a 30-minute minimum. Written IT roadmaps, audits and project plans are quoted upfront, so you know the cost before we start. ## Pricing and contact This work is quoted to fit. Request a quote at https://dijitulsupport.co.uk/quote/ or call 01623 650333.