Michael Dear
Michael has worked for more than 20 years running IT departments, mainly for small to medium insurance firms. His primary interest is focused on security and compliance.
The Epoch Time bug is coming – so let’s finally learn some lessons from the Millennium Bug
In 1999, we left it to the last minute to fix the Millennium Bug but got away with it. As IT Manager Michael Dear explains, its 2038 successor, the "Epoch Time bug" is ticking, and this time we may not be so lucky
Don’t leave your data to rot. How IT Managers should deal with old data
Calling all IT Managers! Don't leave your old data to rot. Here's a practical guide to how you should deal with it.
An IT manager’s guide to passwords
Michael Dear explains everything IT Managers and users alike need to know about passwords, including the emerging role of passkeys
Ransomware guide: cyberattack demons vs angels
IT manager Michael Dear dons his most demonic guise to explain how ransomware attackers earn a living - before revealing how the angels (and not just the IT team) can save the day.
Back to school tech: why the lessons we give our children also apply to us
As late August rolls around once more, our self-titled grumpy IT manager Michael Dear shares some timely advice for parents of school-age children - and it goes far beyond what laptop to buy.
An IT manager’s guide to working from home this summer
When it comes to working from home, our friendly IT manager has some words of advice about your physical setup, your mental health - and the fact you're almost certainly being monitored.
An IT manager’s guide to user interfaces: from Star Trek to the Apple Vision Pro
An unhappy experience with a tiny mouse makes the UK's grumpiest IT manager map out what he thinks a user interface should look like - and explains why everyone should know their keyboard shortcuts.
Why you should think twice before posting ANY personal information online
Our not-so-friendly IT manager has another confession to make - that he only has one friend. And he thinks, for the sake of your personal data, you should only have one friend too.
AI hype: Why Microsoft Copilot is going to be the new Clippy
Let AI loose in your business at your own peril, warns Michael Dear. Until we can see what's happening, and know our data is protected, we have to tread carefully.
Why IT projects go wrong: Confessions of an IT manager
IT manager Michael Dear has a secret hatred of plaques... and if you're wondering what that has to do with why IT projects fail, read the article (and discover that his weapons for success are tea and biscuits).