
The Small Business
Cyber Security Guy
Welcome to my personal blog — a space where I share my own views, opinions, and insights on technology, cyber security, and the realities of working in IT.
This blog is entirely personal. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are mine alone. They do not represent the views, policies, or positions of my employer, past or present, or any organisation I’m associated with professionally or personally.
Expect a mix of:
Straight-talking advice for small businesses
Honest takes on cyber security and IT trends
The occasional rant
A few war stories from the frontlines (names removed to protect the guilty)
With over 40 years in the industry, I’ve seen a lot — some of it brilliant, some of it baffling.
This blog is where I unpack all of it.

Patch Me If You Can: Firewall Vendors Ranked by How Much They Care About Your Security
Not all firewalls are created equal—some vendors make patching painless, others seem to actively hide the fixes. We evaluated SonicWall, Fortinet, UniFi, DrayTek, Zyxel, WatchGuard, Sophos, Meraki and more using a realistic UK small business setup: one firewall, one switch, two access points.
Then we scored them out of 50 on cost, usability, licensing, and update handling.
Spoiler: UniFi smashed it. SonicWall? Not so much. If you want to know which vendor respects your time and budget—and which one just wants your wallet—this is your no-nonsense firewall buyer’s guide.
⚠️ Full Disclaimer
This is my personal blog. The views, opinions, and content shared here are mine and mine alone. They do not reflect or represent the views, beliefs, or policies of:
My employer
Any current or past clients, suppliers, or partners
Any other organisation I’m affiliated with in any capacity
Nothing here should be taken as formal advice — legal, technical, financial, or otherwise. If you’re making decisions for your business, always seek professional advice tailored to your situation.
Where I mention products, services, or companies, that’s based purely on my own experience and opinions — I’m not being paid to promote anything. If that ever changes, I’ll make it clear.
In short: This is my personal space to share my personal views. No one else is responsible for what’s written here — so if you have a problem with something, take it up with me, not my employer.