Cybersecurity Starts with Awareness

Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, but many of the biggest risks facing organisations today are surprisingly avoidable. In this special Cyber Awareness Month edition, we shine a light on overlooked cyber hygiene practices, hidden vulnerabilities, and the everyday habits that could be quietly exposing your business. Reinforcing this message, a recent ministerial letter urged CEOs and Chairs of major UK organisations to adopt Cyber Essentials across internal systems and supply chains, positioning it as the minimum standard for protecting against common threats and strengthening overall cyber resilience. Read more about it here

Cybersecurity Starts with Awareness

Data Destruction Done Wrong

Simply deleting files or formatting drives doesn’t mean your data is truly gone. Improper disposal of hard drives, USBs or old devices can leave recoverable information behind. That’s a potential goldmine for cybercriminals.

Why It Matters:

Disposing of devices without securely wiping or destroying the data can result in customer information, internal documentation or login credentials falling into the wrong hands.

How to Avoid the Risk:

Use certified data erasure tools or physical destruction.

Include data disposal in your offboarding and equipment lifecycle process.

Partner with an IT provider who offers secure disposal services.

Insecure API's in Your Everyday Tools

Modern software tools often connect through APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). Think CRMs talking to email platforms or project tools integrating with document storage. But not all APIs are built with security in mind.

Why It Matters:

Vulnerable APIs can be exploited to bypass authentication, access sensitive data or manipulate system behaviour. Many businesses don’t realise how many tools rely on them.

Why It’s a Risk:

Audit what apps and systems are connected via APIs.

Work with vendors who follow secure development practices.

Use API gateways, access controls and encryption where possible.

Forgotten Digital Footprints from Past Employees

When employees leave, they don’t always take their digital access with them. That’s a major risk. From old credentials still stored in browsers to lingering third-party app logins, these overlooked entry points can be exploited later.

Why It Matters:

A past user’s login could still access company files, cloud platforms or collaboration tools. This is especially risky if password policies aren’t enforced.

How to Stay Secure:

Revoke access as part of your offboarding checklist.

Monitor for orphaned accounts in cloud tools and local systems.

Use identity management solutions to track access and credentials.

More Cybersecurity Insights from Symetri

Whether you're revisiting the basics or exploring emerging risks, our latest cybersecurity resources offer practical, actionable guidance:

Vulnerabilities to Be Aware Of:

Here are some critical vulnerabilities identified this month:


5 Ways Chaos Is Using AI to Transform Design Visualisation

28 January 2026

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the way Architects, Designers, and Visualisation professionals bring ideas to life. Chaos, a global leader in rendering and visualisation technology, is at the forefront of this transformation. By integrating AI into its ecosystem of tools - Veras, Enscape, V-Ray, Corona, and Vantage - Chaos is streamlining workflows, accelerating creativity, and redefining what’s possible in design visualisation. This blog explores 5 ways Chaos solutions are supporting AI technology.

Chaos V-Ray vs Chaos Corona: Which Renderer Fits Your Workflow?

21 January 2026

Visualisation has changed dramatically over the past twenty five years. With so many powerful tools now available, choosing the right rendering engine has become a crucial decision for architects, designers, and visualisation specialists. Among the leading options, Chaos offers two standout solutions - Chaos V-Ray and Chaos Corona - each delivering exceptional photorealism in its own way. This blog outlines how they compare.

Including Visualisation as Part of Your BIM Strategy

19 January 2026

I am sure we have all heard the question “are you a visual learner” at some point, this is because today there is a greater appreciation that most of us learn and understand the world around us, including new concepts more easily via visuals.