Frequently Asked Questions.
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About Aabyss
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What does Aabyss do?
Aabyss provides managed IT support, cybersecurity and technology services to businesses. Instead of simply fixing technology when something goes wrong, Aabyss takes a proactive approach designed to keep systems secure, reliable and aligned with the needs of the business.
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Where is Aabyss based?
Aabyss has its headquarters at Meridian Business Village in Liverpool and also operates from Sheffield, supporting businesses across Merseyside, the Northwest, South Yorkshire and beyond.
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Is Aabyss an MSP?
Yes. Aabyss provides managed IT services, proactively managing and supporting business technology rather than relying solely on a traditional break-fix approach.
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What types of businesses does Aabyss support?
Aabyss provides IT support and cybersecurity services for businesses, including small and medium-sized organisations. Its current cybersecurity proposition specifically focuses on protecting SMEs from digital threats.
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What makes Aabyss different from other IT support companies?
Aabyss aims to go beyond reactive IT support by combining technology management with strategic guidance. Its 3PT® Framework considers People, Process, Purpose and Technology, helping organisations connect technology decisions with wider business outcomes.
The Aabyss 3PT® Framework
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What is the Aabyss 3PT® Framework?
The Aabyss 3PT® Framework is our approach to aligning People, Process, Purpose and Technology. Rather than looking at technology in isolation, 3PT® considers how these four areas work together to help organisations get more from their IT and build greater operational resilience.
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What does 3PT® stand for?
3PT® brings together four interconnected areas: People, Process, Purpose and Technology. The framework helps Aabyss look beyond individual IT problems and consider how technology supports the people using it, the processes they follow and the wider purpose of the organisation.
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Why did Aabyss develop the 3PT® Framework?
3PT® provides Aabyss with a structured way to look beyond reactive IT support. The principle is simple: technology should support the wider organisation rather than being managed in isolation.
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What are the four elements of 3PT®?
People
Helping your employees use technology effectively, productively and securely.Process
Reviewing how technology supports the processes your organisation relies upon every day.Purpose
Understanding what your organisation is trying to achieve so technology decisions can support those objectives.Technology
Managing the systems, devices, infrastructure and security that keep your organisation operating. -
How does 3PT® differ from traditional IT support?
Traditional IT support can focus heavily on solving technical problems when they occur. 3PT® takes a broader view by considering the relationship between people, business processes, organisational objectives and technology.
Leadership & Industry Involvement
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Who is the CEO of Aabyss?
Troy Midwood is Chief Executive of Aabyss. He founded Aabyss in 1999 and is actively involved in the MSP community in the UK and internationally. He also sits on the board of Network Group as Commercial Director.
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Who is the Chairman of Aabyss?
Andrew Allen is Chairman of Aabyss and a member of the Board of Directors of the Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA).
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Has Aabyss been recognised as a leading managed service provider?
Yes. Aabyss has been recognised in the prestigious MSP 501 in both 2025 and 2026, receiving international recognition within the managed services industry.
The MSP 501 is a global industry ranking that recognises managed service providers for areas including growth, innovation and operational excellence.
For businesses in Liverpool, Merseyside, Sheffield and South Yorkshire, this means you can choose a local IT and cybersecurity partner that combines regional knowledge and accessibility with recognition on an international stage.
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How is Aabyss involved in the wider technology industry?
Aabyss is actively involved in the wider technology and managed services community through its leadership team. Chief Executive Troy Midwood is involved with Network Group, while Chairman Andrew Allen serves on the Board of Directors of GTIA, the Global Technology Industry Association.
These connections help keep Aabyss engaged with the wider technology industry, its communities and the conversations shaping the managed services sector.
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Why does Aabyss’s industry involvement matter to its clients?
Aabyss believes that being part of the wider technology community matters. Our involvement with organisations such as Network Group and GTIA gives our leadership team opportunities to engage with peers and contribute to the wider technology and managed services industry.
For our clients, it provides additional confidence that their technology partner is not operating in isolation, but is actively engaged with the industry around it.
Managed IT Support
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What is managed IT support?
Managed IT support is an ongoing service where an external IT provider helps monitor, maintain and support an organisation's technology. Aabyss's approach includes proactive monitoring and intervention designed to resolve issues before they become major problems.
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Why should I outsource my IT support?
Outsourced IT support gives a business access to IT expertise without relying entirely on internal resources. Aabyss's managed service combines support with monitoring, maintenance and strategic technology guidance.
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Can Aabyss replace my existing IT provider?
Yes. Businesses considering a change of provider can speak to Aabyss about moving their IT support and managed services.
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Can Aabyss work alongside an internal IT team?
Yes. A managed provider can complement internal technology resources by supplying additional specialist expertise, monitoring, security and support.
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What happens if my business has an IT problem?
With managed IT support, the objective is both to resolve problems and reduce the likelihood of recurring issues.
Cybersecurity
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Does Aabyss provide cybersecurity services?
Yes. Aabyss provides cybersecurity services designed to protect businesses against threats including data breaches, ransomware and disruption. Its approach includes proactive security and threat detection alongside wider security governance.
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Do small businesses need cybersecurity?
Yes. Cyber threats are not limited to large enterprises. Aabyss's cybersecurity service is specifically designed to help small and medium-sized organisations strengthen protection against modern digital threats.
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Can Aabyss help protect my business against ransomware?
Aabyss includes ransomware mitigation within its layered cybersecurity approach, alongside controls such as access management, staff awareness and business continuity planning.
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Does Aabyss provide cybersecurity awareness training?
Yes. Security awareness training and phishing simulation form part of Aabyss's approach to addressing the human element of cybersecurity.
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Can Aabyss help with Cyber Essentials?
Aabyss service documentation includes controls supporting Cyber Essentials compliance within its managed security offering.
Cyber Essentials
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What is Cyber Essentials?
Cyber Essentials is a UK Government-backed cybersecurity certification scheme designed to help organisations protect themselves against common cyber threats. Developed by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), it focuses on five technical security controls that organisations should have in place.
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What are the five Cyber Essentials controls?
Cyber Essentials focuses on five technical controls:
- Firewalls to create a security barrier between your network and the internet.
- Secure configuration to ensure computers and systems are configured securely.
- Security update management to reduce the risk of attackers exploiting known software vulnerabilities.
- User access control to manage who can access data and services.
- Malware protection to help identify and stop malicious software.
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What is the difference between Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus?
Both certifications are based on the same five technical controls. Cyber Essentials uses a verified self-assessment, while Cyber Essentials Plus requires additional independent technical testing to provide a higher level of assurance that the controls are working effectively.
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How long does Cyber Essentials certification last?
Cyber Essentials is an annually renewable certification scheme, so organisations need to renew their certification to maintain it.
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Can Aabyss help me with Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus?
Yes. Aabyss can help your business prepare for both Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus, helping you understand the requirements, identify potential security gaps and strengthen the technical controls needed for certification.
Microsoft 365 & Cloud
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Does Aabyss support Microsoft 365?
Yes. Aabyss supports Microsoft 365 environments and manages Microsoft licensing within managed service arrangements. Its project work also covers Microsoft 365 configuration, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, Entra ID and Intune.
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Can Aabyss help us move to Microsoft 365?
Yes. Aabyss undertakes Microsoft 365 migration projects, including moving company data into SharePoint and OneDrive and configuring Microsoft Teams and associated permissions.
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Can Aabyss help with Microsoft Copilot?
Aabyss has delivered projects involving the provisioning and assignment of Microsoft Copilot licences alongside Microsoft 365 migration work.
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Can Aabyss help manage company laptops and devices?
Yes. Aabyss project services include Microsoft Intune for centralised endpoint management and Windows Autopilot for standardised device provisioning and reprovisioning.
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Can Aabyss help my business move to Microsoft 365 and the cloud?
Yes. Aabyss can help businesses migrate to Microsoft 365 and cloud-based services, supporting the move from existing systems to a modern, secure and manageable technology environment.
Aabyss can help organisations plan their migration, configure Microsoft 365 services and ensure the new environment is aligned with their users, security requirements and wider business needs.
Backup & Business Continuity
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What is business continuity and disaster recovery?
Business continuity focuses on keeping essential operations running during disruption, while disaster recovery concerns the restoration of technology and data following an incident. Aabyss includes disaster recovery and business continuity within its cybersecurity approach.
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Why should businesses test their backups?
A backup only provides meaningful protection when an organisation is confident that its data can be recovered when needed. This is why backup validation should form part of a wider resilience strategy. Aabyss's technical project documentation includes backup validation within security and recovery planning.
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Can Aabyss help protect my business from data loss?
Yes. Aabyss can help businesses put backup and recovery measures in place to protect important business data and reduce the impact of data loss. The right approach should consider not only how your data is backed up, but how it can be recovered when your business needs it.
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Can Aabyss help my business prepare for IT downtime?
Yes. Aabyss can help businesses plan for technology disruption by considering backup, disaster recovery and business continuity as part of their wider IT strategy.
The aim is to make sure your organisation has considered what happens when critical technology becomes unavailable and how essential services and data can be recovered.
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Can Aabyss help create a business continuity and disaster recovery plan?
Yes. Aabyss can help businesses review their technology, data and critical systems as part of business continuity and disaster recovery planning.
A clear plan can help your organisation understand how it will respond to technology disruption, recover important systems and data, and reduce the impact an incident could have on day-to-day operations.
AI & Microsoft Copilot
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Can Aabyss help my business adopt AI?
Yes. Aabyss can help businesses consider the technology, security and governance needed to adopt AI responsibly. This includes looking at how AI fits into your existing IT environment and helping you prepare your people and technology for tools such as Microsoft Copilot.
The goal is to help your business get practical value from AI while considering the security of your systems and information.
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Can Aabyss help my business with Microsoft Copilot?
Yes. Aabyss can help businesses prepare their Microsoft 365 environment for Microsoft Copilot and consider the security, access and governance requirements surrounding its use.
Microsoft recommends establishing a secure and governed data foundation for Copilot, including addressing oversharing and implementing appropriate guardrails.
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Can Aabyss help us use Microsoft Copilot securely?
Yes. Aabyss can help businesses consider areas such as identity, access, permissions and information governance when adopting Microsoft Copilot.
This is particularly important because Microsoft Copilot respects existing Microsoft 365 permissions and can access organisational information that an individual user is already authorised to access.
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Can Aabyss help my business create an AI policy?
Yes. Aabyss can help businesses think about how AI should be used within the organisation and the controls needed to support responsible adoption.
An AI policy can establish clearer expectations around approved AI tools, company information, security, governance and how employees should use AI as part of their work.
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How can Aabyss help prepare my business for Microsoft Copilot?
Aabyss can help your organisation consider whether its Microsoft 365 environment is ready for Copilot, with particular attention to security, permissions and data governance.
Microsoft recommends addressing issues such as oversharing and establishing appropriate security and governance controls as part of Copilot preparation.
Choosing an IT Provider
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What should I look for in a managed IT service provider?
Look beyond how quickly a provider promises to fix problems. Consider its approach to proactive monitoring, cybersecurity, strategic planning, business continuity, service management and the ability to explain technology in commercial terms.
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How do I know if my current IT provider is doing a good job?
Consider questions such as:
- Are recurring problems actually being resolved?
- Is your IT provider proactive or mainly reactive?
- Are your backups being tested?
- Are user accounts and access regularly reviewed?
- Are cybersecurity risks being explained clearly?
- Do you understand your technology roadmap?
- Does your IT provider understand your business objectives?
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What is the difference between reactive and proactive IT support?
Reactive support deals with problems after they happen. Proactive managed IT support monitors and maintains technology with the aim of identifying and resolving issues before they cause significant disruption.
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How do I switch managed IT providers?
Switching normally involves reviewing your existing environment, gathering essential technical and business information, transferring management responsibilities and establishing the systems needed by the new provider.
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How easy is it to switch IT providers?
Switching IT providers doesn't have to be complicated. Aabyss follows a structured onboarding process designed to understand your existing IT environment, introduce the tools and support your business needs, and help move you across to your new managed IT service.
The aim is to make the transition as straightforward as possible for your business and employees, while giving Aabyss the information needed to support and manage your technology effectively from the start.
Find out more: Explore the Aabyss switching process and discover what to expect when moving your IT support to Aabyss.
Liverpool & Merseyside
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Does Aabyss provide IT support in Liverpool & Merseyside?
Yes. Aabyss provides managed IT support, cybersecurity and technology services to businesses across Liverpool and the wider Merseyside region.
With its headquarters in Liverpool, Aabyss supports local businesses with proactive IT management, cybersecurity and strategic technology guidance designed to keep their people productive, their systems secure and their technology aligned with their business goals.
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What IT services does Aabyss provide to businesses in Liverpool & Merseyside?
Aabyss supports Liverpool businesses with managed IT support, cybersecurity, Microsoft 365, cloud technology, backup and business continuity, alongside strategic technology guidance. Our approach is designed to help businesses keep their people productive, their systems secure and their technology aligned with their goals.
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Why choose a local IT support company in Liverpool & Merseyside?
Working with a local IT provider gives businesses the reassurance of having a technology partner that understands the area and its business community. Aabyss combines its Liverpool presence with managed IT, cybersecurity and strategic technology services, giving local businesses access to expertise close to home.
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How do I choose the right IT support company in Liverpool & Merseyside?
Look beyond how quickly an IT company promises to fix problems. Consider whether the provider offers proactive IT management, cybersecurity, business continuity, strategic guidance and a clear process for understanding your business. The right IT partner should help you make better technology decisions, not simply respond when something breaks.
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Does Aabyss provide cybersecurity services in Liverpool & Merseyside?
Yes. Aabyss provides cybersecurity services to businesses in Liverpool and across Merseyside, helping organisations strengthen their protection against cyber threats. Cybersecurity forms part of Aabyss's wider approach to creating secure, resilient and well-managed technology environments.
Sheffield & South Yorkshire
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Does Aabyss provide IT support in Sheffield & South Yorkshire?
Yes. Aabyss provides managed IT support, cybersecurity and technology services to businesses in Sheffield and across South Yorkshire. With a regional presence in Sheffield, Aabyss helps businesses manage their technology, strengthen security and make more informed decisions about their IT.
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What IT services does Aabyss provide to businesses in Sheffield & South Yorkshire?
Aabyss supports Sheffield businesses with managed IT support, cybersecurity, Microsoft 365, cloud technology, backup and business continuity, alongside strategic technology guidance. Our approach is designed to make technology easier to manage while supporting security, productivity and business resilience.
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Why choose a local IT support company in Sheffield and South Yorkshire?
Choosing a local IT provider gives businesses access to a technology partner with a presence in the region and an understanding of the local business community. Aabyss combines its Sheffield presence with wider managed IT and cybersecurity expertise, helping organisations get more from their technology.
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How do I choose the right IT support company in Sheffield & South Yorkshire?
When choosing an IT support provider in Sheffield, consider more than how quickly they can respond when something goes wrong. Look for proactive IT management, cybersecurity expertise, business continuity support, strategic guidance and a provider that takes the time to understand your organisation and its goals.
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Does Aabyss provide cybersecurity services in Sheffield & South Yorkshire?
Yes. Aabyss provides cybersecurity services to businesses in Sheffield and across South Yorkshire, helping organisations strengthen their security and reduce technology risk. Cybersecurity forms part of Aabyss's wider approach to creating secure, resilient and well-managed technology environments.