Explain IT

Helen Gidney, Softcat's Head of Architecture, heads to Las Vegas (in spirit, at least) with Tim Loake from Dell Technologies and Softcat's own Tim Jeans to pick apart the biggest announcements from Dell Technologies World 2026. If you work in enterprise IT, this one is especially worth your time. The conversation covers where AI has actually landed after years of hype, why data sovereignty is resh...

Is your business truly cyber resilient, or are you one malicious click away from a system lockdown? In this episode of Softcat's Explain It podcast, host Helen Gidney is joined by James Blake from Cohesity and Gary Hawkins from Softcat to work through what modern data protection and recovery actually looks like, and why it differs from traditional disaster recovery. They discuss why cyber resilien...

"It’s not just about where your data lives - it’s about who should, or shouldn’t, have access to it." In this episode of Softcat’s Explain IT podcast, host Helen Gidney, Head of Architecture at Softcat, is joined by Sabina Anja, Chief Technologist, VMware Cloud Foundation at Broadcom, and Gary Hawkins, Chief Technologist, Hybrid Platforms at Softcat, to demystify the complexities of Data Sovereign...

2025 was a defining year for technology. From the rapid acceleration of private cloud adoption and growing security risk challenges, to major shifts in digital employee experience driven by Windows 11, businesses have been pushed to rethink what’s possible with IT. In this  Best of Explain IT 2025  episode, we revisit our biggest themes and most impactful conversations from the year, bri...

This episode of Explain IT explores the evolution of the smart workspace, moving beyond basic connectivity to create environments that act as a "magnet, not a mandate" for employees.  Host Ashleigh Baker is joined by experts from Softcat and Cisco to discuss how integrated technology - ranging from seamless networking to AI-powered collaboration tools - drives employee experience and business...

Business leaders are setting AI strategies, and IT teams are expected to deliver results. Research from the IDC shows that 88% of all AI pilots fail to reach production. So enter Private Cloud AI, a new way to role out your AI adoption. In this episode we break down what Private Cloud AI is, why it matters, and how this technology is helping organisations overcome challenges and unlock real value....

Many organisations are rethinking their cloud strategies and searching for smarter, more secure solutions. Private cloud is gaining traction as an alternative, combining the agility and scalability of public cloud with the added control and protection of a dedicated environment.   In this episode, we explore how VMware is redefining the private cloud journey - helping businesses build, secure...

As Microsoft wraps up a decade of Windows 10 support, we’re seeing a real moment of decision for businesses. If you haven’t made the move yet, it’s time to ask - are we upgrading, adapting, or exposing ourselves to risk? With cyber threats ramping up and support winding down, knowing your options isn’t just helpful - it’s essential. This time we're discussing the end of support for Windows 10, wha...

In this episode, we’re not just talking about AI - we’re unpacking the reality behind the hype, taking a look back at Big Data London and what it covered. From stalling initiatives to drifting models, the AI bubble is showing cracks. Why? Because many organisations have sprinted into the future without packing the essentials. We’ll explore the critical foundations needed to make AI work: trusted d...

Join host Helen Gidney, Head of Architecture at Softcat, as she sits down with Adam Spearing, VP of AI Go-To-Market for EMEA at ServiceNow, and Oliver Meadows, ITXM Sales Lead at Softcat. Together, they  explore how organisations can streamline internal service operations, dismantle silos, and harness AI  to enhance the end-user experience. Whether you're in IT, HR, Finance, or...

In this episode, we're not just talking about data, we're talking about everything that comes with it. The challenges, the misconceptions, the frameworks and compliance. Data is the foundation of so many businesses. Get it right, and you can unlock information that can propel your company forward. But get it wrong, and the challenges it can bring can leave you floundering. We'll explore the key to...

On this edition of Explain IT, we’re celebrating HPE’s ten-year anniversary, and reflecting on the standout moments from HPE Discover. We explore how HPE’s evolution, from its separation from HP Inc. to bold acquisitions and innovation milestones, is shaping the future of enterprise IT. From cloud modernisation and infrastructure disruption, to a shifting virtualisation landscape, we unpack the ke...

How secure is your supply chain?  With the recent swathe of supply chain cyber attacks on big name brands, now more than   ever it’s important to protect your supply chain.   On this edition of Explain IT, we’re talking about recent breaches and how that is affecting customers. We're also delving into the question of 'who are these threat actors?', and the impact...

Ever wondered how we can stay ahead of cyber threats without burning out?   On this edition of Explain IT, we're talking about the leveraging of advanced technology to automatically detect, investigate, and respond to cyber threats, reducing the need for constant human intervention that could lead to burnout. It's all about enhancing efficiency, speed, and accuracy in cybersecurity operations...

Keeping your data structured and secure is key to keeping your business safe. But how do we ensure that at every level of our IT infrastructure, including your backups? With data being stored across an organisation, from edge to the data center to the cloud, cyber resiliency is important when safeguarding an organization's assets against cyber threats. Today, we'll discuss the evolving nature of b...

You rely on wireless connectivity, we all do… and having a good wireless system can have a big impact on the success of your business.  As companies strive for greater flexibility, efficiency, and connectivity, Wireless First is emerging as a game-changer. Post Covid, we’re seeing employees want more dynamic and collaborative work environments, and teams need to be able to move freely and ada...

From artificial intelligence to 5G Networks to everything in between, we’ve seen some big shifts in the IT industry in 2024. In today’s episode, we’ll be looking back over the tech landscape of 2024 and making big predictions about what we think we’re going to see in 2025. We’ll discuss how emerging technologies might transform industries and impact our daily lives, and you never know, some of the...

From artificial intelligence to 5G Networks to everything in between, we’ve seen some big shifts in the IT industry in 2024. In today’s episode, we’ll be looking back over the tech landscape of 2024 and making big predictions about what we think we’re going to see in 2025. We’ll discuss how emerging technologies might transform industries and impact our daily lives, and you never know, some of the...

Workplace AI bots, like Microsoft Copilot, have exploded in use over the last 12 months. They are transforming how businesses operate by automating routine tasks, enhancing decision-making, and allowing employees to focus on more strategic activities. Back in November 2023, Explain IT discussed how Copilot could potentially revolutionise the workplace. We’re back again to see how it has changed in...

Cloud computing, first introduced in the 1960s as the "intergalactic computer network," is now essential to our digital existence. There are so many cloud options available on the market today. Private clouds are essentially dedicated environments that offer greater control and security. They are typically used by businesses to store sensitive data and run critical applications. On the other hand,...

Ever thought about how much of your life is protected by passwords? And why  do  hackers want to steal credentials? How do they do it and more importantly, how can we stop them in their tracks? From your emails to your retirement savings, passwords are quite literally the gatekeepers to your online life. And there are layers to password security, from your own password to the passwords t...

Where do you want to work from today? The coffee shop? The beach? It’s all possible with a Virtual desktop infrastructure. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, or VDI, lets you access your companies’ systems from almost any device, essentially you can carry your office in your pocket. In this special episode, we’ll answer some important questions to help you get it right. How do you keep VDI working fo...

Customer service is tough for everyone, but how do we make it better for the employee and for the customer? Business contact centres are starting to use AI at the very first step of their customer interactions. By automating elements of the customer service interaction and using AI insights, staff can resolve service incidents faster and keep customers happy. Our team of experts, Andrew Hermsen, S...

In the hybrid working world, everyone needs a fast and secure way to connect to their company's data. WAN or Wide Area Networks technologies have had an impressive impact; It's now easier than ever to do business. Using intelligence to optimize traffic across multiple links, we’ve gone from a trickle of information being sent between two direct points to terabytes of data sent at lighting spe...

To the public, elections can look relatively simple. However for lots of public sector organisations, there are weeks of preparation fraught with risk, excitement and a huge sense of purpose.  Despite using paper ballots and lots of people-based processes on the day, technology and digital is key to delivering a successful election.  There are so many technology areas to think about pre...