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By Philip Spalding | Cambridge Online Learning Community
What happens when the systems we rely on suddenly stop working?
At the recent Hot Stories Business Networking event at The Officers’ Mess, Mantle Space, Duxford, Philip Spalding - founder of Cambridge Online Learning Community - shared a vital reminder for all business owners: digital convenience must be balanced with preparation.
“When Vodafone went down for several days, businesses that relied solely on digital systems couldn’t operate. The government responded by saying every business needs to have its continuity plan accessible - on paper.”
Philip, who has 25 years of teaching experience and 12 years in agricultural research, is passionate about digital literacy, AI awareness, and cybersecurity. His work helps people understand how to protect themselves from system failures, cyber risks, and over-reliance on cloud platforms.
He demonstrated a practical example - a standalone Raspberry Pi computer, a local Cambridge-built device that can operate independently from the cloud. Affordable and reliable, it can serve as a simple offline backup for essential business operations.
“We’ve invested heavily in the cloud, but that comes with risk. A good plan is having something local, something simple, something you can control.”
As a Google Workspace Coach, Philip also provides training resources and video tutorials to help businesses use technology safely and effectively.
📍 This talk was recorded at the Hot Stories Networking event in Duxford
🗓️ Held every third Thursday of the month
📍 Location Partner: The Officers’ Mess, Mantle Space, Duxford
📸 Photos by: Chris Hornby
🎥 Filming by: Jamie Ellam | Jamie Ellam Visuals
🔵 Main Sponsor: Blue Line Operations Ltd
💼 Organised by: Gemini Web Media – www.geminiweb.media
💬 Curious about what makes our events so special?
👉 Attend the next one: https://meetnew.business/
