Smartdesc Newsletter: AI, Passkey, CITL Events, Roundtables and More
Welcome to our August newsletter!
Microsoft is making AI more accessible to the nonprofit sector, with eligible organisations now able to access Microsoft 365 Copilot at up to 40% off. From simplifying administrative tasks to improving productivity across teams, Copilot can help your organisation achieve more with less effort. See full details below.
This month we're exploring the opportunities and risks involved with adopting AI without the right safeguards in place with our blog 'Using AI Responsibly: A Guide for Businesses'.
Our recent blog, Passkeys Are Becoming the Default in Microsoft Entra ID, explains Microsoft's move to passkeys and how charities can reduce the risk of phishing and account compromise.
The Charity Leaders Winter Social takes place on 25 November at Microsoft London, bringing together charity technology leaders for an evening of networking and peer connection.
We're also hosting our Cyber Security Roundtable on 18 November, providing a space for charity IT leaders to share challenges, insights and best practice.
Looking ahead, we're delighted to be a Platinum Sponsor of the CITL Annual Conference 2026 and two upcoming CITL Connect events focused on cloud, infrastructure, IT service management and cyber resilience.
Charity IT resources
- Up to 40% off Microsoft 365 Copilot for nonprofits – Microsoft has introduced new discounts on Microsoft 365 Copilot for eligible nonprofit organisations, helping make AI more accessible for teams looking to boost productivity and reduce administrative workload. Read the blog to discover the savings available and how Copilot could support your organisation – read more.
- Using AI Responsibly: A Guide for Businesses – AI presents enormous opportunities, but businesses must also understand the risks of adopting these technologies too quickly or without the right safeguards in place. Smartdesc experts help businesses across the UK embrace modern technology securely, strategically and responsibly – read blog.
- Passkeys Are Becoming the Default in Microsoft Entra ID: Why Charities Should Start Preparing Now – As AI-powered phishing attacks become more sophisticated, Microsoft is making passkeys the default sign-in method in Microsoft Entra ID. Find out how your organisation can prepare for this shift and strengthen its protection against modern cyber threats – read blog.
- Charity Leaders Winter Social 2026 – Would you like to attend an event to connect with fellow charity tech leaders in a friendly and relaxed setting at Microsoft’s London office? Smartdesc is hosting its bi-annual Winter Social event. Location: Microsoft Paddington Date: 25th November 2026 – sign up now.
- Cyber Security Roundtable – Smartdesc is hosting a roundtable on cyber security for charity technology leaders. Location: Microsoft Paddington Date: 18th November 2026 – sign up here.
- Charity IT Leaders Connect: Cloud, Infrastructure & ITSM – Join us at the third CITL Connect event on Thursday 10th September to explore how Cloud, Infrastructure and ITSM work together to enable successful service delivery – register now.
- Charity IT Leaders Annual Conference 2026 – Join us at the CITL Annual Conference 2026 on Wednesday 7 October and Thursday 8 October, where people and purpose are at the heart of technology. Our experts will be delivering two engaging sessions: ‘Maximising Value in Microsoft 365’ and ‘Security Operations Centre (SOC) Managed Detection and Response (MDR)’. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with our team, gain valuable industry insights – register now.
- Charity IT Leaders Connect: Building Cyber-Resilience – Join us at the fourth CITL Connect event Thursday 12th November, bringing together charity technology leaders and sector partners to explore how charities can build stronger cyber resilience in an ever-changing digital landscape – register now.