RemoteAbout Real Bytes
When you call, someone who knows your setup picks up and owns it.
Most businesses have had an IT provider where every call starts from scratch with someone new. We are a team of senior engineers who look after your computers, systems and security, and stay with you long enough to know how your business works.
Real Bytes came from the merger of two long-running Brisbane IT providers. No franchise, no offshore call centre.
- Founding firms since 2013
- Real Bytes since 2017
- SMB1001:2026 Gold
Philip VernerDirector
Blake BathGeneral Manager
Mason WiseMSP Practice Lead
Travis JacobOperations Manager
Trusted by
Businesses, schools and not-for-profits that already call us.
How we got here
Built over a decade, not a funding round.
Real Bytes grew out of two long-running Brisbane practices and a deliberate decision to do IT differently: senior engineers, honest advice, and accountability for the whole environment.
2013: two providers join forces
BCCIT and EDC&IT, two established Brisbane IT providers with deep roots in education and small business, merged. Years of hands-on work supporting Queensland schools and small businesses came under one roof.
2017: the team becomes Real Bytes
The merged business rebranded as Real Bytes, with a clear position: plain English IT delivered by engineers who take ownership, not a ticket-counting help desk. The focus stayed on long-term client relationships.
2018: cloud and security move to the centre
As attacks on Australian businesses grew and more clients moved their email and files to Microsoft 365, the team trained up and moved clients to the cloud with security set up from the first day.
2021: a dedicated security team
Real Bytes set up a team whose job is watching client systems for attacks and stopping them early, instead of cleaning up after the damage is done.
2026: Gold under SMB1001:2026
Real Bytes is certified Gold under SMB1001:2026, issued by CyberCert. It is the Australian cyber security standard that insurers and tenders ask for, and we run the same controls in our own business that we set up for clients.
Today: same team, same approach
Real Bytes supports businesses across Australia, from regional schools and not-for-profits to larger and regulated organisations, with the same focus on long-term relationships it started with. We turn ten in 2027.
Ten questions
How does your current IT provider measure up?
Anyone in Australia can call themselves a managed IT provider. There is no licence and no minimum standard. Tick what your provider does today. We answer all ten in writing for anyone who asks.
Tick each one your current provider does today.
Where you stand
0of 10 checks in place
10 gaps to close.
- We own our accounts and admin passwordsIf accounts sit in the provider's name, leaving them gets hard and slow.
- We have a current list of what we pay forUnused licences and forgotten domains are money and risk nobody is watching.
- Backups are restore-tested, with evidenceA backup that has never been restored is a hope, not a plan.
- There is a written ransomware planWithout a plan, the first hours of an incident are lost to confusion.
- Leavers lose access the same dayOld accounts left live are a common way in.
- App-based MFA or passkeys for everyoneStolen passwords are still the front door for most breaches.
- We see a patching report'We patch when we get to it' is how known holes stay open.
- Our provider's own security is independently checkedAttackers reach businesses through their IT provider. Its security is your security.
- We get a plain English report each quarterSilence between invoices means nobody is planning.
- We could leave without a fightIf leaving is hard, the provider has no reason to improve.
From our free guide, Questions to Ask Your IT Provider, in the Resource Library.
What we are built on
Capability matters. So does character.
These four things sit underneath every Real Bytes engagement, from a one-off project to a multi-year partnership.
- Straightforward
Plain English advice. If something is broken or risky, we say so, without the consultant-speak or the upsell theatre.
- Trusted
We make promises we keep. Documented processes, clear scopes and accountable delivery against what we said we would do.
- Considered
We think before we act. Decisions are weighed against your business outcomes, your security and your budget.
- Driven
We care about the work. Long-term partnerships and outcomes that move the business forward, not ticket counts.
What that means in practice
The reasons clients stay.
- 1Broad experienceEngineers who have worked across schools, enterprise, healthcare and small business environments.
- 2Built around youSolutions shaped to your business, not forced into a rigid template.
- 3Microsoft 365 done properlyYour email, files and Teams set up properly and kept that way.
- 4Remote first, on site when neededHelp for businesses anywhere in Australia, with on-site visits when a job needs hands.
- 5Clear accountabilityHonest communication and a named owner on every engagement.
- 6Regulated industriesDeep experience in education, healthcare and government.
- 7Security built inPart of every engagement, never bolted on as an upsell.
- 8Long-term outcomesA focus on keeping the business running, not just closing tickets.
100% Australia based
No offshore. No outsourcing. Onshore by design.
When you call us, an Australian engineer picks up. When we recommend a vendor, we look local first. When your data sits somewhere, we make sure you know exactly where. That is a deliberate operating decision, not a marketing line.
- Australian help desk
Every call, ticket and escalation is handled by our own Australian-based engineers. No offshore call centre, no scripted handoffs.
- Local-first procurement
We choose Australian-backed software, support and suppliers wherever practical, keeping your supply chain onshore where it can be.
- Australian data centres
Where it matters, your data stays in country. We prioritise Australian cloud and data centre regions for backup and critical workloads.
- Documented data location
Backups, Microsoft 365 and critical workloads stay in Australian regions, and we document where your data lives so you can prove it.
2013
when the founding Brisbane firms merged
25+ yrs
combined senior experience across the leadership team
Gold
SMB1001:2026, issued by CyberCert on 1 January 2026
CyberCertWorking with us
What happens when you get in touch.
- Step 1A conversation, not a pitch
Tell us about your setup, your frustrations and what good would look like. An engineer, not a salesperson.
- Step 2A look at what you have
We review your environment and tell you honestly what is fine, what is risky and what can wait.
- Step 3A written plan and a price
Plain English scope, priced before any work starts. All prices in Australian dollars.
- Step 4The same people, ongoing
The engineers who set you up are the ones who answer when you call.
Core services
One team. Eight ways to use it.
Every core service is run by the same Brisbane engineers, so the person who sets up your laptop is the one who answers when it breaks. Most clients use several.
- Managed ITIT and security from one team, watched day and night.
- IT Help Desk & SupportCall, email or log it. A Brisbane engineer owns it until it is fixed.
- Co-Managed ITExtra engineers for the IT team you already have.
- Device ManagementEvery laptop and phone updated, encrypted and accounted for.
- IT Strategy & vCIOA written plan, a real budget and a quarterly sit-down.
- IT ProcurementDevices that arrive set up and ready to work.
- Vendor ManagementOne number for your internet, phone and software suppliers.
- Labour HireOur engineers on your project, for as long as it takes.
The people who answer
Real names, real engineers. No offshore queue.
When you call, you get the same small team every time. They know your setup, and they own the problem until it is fixed.
- Philip VernerDirector20 years in IT. Brisbane.
- Blake BathGeneral Manager15 years in IT. Brisbane.
- Mason WiseMSP Practice Lead11 years in IT. Runs the service desk.
Mitchell MorganAutomation & Platform Lead10 years in IT. Builds the automation.- Travis JacobOperations Manager9 years in IT. Also leads education.
Bill Nobbs-O'BrienService Desk & Field Engineer4 years in IT. Melbourne.
"Real Bytes run the entire IT department for my business. The service is nearly instant, and proactive with advice. Outstanding."
"Phenomenal team, great support, guidance and service. Exactly who you want in your corner for all your IT needs."
Get help your way
Six ways to reach us. Pick whichever suits you.
Helpdesk hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm AEST. On Advantage and above, emergencies get a response within 1 hour and outages within 2, with 24/7 best-effort escalation.
- Call 07 3114 2808
An engineer answers Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm AEST. After hours, weekends and public holidays, Chip, our AI agent, answers on the same number or on 07 3180 0965, logs it and escalates urgent incidents to the on-call engineer.
Call now - Email the helpdesk
Send it to helpdesk@realbytes.com.au and a ticket is logged straight away, with a reference number you can quote.
Email us - Client portal
Log and follow your tickets, see what we are working on and who has it.
Open the portal - Remote support
When an engineer asks to see your screen, start a secure session here. You start it, so nobody sees your screen until you do.
Start a session - Chat in Microsoft Teams
Clients can message Chip, our AI assistant, in Teams to log a request without leaving their desk.
How clients reach us - Service status
Check whether Microsoft 365 or another cloud service is down before you lose an hour troubleshooting.
See live status
Questions
What people ask about us.
Where is Real Bytes based?
Our main office and most of our engineers are in Brisbane, with help desk staff and a partner in Melbourne. We support businesses anywhere in Australia remotely, and travel for on-site work when a job needs hands, including regional Queensland.
Who answers when we call?
During business hours, 8am to 5pm AEST Monday to Friday, one of our own Australian engineers. After hours, Chip, our AI receptionist, takes the details and escalates urgent issues to the on-call engineer. We do not use an offshore call centre.
How long has Real Bytes been around?
The business started in 2013 when two Brisbane IT providers, BCCIT and EDC&IT, merged, and has traded as Real Bytes since 2017. We turn ten as Real Bytes in 2027.
Is Real Bytes itself certified?
Yes. Real Bytes is certified Gold under SMB1001:2026, issued by CyberCert on 1 January 2026. You can check the certificate yourself on CyberCert's site. We run the same controls in our own business that we set up for clients.
What size businesses do you work with?
Mostly small and mid-sized organisations, plus schools, not-for-profits and regulated businesses. We also provide engineers to larger IT teams through co-managed IT and labour hire.
What if we are not ready to switch providers?
That is fine. Use the check on this page with your current provider, or bring us their answers and we will tell you, at no cost, which ones hold up and which need work.
Next step
Ready to work with us?
Tell us about your environment, your frustrations, and what good would look like for you. No pressure, no pitch. Just an honest conversation with an engineer.
Keep reading
- Our engineers The people who actually do the work.
- Life as a client What working with us looks like day to day.
- Case studies Real engagements and what changed.
- Community How we give back.
- Careers Work with us.
- Questions to ask your IT provider The full guide as a free PDF.
Checked 30 October 2026. Check our certificate: CyberCert: Real Bytes SMB1001:2026 Gold; Privacy Act 1988 (OAIC); Notifiable Data Breaches scheme (OAIC)