Strategic Cybersecurity Advisory

The appropriate level of cybersecurity depends on several factors unique to your business: the type of data you handle, your industry regulations, your current technology setup, and your risk tolerance. Our consulting begins with a practical assessment that helps you understand your actual risks and prioritize protections that make sense for your size and budget. Most SMEs need foundational security measures like access control, data backup, and basic incident response planning, with additional controls based on specific business needs.

We specialize in helping SMEs implement cost-effective security measures by prioritizing the most critical protections first. Our risk-based approach helps you identify where to focus your investments for maximum impact. For example, implementing strong access controls and regular staff training often provides significant security improvements at relatively low cost. We help you develop a phased approach that spreads investments over time while ensuring core business assets are protected.

Common mistakes include relying solely on antivirus software for protection, not having data backup systems, using weak passwords across multiple systems, failing to update software regularly, and not training staff on security basics. Perhaps the biggest mistake is assuming they're too small to be targeted. In reality, SMEs are often seen as easier targets by cybercriminals. We help businesses address these fundamental gaps with practical, implementable solutions.

This is a key concern for SMEs. Security shouldn't cripple productivity. We focus on recommending controls that protect your business while maintaining operational efficiency. This might include single sign-on solutions that improve both security and usability, or automation tools that handle security tasks without adding manual work. Our goal is to find the right balance between protection and practicality for your specific business context.

First, understand that compliance requirements often vary by industry, location, and the type of data you handle. We help you identify which regulations apply to your business and develop a practical roadmap for compliance. This typically includes documenting current practices, identifying gaps, and implementing necessary controls in a staged approach. We focus on building compliance into your regular operations rather than treating it as a separate overhead.

We help you establish practical metrics and regular assessments to evaluate your security effectiveness. This includes monitoring basic indicators like successful/failed login attempts, regular testing of backup systems, and tracking security awareness among staff. We can also help implement more advanced monitoring based on your needs. The key is having visibility into your security status without getting overwhelmed by data.

The most cost-effective approach usually starts with basic hygiene: implementing strong password policies, enabling two-factor authentication, ensuring regular software updates, and training staff on security awareness. These foundational measures often prevent the majority of common attacks. We help you implement these basics correctly, then build additional protections based on your specific risks and resources.

Remote work brings unique security challenges that we help SMEs address practically. This typically involves implementing secure remote access solutions, establishing clear security policies for home workers, ensuring device security regardless of location, and maintaining visibility of remote activities. We help you build a security approach that protects your business while supporting flexible work arrangements.