Due to the proliferation of emerging Advanced Persistent Threats (APT), the days of using just an endpoint antivirus solution are long gone. Projex IMC offers (and strongly recommends) a multi-layered cybersecurity strategy to help SMBs and municipalities mitigate potential cybersecurity risks.
Our comprehensive, cost-effective, multi-layered approach to cybersecurity is consistent with the core principles and implementation tiers outlined within the NIST CyberSecurity Framework (CSF) … a voluntary guideline for best practices and recommendations developed by the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It also forms the basis for ProjexOne™ … our turnkey solution for cybersecurity risk management.
ProjexOne™ forms the security backbone that enables reliable IT operations, stable networks, safe data handling and compliant business processes. It ensures that everything we manage — your users, servers, devices, cloud applications and infrastructure — remains protected, monitored and recoverable.
Our ProjexOne™ cybersecurity service can be tailored to the needs of each client. At a minimum we recommend our Endpoint Management and Protection plan (Essential CyberSecurity – Tier 1) and, if relevant, our SaaS and Identity Protection plan (CyberSecurity Essentials – Tier 2). A third tier (Advanced Management and Protection) is recommended as an option for those who seek comprehensive protection. Below is a breakdown showing exactly how each tier closes the gaps SMBs struggle with today:
Tier 1: Essential CyberSecurity
Solves endpont attacks, human error, weak controls and lack of preparedness. This layer establishes the fundamental protection that every SMB must have to reduce the most common risks.
- Endpoint Threats and Ransomware – Endpoints remain the #1 landing zone for ransomware and malware. ProjexOne™ provides automated patching, monitoring, AV/EDR and device hardening … closing the vulnerabilities attackers scan for 24/7.
- Human Error – Security Awareness Training – Since most breaches begin with users clicking the wrong thing. Ongoing phishing simulations and micro-training reduces real-world incidents significantly.
- Poor Access Hygiene – Access control plan: Many SMB breaches happen due to shared passwords, over-privileged accounts and lack of MFA enforcement. Your access control plan ensures least privilege, MFA, password policy and role-based controls are documented and applied.
- Response Chaos – Incident response (IR) plan: Most SMBs don’t know what to do during an attack. Your IR plan defines communication, outlines containment, prescribes recovery steps and eliminates downtime-causing guesswork. This reduces the impact and cost of an incident dramatically.
- Irrecoverable Data Loss – BDR/backup plan: Many SMBs think they have backups, but can’t actually restore them. Your backup and DR planning ensures tested, structured, documented recovery, so a ransomware event oe outage isn’t a business-ending disaster.
Together, Tier 1 protections address the foundational risks created by people, endpoints and operational gaps.
Tier 2 – SaaS and Identity Protection
Solves cloud identity attacks, AI-enhanced phishing, SaaS takeover and e-mail fraud. Once the fundamentals are secure, the next biggest vulnerabilities are e-mail and identity … the two most exploited attack vectors for SMBs today.
- AI-Generated Phishing – Generative AI e-mail protection detects deepfake leadership impersonization, AI-crafted phishing e-mails, business e-mail compromise (BEC), and malicious URLs hidden inside legitimate-looking messages. This goes far beyond standard spam filtering, giving SMBs enterprise-grade e-mail defense.
- Account Takeover – Identity protection: Stolen credentials give attackers silent access to everything. Our solution protects the identity layer by providing continuous monitoring of M365 user accounts, protections against unauthorized changes, backups of Entra ID configurations, and rapid rollback if identity settings are tampered with. This is critical because BEC and SaaS compromise now outpaces ransomware in SMB frequency.
- SaaS Misconfiguration – Cloud security baselines: Our platform enforces secure Microsoft 365 defaults, reducing exposure from open sharing, weak MFA applications, risky OAuth integrations and unmonitored mail-forwarding rules (a major BEC tactic).
Tier 2 protections close the modern cloud and e-mail attack surface — where most SMB attacks now originate.
Tier 3: Advanced Protections (optional enhancements)
Solves network intrusion, data exfiltration, mobile vulnerabilities, business continuity gaps and AI-powered threats. This layer adds resilience and deeper defense for SMBs with higher risks or regulatory requirements.
- Network Monitoring – Stops lateral movement and hidden intrusions: Attackers who bypass e-mail or identity controls often linger undetected. Network monitoring detects beaconing malware, unauthorized access, anomalous traffic, and command-and-control activity.
- Advanced BDR/BCDR – Fast, full business security: This ensures protected, immutable backups, off-site replication, and bare-metal or virtual recovery in minutes. It solves the “weeks of downtime” problem many SMBs face after ransomware.
- Mobile Device Management (MDM) – Secures remote and mobile workers. Mobile is the fastest-growing SMB attack surface. MDM enforces encryption, remote wipe, app controls and compliance monitoring. This covers all devices used to access business data — not just computers.
- Advanced Identity Management (AIM) – Beyond basic MFA: AIM introduces conditional access, behavioral analytics, privileged identity controls, and automated credential lifecycle management. This stops sophisticated identity attacks that evade basic MFA.
Tier 3 protections fortify the environment against advanced tactics, regulatory demands, remote workforce risks and downtime threats.
Think You’re Too Small to Become a Target? Think Again!
CyberSecurity is no longer a concern reserved solely for large enterprises. Today’s attackers deliberately target small and mid-size businesses, because they know SMBs often lack the time, technology and staff to defend themselves.
What’s more, today’s cybersecurity threats are often highly automated, AI-driven and designed to exploit the hardware, software and operating systems SMBs rely on every day: E-mail; cloud-based services; remote access systems and all connected endpoints. In fact, bad actors are now using the very same generative AI technologies used by legitimate businesses. They can now spin out new attacks at a scale never seen before. Common attack methods include:
- AI-written phishing e-mails that look flawless
- Automated credential-stuffing attacks using breached passwords
- Ransomware kits that require little technical skill to deploy
- Deepfake voice and e-mail impersonations targeting finance and exexutives
Still Not Convinced?
If your IT infrastructure is not adequately protected, the sheer volume and variety of potential cybersecurity threats to critical business systems should have you worried. Human bad actors remain plentiful, but ‘bots are now prevalent, probing weaknesses 24/7 across every Internet-connected device, application and e-mail account:
E-mail is still the #1 attack vector
Over 90% of cyber attacks begin with e-mail, and fishing is now more sophisticated than ever:
- Hyper-realistic fake invoices, MFA requests and bogus Google/Microsoft login prompts are common
- C-suite and vendor impersonations are becoming more convincing … even emulating writing styles
- Malicious links and attachments are hidden within AI-crafted messages
Standard e-mail filters were not designed to catch AI-generated threats. Solutions like GenAI e-mail defense have become essential just to maintain baseline protection.
Credential theft and SaaS exposure is surging
SMBs have shifted critical operations into Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and cloud apps, but attackers have followed.
- Stolen credentials allow criminals to enter your cloud systems without triggering alarms.
- Compromised inboxes are used to launch attacks on your customers and employees.
- Entra ID/Azure AD accounts are targeted because they control access to everything.
Once a cloud identity is breached, the entire business can be taken offline within minutes.
Ransomeware has evolved into business extortion
Ransomeware groups no longer just encrypt your data — they also steal it:
- Attackers threaten to publish sensitive files unless you pay.
- Average downtime for SMBs after a ransomware attack ranges from 7 – 21 days.
- Recovery without a reliable BDR/BCDR strategy is often slow, partial or impossible.
Having backups is no longer enough. Businesses now need protected, immutable, offsite, and verified recovery solutions.
Third-party risks and remote work have expanded your attack surface
Today’s SMBs depend heavily on:
- Remote employees
- Cloud apps
- Vendors and integrations
- Mobile devices
Each connection is another doorway an attacker can exploit:
- Insecure home networks
- Unpatched devices
- Unmanaged mobile phones
- Supply chain vulnerabilities
Without network monitoring, MDM and access control planning, it is nearly impossible to know what is exposed, or if an intruder is already inside.
Compliance expectations are on the rise
Cyber insurance carriers now require:
- Documented Incident response plans
- Multi-factor authentification (MFA) everywhere
- Security awareness training
- Reliable, verifiable backups
- Endpoint detection and response
- E-mail security controls
- Identity protection
Customers and partners increasingly demand the same. Without clear documentation and layered protections, SMBs risk higher premiums, policy gaps or client loss.
