Cybercriminals will infiltrate your system and steal your data if you don’t have these seven essential cybersecurity solutions in place to protect your business. And if you think you’re safe because you’re a small to medium sized business, you are sorely mistaken. In fact, SMBs suffer even more from cyberattacks than large enterprises. According to IBM’s 2025 Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average cost of a data breach is 4.4 million dollars. Can your business survive an unexpected $4M cash charge plus all the cleanup?
But how do you even protect your business from cyber threats? Using the right cybersecurity solutions is a great place to start. In this blog I’ll show you the seven essential tools your SMB needs to fight off cyberattacks:
- Firewall
- Endpoint Detection and Response
- Antivirus Software
- Email Security
- Multi-factor Authentication
- Backup/Disaster Recovery Solutions
Ready to protect your business? Let’s get into it.
What Cybersecurity Solutions Do You Actually Need?
You know you need to protect your business from cyberattacks, but you have no idea where to start. It seems like everyone is talking about the growing number of cyberattacks, AI threats and security tools, and more practices you need to implement to stay safe. It’s all extremely overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. As cybersecurity experts, we’ve narrowed down the long list of security tools to the seven basics every business needs no matter what:
Firewall
Each cybersecurity tool makes up a different protective layer of your IT system. A firewall acts as your first line of defense and blocks unauthorized access to your network. It does this by inspecting incoming and outgoing traffic, flagging anything that doesn’t pass your security rules. As with most cybersecurity solutions, you need to keep your firewall updated so it can always spot the latest cybersecurity threats. It’s also best to have an IT professional manage your business firewalls. Trying to manage your firewall’s policies, security rules, and updates can be time consuming. Add in monitoring the cybersecurity tool to ensure nothing’s getting past it as well as performing your actual job duties, and you’re going to get overwhelmed very quickly.
Firewalls are a great first layer of network security, but they can’t protect your entire business alone. This cybersecurity tool is designed to stop unauthorized access to your network, but this isn’t the only way cyberattacks can occur. Cyber threats like phishing, ransomware, and insider attacks can get past your firewall by relying on your employees to accidentally open malicious links. So, if you only use a firewall, there are countless cyberattacks that could still easily invade your IT system.
Endpoint Detection and Response
While firewalls protect your network, they do not protect the devices connected to it. These endpoints can provide cybercriminals with easy access to your data if your employees aren’t implementing the right cybersecurity solutions. This is where endpoint detection and response (EDR) software comes in. EDR software monitors and analyzes endpoint activity 24/7 so it can catch cyber threats immediately. And if a device is compromised, EDR software isolates the endpoint, stopping cyberattacks from spreading. Monitoring cyber threats alone is not enough to protect your business.
Antivirus Software
EDR usually works with antivirus software. Like EDR, antivirus software scans your devices for suspicious activity and spots cyberattacks. This cybersecurity tool uses many forms of detection to identify cyberattacks. The most common forms of detection used by antivirus software are:
- Signature detection: Looks for specific pieces of code commonly found in viruses.
- Heuristic detection: Carefully examines all code itself for any suspicious elements or behavior.
- Machine learning behavioral analysis: Uses AI to learn the patterns of trusted users. Then it flags situations that deviate from these patterns.
Antivirus software doesn’t just look out for cyberattacks though; it also prevents them. They automatically identify and remove viruses. Antivirus software also blocks potentially dangerous websites and pop-ups. This reduces the risk of employees accidentally clicking on malicious links.
There are scores of antivirus software out there and they aren’t all created equal. Be wary of free antivirus software as they can be cyber threats themselves in disguise. Always conduct thorough research on antivirus software before installing it. Working with an expert IT team reduces the risk of accidentally picking an antivirus that contains a virus or malware. But if you want to find one on your own, here are a few ways to tell if an antivirus software is a scam:
- Pop-up windows in websites encouraging you to download an antivirus software.
- Pop-up ads ask for a payment to fix a problem with your system.
- The wording on an antivirus software’s site doesn’t make sense or uses poor grammar.
- Their website doesn’t look professional and is missing the provider’s contact information.
- It offers free antivirus scans from unfamiliar providers.
- Asks you to disable legitimate software in your system.
Email Security
If you have an email address, you’re likely receiving spam messages every day. (Our CEO receives 175 spam emails on average every week. You can probably relate.) But these messages can be more than annoying. They can include malicious links, malware, or even ransomware ready to ruin your business. Email security systems block these threats before they get too close. One way email security systems do this is with an advanced threat protection (ATP) security solution. ATPs use behavioral AI to learn what emails you’re flagging as suspicious so it can effectively monitor and filter out potentially dangerous emails. Instead of you having to look at every email’s sender, links, attachments, and messages, an ATP solution will do it for you. This will protect your business from email security threats and improve operational efficiency. Since malicious emails are isolated, no one will accidentally fall victim to them.
Multi-factor Authentication
Strong cybersecurity requires a multi-layered approach. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) does this by providing an extra layer of defense. To access sensitive data, users must authenticate with a secure app or by answering security questions. This makes it harder for cybercriminals to hack into your system since they don’t have access to your phone or private security answers. Even if they have your password, they can’t log into your account without this second form of verification. And with AI and machine learning, suspicious login attempts from a different location or at an odd time are spotted more often. This practice is so useful, every organization who takes their security seriously makes MFA non-negotiable.
Backup/Disaster Recovery Solutions
Disasters and accidents happen every day. The only way to avoid prolonged downtime is to have the right backup and disaster recovery (BDR) solutions ready. Natural disasters, cybercrime, or even simple power outages don’t just interrupt your day; they can cause massive data loss. This is why you need backups of all your data so even if the original information is lost, you have a way to get it back. It’s best to follow the 3-2-1 backup strategy to ensure you can always access the data you need. Your devices also need to be backed up regularly to prevent any major data gaps.
Cybersecurity Training
All the above cybersecurity solutions are important but are ultimately useless if your employees aren’t trained in cybersecurity. This is because human error is one of the biggest cyber threats out there. All it takes is for one employee to click on a suspicious link for all the business’ information to be compromised. To prevent this from happening, you must require everyone in your business to undergo regular cybersecurity training. This should keep them up to date on the latest cybersecurity threats and solutions, as well as teach them how to spot and respond to cyberattacks. The more knowledgeable your employees are, the better they will be able to help the rest of your cybersecurity solutions protect your business from every angle.
Should I DIY Cybersecurity Solutions or Hire a Vendor?
You’re probably wondering: if the above cybersecurity tools are available for the common person to purchase, why not install and maintain them yourself? This could be a viable option, so long as you’re up to date on the latest malware, ransomware, phishing, AI, and other growing number of cyber threats. Just because you have these tools in place does not mean they can run without any supervision. The more familiar someone is with potential cyberattacks, the better they will be able to spot any cyber threats that sneak through their defenses. This also takes a great deal of time. You must make time to keep all your cybersecurity solutions updated. And if there is an issue, you need to be able to drop everything you’re doing to fix it and prevent slowed operations or successful cyberattack. Specifically, you’ll need to have the time and expertise to do the following:
- Stay educated on the latest cyber threats and security practices
- Manage firewall policies and security rules
- Make sure your firewall is updated
- Perform regular security audits on your firewalls
- Regularly check physical devices like work laptops and desktop computers to keep them updated
- Investigate cyberattacks after EDR software identifies it and isolates the affected device
- Adjust cybersecurity measures to be able to defend against the latest cyber threats
- Find, install, and monitor reliable antivirus software
- Manage MFA across all your business’ accounts
- Monitor and manage email security tools like ATP
- Regularly backup your data
- Create a disaster recovery plan and implement
- Train all your employees on how to spot a cyberattack and what to do if you think you’ve been hacked
- Routinely scan the dark web to ensure none of your business’ data has been compromised
- Be available for employees whenever they have a cybersecurity concern and help them resolve it
You’ll also want to consider the size of your business before deciding how to run your cybersecurity solutions. Generally speaking, the smaller your business, the easier it will be to DIY your cybersecurity solutions:
- Under 10 employees: Use the DIY approach. With a business this size, managing cybersecurity solutions yourself shouldn’t be too difficult and it will save you from having to pay for an IT team.
- 10-50 employees: Use a vendor who can devote their time to managing your cybersecurity tools across a larger network so you can focus on running your business.
- 50+ employees: Hire at least one internal IT technician and consider comanaging cybersecurity solutions with a vendor to ensure your entire IT system is protected.
A DIY approach to cybersecurity may work if you’re willing to dedicate time to running it or hire an in-house team. However, hiring a vendor will protect your business better. Their entire job is to keep your sensitive data safe, and all their time and resources go towards managing your cybersecurity tools. These experts also stay up to date on the latest cyber threats so they can know how to stop devastating cyberattacks.
How to Pick the Right Cybersecurity Tools Vendor
Finding the right cybersecurity solutions can seem overwhelming, but the good news is that the process doesn’t have to be complicated. Start by looking for any gaps in your current cybersecurity system. The tools listed above are what every business needs at a minimum. If you’re missing one, then you are missing a crucial component of your cybersecurity defense. Next, you’ll need to pick a reliable vendor who will provide the cybersecurity tool. Evaluate your own business’ needs and goals to ensure you find the perfect match. To figure this out, ask yourself the following questions:
- How much risk does your business have? How much hardware, software, and data do you have that needs protection? What are the cyber threats your business is most susceptible to?
- How large is your business and how much security do you need?
- Does your business have multiple locations that need to be equally protected?
- Are there any regulations or compliance requirements your industry requires for cybersecurity?
- What are your plans for future growth?
- What’s your budget?
Once you know what your business needs from cybersecurity solutions, create a list of qualifications vendors must meet to work with you. For example, check if cybersecurity vendors have worked with businesses of your size and scale before to ensure they can handle the workload. This is where knowing how much IT infrastructure you have is important, as well as how many locations you have and what your plans for growth are.
Don’t forget to do research on potential vendors. Look at customer reviews to see how well they install, monitor, and update their cybersecurity solutions. The last thing you want is to work with a provider who is unreliable or has a history of not living up to their promises.
How to DIY Your Cybersecurity the Right Way
If you aren’t ready to hire an IT professional to manage your cybersecurity solutions for you, how do you ensure you’re picking the right tools to keep your business safe? Start by researching different brands that offer the above cybersecurity solutions. This will tell you how complex the tools are to integrate and work with, as well as if the vendor is legitimate. Once you have a list of potential cybersecurity solutions, contact the providers and ask if they offer a demo of their services. This is a great way to see how a cybersecurity tool operates and if it will really be a good fit for your business. Ask vendors about their products and their scalability during this demo. Some vendors will even offer free trials so you can officially try out their cybersecurity solutions before you make a purchase.
When you manage cybersecurity solutions on your own, you must be up to date on the latest cyber threats as well as how to defend against them. If you’re not, you increase the chances of missing a telltale sign that something is attacking or has gotten past your cybersecurity solutions. Sign up for our free cybersecurity e-course to get weekly lessons to strengthen your cybersecurity efforts and keep your business safe.
Cybersecurity Solutions FAQs
A firewall inspects all your network traffic, identifies red flag behavior based on security rules you put in place, and blocks any unauthorized access to your network to stop cyber threats in their tracks.
EDR software is a tool that monitors and analyzes all endpoints in your IT system for cyberattacks. If one is detected, this software isolates the affected device to prevent the cyber threat from spreading across your network.
Antivirus software monitors everything that comes through. This cybersecurity tool blocks potentially dangerous websites, identifies viruses, and removes these cyber threats so you don’t accidentally engage with them.
The following factors point to an antivirus software being a scam:
- If you get a random pop-up claiming to be an antivirus software you don’t remember downloading.
- If an antivirus asks for payment before they have fixed your problem.
- If the antivirus’ website has poor grammar, doesn’t look professional, or is missing contact information for the provider.
- If you’re offered a free antivirus software from an unfamiliar provider.
- If the antivirus asks you to disable legitimate software already installed in your system.
EDR tools monitor all your devices in real time for known and unknown cyber threats. Antivirus software scans your local devices for known cyber threats and stops them from spreading.
ATP security solutions monitor your email and network to identify patterns found in cyber threats. With this information, similar cyberattacks can be blocked in the future.
MFA is the cybersecurity process of requiring more than one authentication factor to login to an account. Common authentication requirements include one-time codes sent by text, email, or through authentication apps and biometric characteristics like a fingerprint or facial identification.
A disaster recovery plan (DRP) lays out steps for how your IT systems will recover from a natural disaster or physical damage. An incident response plan (IRP) is a set of procedures of how to recover from a data breach.
Yes, cybercriminals are already using AI to create stronger cyber threats that can break through your traditional security systems. Any reputable cybersecurity solutions should now be using AI to combat the ones being used by cybercriminals. AI helps cybersecurity teams identify and prevent cyberattacks before they cause a disaster.
This largely depends on finances. If you have the money to pay for an in-house IT team’s salary, benefits, training, etc. then this is a fine option. If you need a less costly solution that provides the same level of expertise and protection, then an outsourced IT team that runs on a subscription-based model may work better.
Learn How to Identify and Stop Cyber Threats All on Your Own
Every business needs reliable cybersecurity solutions to protect their sensitive data. Cyberattacks are on the rise and cybercriminals find new ways to infiltrate your systems every day. Strong cybersecurity solutions update regularly to keep up with the latest threats. But it takes more than the right tools to protect your data. Everyone in your business needs to be able to spot and report suspected cyberattacks to prevent malicious activity. To do this, they need to know what to look out for. Sign up for our free IT newsletter to get the latest industry news as well as tips and tricks to keep all your business technology safe and working smoothly.
