Cyber security for Sydney small businesses, built in, not
bolted on
Most small businesses find out their security has gaps after something goes wrong. A phishing email gets through. Ransomware locks a file share. The cyber insurance renewal asks questions nobody can answer. CIO Tech builds security in from day one. Essential Eight controls, endpoint detection, and immutable backups are standard in every Assured plan.
Three layers of protection. Every plan.
Every CIO Tech Assured client gets the same security foundation. A 5-person childcare centre gets the same stack as a 60-person law firm. Full stack, included from day one.
Essential Eight, Level 1
The Australian Cyber Security Centre’s eight baseline controls that block the most common attack methods. We implement Level 1 across your environment.
- •MFA on email, VPN, and admin accounts
- •Critical patches applied within 48 hours
- •Admin access restricted to those who need it
- •Macros and risky features locked down
- •Only approved apps can run on your devices
Endpoint Detection and Response
EDR monitors your devices for signs of ransomware and malicious behaviour, then acts on it before the damage spreads.
- •Real-time ransomware detection on every device
- •Infected devices isolated automatically within seconds
- •24/7 telemetry and alerting
- •Forensic tracing to identify how an attack started
3-2-1 Immutable Backups
Three copies of your data, on two different media types, with one offsite. Every backup is immutable. Ransomware cannot alter or delete it.
- •3 copies, 2 media types, 1 offsite
- •Immutable storage, untouchable by ransomware
- •Monthly restore tests, documented and verified
- •Meets insurer and auditor expectations
Your email is the front door. We lock it.
Microsoft 365 is where most attacks start. A phishing email. A compromised mailbox. A forwarding rule nobody noticed. Every Assured client gets their M365 tenant hardened against the attack methods that actually work on small businesses.
MFA everywhere
Every user, every admin account, no exceptions.
Conditional Access
Block sign-ins from unexpected locations and legacy authentication protocols that bypass security.
Defender for Office 365
Safe Links scan URLs before your team clicks them. Safe Attachments detonate suspicious files in a sandbox.
Anti-phishing and impersonation
Flags emails that impersonate your directors, suppliers, or clients.
SPF, DKIM, and DMARC
Email authentication that stops attackers from sending emails that look like they came from your domain.
Mailbox rule monitoring
Detect hidden forwarding rules that attackers use to silently copy your email.
The full picture, from foundation to advanced
The security stack and M365 hardening are included in every Assured plan. For organisations with deeper requirements, we deliver expanded capabilities across threat detection, security operations, and compliance.
Security Stack
Essential Eight Level 1 controls, endpoint detection, and 3-2-1 immutable backups. The foundation every CIO Tech client starts with.
Learn moreMicrosoft 365 Hardening
MFA, Conditional Access, Defender for Office 365, anti-phishing, email authentication. Your M365 tenant secured.
Learn moreEndpoint Security
Endpoint detection and response, device encryption, and device compliance policies. Protection at the device level.
Learn moreThreat Detection and Response
Extended detection and response (XDR), continuous monitoring, and incident response for around-the-clock threat visibility.
Learn moreSIEM and SOC
Security information and event management with Microsoft Sentinel. SOC monitoring for elevated risk or regulatory requirements.
Learn moreCompliance and Risk
Essential Eight alignment assessments, compliance audits, data privacy reviews, and risk management for regulators and boards.
Learn moreMonitoring
On-site Response
Essential Eight Controls
Offshoring
What a proper security posture actually looks like
Most small businesses have no security baseline
The majority of SMBs we assess have no MFA on email, no patching schedule, no tested backups, and admin access given to everyone who asked for it over the years. This is not unusual. It is the norm when IT has grown without a plan.
The Essential Eight exists because the basics work
The ACSC created the Essential Eight because the same handful of attack methods keep working. Phishing. Unpatched software. Stolen admin credentials. Ransomware that encrypts backups because they were on the same network. Level 1 blocks the most common vectors.
Security is a posture, not a product
There is no single tool that makes a business secure. Security is a combination of controls, monitoring, testing, and response maintained over time. That is why CIO Tech builds it into every plan rather than selling it as a separate line item.
We do not promise to eliminate risk. Nobody can. What we do is implement the controls that significantly reduce your exposure to the attacks that actually hit small businesses in Australia, and verify those controls are working every month.
Ready to get your IT sorted?
Start with a IT Audit to see exactly where you stand. Or take our free maturity assessment for a quick snapshot.
