In this blog post, I’ll explain five security measures that can help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) significantly reduce their cyber security risk and improve their overall security posture.
As an IT consultant with almost 20 years of experience working with both SMBs and large enterprises, I’ve seen firsthand the impact that security incidents can have on businesses.
One of the most common questions I am asked is:
“How do we protect our workstations, laptops, smartphones, and tablets?”
After seeing numerous security breaches over the years, my answer is often the same:
Microsoft Intune and Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
Together, these solutions provide SMBs with the core foundation needed to secure, manage, and protect their devices and data.
Many businesses make the mistake of trying to implement too many security solutions on a limited budget, resulting in a collection of partially implemented tools that provide little real protection.
At CPI Consulting, when we design and implement a Microsoft Intune solution, we focus on the core security controls that deliver the greatest value and protection.
1. Microsoft Autopilot
A secure environment starts with a properly configured device.
Microsoft Autopilot automates the deployment of Windows devices, ensuring that every new workstation is configured according to your company’s standards from day one.
This helps eliminate manual setup errors, improves consistency, and allows new employees to get started quickly and securely.
2. Microsoft Defender
Microsoft Defender provides real-time protection against malware, ransomware, viruses, and other cyber threats.
Without a modern endpoint protection solution, businesses often find themselves reacting to security incidents rather than preventing them.
Defender helps identify threats early and provides security teams with the tools needed to investigate and respond quickly.
3. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
MFA remains one of the most effective ways to protect business accounts from compromise.
If your organisation is still using SMS-based MFA, consider moving to the Microsoft Authenticator app. Authenticator provides a more secure and user-friendly experience while reducing the risk associated with SMS-based attacks such as SIM swapping.
4. Restrict Local Administrator Access
If every employee has local administrator access on their workstation, your business is taking unnecessary risks.
A strong security strategy starts with applying the principle of least privilege, meaning users only receive the access they genuinely need to perform their job.
Removing local administrator rights significantly reduces the ability of malware, ransomware, and unauthorised software to impact your environment.
5. Control USB Device Access
USB devices continue to be a common source of data leakage and malware infections.
With cloud storage platforms such as Microsoft OneDrive and SharePoint, most employees no longer need to transfer files using USB drives.
Using Microsoft Intune, organisations can restrict or block USB device access, reducing the risk of data loss and unauthorised file transfers.
Final Thoughts
Cyber security does not have to be complicated or expensive.
By implementing Microsoft Autopilot, Microsoft Defender, Multi-Factor Authentication, restricted administrator access, and USB device controls, most SMBs can dramatically improve their security posture without investing in costly enterprise security platforms.
If you’re considering Microsoft Intune for your business and would like advice on where to start, CPI Consulting can help.