As an experienced cybersecurity consultant, I would venture to make the following claim: SME cybersecurity doesn’t collapse due to threats from hacker movies, but rather from everyday fundamentals. Machines that don’t get updates. Users who work with admin credentials ‘because it doesn’t work otherwise.’ Firewalls whose default settings no one has bothered to review. And that one old application no one dared to update for fear of breaking something. So, what does good everyday cybersecurity truly consist of? Let’s explore it in this blog post.
Real Cybersecurity Threats Stem from Everyday Practices
Do you recognize the snake oil? Prompted by the NIS2 Directive, some sold a package – various technical cybersecurity solutions as an easily purchasable whole, claiming to meet all the different requirements of the cybersecurity directive. A large portion of organizations that bought these solutions still don’t grasp the full scope, instead relying entirely on Windows workstations, Microsoft 365 environments, and their basic configurations. These are precisely the areas where people often shrug and say, ‘they’re perfectly fine for us.’ Yet, the entire business practically depends on them.
In reality, most cybersecurity risks for SMEs could already be technically resolved quite straightforwardly:
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Ensure updates for operating systems and third-party applications
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Remove admin rights from daily use and implement controlled access only when necessary
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Configure device firewalls correctly
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Implement EDR-level endpoint protection
The problem is often not a lack of expertise, but a fragmented understanding: bits of information from here and there. The overall picture and risk management are not fully grasped. This is compounded by unhelpful hype, sales pitches, and buzzwords. Instead, the focus should be on making concrete decisions: Which settings will we implement in our daily operations – how, and in what order?
Above IT Delivers!
We are organizing a free technical training on December 4, 2025, from 1 PM to 3 PM, on the topic of “SME Cybersecurity Without Hype”. This training, which focuses directly on technical implementation without hype, is exceptionally valuable for SME IT management.
Our training does not sell the next trend product; instead, it demonstrates how to leverage existing Microsoft technologies: Gain control over workstations – Standardize your security level – Reduce manual effort – Minimize human errors!
The training will provide you with a concrete understanding of what ‘sufficiently good’ technical cybersecurity looks like in an SME environment today. This isn’t theoretical or tailored for large enterprises, but scaled to your specific needs. When the fundamentals are handled correctly, there’s no need for constant panic, oversized solutions, or endless troubleshooting.
The training will cover topics such as:
- Windows Operating System Updates
- Third-Party Application Updates
- Management of Admin Credentials on Endpoints
- Windows Firewall Management
- Windows AppLocker Security Configurations
- MsSense vs Defender (Defender for Business)
Register for the training here!
The trainer for our upcoming course and the author of this blog post is Matias Haapaniemi, Above IT Oy’s ‘consigliere’, partner, and deeply technical Microsoft 365 expert. At Above IT, Matias is specifically responsible for endpoint management and cybersecurity solutions.