The Foundations of an Excellent Technology Strategy

A well-defined technology strategy provides a roadmap for leveraging IT to drive business success. A robust strategy will cover both current objectives and ways to adapt as new situations emerge:

• Business Alignment: IT investments and initiatives should directly support business objectives, enabling growth, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
• Innovation and Agility: A forward-looking strategy incorporates emerging technologies such as AI, cloud computing, and automation to foster innovation and maintain a competitive edge.
• Scalability and Flexibility: Organizations must ensure their IT infrastructure can scale to accommodate growth while remaining flexible to adapt to new opportunities and challenges.
• Risk Management: Proactive identification and mitigation of risks, including cybersecurity threats, regulatory changes, and operational disruptions, are essential for sustainability.

Defining Governance Excellence

One way of looking at technology governance is that it focuses on how to execute the IT strategy in a secure, compliant, and efficient manner. Excellence in IT governance can be characterized by:
Clear Policies and Standards: Organizations should establish comprehensive IT policies that govern data management, security, procurement, and compliance.

• Strong Leadership and Accountability: IT governance should be overseen by a dedicated team, including executives, IT leaders, and compliance officers, ensuring accountability across all levels.
• Cybersecurity and Compliance: A robust governance framework includes proactive security measures, continuous monitoring, and adherence to industry regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or SOC 2.
• Performance Monitoring and Continuous Improvement: Establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) and regularly assessing IT performance ensures continuous optimization and alignment with business needs.

How Thrive Can Help

Thrive enables organizations to achieve their strategic objectives by helping them define and execute technology strategy and governance. Thrive provides real-world experience and insights through a comprehensive suite of services:

• Trusted Advisors: Thrive offers a variety of different types of consulting and engagement to meet you where you are and inform your overall IT approach. From current-state assessments to vCIO engagements, you can gain a deeper understanding of your IT teams, processes, and platforms and how to align them to your overall goals.
• Strategic IT Planning: Thrive works closely with organizations to develop a tailored technology roadmap that drives innovation, scalability, and efficiency while helping organizations reach their business goals.
• Security & Compliance Expertise: Thrive’s cybersecurity solutions, including endpoint detection and response, threat intelligence, and compliance support, help businesses stay ahead of evolving risks.
• Managed IT Services: Thrive provides 24x7x365 monitoring, proactive support, and automation-driven IT management to ensure continuous operations and minimize downtime.
• Cloud & Infrastructure Optimization: Thrive’s cloud solutions help organizations modernize legacy systems, optimize workloads, and enhance IT resilience.

By continuously evolving their strategies and governance models, companies can remain resilient and adaptable in an ever-changing technological landscape. Download our latest Mid-Market Guide to Microsoft 365 Governance for more information on how to get started.

Contact Thrive to learn more about how your business can confidently navigate the complexities of technology strategy and governance, ensuring a secure, scalable, and future-ready IT environment.

The post Technology Strategy and Governance: What Does Excellence Look Like appeared first on Thrive.

Why Microsoft 365 Detection and Response Matters

Microsoft 365 is a cornerstone of modern business operations, but it also presents a significant attack surface for cybercriminals. Hackers and other threat actors are increasingly targeting SaaS environments, exploiting vulnerabilities in email, collaboration tools, and identity management systems. Traditional security information and event management (SIEM) solutions can identify suspicious activity but lack built-in mechanisms to respond in real-time. This gap leaves organizations vulnerable to breaches, data loss, and account takeovers.

Thrive’s Microsoft 365 Detection and Response

To strengthen Microsoft 365 security, Thrive enhanced its security platform with new capabilities to continuously monitor Microsoft 365 for anomalous activity, unauthorized access attempts, and potential security breaches. What sets Thrive’s service apart is its new auto-remediation feature, which proactively responds to identified threats in real time.

Thrive Microsoft 365 Detection and Response goes beyond simple threat detection. It enables automated protective actions, such as:

• Locking accounts exhibiting problematic behavior.
• Blocking access to compromised services.
• Restricting unauthorized attempts to modify security settings.

This automation significantly reduces response times, minimizing the window of exposure and mitigating risks before they cause harm. Thrive Security Operations Center (SOC) and support teams will then investigate and help get the compromised account back to secure state.

Migration and Availability

Starting in April, our existing O365/M365 Security Monitoring customers will be enabled with the new response capabilities. This transition will ensure they benefit from enhanced security automation and streamlined threat response. The new Microsoft 365 Detection and Response features will also be available as an add-on option for clients subscribed to EDR, MDR, and other Thrive security services.

The Thrive Advantage

Thrive’s security-first approach ensures businesses can operate with confidence in today’s evolving threat landscape. Our MDR services provide:

• 24×7 Threat Monitoring: Continuous oversight of Microsoft 365 environments to detect and respond to cyber threats.
• Automated Response & Remediation: Auto-remediation feature that proactively neutralizes security risks.
• Expert Security Guidance: Thrive’s cybersecurity professionals help organizations optimize their security strategy.
• Seamless Integration: Enhanced MDR services align with existing security infrastructure, including EDR and SIEM, for comprehensive protection.

Secure Your Microsoft 365 Environment Today

With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated, businesses can’t afford to rely on detection alone. Thrive’s MDR services provide real-time threat response and automation for Microsoft 365 environments, ensuring security teams stay ahead of attacks. Contact Thrive today to learn how you can strengthen your Microsoft 365 security with next-gen MDR capabilities.

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Cybersecurity threats are an unavoidable reality for businesses of all sizes. Today, protecting your IT environment requires more than just basic security measures. While most organizations understand the importance of fundamental cybersecurity practices, such as enforcing password policies and filtering out phishing emails, many remain unaware of critical security gaps that could leave them vulnerable to attacks. This is where a Cybersecurity Risk Assessment matters most to your business.

The Cybersecurity Basics Most Organizations Understand

Most businesses recognize the need for foundational cybersecurity practices. These include:

• Implementing Security Policies: Organizations generally enforce password management policies, requiring employees to use complex passwords and multi-factor authentication (MFA) to prevent unauthorized access.
• Phishing Awareness & Email Filtering: Businesses typically educate their employees on identifying phishing emails, and many deploy email security solutions to filter out potentially malicious messages.
• Firewalls and Antivirus Software: Standard security measures are put in place, including firewalls and antivirus software, offering a baseline level of defense against known cyber threats.

While these are essential first steps, they are no longer enough to protect against modern cyber threats. Many businesses remain exposed to risks they may not fully understand or know how to address.

The Cybersecurity Threats Most Organizations Overlook

Despite best efforts, many organizations fail to account for deeper security challenges. Here are three critical risks that often go unnoticed:

1. Lack of Next-Gen Endpoint Protection

Traditional antivirus solutions are able to detect known malware, but they often struggle against advanced cyber threats that use sophisticated tactics to evade signature-based detection. Next-gen endpoint protection employs artificial intelligence (AI) and behavioral analytics to detect suspicious activity before it leads to a security breach. Without advanced protection, organizations are highly vulnerable to ransomware, zero-day exploits, and fileless malware attacks.

2. Over-Reliance on a Single Point Solution

Many businesses adopt a single security tool or platform and assume they are fully protected. However, a robust cybersecurity framework requires a multi-layered approach. Relying solely on firewalls, antivirus software, or email filtering leaves organizations exposed to threats that are able to circumvent these defenses. A comprehensive strategy should integrate network monitoring, endpoint detection and response (EDR), security information and event management (SIEM), and proactive threat intelligence.

3. Lack of Evidence-Based Cyber Policy Review

Having a cybersecurity policy in place is one thing, but ensuring it is effective through continuous review is another. Organizations often neglect to conduct regular security assessments, leaving them blind to potential vulnerabilities. Without documented evidence of security measures and periodic evaluations, businesses may struggle with compliance requirements, incident response planning, and regulatory audits.

Thrive’s Cybersecurity Risk Assessment

Why a Risk Assessment is Critical

A cybersecurity risk assessment is a systematic process that identifies, evaluates, and addresses potential security risks. It provides a clear picture of an organization’s security posture and helps prioritize risk mitigation strategies.

A thorough risk assessment includes:

• Identifying critical assets and evaluating their vulnerabilities
• Assessing potential threats and their likelihood of occurrence
• Analyzing existing security measures and identifying gaps
• Providing actionable recommendations to enhance cybersecurity resilience

The Danger of Gaps in Perspective

One of the biggest cybersecurity challenges businesses face is the inability to recognize what they don’t know. Without a comprehensive assessment, organizations may believe they have adequate security measures in place while unknowingly leaving themselves exposed.

Common gaps include:

• Assuming compliance equals security: Meeting regulatory standards does not necessarily mean an organization is secure.
• Failing to test defenses: Security policies and tools need to be regularly tested through penetration testing and red team exercises.
• Neglecting insider threats: Employees, whether malicious or negligent, can pose significant risks to data security.

The Cost of Cybersecurity Negligence

Ignoring security gaps can have severe consequences for businesses, including:

• Financial Losses: Cyberattacks can lead to costly downtime, legal fines, and reputational damage.
• Data Breaches: A single breach can compromise sensitive customer and business data, leading to legal liability and loss of customer trust.
• Regulatory Penalties: Organizations failing to meet cybersecurity regulations face fines and restrictions.
• Operational Disruptions: Cyber incidents can bring business operations to a standstill, causing missed opportunities and productivity losses.

The Benefits of Identifying and Addressing Security Gaps

Conducting a cybersecurity risk assessment and addressing security gaps offer numerous advantages:

• Enhanced Security Posture: Identifying weaknesses allows organizations to implement stronger security controls.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring adherence to industry regulations helps avoid penalties and improves trust.
• Cost Savings: Preventing cyber incidents is far less expensive than responding to a breach.
• Improved Incident Response: A well-prepared organization can quickly detect, contain, and remediate security threats.

Understanding the limitations of traditional security practices, investing in next-generation endpoint protection, adopting a comprehensive security approach, and conducting regular risk assessments are essential for businesses to safeguard critical assets. By identifying and closing security gaps, organizations can protect themselves from costly cyber incidents and ensure long-term resilience in the digital age.

Stay ahead of emerging threats—download the Gartner Top Trends in Cybersecurity for 2025 report to discover the key strategies shaping the future of cybersecurity.

The post Guarding Your Digital Frontlines: 3 Common Cybersecurity Business Risks appeared first on Thrive.

Download the Gartner report today!

Gartner, Top Trends in Cybersecurity for 2025, Richard Addiscott, Anson Chen, Joerg Fritsch, Tom Scholtz, Will Candrick, Jeremy D’Hoinne, John Watts, Chiara Girardi, Manuel Acosta, Felix Gaehtgens, Oscar Isaka, Alex Michaels, 12 December 2024

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

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Managing Microsoft 365 can be challenging for mid-market businesses, especially when it comes to security, compliance, and data protection. Without a clear governance strategy, organizations risk inefficiencies, unauthorized access, and compliance violations.

This guide provides practical insights and best practices to help mid-market companies take control of their Microsoft 365 environment. Learn how Thrive can help your business manage access, enforce policies, and safeguard sensitive data while ensuring compliance with industry regulations. Download now to strengthen your Microsoft 365 governance strategy.

The post The Mid-Market Guide to Microsoft 365 Governance appeared first on Thrive.

The Importance of Technology Governance Policies

A well-defined policy on technology use ensures that employees, contractors, and other business stakeholders understand the rules and expectations for utilizing company systems, networks, and data. This includes:

• Remote and hybrid work security guidelines
• BYOD policies and security measures
• Acceptable use of AI-based tools
• Data privacy and compliance considerations
• Consequences for policy violations

By implementing a clear governance strategy along with an Acceptable Use Policy, organizations can reduce security risks, protect sensitive data, and enhance operational efficiency.

The Cybersecurity and Compliance Risks

• Mitigating Risks from Remote and Hybrid Work: Employees working outside the office increase the risk of data exposure and cyber threats. Organizations can implement security measures such as VPNs, multi-factor authentication, and encrypted communication to ensure secure remote work.
• Securing Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Policies: Personal devices introduce potential vulnerabilities into corporate networks. Establishing tight security policies for personal devices, such as endpoint protection and controlled access, helps mitigate these risks.
• Managing AI-Based Tools and Their Implications: AI-powered tools can enhance productivity but also pose risks related to data security and ethical concerns. Organizations need guidelines on how AI tools can be used responsibly to prevent data leaks and biased decision-making.
• Ensuring Compliance with Data Privacy Regulations: Businesses must comply with regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA. Governing technology use ensures that data handling, storage, and sharing practices align with regulatory requirements, reducing the risk of legal consequences.
• Protecting Against Cybersecurity Threats: Unauthorized software, malware, and phishing attacks can disrupt business operations. Clear technology usage policies minimize the chances of employees engaging in risky behaviors that could compromise security.

Best Practices for Effective Technology Governance

• Develop Comprehensive Policies: Cover all aspects of technology use, including AI tools, remote access, and BYOD security.
• Regularly Train Employees: Provide ongoing education on cybersecurity best practices and compliance requirements.
• Continuously Update Policies: As technology evolves, governance policies should be reviewed and updated regularly.
• Enforce Policies Consistently: Ensure that policies apply fairly to all employees and stakeholders.

Governing technology use within an organization has never been more critical. With remote and hybrid work not going anywhere, AI-powered tools growing in popularity, and increasing cyber threats, businesses must implement strong policies to protect their data, maintain compliance, and enhance security. Taking proactive steps in technology governance will help organizations adapt to modern challenges while maintaining a secure and efficient work environment.

Download Thrive’s Acceptable Use Policy template today to get started on implementing robust, company-wide data governance policies and privacy protocols that make safeguarding sensitive information a priority.

Contact Thrive today to learn more about establishing a clear technology governance policy because now is the time to take action. A secure and compliant workplace starts with well-defined guidelines that protect both the organization and its employees.

The post Why Technology Governance in Your Organization is More Important Than Ever appeared first on Thrive.

Establishing an AI Policy to Govern Usage and Mitigate Risk

AI has transformed cybersecurity, both as a defense mechanism and a tool leveraged by cybercriminals. Organizations must implement formal AI policies that regulate the use of AI tools across business operations, ensuring compliance, ethical AI deployment, and security best practices. An AI policy should cover:

• Usage guidelines: Defining permitted AI applications within the organization.
• Security measures: Addressing risks such as AI-generated phishing attacks and deepfake scams.
• Compliance considerations: Aligning AI use with industry regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, DORA, and emerging AI laws.
• Data protection: Preventing sensitive company and customer data from being fed into AI models.

By proactively setting AI policies, businesses can harness AI’s potential without exposing themselves to unnecessary risks.

Continuous Threat Exposure Management

Traditional vulnerability management is often too infrequent and fails to prioritize the biggest threats to your business. Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) is a trending approach that takes an attacker’s point of view to discover and prioritize weaknesses based on how likely they are to be exploited.

In 2025, organizations should increasingly rely on autonomous penetration testing to conduct regular, AI-driven security assessments as part of their CTEM program.

Autonomous pen testing offers:

• Continuous system weakness detection: Unlike annual pen tests, automated solutions provide ongoing security insights.
• Faster remediation: Identifies and prioritizes security gaps based on real world attack techniques.
• Reduced costs: Automating penetration testing minimizes the need for expensive manual engagements.

By integrating autonomous testing into their security strategy, organizations can reduce their attack surface and improve overall resilience.

Strengthening Preventative Controls and Threat Detection Capabilities

A reactive approach to cybersecurity is no longer sufficient. Organizations must proactively assess their security posture and implement a multi-layered defense strategy that includes both preventative and detective controls.

Preventative Controls: Reducing the Attack Surface

The right safeguards can prevent one compromised user account from becoming a sprawling security incident.

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enforcing MFA for all user accounts, particularly for privileged access.
• Strict Access Controls & Least Privilege: Limiting access to only what is necessary for each user, minimizing insider and external threats.
• Zero Trust Security: Continuously verifying access requests rather than assuming internal network trust.

Threat Detection: Respond Faster to Evolving Attacks

While monitoring firewall logs is still important, it is no longer a sufficient threat detection strategy.

• Threat Intelligence: Leveraging real-time threat feeds to stay ahead of emerging attack techniques.
• Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): Providing advanced monitoring and automated responses to endpoint threats.
• SaaS Threat Detection: Monitoring security logs for Microsoft 365 and other business-critical applications allows you to proactively disable accounts exhibiting suspicious behavior.

By implementing a mix of preventative and detective measures, businesses can significantly improve their security posture and resilience against cyber threats.

Virtual CISOs (vCISOs) for Compliance and Strategic Security Leadership

With cyber regulations becoming more stringent and security risks increasing, businesses—especially mid-market companies—are turning to Virtual CISOs (vCISOs) to fill critical leadership gaps. A vCISO provides:

• Compliance expertise: Helping businesses navigate evolving regulations like CMMC 2.0, SEC cyber disclosure rules, and ISO 27001.
• Security strategy development: Aligning cybersecurity initiatives with business goals.
• Incident response planning: Preparing organizations for rapid and effective breach response.

For organizations that lack the budget for a full-time CISO, a vCISO offers an effective and scalable solution to drive security and compliance forward.

Contact Thrive today to learn more about embracing these emerging trends, organizations can build a robust cybersecurity framework that protects their data, employees, and customers from the evolving threat landscape.

The post Emerging Cybersecurity Trends for 2025: Staying Ahead of Evolving Threats appeared first on Thrive.

Why Early Detection Matters

Cybercriminals often leak compromised data or plan attacks on the dark web before the target is aware of a breach. For example, “Leaksmas”, was an event where over 50 million records of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) were leaked in the Dark Web on Christmas Eve 2023.

Waiting until an attack strikes can leave your organization scrambling to recover, leading to downtime, financial losses, and reputational damage. With early detection, you can:

• Prevent Disruption: Swiftly addressing stolen credentials or look-a-like domain names can stop cybercriminals from committing fraud or gaining access to sensitive data..
• Maintain Trust: Customers and partners expect you to keep their data safe. Proactive monitoring helps you uphold their confidence.
• Enhance Incident Response: Detecting threats early allows security teams to prioritize actions and respond effectively before attacks materialize.

Thrive’s Partnership with Symbol Security and Dark Owl

Through a strategic partnership with Symbol Security and leveraging the cutting-edge capabilities of Dark Owl, Thrive is delivering dark web monitoring tools specifically tailored for small and mid-market organizations. Why does this matter?

• Advanced Threat Visibility for SMBs: Small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) are often targeted due to perceived weaker defenses. Thrive’s collaboration ensures access to enterprise-grade dark web intelligence for resource-limited organizations.
• Affordable, Accessible Solutions: Cybersecurity tools can be costly, but Thrive and Symbol Security are democratizing access. With Thrive’s expertise and Symbol Security’s advanced monitoring, organizations without large IT teams can protect their assets effectively.
• Expert-Led Action Plans: Identifying threats is just the first step. Thrive’s cybersecurity experts provide guidance on how to respond, which could range from resetting accounts, blocking domains to prevent users from being phished, or even engaging your legal resources to take down doppelganger domains impersonating your business.

This collaboration levels the playing field, ensuring businesses of all sizes have the tools to stay secure in today’s hostile digital environment.

Real-World Scenarios: Why Dark Web Monitoring is Essential

Consider these real-world examples of what dark web monitoring can uncover:

• Stolen Credentials: Login details compromised in a third-party breach are often posted for sale. If these credentials are reused on a company’s sensitive internal systems by an employee, attackers can gain access through no fault of the company. Dark web monitoring can identify these stolen logins before they have a chance to be weaponized.
• Leaked Customer Data: Cybercriminals may share your customer’s personal records, including email addresses, credit card numbers, social security numbers, and more putting your reputation and compliance at risk.
• Impending Attacks: Intercepting discussions about potential attacks against your organization or industry give you the opportunity to prepare before the threat becomes a reality.

Monitoring these activities enables businesses to take preemptive measures, such as resetting compromised passwords, tightening access controls, or alerting impacted customers.

Want to understand how dark web monitoring works and why it’s critical for your business? Join Thrive’s upcoming webinar, in collaboration with Symbol Security and Dark Owl, to explore:

• How cybercriminals use the dark web to communicate and plan attacks.
• The benefits of early threat detection for small and mid-market organizations.
• Practical strategies to safeguard your digital assets proactively.

Register Now

Take the Next Step: Thrive is Here to Help

Dark web monitoring isn’t just for large enterprises—every business, regardless of size, deserves access to advanced cybersecurity tools. Thrive’s expertly tailored solutions empower small and mid-market organizations to detect threats early, act decisively, and maintain operational integrity.
Contact Thrive today to learn how our cybersecurity experts can help you stay one step ahead of cyber attackers and protect what matters most.

The post Proactive Protection: How Dark Web Monitoring Can Safeguard Your Business appeared first on Thrive.

This client had recently begun onboarding Thrive’s IRR service, a decision that proved invaluable during the incident. During the onboarding process, they installed the Binalyze agent—our advanced digital forensics and incident response solution—on their endpoints. This proactive step ensured that when the ransomware event occurred, they were ready to utilize the powerful tools and expertise provided by their dedicated team of Thrive experts.

The ransomware incident was promptly reported to Thrive and escalated to our Cybersecurity Incident Response Team (CIRT). Thanks to the pre-installed Binalyze agents, the Thrive team was able to initiate a compromise assessment immediately. Within minutes, they were analyzing network activity and gathering critical data to understand the scope and scale of the attack.

By the time CIRT members joined the first call with the customer, they weren’t just discussing what they planned to do; they were reporting what they’d already accomplished.

Within hours of the initial report, the Thrive team triaged 84 systems, including the client’s Microsoft 365 environment. Thrive provided the customer with a detailed report identifying:

• Point of Intrusion: Where and how the attackers gained access
• Scale of Impact: The accounts and systems that were compromised during the attack

This rapid turnaround was achieved despite the client not yet subscribing to other Thrive SOC security services.
To ensure accuracy and transparency, the customer’s cybersecurity insurance company engaged a third-party forensics firm to review Thrive’s findings. The firm validated the accuracy of the assessment, confirming both the thoroughness and precision of Thrive’s work.

This independent confirmation saved the customer substantial time, allowing them to focus their energy on critical remediation and recovery tasks instead of second-guessing the initial analysis.
While no organization wants to face a ransomware event, this case demonstrated the critical value of Thrive’s new IRR service. From immediate action to validated findings, Thrive’s SOC delivered peace of mind and actionable intelligence when it mattered most.

This success story underscores the importance of preparedness and the benefits of partnering with a dedicated team of experts like Thrive. Whether it’s through robust endpoint protection, expert incident response, or ongoing cybersecurity support, Thrive is dedicated to keeping organizations secure—even in the most challenging moments. Contact Thrive today to learn more about our IRR service and how we can support your business in building resilience against cyber threats.

The post Swift Action, Seamless Resolution: How Thrive Successfully Responded to Ransomware Event appeared first on Thrive.

Why Cyber Essentials Matters

Cyber Essentials is a government-backed scheme designed to help organisations safeguard sensitive information by implementing baseline security measures. Achieving a CE certification demonstrates to customers, stakeholders, and partners that your organisation is committed to cybersecurity best practices. It also provides an additional benefit—organisations with this certification may qualify for certain types of cyber insurance coverage.

Thrive: A Trusted Partner for CE and CE+ Compliance

Thrive is uniquely positioned to help SMBs navigate IASME’s compliance process, offering tailored services for both CE and CE+ certifications. Thrive’s role as a certification body ensures your path to compliance is smooth, efficient, and aligned with your business objectives.

Elevating Compliance with Cyber Essentials

For organisations looking to enhance their cybersecurity credentials with a Cyber Essentials (CE) certification, Thrive provides Readiness Assessments to help prepare for both CE and CE+ certifications, which include:

• Gap Analysis Report: Identifying areas of non-compliance with CE and CE+ requirements.
• Roadmap to Compliance: Detailed steps to address identified gaps and align with the certification standards.

Getting Started with Cyber Essentials

The first step toward compliance is obtaining the Cyber Essentials certification. This process involves completing a self-certified questionnaire, which is submitted online to the IASME portal. Thrive’s experts are available to support organisations in understanding and accurately completing this essential step.

Upon successful submission of the questionnaire, Thrive will assess whether the answers meet the requirements and issue the CE certification, confirming your organisation meets the baseline requirements for cybersecurity.

Once the Cyber Essentials certification is complete, Thrive will guide organisations through the CE+ certification process.

The CE+ Audit

Achieving CE+ certification involves a hands-on technical assessment of your systems. A Thrive-certified CE+ assessor will conduct a comprehensive audit of all in-scope systems, including:

• Representative User Devices: Ensuring secure configuration and malware protection meet requirements.
• Firewalls: Ensuring that only secure and necessary network services can be accessed from the internet.
• Security Update Management: Ensuring that devices and software are not vulnerable to known security issues

This rigorous evaluation ensures that your organisation’s cybersecurity measures are not only compliant but also resilient against commodity-based threats.

Choose Thrive for Your Cyber Essentials Journey

Thrive’s expertise as a certification body goes beyond issuing certificates. Our end-to-end support enables SMBs in the UK to confidently achieve compliance while strengthening their overall security posture. Key benefits include:

• Expert Guidance: Thrive’s team of cybersecurity professionals simplifies the certification process.
• Customisable Support: From self-assessments to readiness assessments and audits, Thrive tailors services to your unique needs.

Take the Next Step Toward Compliance

Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications are crucial milestones for any UK-based SMB aiming to improve cybersecurity. Thrive’s comprehensive approach ensures your organisation is not only compliant but also equipped to face future challenges.

Contact Thrive today to achieve CE and CE+ compliance, enhance your cybersecurity posture, and protect your business against the ever-evolving threat landscape.

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