As we move into 2025, cybersecurity is becoming a major concern for businesses of all sizes — but especially for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). SMBs are increasingly becoming prime targets for cybercriminals. In fact, 56% of cyberattacks today don’t even rely on traditional malware. Instead, attackers are using legitimate tools already present in business systems to evade detection and maximize their attack surface.
The good news is there’s a way for you to protect your business without being a cybersecurity expert. There are five critical strategies that SMBs should implement to safeguard their digital assets from modern cyber threats.
1. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
What is Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)?
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is a sophisticated security solution that continuously monitors your business’s devices—including laptops, desktops, and mobile phones—for signs of malicious activity. If suspicious behavior is detected, EDR can swiftly isolate the affected device, preventing potential threats from spreading across your network.
How do we use EDR at Wolf Consulting?
Wolf Consulting has a team of experts monitoring potential threats to your business’s endpoints in real-time, which includes analyzing the latest attack vectors, filtering for false-positives, and quickly resolving any security issues that have been identified.
Our EDR solution is part of a more comprehensive security strategy that goes far beyond basic firewall and antivirus protection. While tools like Microsoft Defender, Norton, Malwarebytes etc. provide a solid foundation, our advanced EDR solution offers an essential next layer of defense against even the most advanced cyber attacks.
Why does EDR matter for your cybersecurity strategy
Every device an employee uses, whether in the office or remotely, is a potential entry point for cyberattacks. In 2024, EDR remains essential due to a continued rise in malware-free attacks. Cybercriminals increasingly rely on credential abuse and phishing, which bypass traditional malware defenses. In fact, nearly 80% of successful cyberattacks in 2024 involved phishing or using legitimate credentials, making behavior-based detection critical. Additionally, as remote work persists, cloud-based intrusions continue to rise—up 75% from the previous year.
The benefit of implementing EDR for your business
Implementing EDR through Wolf Consulting offers SMBs critical protection against these modern threats. Here’s how EDR benefits your organization:
Real-time Monitoring and Response: EDR constantly monitors your business’s devices, flagging suspicious activity and alerting security professionals immediately.
Clifford Laschon, vCTO/Technical Services Manager at Wolf Consulting, emphasizes:
“Having EDR in place for remote workers is crucial because it provides continuous visibility and response capabilities, even if employees are accessing data from home or other offsite locations.”
This ensures that attacks are identified early and contained before spreading across your network.
Protection for Remote Work: With more employees working remotely or using personal devices for business, EDR is essential for protecting devices wherever they are. In 2024, 80% of all breaches involve stolen credentials. EDR helps detect abnormal activity and prevent breaches in both onsite and remote environments.
Prevention of ransomware and malware: Ransomware attacks remain one of the biggest threats in 2024 and have been accelerated by generative AI. However, AI-powered EDR solutions have become more advanced in detecting early signs of ransomware and stopping it before it can encrypt data.
Clifford Laschon adds, “Our multi-layered approach includes EDR as a key tool in detecting early signs of ransomware, preventing it from encrypting critical data before it can cause serious harm.”
This proactive approach minimizes downtime and protects your business from significant damage.
The bottom line
Wolf Consulting’s EDR solutions provide the cutting-edge protection your business needs to stay secure against advanced threats that are able to penetrate your business’s first line of defense. With real-time monitoring and AI-powered detection, EDR ensures that your business’s devices and data are safe—whether employees are working in-office or remotely. In 2024, EDR has become a must-have for businesses seeking comprehensive protection from modern, stealthy attacks.
2. Managed Detection and Response (MDR)
What is MDR?
Managed Detection and Response (MDR) is a cybersecurity service that uses expert teams and advanced technology to monitor your networks, devices, and cloud systems around the clock. MDR actively searches for threats, responds to them in real time, and limits their damage—without needing extra staff. Its main advantage is the fast, hands-on approach to detecting and stopping cyberattacks before they cause serious harm.
Why MDR matters for your cybersecurity strategy
MDR goes beyond traditional security tools like firewalls and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions. While EDR focuses on identifying threats on individual devices, MDR takes a broader view, continuously monitoring your entire digital ecosystem for suspicious behavior.
Cybercriminals now use legitimate tools within business systems to bypass conventional defenses. In 2024, more than 90% of cyberattacks involved credential theft, data breaches, or ransomware, often initiated through phishing or unauthorized remote access. Attackers are increasingly using stolen credentials to infiltrate systems, making Managed Detection and Response (MDR) crucial for businesses. MDR helps to monitor and respond to these sophisticated intrusions, including internal threats like the abuse of Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), which was involved in 77% of attacks
How is MDR different from EDR?
While both MDR and EDR monitor systems for malicious activity, EDR is primarily focused on detecting threats at the device level. MDR, on the other hand, extends this protection to the entire network, cloud applications, and even email systems. For example, while EDR might catch malware on a specific laptop, MDR can detect unauthorized access across multiple endpoints and cloud environments.
Clifford Laschon, vCTO at Wolf Consulting, emphasizes:
“EDR is a vital layer for endpoint security, but without MDR, you’re missing the broader picture. With MDR, we can detect unusual activity across your cloud applications or identify when a phishing email leads to unauthorized access across multiple accounts.”
How Wolf Consulting’s MDR Service Benefits Your Business
24/7 Monitoring and Response: Cyber threats can occur at any moment, day or night. Wolf Consulting’s MDR service offers continuous monitoring across your entire digital infrastructure, detecting suspicious activities like unusual logins or privilege escalations in real time. If a threat is identified—whether it’s a phishing attempt or unauthorized access to your Microsoft 365 accounts—Wolf Consulting steps in immediately to isolate the threat and protect your data.
Proactive Threat Hunting: Rather than waiting for an alert, Wolf Consulting’s security experts actively hunt for hidden threats in your network and cloud environments. This proactive approach allows us to catch threats that haven’t triggered alarms yet.
Fast Incident Response and Recovery: When a threat is detected, Wolf Consulting’s MDR service takes immediate action to isolate affected systems and mitigate the threat. This quick response helps minimize downtime and reduces the potential damage to your business.
As Clifford Laschon explains: “Our team moves swiftly when a breach is detected. By stopping the attack in its early stages, we minimize the impact and ensure your business can get back to normal operations as soon as possible.”
Cost-Effective Security: For small and medium-sized businesses, maintaining an in-house security team can be expensive. Wolf Consulting’s MDR service gives you access to enterprise-level protection at a fraction of the cost, without sacrificing the quality of security.
The bottom line
In 2024, sophisticated cyberattacks that evade traditional defenses are on the rise. Wolf Consulting’s MDR service provides the proactive monitoring, real-time threat detection, and expert response your business needs to stay secure. MDR complements EDR and other security layers, offering comprehensive protection across your entire network, cloud environments, and devices—giving you peace of mind that your systems are safeguarded against today’s most advanced cyber threats.
3. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
What is MFA?
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds an essential layer of security by requiring users to verify their identity through more than just a password. It typically involves a second step, such as entering a one-time code sent to your phone, using an authentication app, or even biometrics like fingerprints. This additional factor ensures that even if a password is compromised, unauthorized users can’t access your systems.
Why MFA matters for your business’s cybersecurity strategy
Passwords remain the weakest link in many security systems. Hackers can steal, guess, or purchase leaked credentials from the dark web. In 2024, phishing attacks accounted for nearly 80% of data breaches, many of which exploited weak or reused passwords. MFA adds a critical safeguard by making it much harder for cybercriminals to break into your systems, even if they manage to steal login credentials.
A high-profile example occurred in 2023, when a Russian-aligned group exploited the lack of MFA on a legacy Microsoft account, accessing sensitive executive emails. This breach highlighted how important MFA is, especially for businesses with many employees and accounts. Without MFA, you leave the door wide open to attacks that exploit stolen credentials.
How MFA works with other security solutions like EDR and MDR
MFA alone provides a significant layer of protection, but it works even better when combined with other cybersecurity tools such as Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and Managed Detection and Response (MDR). Here’s why:
Credential Protection + Activity Monitoring: MFA reduces the risk of unauthorized access from compromised credentials, while EDR monitors devices for unusual activity. For example, even if a hacker somehow bypasses MFA, EDR will detect abnormal behaviors like unusual file downloads or system changes, triggering an alert before serious damage can occur.
Proactive Threat Hunting: MDR adds another layer of security by actively hunting for threats across your network, cloud services, and applications. If someone attempts to breach your system by exploiting weak passwords, MDR ensures that threats are detected early, while MFA helps prevent unauthorized access altogether.
Enhanced Security for Remote Work: As more employees work remotely, MFA provides secure access to cloud platforms like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. Combined with MDR, which continuously monitors cloud environments for suspicious activity, your business enjoys comprehensive protection from login to overall system health.
The benefit of implementing MFA through Wolf Consulting
By partnering with Wolf Consulting, businesses gain access to expert guidance on implementing MFA across all systems, ensuring smooth deployment and integration with other cybersecurity solutions like EDR and MDR. Here’s how MFA strengthens your overall defense:
Stronger security against credential theft: Even if passwords are compromised, MFA blocks unauthorized access, while MDR and EDR monitor for any suspicious activity.
Seamless implementation: Wolf Consulting ensures that MFA is rolled out smoothly across your entire organization, even for legacy systems that might otherwise be overlooked. This comprehensive setup is key to ensuring your employees can securely access systems from anywhere.
Prevention of costly breaches: As seen with the Microsoft breach, missing MFA can lead to significant security incidents. By implementing MFA across all accounts, you drastically reduce the risk of such breaches, while MDR and EDR provide real-time detection and response, ensuring that any threats are contained quickly.
The bottom line
MFA is one of the simplest and most effective ways to secure your business from credential-based cyberattacks. However, its true power is unlocked when used alongside advanced solutions like EDR and MDR, which monitor user activity and detect more sophisticated threats. By partnering with Wolf Consulting, you get seamless MFA integration that works in harmony with a broader cybersecurity strategy—ensuring your business is protected on every front.
4. Security Awareness Training
What is Security Awareness Training?
Security Awareness Training teaches employees how to recognize and avoid common cyber threats like phishing emails, malicious links, and social engineering scams. It includes simulations and continuous education to keep employees alert to evolving dangers.
As Clifford Laschon, vCTO of Wolf Consulting, notes: “Our training ensures that employees are consistently aware of evolving threats, making them a stronger line of defense for your business.”
Why does Security Awareness Training matter?
Your employees are often the first—and weakest—line of defense in a cyberattack. In 2024, phishing attacks surged by 58.2% with increasingly sophisticated, AI-driven tactics that can easily fool untrained staff. Nearly 79% of account takeovers stem from phishing emails, making your team’s ability to spot these threats crucial to your overall cybersecurity posture. Without proper training, one wrong click can open the door to costly breaches.
Businesses that implement security awareness training significantly reduce their vulnerability to attacks. In fact, companies that consistently train their staff saw a drop in phishing click rates from 34.3% to just 4.6%, compared to businesses without ongoing training that remain highly susceptible . This shows just how important it is for employees to be prepared for real-world cyber threats.
The benefit for your business
Wolf Consulting provides hands-on training and phishing simulations, giving your employees the knowledge they need to act as the first line of defense. Here’s how Security Awareness Training helps protect your business:
Phishing Protection: Trained employees are far less likely to fall for phishing scams, which reduces your risk of breaches. With the majority of data breaches starting from a phishing email, this training is critical to your overall security.
Simulated Phishing Tests: We run realistic phishing tests to assess how well your employees can detect threats. This allows us to identify gaps in knowledge and target additional training where necessary.
Building a Culture of Security: Security becomes a shared responsibility. When your employees are educated and engaged in protecting the business, it creates a proactive security culture where everyone plays a role in keeping your data safe.
Why Security Awareness Training is essential
Without this training, your employees could unknowingly expose your business to cyberattacks. But with Wolf Consulting’s tailored approach, they become your first defense against the most common forms of attack. Whether it’s spotting phishing emails or avoiding social engineering scams, trained employees dramatically reduce the chances of a breach. And, while EDR monitors devices for any malicious activity—like malware after a phishing click—your best defense is preventing that click from happening in the first place.
5. Incident Response Plan
What is an Incident Response Plan (IRP)?
An Incident Response Plan (IRP) is a structured, step-by-step guide outlining how your business should react to a cyberattack. It details procedures for detecting and containing a breach, communicating with stakeholders, and restoring operations. Wolf Consulting customizes these strategies to minimize damage and reduce downtime.
Why it matters
No business is immune to cyberattacks, and the speed of response determines how much damage is done. In 2024, the average time to detect and contain a data breach was 277 days. What an astonishing stat! Without a well-executed IRP, that delay can cost businesses millions, not just in data loss but in operational downtime and reputational harm.
Clifford Laschon, vCTO at Wolf Consulting, emphasizes: “We’ve seen firsthand how a well-executed incident response can be the difference between a minor disruption and a major crisis. Without a plan, businesses risk far more than just data loss—they risk their reputation and financial stability.”
Why EDR/MDR/MFA aren’t enough
While tools like Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and Managed Detection and Response (MDR) are excellent at spotting threats in real-time, and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) secures logins, these defenses alone cannot prevent all breaches. Cybercriminals can still find ways to exploit gaps—whether through zero-day attacks, credential theft, or phishing. An IRP ensures that when something slips past your defenses, your team is ready to act swiftly to contain the damage.
The benefit for your business
Partnering with Wolf Consulting for a comprehensive IRP provides these critical benefits:
Faster response to attacks: Companies with a robust IRP save an average of $1.39 million in costs by containing breaches quickly. Having a plan in place reduces the mean time to detect (MTTD) and respond to threats, limiting data loss and financial impact.
Minimized downtime: A swift response helps limit operational disruption. For instance, OmniVision, hit by a ransomware attack in 2023, suffered weeks of downtime. With Wolf Consulting’s IRP, your business is equipped to contain breaches early and maintain business continuity.
Clear communication during a crisis: An IRP outlines how to communicate with employees, clients, and stakeholders during an attack, ensuring a clear, professional response that protects your brand’s reputation.
The bottom line
Cyberattacks are inevitable, but the damage they cause doesn’t have to be. A well-developed Incident Response Plan from Wolf Consulting ensures your business can quickly detect, contain, and recover from breaches. By minimizing downtime and protecting your reputation, an IRP is essential to your overall cybersecurity strategy.
Conclusion
In 2025, cybersecurity is an absolute must for every small and medium-sized business. The five strategies outlined above—MDR, EDR, MFA, Security Awareness Training, and a comprehensive Incident Response Plan (IRP)—are critical for protecting your business against the growing complexity and severity of cyber threats.
Implementing these tools ensures that your business can detect and respond to cyberattacks in real time and prevent them from happening in the first place. More importantly, they work best when integrated into a cohesive plan, ensuring that even when something slips through, your business is ready to respond swiftly and minimize damage.
Partnering with a trusted cybersecurity provider like Wolf Consulting gives you the peace of mind that these vital components are expertly managed and tailored to your business needs. By building a proactive cybersecurity strategy today, you protect your business’s future—safeguarding your data, reputation, and operations.
Need help implementing these strategies? Contact Wolf Consulting today to build a customized cybersecurity plan that fits your business’s needs.