Building a Robust IT Security Framework

lafof00
8 minutes ago
3 min read

A practical guide for SME CTOs from SiUX Technology

Cyber threats don’t scale down for smaller companies—they scale with them. For CTOs of small and mid-sized businesses, the challenge is building a right-sized security framework that reduces risk, supports growth, and fits real budgets and teams. At SiUX Technology, we focus on pragmatic controls, clear governance, and measurable outcomes. Below is a concise blueprint you can implement in phases—without boiling the ocean.

Infographic titled “Building a Robust IT Security Framework” illustrating key cybersecurity pillars: governance and risk alignment, identity management, protection of critical data, incident detection, network and cloud security, and resilience across people and processes. Center shield labeled “Resilience” symbolizes strong IT protection.

1) Start with Governance and Risk

Why it matters: Security is a business function. Governance aligns controls to risk, budget, and accountability.

Do now

Define risk owners for key areas (identity, data, endpoints, cloud, vendors).
Approve 6–10 baseline policies (Acceptable Use, Access Control, Password/MFA, Patch Management, Backup/DR, Incident Response, Data Classification, Vendor Risk, Email Security, Logging & Monitoring).
Maintain a risk register and review quarterly with leadership.
Establish a RACI for incidents and change approvals.

2) Identity First: MFA, Least Privilege, and Access Reviews

Goal: Make stolen passwords useless and prevent privilege creep.

Enforce MFA for email, VPN, admin portals, and all remote access.
Implement role-based access control (RBAC) and least privilege.
Quarterly access reviews; immediate revocation on offboarding.
Email & Identity Protection: Implement SPF, DKIM, DMARC; block legacy auth; use conditional access and risk-based sign-ins to stop business email compromise.

3) Protect the Data You Can’t Afford to Lose

Scope: Customer PII, financials, IP, regulated data.

Classify data (High/Medium/Low). Apply encryption at rest/in transit.
Turn on DLP in productivity suites (M365/Google Workspace).
Use least privilege on file shares; expire temporary access.
Backups: 3-2-1 rule, immutable/offline copies, quarterly restore tests.

4) Harden Endpoints with EDR and MDM

Standardize builds; remove local admin from users.
Enforce full-disk encryption and screen lock.
Block macros/unsigned executables by default.
Deploy EDR (endpoint detection & response) to all devices; manage via MDM (laptops & mobiles).
Patch OS, apps, browsers, firmware on a defined SLA (e.g., <14 days critical).

5) Network and Cloud/SaaS Security

Segment networks (user, server, IoT/OT, guest).
Restrict RDP/SSH to VPN with MFA; disable unused ports/protocols.
Use secure configurations in cloud (CSPM/CIS baselines), limit public exposure, rotate keys, and review OAuth app grants in SaaS tenants.
Log firewall, VPN, identity, and cloud events centrally.

6) Continuous Monitoring, Logging, and Detection

Centralize logs in a SIEM/lightweight log platform.
Alert on: new global admins, MFA resets, suspicious OAuth grants, anomalous egress, mass file encryption, and mailbox forwarding rules.
Define triage SLAs (e.g., P1 within 15 minutes, P2 within 4 hours).
Run threat-hunting sprints monthly (even 1–2 hours helps).

7) People, Process, and Resilience

Security awareness: short, frequent micro-trainings; quarterly phishing simulations; one-click “Report Phish.”
Incident Response (IR): 1-page plan with contacts, thresholds, playbooks (ransomware, BEC, lost device, data leak). Tabletop quarterly.
Business continuity: Map critical processes, RTO/RPO targets, failover tests twice a year.

8) Vendor and Third-Party Risk

Maintain a SaaS/third-party registry (data types, location, privileges).
Require DPAs and review security attestations (SOC 2/ISO 27001 where relevant).
Limit broad API scopes; re-certify access every quarter.

A Phased Roadmap (30/60/90 Days)

Days 0–30: Foundations

MFA everywhere; block legacy auth; basic RBAC.
Inventory assets (devices, SaaS, admins).
Backups: implement 3-2-1 and complete one test restore.
Approve baseline policies; publish IR contacts.

Days 31–60: Visibility & Control

Deploy EDR + MDM; standardize endpoint baselines.
Configure SPF/DKIM/DMARC to quarantine/reject.
Centralize critical logs; enable high-value alerts.
Segment guest/IoT networks; VPN + MFA for admin/remote.

Days 61–90: Resilience & Maturity

DLP for sensitive data; tighten SaaS OAuth/app permissions.
Tabletop IR; drill ransomware + BEC playbooks.
Cloud configuration review against CIS baselines.
Establish quarterly risk and access reviews.

What to Measure (Security KPIs)

MFA coverage: % users/admins with enforced MFA => target: 100%.
Patch SLAs: % critical patches <14 days => target: >95%.
Phish reporting: time-to-report & click-rate trend => downward.
Backup recoverability: last successful restore test date => ≤90 days.
EDR coverage: % endpoints actively reporting => target: 100%.
Incident MTTR: mean time to detect/respond => trend downward.

How SiUX Technology Helps

We tailor frameworks to your risk, budget, and team capacity—quick wins first, then depth.

Our typical engagement: rapid baseline assessment, 90-day hardening plan (identity, email, endpoints, backups), and a 12-month roadmap for monitoring, cloud/SaaS controls, and resilience. Clear artifacts, measurable KPIs, and executive-ready reporting—so security accelerates, not slows, the business.

Ready to fortify your environment?

Let’s connect. SiUX Technology can design and implement a right-sized security framework that reduces risk fast and scales with your growth.