How to avoid surprise cybersecurity bills with fixed-fee protection

If your cybersecurity programme isn’t adding value, something’s wrong. One of our clients secured a major government contract because they could prove their cyber resilience. Their competitors couldn’t. Too many organisations still see security as a cost centre. A box-ticking exercise to satisfy auditors. That mindset misses the bigger picture. We see forward-thinking companies using security as a competitive advantage. Strong security practices open doors. They turn you from “just another supplier” into a trusted partner who understands what’s at stake. Think about the sectors where this matters most: • Government contracts • Financial services • Healthcare projects All demand demonstrable security credentials. And even in the private sector, businesses are becoming far more selective about their partners. Nobody wants to inherit a weak link. At P3M Works, we help organisations turn security into a selling point. That’s how we’re changing the game. And it’s exactly how we’ll keep doing it.

𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿? In the fast-paced world of service firms, it’s easy to overlook until a breach hits hard. I’ve stepped into offices where outdated software and unpatched systems were silent threats, putting client data at risk. ·      𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀, 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀: Cyber risks evolve constantly, threatening reputations and revenue. These gaps often unseen can derail your business without a closer look. ·      𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱: A Technical Audit! It’s not just a formality, it’s your key to uncovering vulnerabilities like weak passwords, unsecured networks, or outdated firewalls. ·      𝗨𝗻𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀: I’ve watched audits expose surprises, misconfigured servers, third-party app loopholes risks teams didn’t even know existed. Catch them early to stay ahead of hackers. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲: Fix these issues proactively, protecting your business and your clients’ confidence with a stronger defense. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵? Fill out the "Technical Audit Questionnaire" in the first comment below. Let’s spot your gaps and fortify your cybersecurity together!

Every small business should prioritize cybersecurity. Only one incident may make the company unable to recover. Understanding and prioritizing cybersecurity can help: ·      Protect sensitive information and intellectual property ·      Ensure company continuity to avoid costly disruptions ·      Maintains compliance with regulations ·      Promotes client trust and credibility ·      Identifies and mitigates risks proactively ·      Protect against limited budgets and outdated third-party exposure These steps help to keep your business safe and secure. 🌐 https://1l.ink/S7Z4N8K #SmallBizSecurity #CyberDefense #SMBProtection #InfoSec #ClientTrust

Cybersecurity isn’t just an IT task. It’s a business discipline. This year, cybercrime is projected to cost the global economy $10.5 trillion. Yet only 2 percent of organizations can fully restore operations within 24 hours after a breach. That’s not just a tooling issue—it’s a readiness issue. Organizations that recover faster treat cybersecurity as part of daily operations, not just an annual audit requirement. Frameworks like NIST help identify critical assets, prioritize protection, and guide an effective response. When paired with your audit, they highlight where action is needed most. Is your organization making cybersecurity part of daily routine?

🤔 Ever thought your pool and your computer system were alike? Keep reading—because the comparison might surprise you. At first glance, one holds water, the other runs code. Totally different, right? But here’s the twist: both collapse without regular maintenance. 🏊 Ignore a pool, and it turns green, slimy, and becomes a mosquito resort—costing a small fortune to fix. 💻 Ignore your computer system, and it becomes a hacker’s playground full of vulnerabilities—and that “small fortune” becomes millions: The average cost of a data breach in 2024 hit an all‑time high of $4.88 million, a 10% jump from the previous year. https://lnkd.in/e_9Rkryz In 2025, CyberScoop reported that U.S. companies experienced data breach recovery costs reaching a record high of $10.22 million per incident. https://lnkd.in/eqW47KPX Key Lesson: Just like pools need filters and chlorine, computer systems need patches, firewalls, secure coding, and monitoring. Skipping maintenance isn’t a cost-saving—it's a disaster waiting to happen. Want more insights like this in your feed? EireaNet.com helps keep IT environments spotless, secure, and stress-free—so you can focus on growth, not patching leaks. #EireaNet #MSP #CyberSecurity #DataBreach #ITSecurity #RiskManagement #BusinessContinuity #TechLeadership #CIO #CISO #DigitalTrust #SystemMaintenance

🚨 Healthcare orgs, let’s be real… 🚨 Too many teams trust the vendor’s sales pitch instead of actually checking security controls. (And hey, vendors aren’t gonna tell you where the holes are 👀). The truth? Blind trust in third parties is one of the fastest ways to put patient data—and your reputation—at risk. At Hale Consulting Solutions LLC, we help healthcare organizations cut through the noise, evaluate vendor risk properly, and strengthen cybersecurity programs so your partners don’t become your weakest link. 👉 Don’t just trust. Verify. And let us show you how. #HealthcareCybersecurity #VendorRisk #TrustButVerify #PatientData #DataProtection #HealthcareMeme #RiskManagement #HaleConsultingSolutions

I had the opportunity to share with FutureCISO on the trend of businesses tightening their IT service contracts amid rising cyber incidents.   Some key takeaways that I highlighted:   ➡️ Third-party supplier agreements are more rigorously and regularly reviewed. What is the new standard for these third-party suppliers? Clearer IT security obligations, regular update requirements, well-defined breach notification windows and broader audit rights.   ➡️ Minimum baseline security measures set out in such agreements commonly go beyond what is legally required. Measures like multi-factor authentication are not just reasonable steps to safeguard your systems, they are now table stakes.   ➡️ Prevention is better than cure in dealing with risks from emerging technologies. Time, costs and effort should ideally be invested in creating protocols, policies and training to address these risks, such as training employees to better identify deepfakes and phishing emails. An incident response playbook for any future IT security breach would not hurt either.   The link to the article can be found in the comments section below.   Thanks to Eileen Yu for the opportunity to provide my views. RPC     

I talk to MSPs all the time about their cybersecurity, and I keep coming back to a single, chilling thought: "If a serious attack hit tomorrow, how many would survive, and at what cost?" Many MSPs claim to be proactive, but for too many they just get stuck in the comfort of a break-fix cycle.   I've seen it firsthand. Ransomware hits, and the only plan is an old backup and a prayer. Weeks of cleanup follow, the client's business suffers, and the partnership, or the entire business, is gone. Being proactive isn't just a buzzword, it's a matter of business survival. It allows us to minimise risk and cover our bases.   Here are three critical steps to start moving in the right direction:   ▪️ Follow a Framework: Stop simply adding tools. Adopt a recognised security framework like SMB1001, CIS, NIST, or ISO 27001. A framework provides a structured, strategic path to build a robust program that allows you to break away from being reactive. Find one that works for you and your clients.   ▪️ Secure Your Own House First: You are a high-value target to threat actors. You can't offer cybersecurity value to clients if you aren't doing it yourself.   ▪️ Have a Tested Plan: A good incident response plan is the difference between a crisis and a catastrophe. Test it regularly and stay on top of it.   Let's stop hoping we don't get hit and start building a defence that ensures we can withstand an attack. Your business and your clients depend on it.

💻 Cybersecurity Audits: Why They’re a Business Shield, Not Just Compliance In today’s digital world, cyber threats are no longer just “IT problems.” A single phishing attack, ransomware hit, or data leak can: ❌ Halt operations ❌ Damage your reputation ❌ Burn a hole in your pocket That’s why more businesses are turning to cybersecurity audits. And here’s the real truth → The biggest winners of these audits are clients themselves. ✨ Benefits of a Cybersecurity Audit for Your Business: 1️⃣ Protects your reputation – Safeguards the trust you’ve built with customers & partners. 2️⃣ Prevents financial losses – Cheaper to prevent a breach than recover from one. 3️⃣ Ensures compliance – Stay aligned with evolving data protection laws. 4️⃣ Keeps you running – Strong backup & recovery systems minimize downtime. 5️⃣ Builds confidence – Investors & partners trust businesses that are resilient. 🔑 The real benefit? It turns “risk” into “opportunity.” You walk away with clarity on blind spots and actionable steps to secure tomorrow—making your business stronger, smarter, and more trusted. 👉 A cybersecurity audit isn’t about fear. It’s about confidence and future-readiness. #Cybersecurity #InternalAudit #BusinessResilience #DataProtection #RiskManagement

Cyber hygiene is like brushing and flossing your teeth. Skip it once, no big deal. Skip it for months, and at best you've got really bad breath. At worst your teeth and gums decay. It’s the same in cybersecurity. ·      That unknown device or piece of software ·      That unpatched server. ·      That forgotten contractor account. ·      That backup no one’s tested. ·      That MFA rollout that stopped short. One by itself may not wreck you. But let them pile up, and suddenly you’re explaining a breach to the board. That’s why foundational cybersecurity hygiene matters — what the CIS Controls call Implementation Group 1. It’s not shiny. It’s not flashy. But it’s what keeps the organization healthy. 💬 IT pros — how can security practitioners best help you in your day-to-day so the fundamentals don’t get lost in the noise?