In today’s digital landscape, small businesses face a challenge that can be likened to a knight preparing for battle.
Imagine having both a trusty shield and a sharp sword at your disposal – one to block incoming threats and the other to proactively test your defences. Which do you choose? Can you do both at the same time? This is the essence of balancing cyber security defensive and offensive measures.
Running a small business can feel like a battle at times, we get that. But this is one ‘war’ you do not want to lose or be unprepared for. And we’re here to help.
The cyber security playing field is not a level one
Let us paint you a picture. Imagine your business as a modest country house. Defensive cyber security is equivalent to installing sturdy locks on your doors and windows, setting up security cameras, and perhaps adding an alarm system.
Offensive cyber security, on the other hand, would be like hiring someone to attempt to break into your home, identify the vulnerabilities, and then fix them before an actual burglar discovers them. Sounds straightforward enough, doesn’t it? But here’s where things get interesting.
Large enterprises, the cyber-equivalent of sprawling estates with multiple buildings and extensive grounds, typically employ both approaches. They have the resources to build formidable defensive walls whilst simultaneously sending their own “white hat” hackers on missions to probe those defences. For them, it’s not an either/or proposition; it’s both, with dedicated teams handling each aspect.
But what about you and your small business? With your limited resources and a small (or non-existent) IT department, the question becomes significantly more pressing.
The defensive stance: the first line of cyber protection
Defensive cyber security is rather like a good cup of tea – essential, comforting, and something no British business should be without. At its core, defensive cyber security focuses on protecting your systems and data from attacks. This includes implementing firewalls, antivirus software, regular system updates, data encryption, and access controls. Think of like building a digital fortress around your business assets.
For small businesses, this approach offers several advantages:
First, it addresses the most common threats. The vast majority of cyberattacks on small businesses are opportunistic rather than targeted. Cybercriminals cast wide nets using automated tools, looking for easy targets with obvious vulnerabilities. A solid defensive posture dramatically reduces your chances of being caught in these nets.
Second, defensive measures provide tangible protection that’s relatively straightforward to implement. Even with limited technical expertise, you can set up basic defences like antivirus software, firewalls, and regular backups. These measures aren’t particularly sexy or exciting, but they’re rather like flossing your teeth, unglamorous yet absolutely essential for preventing problems down the line.
Third, defensive cyber security is generally more cost-effective. You can establish baseline protections without breaking the bank, and many solutions scale according to your business size. This makes them particularly suitable for small businesses operating with tight budgets.
One business owner shared a perspective with us last year that we’ve heard repeatedly in some form or another: “I don’t need to be the most secure business in the world – I just need to be more secure than the business like mine out there.” While we wouldn’t recommend this as your ultimate security goal, it does capture an important truth that we at PurpleJelly see regularly: even basic defensive measures can significantly reduce your risk exposure.
The offensive approach: taking the fight to the enemy
Now, let’s talk about offensive cyber security, the more proactive, even aggressive side of the security equation. Offensive cyber security involves proactively testing your own defences by simulating attacks. This includes activities like penetration testing (or “pen testing” to those in the know), vulnerability scanning, and security audits. It’s essentially about finding your weak spots before the bad guys do.
For larger organisations, offensive cyber security is a critical component of a comprehensive security strategy. By continuously probing their own defences, they can identify and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
The benefits of this approach include:
- Discovering unknown vulnerabilities that might slip past traditional defensive measures. Even the best defensive tools have blind spots, and offensive testing helps uncover these hidden weaknesses.
- Providing a realistic assessment of your security posture. It’s one thing to believe your defences are robust; it’s quite another to have them thoroughly tested and verified.
- Keeping your IT and/or cyber security team on their toes (if you have one that is). Nothing improves performance quite like a good challenge, and simulated attacks help maintain vigilance and readiness.
However, and this is a rather significant however for small businesses, offensive cyber security requires specialised expertise and substantial resources. Conducting effective penetration testing isn’t something your office administrator can pick up over a weekend course and a few YouTube tutorials. It requires trained professionals with specific technical skills and extensive knowledge of attack methodologies.
The evolution of defence: enter XDR services
Before we dive into what approach is best for your small business, it’s worth highlighting how defensive cyber security has evolved in recent years. Traditional tools like standard antivirus and firewalls are no longer sufficient in today’s sophisticated threat landscape.
This is where Extended Detection and Response (XDR) comes into play, representing a significant advancement in defensive cyber security technology. XDR takes your defensive posture from basic to comprehensive by combining multiple security layers into a unified, intelligent system. And it’s something we do here at PurpleJelly, right now, for small and medium-sezed businesses just like yours.
Unlike traditional security tools that operate in isolation, XDR integrates endpoints, networks, cloud workloads, and applications into a cohesive security ecosystem. It’s rather like upgrading from having separate security guards at different entrances to having a centralised command centre with comprehensive visibility across your entire property.
The beauty of XDR for small businesses lies in its ability to:
- Provide 24/7 threat monitoring, detection, and automated responses across your entire digital environment. When suspicious activity occurs, perhaps someone repeatedly attempting to log in with incorrect credentials at 3am, XDR notices and responds immediately, not when your IT person checks the logs the following morning.
- Consolidate security alerts from multiple sources into meaningful incidents, reducing “alert fatigue” and helping you focus on genuine threats. It’s the difference between receiving fifty separate notifications about minor issues and one comprehensive report highlighting what truly matters.
- Offer advanced threat hunting capabilities that can identify sophisticated attacks that might otherwise go undetected. XDR doesn’t just wait for known threats to appear; it actively looks for suspicious patterns that might indicate new attack methods.
- Supply detailed forensic information when incidents do occur, helping you understand what happened and how to prevent similar events in the future. It’s like having a detective who not only catches the burglar but also explains exactly how they breached your security so you can fix the vulnerability.
In our experience at PurpleJelly, we’ve seen numerous cases where implementing XDR has significantly improved security outcomes for our clients. One of our clients was initially hesitant about moving beyond traditional security tools, but after experiencing a near-miss with a sophisticated phishing campaign, they adopted our XDR solution.
Within the first month, the system detected and neutralised multiple threats that their previous defences would have missed entirely. As they told us in our quarterly review, “We had no idea what was slipping through our old security systems until we saw what XDR was catching.”
The small business cyber security reality: shield or sword?
Given these considerations, where should small businesses direct their resources? The answer, we’re afraid, isn’t quite as straightforward as choosing between Earl Grey and English Breakfast.
For most small businesses, a defence-first approach makes the most practical sense. Think of it as building a solid foundation before adding the fancy architectural flourishes. Before you start worrying about simulated attacks and penetration testing, ensure you’ve covered these defensive basics:
Implement strong password policies and multi-factor authentication. And no, your dog’s name followed by your birth year doesn’t qualify as a strong password, no matter how clever you think Fido2023! might be.
Keep all software and systems updated. Those pesky update notifications might interrupt your workflow, but they’re far less disruptive than a ransomware attack.
Secure your network with firewalls and encrypt sensitive data. This is particularly crucial if you’re handling financial information or personal data.
Backup your data regularly and test those backups. A backup you can’t restore is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Train your staff on security awareness. Your employees can be your strongest security asset or your greatest vulnerability, depending on how well they’re trained.
Consider implementing XDR for comprehensive threat detection and response capabilities. In today’s threat landscape, having this advanced level of monitoring and protection provides significant advantages over traditional security tools.
Once these defensive measures are firmly in place and operating smoothly, you might consider incorporating some elements of offensive security. This doesn’t mean you need to hire a full-time penetration tester, but periodic security assessments conducted by external experts can provide valuable insights into your security posture.
The middle ground: a pragmatic approach
For many small businesses, the most effective strategy lies in finding a balanced approach that emphasises defensive measures while incorporating elements of offensive security where feasible. This might involve:
- Focusing on establishing and maintaining strong defensive measures as your primary security strategy, with XDR as the cornerstone of your protection.
- Engaging external security experts for periodic assessments and targeted penetration testing. Think of it as bringing in specialists for an annual health check rather than employing a full-time doctor.
- Utilising automated vulnerability scanning tools that can identify common security issues without requiring extensive technical expertise.
- Participating in information-sharing networks where businesses can learn from others’ experiences and stay informed about emerging threats.
Our team recently worked with a legal firm in Surrey that had been relying on basic security measures for years. After experiencing some suspicious network activity, they approached us for guidance. Our initial assessment revealed numerous vulnerabilities that could have been exploited by attackers. We helped them implement a comprehensive XDR solution and conducted targeted penetration testing to identify remaining weak points.
The transformation was remarkable, not just in terms of their security posture, but also in the peace of mind it provided their leadership team. As the IT manager remarked during our implementation review, “For the first time, we feel like we’re ahead of the threats rather than constantly playing catch-up.”
The cyber security balancing act: why external expertise makes sense
This brings us to what is perhaps the most practical solution for many small businesses: partnering with an external provider that offers XDR services. Working with an external cyber security partner offers several distinct advantages:
- Access to specialised expertise that would be prohibitively expensive to maintain in-house. Security professionals with offensive capabilities and XDR expertise command premium salaries, but through a managed service, you can access their skills without the full financial burden.
- Comprehensive XDR services that provide 24/7 monitoring, detection, and response capabilities. This means threats are identified and neutralised quickly, often before they can cause significant damage.
- Scalable solutions that can grow with your business. A good provider will offer services that adapt to your changing needs rather than forcing you into a one-size-fits-all package.
- Continuous monitoring and rapid response capabilities that would be difficult for a small business to maintain independently. Cyber threats don’t limit themselves to office hours, and having around-the-clock protection provides invaluable peace of mind.
- An external perspective that can identify blind spots you might have missed. Sometimes we become so accustomed to our own systems and processes that we fail to see their vulnerabilities.
The PurpleJelly team has witnessed countless examples of how this partnership approach transforms cyber security outcomes for small businesses. One business we work with had been struggling to maintain adequate security with their limited internal resources. After implementing our managed XDR service, they experienced a dramatic reduction in security incidents and false positives.
Making the right choice for your business
At the end of the day, the choice between offensive and defensive cyber security isn’t really a choice at all for most small businesses, at least not initially. It’s about establishing a solid defensive foundation, ideally with advanced technology like XDR, and then gradually incorporating offensive elements as your resources and security maturity allow.
The key is to be realistic about your capabilities and to recognise when external expertise is needed. We know that cyber security is complex and that’s why specialists exist.
So, as you contemplate your cyber security strategy over your next cuppa, remember this: start with robust defence, implement advanced monitoring through XDR, and don’t try to go it alone if you don’t have to.
Your business deserves the protection of both a sturdy shield and, when appropriate, a testing sword, even if that sword is occasionally borrowed from those who wield it best.
