In an age where cyber-attacks evolve daily, many decision-makers assume beefing up security requires massive budgets or outside consultants. As a leading software development company in India, ITMTB Technologies believes that every organization—regardless of size—can adopt foundational measures now to dramatically reduce risk. Below are seven practical steps, along with dos and don’ts, that you can implement internally. At the end, we’ll explain how our custom software engineering expertise can fill any remaining gaps.
**Human error drives 90% of breaches.**¹
Average cost of a data breach worldwide: USD 4.45 million.²
SMBs are prime targets because they often lack even basic defenses.
Even without elaborate tooling, a measured focus on processes, user education, and configuration can harden your digital perimeter.
Do:
Require passwords ≥12 characters with mixed types.
Deploy Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on all critical systems (email, VPN, cloud consoles).
Use a password manager to store and rotate credentials.
Don’t:
Allow reused or default passwords.
Skip MFA for “trusted” networks or roles.
Use Case: A fintech client reduced unauthorized access attempts by 85% after rolling out MFA across its employee base.
Do:
Maintain an asset inventory (all servers, workstations, IoT devices).
Automate patch deployment for OS, browsers, and key applications weekly.
Subscribe to vendor security bulletins (e.g., Microsoft, Adobe).
Don’t:
Defer updates beyond 30 days.
Ignore end-of-life software (e.g., Windows 7, unsupported Java).
Reference: NIST Cybersecurity Framework – Identify & Protect functions³
Do:
Create separate VLANs for development, production, and guest Wi-Fi.
Implement the principle of least privilege—grant users only the permissions they need.
Regularly review and revoke stale accounts.
Don’t:
Host sensitive databases on the same network as email servers.
Give blanket admin rights to all engineers.
Do:
Install and centrally manage anti-malware/EDR on every endpoint.
Encrypt laptops and mobile devices with full-disk encryption.
Enforce screen time-outs and device auto-lock policies.
Don’t:
Neglect mobile device management (MDM) for remote workers.
Permit installation of unapproved software.
Do:
Run phishing simulations quarterly and review results.
Develop a concise “Security Quick Guide” for new hires (covering email hygiene, USB usage, and suspicious links).
Recognize and reward employees who report incidents.
Don’t:
Rely on a one-time onboarding session.
Shame staff for clicking on simulated phishes—instead, coach them.
Use Case: An e-commerce startup we supported saw phishing-reporting rates climb from 5% to 45% within two drills.
Do:
Draft a 1-page runbook: who to call (IT, legal, PR), where to document, and initial containment steps.
Test the plan via a tabletop exercise once every six months.
Define clear escalation paths and recovery time objectives (RTOs).
Don’t:
Assume “we’ll figure it out if it happens.”
Over-complicate the plan—simplicity ensures action under stress.
Do:
Enable logging on firewalls, VPNs, and critical apps.
Centralize logs in a lightweight SIEM or log-aggregation tool (even open-source).
Review high-priority alerts (login failures, privilege escalations) daily.
Don’t:
Keep logs only locally—risk losing forensic data in a breach.
Overlook retention policies (retain at least 90 days).
By implementing these seven steps internally, organizations can immediately reduce their attack surface without external help. As one of the premier software development companies in India, ITMTB Technologies embeds these security best practices into every custom software project—from ERP solutions to AI platforms—ensuring that your applications are resilient by design.
Implementing these measures also supports your digital transformation, enhances customer trust, and positions you favorably in search results.
Should you require deeper audits, advanced threat modeling, or hands-on implementation of secure architectures, ITMTB Technologies is here to help. Our cross-domain expertise—spanning fintech, healthcare, and e-commerce—means we can tailor solutions that fit your budget and timeline.
👉 Get in touch to schedule a free 30-minute security consultation with our experts.
Join industry leaders already scaling with our custom software solutions. Let’s build the tools your business needs to grow faster and stay ahead.