End-of-Year Technology Spending

You may find yourself reading this information and thinking “Bastionpoint handles our IT and complete end-to-end security. What else needs to be done?”

As the year winds down, businesses, especially small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), are focusing on their technology budgets for the upcoming year. If you’re working with a Managed Service Provider (MSP), this is the ideal time to assess your technology infrastructure, identify gaps in security, and make proactive investments to safeguard your business. With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated, aligning your end-of-year tech spending with cybersecurity initiatives should be a top priority.

In this article, we’ll explore what to focus on for Q4 technology spending, the cybersecurity tools and strategies that should be part of your 2025 plan, and how even with a tight budget, there are impactful, cost-effective ways to secure your business.

Working with a reputable MSP like Bastionpoint, already positions your business light years ahead of your competition. We put all the pieces in place for Cybersecurity, Cloud Services and IT Infrastructure Investments ahead of everything else. We have always and continue to put the best in Cybersecurity Investments in everyday reach of our managed partners.

While we can control your environment from a security standpoint, it’s very important to keep computer hardware upgrades at the front of your business spending. (Especially with Windows 11 right around the corner!)

Cybersecurity Focus for 2025: Protecting Your Business from Evolving Threats

Cybersecurity should be the backbone of any IT investment plan. Cyberattacks are becoming more advanced, and hackers are targeting vulnerabilities in every industry. In 2025, businesses must take a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity, which goes beyond just installing firewalls and antivirus software. Here’s where to focus your attention:

1. Investing in Additional Cybersecurity Tools

While basic security measures like firewalls and antivirus are essential, SMBs must go beyond these traditional defenses.

• Password Vaults: The average employee uses multiple passwords for work-related systems. Without proper management, this can create significant vulnerabilities. Investing in a password vault (or password manager) is one of the simplest ways to enhance security. These tools securely store and encrypt passwords, reducing the risk of password-related breaches.
• Data Loss Prevention (DLP): DLP products help monitor and prevent unauthorized access or transmission of sensitive data, such as financial records or intellectual property. By implementing DLP tools, businesses can mitigate the risks of both external and insider threats, ensuring sensitive information remains secure.
• Productivity Monitoring Tools: While it might sound like a privacy concern, monitoring employee productivity through secure, non-invasive tools can also enhance security. These tools help track potential security issues, including employees who may be over-sharing data, working with unauthorized applications, or engaging in risky online behaviors.

2. The Importance of Policies and Documentation

Technology isn’t just about tools—effective policies and procedures are critical to maintaining security. As you assess your end-of-year spending, allocate resources to creating or updating key policies and documentation that are vital for your business continuity and security.

• Disaster Recovery (DR) Plans: In the event of a cyberattack, natural disaster, or system failure, a disaster recovery plan (DRP) is essential for minimizing downtime and data loss. Creating and testing a DRP is an investment in business continuity and can save both time and money in a crisis.
• Employee Acceptable Use Policies: Cybersecurity breaches often happen due to human error—employees unknowingly clicking on phishing emails, using weak passwords, or connecting to unsecured networks. Drafting and enforcing clear acceptable use policies ensures that employees understand their role in keeping company data secure.
• Compliance Documentation: If your business is subject to industry regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA), ensuring compliance should be a key area of focus. Compliance documentation not only protects your business from legal and financial penalties but also helps in building trust with clients. Consider budgeting for a compliance audit and for creating or updating necessary compliance policies.

3. Cybersecurity Training: A Must-Have, Even with a Tight Budget

While spending on cybersecurity tools and policies is crucial, one of the most valuable—and often overlooked—investments is training. Cybersecurity awareness training for employees is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of successful attacks, and in many cases, if you are a managed client of Bastionpoint Technology, it can be done with a minimal time investment and no additional cost.

Training employees to recognize phishing emails, use strong passwords, and understand company security policies can have a major impact on preventing attacks. The return on investment for cybersecurity training is far greater than the initial time investment. A single breach can be far more costly, both financially and in terms of damage to your business’s reputation, than the cost of training employees on best practices. Sound interesting? Let’s get your employees engaged for free training in 2025!

Wrapping Up: Be Proactive with Your 2025 IT & Cybersecurity Strategy

End-of-year spending is your opportunity to position your business for success in 2025. By investing in the right cybersecurity tools and taking a proactive approach to employee training and policy development, you’ll be in a stronger position to defend against emerging threats.

Focus on:

• Critical cybersecurity tools like password vaults, DLP, and productivity monitoring.
• Establishing or updating disaster recovery plans, acceptable use policies, and compliance documentation.
• Free cybersecurity training resources to empower employees and mitigate risk, even with a limited budget.

Remember, the key to robust cybersecurity isn’t just the tools you deploy—it’s the people, processes, and policies you have in place. By making strategic, cost-effective investments today, you can set your business up for a more secure and successful 2025.

As we move into the new year, take the time to work with us to assess your cybersecurity posture and ensure your business is well-prepared to handle the evolving threats on the horizon. Working with an experienced MSP like Bastionpoint to help guide these decisions can provide additional peace of mind and expertise as you plan for the year ahead.