As businesses grow, systems change. Our teams evolve, we add new tools and expand access. But behind the scenes, complexity builds.
Often what gets lost in that growth is visibility. The fundamentals slowly drift out of view, even as your IT environment supports daily operations in the background.
That’s the scary part. Your security doesn’t usually fail all at once. It weakens at the edges with small gaps, unclear ownership, or unchecked assumptions.
And that’s why strong security doesn’t start with advanced tools or dramatic changes. It starts with making sure the basics are covered.
Why Security Fundamentals Still Matter
Every organisation, regardless of size or industry, relies on the same core security principles:
- Clear access controls
- Reliable protection on devices
- Visibility into what’s happening across the environment
When you address these fundamentals consistently, your business operates with greater confidence. You can identify issues earlier, avoid disruptions, and make decisions with clarity instead of uncertainty.
But when they’re overlooked, even unintentionally, risk creeps in quietly in the background.
This Security Coverage Quick Guide was created to bring focus back to what matters most: the essential security areas your business should have covered to support stability, continuity, and growth.
Download the Security Coverage Quick Guide
Use it to quickly confirm what’s covered, what needs attention, and where responsibility sits across your IT environment.
The 10 Security Areas Every Business Should Review
Here is a practical walkthrough of the ten coverage areas outlined in the guide to help you assess whether your security foundations are firmly in place.
1. Verify Backups and Test a Restore
Backups only matter if they work. Failures are often discovered only after an incident, when time and options are already limited. It’s not enough to assume your backups are running. You need confirmation that data can actually be restored, and restored quickly when it matters.
What to confirm:
- Your backups are running successfully
- Restore tests are being performed consistently
- Off-site or cloud backups are in place
2. Review and Tighten Administrative Access
Administrative access should be limited, deliberate, and closely protected. Over-privileged accounts remain one of the most common entry points for security breaches. As teams change, access can quietly expand unless it’s regularly reviewed.
What to confirm:
- Only essential users have admin rights
- Unnecessary accounts have been removed or downgraded
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is enforced for admin roles
3. Patch and Update All Devices
Unpatched systems are one of the easiest targets for attackers. Updates don’t just improve performance; they close known security gaps. When updates are delayed or missed, risk accumulates quickly.
What to confirm:
- Automatic updates are enabled
- Missing patches are addressed
- Network devices are included in update routines
4. Secure Remote Access
Remote access is now part of everyday business. That makes it a frequent attack vector when controls are weak or poorly monitored. Security here ensures all access is protected and visible.
What to confirm:
- MFA is enforced for remote access
- VPN rules are reviewed and appropriate
- Logs are actively monitored
5. Confirm Monitoring and Alerting
Your security tools are only effective if alerts reach the right person at the right time. Missed or delayed alerts can turn minor issues into major incidents, often without warning.
What to confirm:
- Alerts are tested regularly
- Severity thresholds make sense
- On-call contact information is current
6. Disable Unused or Old Accounts
Dormant accounts are easy to overlook and easy to exploit. As staff move on or roles change, remove access just as deliberately as it was granted.
What to confirm:
- Inactive accounts are identified
- Unused accounts are disabled or removed
- Shared accounts are minimised
7. Review Email Forwarding and Auto-Reply Rules
Email rules are often abused to quietly intercept sensitive communications. These settings rarely get attention unless something goes wrong, making regular reviews essential.
What to confirm:
- Forwarding rules are approved and appropriate
- Auto-reply messages don’t overshare information
- Unauthorised rules are removed
8. Validate Endpoint Protection
Endpoints are often the first indicator that something isn’t right. If protection tools aren’t active, up to date, and reporting properly, you can lose visibility exactly where it’s needed most.
What to confirm:
- Endpoint protection agents are active
- Alerts are visible in dashboards
- Sample scans have been run
9. Document On-Call and Escalation Plans
During an incident, uncertainty costs time. A clear escalation plan ensures the right people are contacted quickly and responsibilities are understood before pressure is high.
What to confirm:
- Primary and secondary contacts are defined
- Escalation paths are documented
- The plan is shared and understood
10. Secure the Physical Office
Digital security still depends on physical controls. Unlocked devices, open server rooms, or unmonitored access points can undermine even the strongest digital safeguards.
What to confirm:
- Laptops and devices are secured
- Server rooms have restricted access
- Cameras and alarms are operational
Security Is About Coverage, Not Complexity
Strong security doesn’t come from doing everything at once. It comes from making sure your essentials are covered consistently and that ownership for each area is clear.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s confidence. Confidence that:
- You have the basics are in place
- Responsibility is defined
- Gaps are visible before they become problems
At JP Marshall Associates, these fundamentals form the baseline for every security-first engagement. When they’re addressed consistently, businesses are better prepared to respond to issues, adapt to change, and move forward without unnecessary disruption.
Ready to Review Your Security Foundations?
If it’s been a while since you paused to review your security basics, this is a good moment to do so.
