Greater Threat REQUIRES AN Updated Strategy

Your organization needs to work uninterrupted, while protecting your money, data, and the people you serve. 

Urgency is being felt for more cybersecurity protection by our clients in all industries – many have approached us asking for more.

Please address this call to action to enhance your defenses to better protect yourselves and the people you serve. 

Strengthening Defenses with More/Better Tools

  • Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
  • Managed Detection and Response (MDR)
  • Proactive Microsoft 365 Security Policy Management

Encouraging Every Client:

  • To not ignore this issue.
  • Establish Cybersecurity Insurance
  • Work with First Call on ongoing education for every user about the risks and consequences of cyber threats.
  • Establish stronger, better defenses, over time.

Improve the Incident Response Capabilities and Response Times to Threat Alerts

The Fight Is Getting Tougher and We Must Enhance Your Defenses

Helping You See What We See  

Navigating the complexities of cybersecurity is a critical aspect of our partnership with you. This isn’t new news, but it is now more crucial than ever because of what we are seeing currently:

  • Over the past year, we’ve welcomed numerous new clients seeking robust protection following breaches. Their experiences underscore the importance of preemptive security measures.
  • Our ongoing work managing and supporting our clients across Montana has revealed a rise in security incidents, highlighting a clear need for fortified defenses.
  • Recent headlines and reports from various industry groups confirm its elevated in cyberattacks targeting small and medium-sized organizations nationwide.

This information has become persistent and we must make it actionable spanning our technology, users and behaviors to manage the risks.

Here are a few videos that will help illustrate the reality of what’s happening:

Real Incidents MT Organizations are Experiencing

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Operational Downtime, Money Loss, Reputational Harm.

Nation states and cyber criminals are gaining in capabilities and confidence to harm small and medium organizations.  The three main tactics they are using are:

 

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Ransomware:

Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts the victim’s files, making them inaccessible.  The attacker demands a ransom payment to restore access. Attackers typically spread ransomware through phishing emails, exploiting security vulnerabilities, or visiting compromised websites.

 

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Business Email Compromise:

An attacker gains access to a business email account and impersonates the person, to trick someone into transferring money or buying products or gift cards.  This is on the rise, even if the organization has multifactor authentication in place.

 

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Keylogger Malware:

These are malicious programs installed on the computer, often through malware or compromised downloads. They run in the background without the user’s knowledge, capturing keystrokes (user name and passwords) and periodically sending this data to the attacker over the internet.

Modifying your existing IT Managed Services Agreement with:

Enhanced Defenses

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Microsoft 365 Defenses: This service isn’t just about setting up security features like we did about a year ago (Multi Factor Authentication, GEOblocking to Helping you limit connections to your M365 tenant based on location) it’s about continuously monitoring, updating, and optimizing them to counter new and evolving cyber threats.

 

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EDR, or Endpoint Detection and Response, is a security solution designed to help organizations detect, investigate, and respond to potential cyber threats at the endpoint level—that is, on individual devices like computers, and servers.

 

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Managed Detection and Response (MDR) is like having a dedicated team of cyber security experts watching over your network. This service extends beyond traditional security measures by not only using advanced technology to monitor and detect threats but also by providing a team of experts who actively manage and respond to these threats.

 

Benefits

Better protect your operations, money, and the people you serve.

Additional defenses on your computers, servers, and Microsoft 365 cloud.

Faster detection means faster response.

Pricing

First Call has offered Advanced Cybersecurity for years. We secure banks, credit unions, and manufacturers with Department of Defense contracts. It’s extremely effective but costly.  Implementing this would nearly double your agreement cost.

What we are doing now is extracting key elements from that offering and incorporating them into our standard agreements.

Most clients will see an increase of 20-30% due to the cost of the tools and labor to manage, monitor and respond.

Some will see higher prices due to other variables involved.  

Key Questions:

– Do you need to operate uninterrupted and protect your data, money, and stakeholders?

– Are there greater threats?

– Do you need an updated strategy and tactics both for protection and response?  

– What are the risks of not keeping up with the threats?

EnhanCed Defenses Opt-in Form

First Call will onboard clients on a first-come, first-served basis, as quickly as we can. The sooner you opt-in, the sooner we are able to reduce the risk of downtime, loss of money, reputation or harm.

By the end of Q2 2025, (if not sooner) everyone will have enhanced defenses at a price they can afford.

The threats and the impact nation-states and cyber criminals are having on Montana organizations is real.  Please do not delay.  

Simply fill out the form, and your vCIO will collaborate with you to provide specific information about your agreement, price, timeframes, and next steps.

FAQ:

1.What specific enhancements are being added to the cybersecurity defenses?

Enhanced Defenses includes several key improvements:

  • Microsoft 365 Defenses: Continuous monitoring, updating, and optimizing of security features like Multi-Factor Authentication and GEOblocking to counter new and evolving cyber threats.
  • Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): Detects, investigates, and responds to potential cyber threats on individual devices such as computers and servers.
  • Managed Detection and Response (MDR): A dedicated team of cybersecurity experts actively monitors your network, detecting and responding to threats in real-time.

2. How will these changes affect our current IT infrastructure?

The enhancements will integrate seamlessly with your existing IT infrastructure. We will ensure minimal disruption during the implementation phase. The updates will provide additional layers of security without requiring significant changes (that your users or operations will experience) to your current setup on your PC’s, servers or your Microsoft 365 environment

3. What is the exact cost increase, and how is it justified?

Most clients will see an increase of about 20%-30%. This cost reflects the investment in advanced security tools and the labor required to manage, monitor, and respond to threats effectively.  Exact pricing will be provided by your vCIO and will take into account the new services as well as factors such as growth in computers, servers or locations.  

4.  How will this affect my Microsoft licensing/billing? 

One of the new solutions is based on a Microsoft technology.  Many of you are already licensed for it under your existing Microsoft 365 subscription.  If you are, your Microsoft 365 licensing fees will remain the same.  If you are not, there will be an additional fee of $3 per user per month.

5.  Why are the changes being implemented gradually?  Are you charging a set up fee?

Implementing the changes gradually allows us to onboard clients systematically, ensuring each client receives the necessary attention and support during the transition. This phased approach helps maintain service quality and minimizes operational disruptions.

First Call is not charging a set up fee for existing clients.

6. What do I need to do to opt in, and what happens if I don’t?

To opt in, simply fill out the Enhanced Defenses Opt-In Form on this page. Your vCIO will work with you to set the next steps.

If you choose not to opt in, your current agreement will remain in place through June of 2025.

First Call will no longer be supporting or offering the agreement WITHOUT Enhanced Defenses after June of 2025.  All clients who have not adopted the security controls during the opt in period will need to adopt the new security measures in order for First Call to manage, support and mitigate our collective risks.

At First Call, we define service quality as: 

  • Happy End Users 
  • Fewer Issues 
  • Risk Prevention 
  • Robust Recoverability 
  • Cloud Communication & Collaboration 
  • Operational & Fiscal Alignment 
  • Great Meetings & Enjoyable Relationships 

However, without enhanced cybersecurity defenses, we simply cannot meet this standard.

Just as an insurer cannot continue coverage without appropriate risk mitigation, we must also ensure that your organization has the necessary protections in place. The rising volume of cyberattacks means that your risk is also our risk, and we cannot ignore that reality indefinitely.  

7. How will this affect our response times and service levels?

With enhanced defenses, you can expect faster detection and response times to potential threats. Our Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service ensures continuous monitoring and swift action, improving overall service levels and reducing the impact of security incidents.  First Call’s business hours of service will remain the same.

8. Can we customize the level of cybersecurity based on our specific needs?

Clients may have unique needs that require customization of the security controls in their Microsoft 365 Tenant.  First Call will work with each client with unique needs to make the appropriate adjustments.

9. What training or support will be provided to help our team adapt to these changes?

This change will not impact the users experience and no training or communication at the user level is required.

10. How are these enhancements different from what competitors are offering?

First Call has been providing advanced cybersecurity for highly regulated clients like banks, credit unions, and manufacturers with Department of Defense contracts. Our people, processes, and tools are mature and battle-tested by these industries third-party regulators. Many competitors are just now building these capabilities, often using discounted tools and or reselling out of State or even offshore third parties. While these tactics may result in a lower price, it comes with significant risks. With First Call you are getting our people (not a 3rd party), proven tools and mature processes that have been refined through real world applications with highly regulated clients here in Montana.

ENHANCE YOUR DEFENSES

Complete the OPT IN FORM

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