More Threats = New Strategy
Your organization needs to work uninterrupted, while protecting your data, money, and the people you serve.
Urgency is being felt for more cybersecurity by our clients in all industries – many of you have approached us asking for more.
Now is the time to enhance your defenses to better protect yourselves and the people you serve.
Real Incidents MT Organizations are Experiencing
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.
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.
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.
Strengthen Defenses with More/Better Tools
- Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
- Managed Detection and Response (MDR)
- Proactive Microsoft 365 Security Policy Management
Encourage 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 Rise to the Challenge
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 enhanced 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:
Retiring your existing IT Essentials Agreement and modifying it with:
IT Essentials with Enhanced Defenses
Microsoft 365 Defenses: This service goes beyond setting up security features like Multi-Factor Authentication and GEOblocking. First Call’s cybersecurity engineers will proactively align and maintain your Microsoft cloud environment with best practices, continuously monitoring, updating, and optimizing it to counter new and evolving cyber threats.
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.
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
Reduced Business Risk
Reduced Business Disruption
Improved alignment with Cybersecurity Insurance Requirements
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 which some of our clients have chosen to do simply because the cost of incident is too great given the investment they have in their business.
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%, some as high as 37% (other variables are involved) due to the cost of the tools and labor to manage, monitor and respond.
Operational Risk Key Questions:
– Do you need to operate uninterrupted and protect your data, money and stakeholders?
– Are there more threats?
– Do you need an updated strategy?
– What are the potential risks of not investing in enhanced cybersecurity defenses?
ENHANCE YOUR DEFENSES
COMPLETE THE 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 threat landscape is getting worse. The impact it is having on Montana organizations is real. Please do not delay. Simply fill out the form, and your vCIO will collaborate with you to set the 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.
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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
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3. What is the exact cost increase, and how is it justified?
Most clients will experience a cost increase of 20%-30%, while some Essential clients may see an increase as high as 37%, depending on specific factors in their agreement and organization. This adjustment reflects our investment in advanced security tools and the additional labor required to effectively manage, monitor, and respond to security threats. The goal is to ensure that your business remains protected in an increasingly complex cybersecurity landscape.
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.
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.
