Your Password Policy Is Probably Outdated. Here’s What NIST Recommends in 2026.
The Short Version The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) updated their digital identity guidelines in 2024, and the recommendations have shifted significantly from what most organizations currently enforce. Mandatory password expiration is out. Length requirements are more important than complexity rules. Password managers are officially recommended. And the focus has moved from making […]
Does Your Website Need a Privacy Policy? (Yes. Here’s Exactly What It Needs to Say.)
The Short Version If your website uses Google Analytics, has a contact form, sells anything online, or simply loads in a browser, it collects personal data. That means you need a privacy policy — and in most jurisdictions, that requirement is not optional. The question isn’t whether your business needs a privacy policy; it’s whether […]
Business Continuity Planning for Small Businesses: What You Actually Need and How to Build It in a Day
The Short Version A Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is the documented, tested process your organization follows to keep operating — or return to operation — after a disruptive event. You don’t need a hundred-page document to have a functional plan. What you need is clarity on six questions: What are your critical functions? How quickly […]
Why Businesses Get Denied Cyber Insurance — And How to Fix It Before Your Renewal
The Short Version Cyber insurance underwriters spent several years paying claims without adequate controls documentation, and they’ve corrected course dramatically. Premiums have increased, coverage limits have decreased, and the list of required controls has grown. Many businesses discover their inadequate security posture only when a renewal is denied or a claim is rejected after a […]
Is Your Microsoft 365 Tenant Actually Secure? The 20 Settings Most Businesses Get Wrong
The Short Version Microsoft 365 ships with security settings tuned for usability, not protection. Most tenants go live with default configurations that leave significant gaps: no multi-factor authentication enforcement, legacy authentication protocols still active, admin accounts without dedicated privileged access, and Defender features switched off. This guide covers the 20 settings that matter most and […]
SPF, DKIM, and DMARC: What They Are and Why Your Business Email Domain Might Be Failing
The Short Version If your business sends email from its own domain — and every business does — you need three DNS records configured correctly: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Without them, anyone on the internet can send email that appears to come from your domain. Your customers can receive convincing fraud emails that show your […]
How to Tell If a Link Is Safe Before You Click: A Practical Guide for Small Businesses
The Short Version Before you click any link you didn’t explicitly request — whether it arrived in an email, a text message, a LinkedIn DM, or a Slack notification — you should verify it. Phishing attacks are responsible for more than 90% of successful data breaches, and the majority of them begin with a single […]
Cybersecurity & Threat Intelligence in 2025: What Small Businesses Need to Know
In 2025, cybersecurity is no longer just an IT concern—it’s a business survival issue. Cyber threats are evolving faster than ever, driven by AI-powered attacks, supply chain vulnerabilities, and a surge in zero-day exploits. Small businesses are increasingly targeted because they often lack the layered defenses of larger enterprises. At Boston Managed IT, we see […]
Microsoft 365 Defender Can Shield Your Company From Phishing Emails
Say goodbye to becoming a victim of phishing! Microsoft 365 Defender is a fantastic option to keep your business’s system safe from phishing scams.