Guides

Close the gaps before someone uses them

Practical, plain-English guides for small offices. Each one is built from the real cases on this site, so you can see exactly what goes wrong when the control is missing.

Guide · OffboardingEmployee offboarding checklist: how to cut off a former employee's access the same dayA fired employee deleted 20,000 files 2 days later because her login still worked. A same-day offboarding checklist for small offices, staff and contractors.Guide · Payment fraudHow to stop fake invoices, changed bank details and fake-boss payment requestsBusiness email compromise cost Americans $2.77 billion in 2024. The payment rules that stop fake invoices, changed bank details and deepfake calls from a boss.Guide · Caller verificationHow to verify callers before password resets, and protect your phone number from SIM swapsThe MGM attack reportedly began with a help desk call. How to verify callers before password and MFA resets, and how to lock your number against SIM swaps.Guide · PatchingHow a small business keeps software and devices patched, and why default passwords must goWannaCry's fix was out 2 months before the attack. A simple patching routine for small offices: what to update first, old equipment, and default passwords.Guide · Ransomware backupsBackups that survive ransomware: offline copies, tested restores and a one-page planMaersk's login system survived NotPetya only by luck. How a small office builds offline backups, tests restores, and writes a one-page ransomware plan.Guide · Multi-factor authenticationWhich two-step login actually stops phishing, and how a small office rolls it outText codes, app prompts or security keys? Which kind of multi-factor authentication stops phishing, where to turn it on first, and a 4-week rollout plan.Guide · Vendor accessHow to manage vendor, IT provider and contractor access to your systemsThe Target breach began with a contractor's billing login. How a small office limits, protects and closes access for IT providers, vendors and contractors.Guide · ComplianceWISP requirements for tax preparersWhat the FTC and IRS require, and what goes in the plan.
Close the same gap

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The free Heist Control Checklist walks through the controls behind every case on this site in about ten minutes. For ready-made policies, the Policy Pack has five editable templates, and the Insider Threat Kit covers risks from inside your own team.