Cybersecurity Services for Sydney Businesses

Cybersecurity that protects your people, devices, data and Microsoft 365

Cyber attacks on Australian businesses are no longer a question of if. Scam emails, stolen Microsoft 365 passwords and ransomware hit small and mid-sized businesses every day, and attackers increasingly target the people and accounts behind your systems, not just the computers.

Sydney Technology Solutions (STS) takes a layered approach to cybersecurity, combining endpoint protection, email security, identity controls, Microsoft 365 security, network protection, backup and ongoing monitoring to reduce your exposure to cyber threats. We’ve been looking after Sydney businesses since 1999, and our approach is simple: put the right protection in place for your size and risk, explain it in plain English, and never sell you security you don’t need.

Monitor, detect, respond, recover

Protection only works if someone is watching and acts quickly. Our managed security follows four steps:

Essential Eight: assess, implement and maintain

The Australian Cyber Security Centre’s Essential Eight (our plain-English explainer) is the most widely recognised security baseline for Australian businesses, and insurers and larger clients increasingly expect it. We help you assess where you are today, implement the controls that matter most, and maintain your maturity as your business changes.

• Application control: only approved software can run.
• Patch applications: fix security holes in browsers, Office, PDF readers and other software quickly.
• Configure Microsoft Office macros: block macros from the internet, a common way malware gets in.
• User application hardening: switch off risky features attackers abuse.
• Restrict administrative privileges: admin access only for those who need it, when they need it.
• Patch operating systems: keep Windows, macOS and servers up to date and replace unsupported systems.
• Multi-factor authentication: a second check on every login, especially email and remote access.
• Regular backups: backups that are tested, protected and can be restored.

We’ll tell you honestly which maturity level makes sense for a business your size, and give you a clear roadmap to get there. More about our Essential Eight assessments.

Our cybersecurity services

Managed endpoint security (EDR)

Traditional antivirus looks for known threats. Our managed EDR and next-generation antivirus watch what is actually happening on every laptop, desktop and server:

• Behavioural threat detection that spots attackers using legitimate tools
• Ransomware protection that stops encryption before it spreads
• 24/7 endpoint monitoring and response by a human-led Security Operations Centre (SOC)
• Device isolation and remediation, so an infected computer is cut off and cleaned up
• More about managed EDR

Microsoft 365 and identity security

Most breaches now start with a stolen login. We secure your Microsoft 365 and Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) environment and the accounts that use it:

• Microsoft 365 security configuration and regular Microsoft Secure Score reviews
• Multi-factor authentication, Conditional Access and secure, modern authentication
• Admin and privileged account protection, with least-privilege access
• Joiner, mover and leaver processes, and regular access reviews
• ITDR (Identity Threat Detection and Response): 24/7 monitoring for account takeover and business email compromise, including logins from unusual locations and suspicious inbox rules that hide or forward emails
• More about ITDR for Microsoft 365
• ISPM (Identity Security Posture Management): continuously finds and fixes risky Microsoft 365 settings, excessive access and policy drift

Email security

Email is still the number one way attacks get in. Our email security covers:

• Anti-spam and malware protection
• Phishing protection and malicious URL and attachment scanning
• Impersonation and spoofing protection, so criminals can’t easily pose as your staff or suppliers
• Email authentication: SPF, DKIM and DMARC
• Phishing testing to see how your team responds

Security monitoring and threat detection

• 24/7 managed threat monitoring by a human-led Security Operations Centre
• Security alerts, incident investigation and proactive threat hunting
• Escalation and response, with genuine threats contained quickly
• Managed SIEM: security logs from your devices, firewalls and cloud services collected in one place, with the records insurers, auditors and compliance frameworks ask for
• Dark web and credential monitoring, with alerts when staff details appear in breaches

Firewall and network security

• Managed next-generation firewalls with intrusion prevention
• Firewall monitoring, firmware updates and rule reviews
• Secure Wi-Fi, with guest networks kept separate
• Network segmentation to limit how far an attacker can move
• VPN and secure remote access for staff working from home or on the road
• Web and content filtering to block malicious sites

Backup and ransomware recovery

If the worst happens, you need to recover fast and know your backups will work:

• Microsoft 365 backup of email, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams
• Server and workstation backup
• Immutable or offline protection where appropriate, so ransomware can’t destroy your backups
• Backup monitoring and regular recovery testing
• Disaster recovery and business continuity planning

Security awareness

• Staff security awareness training (SAT) and realistic phishing simulations
• Password and MFA education
• Cybersecurity policies and clear incident reporting procedures, so staff know what to do and who to tell

Vulnerability and patch management

• Operating system and application patching
• Vulnerability scanning and identification of unsupported software
• ESPM (Endpoint Security Posture Management): application control and continuous reduction of your computers’ attack surface
• Remediation tracking, so issues are fixed, not just reported

Cybersecurity assessments

• Cybersecurity health checks and risk assessments
• Microsoft 365 security assessments
• Essential Eight assessments
• External vulnerability assessments of your internet-facing systems
• Penetration testing
• A prioritised remediation roadmap with clear costs

Cyber insurance proposal assistance

Cyber insurance applications ask detailed questions about MFA, backups, EDR and incident response. We help you answer them accurately, close any gaps that would increase your premium or put a claim at risk, and provide the evidence insurers ask for.

Cyber incident response

If something goes wrong, we’ll help you respond. Whether it’s a:

• Compromised account or business email compromise
• Ransomware or malware infection
• Phishing attack
• Lost or stolen device
• Data breach or suspicious activity

STS will contain the threat, investigate what happened, remediate the damage and help restore your operations. More on cyber incident response. We’ll also help you work through whether anything needs to be reported. If you think something is wrong right now, call (02) 8212 4722. Disconnect affected devices from the network (turn them off if you suspect ransomware, per the ACSC ransomware guidance), and don’t delete anything or pay a ransom. You can also report cybercrime to the Australian Cyber Security Centre via ReportCyber or the Australian Cyber Security Hotline on 1300 CYBER1 (1300 292 371).

Which protection do you need?

Every business is different, and we’ll never push a bundle you don’t need. As a guide:

• Every business, however small: multi-factor authentication on every account, managed EDR on every device, email security, backups of Microsoft 365 and your files, and security awareness training for staff.
• Add as you grow or handle sensitive data: ITDR for Microsoft 365, posture management (ESPM and ISPM), managed firewalls for each site, and Essential Eight alignment.
• For regulated, larger or higher-risk businesses: managed SIEM for central logging and compliance, regular penetration testing, and a documented incident response plan.

We’ll review your setup and give you an honest, prioritised list: what to do now, what can wait, and what isn’t worth the money for your business.

How it works

1. Security review. We look at your devices, Microsoft 365 setup, email, network, backups and current protection, and identify the real gaps.
2. Plain-English plan. You get a prioritised recommendation with clear costs, so you can decide what to do and when.
3. Rollout. We deploy and configure the agreed protection with minimal disruption to your staff.
4. 24/7 monitoring and response. EDR, ITDR and SIEM alerts are investigated around the clock by a human-led Security Operations Centre. Genuine threats are contained immediately and our team follows up with you.
5. Ongoing hardening and reporting. Settings are continuously checked, patches applied and staff training kept up to date, and reporting is available so you can see what’s protected and what’s been stopped.

What it looks like in practice

A staff member receives a convincing email that looks like it’s from a supplier and enters their Microsoft 365 password on a fake login page. Minutes later, someone logs in to their mailbox from overseas and creates a hidden rule to forward invoices.

With ITDR in place, the unusual login and the suspicious inbox rule are flagged straight away. The account is locked, the session is cut off and the rule removed, often before the attacker can send a single fake invoice. We then reset the password, check for any other changes, confirm whether anything needs to be reported, and use what happened to sharpen staff training.

Without it, attacks like this often go unnoticed for weeks, until a client pays a fraudulent invoice.

How we approach security

• Layered, not a single product. Endpoints, identities, email, network and people each need protecting. No one tool does it all.
• Right-sized and honest. We recommend what fits your risk and budget, and we’ll tell you when something isn’t worth the money.
• Monitored, not set-and-forget. Protection is only useful if someone acts on the alerts. Our managed services include round-the-clock monitoring and response by the SOC for clients on those services.
• Ready for the worst. If an incident happens, we help contain it, recover your systems and work through your reporting obligations.

Why choose STS for cybersecurity

Cybersecurity isn’t one product; it’s a set of layers that need to be maintained. We put the right cybersecurity controls in place for your size and risk, monitor them around the clock with a human-led security operations centre, and explain everything in plain English. Our cybersecurity approach is aligned with the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s Essential Eight and advice for small businesses.

What our clients say

“They have saved my office from so many email attacks and recovered my data on numerous occasions.”

Robert N., Google review

“Their expertise spans across network security, hardware provisioning, cloud solutions, and proactive cyber security management and training.”

Matts D., Google review

STS is rated 4.8★ on Google. Read more client reviews.

Frequently asked questions

Is antivirus enough for a small business?

Not anymore. Modern attacks often use stolen passwords and legitimate tools that antivirus doesn’t flag. EDR, ITDR and multi-factor authentication close those gaps.

What’s the difference between EDR and ITDR?

EDR protects your devices (laptops, desktops and servers). ITDR protects your user accounts and logins, particularly in Microsoft 365. Most attacks today involve both, so we usually recommend the two together.

Do you monitor for threats outside business hours?

Yes. Our managed EDR, ITDR and SIEM services are monitored 24/7 by a human-led Security Operations Centre.

How much does managed cybersecurity cost?

It depends on the number of users and devices and which services you need. After a security review we give you clear pricing with no surprises.

Do we need to meet the Essential Eight?

It’s mandatory for government agencies, but for most private businesses it’s a best-practice framework rather than a legal requirement. Insurers and larger clients increasingly expect it, though. We’ll help you reach a sensible maturity level for your business. The Essential Eight explained.

What should we do if we think we’ve been hacked?

Call us immediately on (02) 8212 4722. Disconnect affected devices from the network and, if you suspect ransomware, turn them off, as the Australian Cyber Security Centre advises. Don’t delete anything or pay a ransom. We’ll help contain the incident, recover your systems and work out whether you need to report it.

Can you protect staff working from home?

Yes. EDR, ITDR, email security and secure remote access protect your people and data wherever they work, not just in the office.

Can you help with our cyber insurance renewal?

Yes. We help complete the questionnaire accurately and put the controls in place that insurers expect.

Want the background? Read our practical guide to cybersecurity for Sydney organisations.

Talk to us about your security

Not sure where your gaps are? We’ll review your current setup and give you honest, prioritised advice. Call (02) 8212 4722 or send us a message.