Cybersecurity for SMEs

At ABC-Groep, we strongly believe in the power of knowledge sharing—especially when it comes to cybersecurity, a highly relevant topic for SMEs today. Recently, we attended an inspiring session with Fortinet & Infinigate, where Channel Sales Manager Maud Gilson and Patrick Gommers shared their insights on evolving threats and the solutions that truly make a difference for small and medium-sized enterprises.

We’re excited to share the key takeaways from this session with you—specifically focused on what this means for you as an SME.

Cybersecurity = much more than just a firewall

What immediately stood out during this session? Cybersecurity doesn’t stop at a firewall. While a traditional firewall used to be sufficient, today’s digital reality demands a multilayered approach. SMEs need a broader security strategy—think SOC-as-a-Service, Zero Trust, SaaS security, and integrated user management.

ABC Group is already guiding customers in this direction, helping them build a secure and future-proof business.

Fortinet continues to innovate

During the session, Fortinet also highlighted its recent strategic acquisitions:

• Lacework – for advanced cloud security

• Next DLP – Data Loss Prevention without complexity

• Perception Point – top-level email and collaboration security

These innovations ensure that Fortinet’s offerings align even better with the needs of the SME market.

Best practices for your SME

What does all of this mean for your organization? According to Fortinet (and us), these are the essential building blocks of a strong cybersecurity strategy:

• Next-gen firewall (FortiGate with Enterprise license)

• FortiClient EMS for endpoint security

• SOC-as-a-Service with FortiGuard & FortiXDR

• IAM via FortiCloud – simple user management

• ZTNA & Inline CASB – secure access to SaaS apps like Gmail or Teams

What impressed us: you can even restrict or control specific functionalities within applications without additional tools or complex setups.

Fortinet Secure Networking – smart networks for SMEs

The demos also showcased practical network solutions that SMEs can benefit from immediately, such as:

• L2 quarantine – automatically isolating devices upon suspicious activity

• Forti-OS NAC & VDOMs – intelligent network segmentation

• FortiExtender – for satellite offices

• FortiBranchSASE & SASE FortiSwitch – scalable, tailor-made network environments

Another interesting feature: certain access points can run Fortinet software—perfect for smaller environments with limited IT resources.

IAM & FortiCloud – centralized user management

User management is often overlooked, but it’s crucial. With FortiCloud IAM, you can efficiently and securely manage access. Integration with Microsoft Entra (Azure AD) is fully supported, and there’s no need for expensive licenses—just access to the Fortinet Developer Network (FNDN) is enough.

For us as an IT partner, this is an exciting development: more functionality, fewer barriers for customers.

OT Security: protecting industrial SMEs

Production environments are increasingly becoming targets for cybercriminals. Fortinet presented five concrete OT security use cases:

• Microsegmentation of networks

• Visibility and virtual patching of OT assets

• Secure remote access without an agent

• Deception/honeypots to mislead attackers

• Security automation with MITRE mapping and incident reporting

We see tremendous opportunities here for industrial clients—especially when combined with Fortinet’s powerful monitoring tools.

What does this mean for you as an SME?

Our key takeaway from this session? Cybersecurity doesn’t have to be complex or unaffordable. With the right partner and a smart selection of tools, you can build a secure digital environment tailored to your needs and growth plans.

Want to assess where your organization stands today and identify any gaps in your security strategy? ABC Group is happy to think along with you.

➡ Feel free to contact our team—we’re here to help you move forward.