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Business Insider
15-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Cybersecurity and productivity tools every modern business needs in 2025
I find it really surprising how much running a business has changed in just a few years. A few years back, privacy and cybersecurity were things that only big companies had to worry about, but now no one is safe. Everyone, including small teams or a single person, needs to think twice before clicking on an email link. It's not just about security and privacy. The way we work has completely changed as well. Now we have remote work with flexible schedules, and with all of this going on, making everything digital has just become the norm. So no, having the right tools is really essential. I have seen businesses fall behind simply because they didn't have secure systems or productive workflows in place. So in this article, I am sharing some of the tools I have personally seen make a big difference. These tools can help keep your business safe and also help your team work better and faster. Securing Your Digital Environment Before we get into the list of tools, let me just say this: if there is one thing that nobody should overlook, it is securing your digital communication. I have seen many people and businesses skip this part, thinking that it is only for big companies, but the truth is that securing your digital environment is the most important thing. So, what can you do to protect and secure your digital communication? You can use tools such as a VPN provider. A VPN hides your IP address and your internet traffic, and when these are hidden, your business data stays private and away from hackers' eyes. Key Cybersecurity Tools for 2025 End Point Protection (EPP/EDR/XDR) One thing I always tell people whenever we are talking about cybersecurity is that you shouldn't ignore your endpoints. Endpoints are devices that connect to a network. These include all your gadgets that you use, and now with everyone using laptops, phones, and working remotely these days, it is usually the endpoint that attackers go after first. I have seen companies tighten their email filters and install firewalls, but then forget to secure the devices their teams actually use every day. That is where tools like Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or CrowdStrike Falcon really come in handy. They are not just antivirus software; they watch everything in real time, block malware, and even detect weird activity before it becomes a big problem. CrowdStrike, especially, is huge. It is used by more than 20,000 companies, including half of the Fortune 500. That alone says a lot. These tools help you to detect and remove threats through all of your devices so that even if something slips through, you can avoid a full-on data breach. Cloud Security (CASB, CSPM, CWPP) You know, as more and more businesses shift everything to the cloud, security is becoming a much bigger deal. It is not just about protecting one computer or server anymore. Now things are spread across many cloud platforms, and that is why tools like Palo Alto's Prisma Cloud and Zscaler are becoming popular because they help keep everything in the cloud safe and secure. I've heard that big companies like Westfield and ADT use these tools to keep their cloud systems safe. And honestly, if well-known businesses trust them, that really means something. Identity and Access Management (IAM) One thing that I have really come to appreciate in today's work environment is how important it is to control who has access to what. It is not just about having strong passwords now, especially with people working from different places and using all sorts of apps. Always have the right people have the right access, and that too is limited to just what they need. To help you with this, there are tools like Okta and Microsoft Entra. They will help you in managing user access across the board. These tools also ensure that things like multi-factor authentication are in place. Zero Trust Architecture I think one security approach that has really stood out to me lately is the zero trust model. The idea behind it is pretty simple-never trust anyone or anything automatically, even if they are already inside your network. Everything is verified, all the time. I have seen more and more companies shift to this model, especially with people working remotely from multiple devices. There are tools like Zscaler and Palo Alto Prisma Access, which make it easier to put this into action. These tools constantly check every connection and make sure that only the right people and devices are getting through. Zscaler, in particular, is used by over 7000 businesses, including a large portion of the Fortune 500. That kind of adoption tells you it's working. Top Productivity Tools for 2025 Collaboration Platforms If I have to think of one thing that literally made work easier for me and everyone, I know it will be collaboration tools. Platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams let your team communicate with each other so easily. Along with smooth communication, you can also share files and even have a video call without any need for switching apps. I mean, Slack alone is used by over 600,000 organisations and handles more than 2 billion messages every day. This shows how important it has become. AI-Powered Workflow Automation Now, if you are tired of doing the same manual task over and over, automation tools can really save your day. Zapier and UiPath are two solid examples that I can swear by. Zapier is great for automating stuff between more than 3000 different apps. UiPath is a bit more advanced and uses robotic process automation (RPA). Big companies like KPMG and GE use it to speed up things like invoice approvals and onboarding. Project Management You must have project management tools if you want to stay organised in your business. I have personally used Asana and Trello, and I know folks who also love Jira. These platforms will help you manage your tasks and deadlines right on time. Asana, for instance, reportedly saved users over 24 million hours in 2023 just by helping manage workflows better. That's huge when you're trying to keep projects moving without a mess Knowledge Management Lastly, let's talk about keeping track of information. It is so important to have all the information and important documents in the right place. You must know the struggle to find one single document when you need it. So, to help you manage all the important information, tools like Confluence, Notion, and Evernote exist. These tools help you organise everything from meeting notes to product documentation. How Cybersecurity and Productivity Tools Intersect You know what is interesting these days? It is how cybersecurity and productivity tools are kind of merging. It is the time when we have to make sure that everything stays safe and in order while we work. Just like I told you about Slack and Microsoft Teams, how we can have conversations and share files and everything, but that's not it. Now they also come with built-in security features like encryption and multi-factor authentication. So while you are sending messages and attending video calls, your data also stays protected. And then there are also AI-driven automation tools like Power Automate. It is great for automating routine stuff like data entry and file handling, and it can also trigger security alerts and help manage incident responses in real time. Another thing I find super useful is how more platforms are adopting zero-trust models. This means that no one, not even people inside your company, gets automatic access to everything. Conclusion At the end of the day, it is about working smarter and also staying secure while doing it. Because now we not only need to get things done, but we also need to keep everything safe too. For doing that, we don't need a hundred different apps. We just need to pick up the ones that are actually going to help our team work better and stay protected.
Techday NZ
09-07-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Huntress & Microsoft partner to boost business cybersecurity
Huntress has announced a partnership with Microsoft aimed at improving cybersecurity for businesses using Microsoft's security products and services. The partnership will see Huntress' cybersecurity solutions integrated with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Defender for Business, Defender Antivirus, as well as Microsoft 365 Business Premium, E3, and E5 licenses. The companies state that the collaboration is designed to offer enhanced protection to businesses of all sizes that rely on Microsoft's ecosystem, many of whom face resource and expertise challenges in making full use of their security investments. Addressing cybersecurity challenges Over 300 million organisations worldwide use Microsoft's software, but according to Huntress, many struggle to access the complete capabilities of the security tools included with their Microsoft licenses. Organisations with limited in-house cybersecurity abilities often leave advanced threat protection features underutilised. Huntress' solutions - including Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR), Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), and Security Awareness Training (SAT) - are designed to integrate smoothly with existing Microsoft environments. These tools are supported by a 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC) which the company says enables continuous protection against emerging threats. Quotes from leadership "Huntress was founded to make enterprise-grade security accessible to all businesses. Businesses worldwide trust Microsoft's ecosystem, but often don't fully use its potential due to limited resources or expertise. We deliver the technology and integrations needed to unlock the full value of Microsoft's security solutions, empowering businesses of all sizes to operate securely and confidently in an evolving threat landscape," said Chris Bisnett, CTO at Huntress. Microsoft's Steve Dispensa, Corporate Vice President of Security, also commented on the collaboration: "With cyberattacks growing in both volume and complexity, businesses face mounting pressure to protect their environments with limited resources. Huntress' integrations with Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint empower organizations to not only strengthen their security posture but also fully benefit from their Microsoft security investments. Together, we're equipping businesses worldwide to prioritize growth and innovation without compromising on security." Integration and benefits According to Huntress, the partnership seeks to make it easier for organisations of all sizes to turn on advanced security features. The integrations allow Microsoft customers to deploy Huntress' suite of tools through their Microsoft platforms, aiming to provide greater threat visibility, incident response capabilities, and cyber awareness for their employees. The collaboration between Huntress and Microsoft is also intended to help businesses optimise their security spending. By using existing Microsoft licenses in combination with Huntress' managed security suite, organisations are expected to reduce the need for multiple standalone solutions, potentially offering cost efficiencies. Background and recognition Huntress focuses its efforts on supporting organisations that typically lack enterprise-scale resources to counteract cyber threats. Their Security Operations Center provides around-the-clock monitoring and support for businesses, with an emphasis on remediation and a low rate of false positives. The company states its mission is to break down barriers to enterprise-level security and enable both outsourced IT contractors and internal IT staff to better prepare for and deal with cyber threats. Huntress has also been recognised with Microsoft Verified Small & Medium Business solution status through the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association, which reflects Microsoft's assessment of trusted security products for its partner ecosystem. The integration of Huntress solutions into Microsoft security environments will be available to all organisations using Microsoft 365 Business Premium, E3, and E5 licensing, as well as Microsoft Defender security products. The companies indicate that ongoing support and updates will be provided as the threat landscape evolves.
