In an increasingly digital world, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are under growing pressure to protect their networks, data, and customers from a relentless stream of cyber threats. From ransomware and phishing attacks to accidental data loss and compliance violations, the risks facing SMBs are more sophisticated and costly than ever before.

But here’s the challenge: most SMBs don’t have the in-house resources to build, manage, and maintain a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. Hiring a full internal IT security team can be prohibitively expensive. Relying solely on automated software or overworked generalists often results in critical gaps.

Enter co-managed IT security: a collaborative model that gives SMBs the best of both worlds. With co-managed security from palmiq, your internal team stays in control while gaining access to world-class tools, dedicated expertise, and ongoing support from cybersecurity professionals.

In this blog, we’ll explore why co-managed IT security is a smarter, more strategic approach for growing businesses, how it works in practice, and why more organizations are turning to palmiq as their trusted partner.

The Growing Threat Landscape for SMBs

Cyber threats are no longer just a big business problem. According to Verizon's Data Breach Investigations Report, over 40% of cyberattacks now target small and mid-sized businesses. These attacks aren’t just frequent — they’re devastating:

• The average cost of a ransomware attack for SMBs is $120,000
• 60% of SMBs go out of business within six months of a major breach
• 70% of SMBs say they are unprepared for a cyberattack

Many SMBs think they're "too small to be a target" — but attackers often see them as easy wins, especially if security policies are lax, tools are outdated, or employees aren’t properly trained.

Even well-meaning teams can struggle to keep up. The complexity of modern IT environments (remote work, cloud services, compliance standards) makes it nearly impossible to manage cybersecurity effectively without specialized knowledge.

What Is Co-Managed IT Security?

Co-managed IT security is a hybrid support model where your internal team partners with an external provider like palmiq. Instead of replacing your IT function, we enhance it.

In this model:

• Your team handles day-to-day IT operations and business-specific tasks
• palmiq provides dedicated security expertise, tools, and backup support
• You retain visibility and control, with expert guidance and 24/7 protection

Think of it as expanding your IT department without expanding your payroll.

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How palmiq’s Co-Managed Model Works

At palmiq, we specialize in delivering cybersecurity and data protection for SMBs. Our co-managed service blends your institutional knowledge with our technical capabilities across these core areas:

1. Threat Detection & Response We deploy enterprise-grade tools to monitor your endpoints, network, and cloud environments in real time. If a threat is detected, we respond immediately or work with your team to isolate and remediate the issue.
2. Backup & Disaster Recovery (BaaS & DRaaS) Using tools like Veeam, Arcserve, and Acronis, we ensure your data is securely backed up — locally, in the cloud, or both. In the event of a ransomware attack or system failure, we help restore operations fast.
3. Patch Management & Vulnerability Scanning We automate and manage updates across your environment to close security gaps before attackers can exploit them. Our platform continuously scans for misconfigurations and emerging vulnerabilities.
4. Compliance & Risk Management Whether you need to meet HIPAA, GDPR, SOC 2, or internal security policies, we help map controls, maintain audit trails, and ensure data handling standards are met.
5. End-User Awareness & Policy Enforcement We offer training programs to educate your staff on phishing, password hygiene, and remote work security — and help enforce policies through access control and device management.
6. Reporting, Metrics, and Optimization We provide executive-level reports on system health, incidents, and risk posture. These help you make informed business decisions and justify IT investments to stakeholders.

Why Co-Managed IT Security Makes Sense for SMBs

Here are the top reasons more businesses are choosing a co-managed approach:

1. Budget Efficiency Hiring a full-time security team is costly. With palmiq, you gain access to CISSP-level expertise and enterprise tools at a fraction of the cost. You only pay for the services you need.
2. Faster Incident Response With our 24/7 monitoring and rapid escalation paths, threats are addressed before they escalate. We reduce dwell time, limit damage, and speed up recovery.
3. Skill Gap Coverage Most internal teams are generalists. We supplement your staff with specialists in ransomware defense, cloud security, regulatory compliance, and endpoint protection.
4. Strategic Focus By offloading security management to us, your team can focus on strategic IT initiatives and business innovation instead of reacting to alerts and managing patch cycles.
5. Scalability & Flexibility As your business grows or compliance requirements evolve, we adjust your security stack accordingly. You get scalability without needing to re-architect everything.
6. Shared Visibility With palmiq, there are no black boxes. You get dashboards, reporting, and the ability to collaborate on policies, alerts, and recovery plans. It's truly a partnership.

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A Real-World Example: Protecting a Healthcare SMB

A growing medical billing firm came to palmiq after a near-miss ransomware event. They had a capable internal IT technician but no formal cybersecurity framework. They couldn’t afford to build a full security team.

We partnered with their technician to:

• Deploy endpoint protection and email filtering across all workstations
• Migrate backups to immutable, encrypted cloud storage
• Schedule monthly patch reviews and quarterly vulnerability scans
• Provide phishing training and monthly reporting to leadership

Six months later, they passed a HIPAA audit with zero findings and gained confidence in their disaster recovery readiness.

Vendor-Agnostic Solutions Tailored to Your Needs

At palmiq, we don’t force you into a single platform. Instead, we integrate best-in-class tools from vendors like:

• Acronis (cyber protection & backup)
• Arcserve (backup, HA, DRaaS)
• Veeam (Microsoft 365 backup, virtual machine recovery)
• Microsoft 365 Security, Azure, and more

We select, configure, and manage solutions that align with your budget, compliance obligations, and infrastructure preferences. Whether you’re all-cloud, on-prem, or hybrid, we build around you.

What to Expect When You Work with palmiq

Onboarding with palmiq is simple, fast, and strategic. Our engagement typically includes:

Step 1: Discovery & Risk Assessment We evaluate your current IT environment, identify vulnerabilities, and document recovery and compliance requirements.

Step 2: Tailored Co-Management Plan We outline roles and responsibilities, define SLAs, and align on tools and reporting. You remain in control while gaining expert backup.

Step 3: Implementation We deploy security tools, configure policies, set up backups, and provide staff onboarding.

Step 4: Monitoring & Support We provide ongoing threat detection, remediation, and advisory services. You receive monthly reports, periodic reviews, and access to security expertise anytime.

Step 5: Continuous Improvement As your business grows, we refine your security posture, adapt controls, and support audits, vendor assessments, or board presentations.

Why Choose palmiq as Your Co-Managed Security Partner?

We specialize in helping SMBs and nonprofits achieve enterprise-grade cybersecurity without breaking their budgets. What sets palmiq apart:

• Deep expertise with mid-market businesses and IT environments
• Experience supporting compliance-driven industries (healthcare, legal, education)
• Transparent, flexible service models
• Proven success across dozens of clients
• A team that speaks both tech and business

We believe cybersecurity should enable growth — not slow it down.

In today’s threat landscape, SMBs need more than antivirus software and part-time IT help. They need a strategic partner who can deliver protection, visibility, and peace of mind.

Co-managed IT security with palmiq allows you to:

• Enhance your internal team’s capabilities
• Strengthen your security posture
• Meet compliance with confidence
• Focus on growth, not firefighting

If you're ready to stop stressing about cyber threats and start building a future-ready IT strategy, let's talk.

🔐 Contact palmiq today to schedule a free security consultation. 🔗 Learn more at www.palmiq.com

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