Small and mid-sized businesses are facing the same cybersecurity threats as enterprise organizations — but with a fraction of the resources. That’s why it’s critical to take full advantage of high-value free IT security tools in 2025.
These tools help you strengthen your security posture, uncover hidden risks, and optimize performance — without the upfront investment.
Here are 10 free resources every SMB should be using right now, including one that’s purpose-built for Ohio businesses: Securafy’s Free 47-Point Network Assessment.
1. Securafy’s Free 47-Point Network Assessment
🔗 www.securafy.com/free-network-assessment
Before you can secure your systems, you need visibility. That’s where Securafy’s 47-point network assessment comes in.
This free, confidential evaluation is designed for small and mid-sized businesses that want clarity on their IT health, risk exposure, and compliance readiness — without paying for a full security audit.
What’s included:
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Security Risk Detection: Pinpoints vulnerabilities in firewalls, endpoints, and remote access systems. Uncovers signs of potential breaches, viruses, or rogue insiders.
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Network Performance Analysis: Identifies slow systems, bottlenecks, and underperforming hardware that may be affecting operations or uptime.
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Compliance Readiness Review: Checks your alignment with HIPAA, PCI DSS, and other applicable regulations — with specific insights for healthcare, legal, and financial services.
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Cost-Saving Opportunities: Highlights IT inefficiencies and overspending areas, giving you actionable ways to reduce monthly support and infrastructure costs.
Why it matters for Ohio SMBs:
Most small businesses rely on external IT vendors but lack visibility into whether systems are actually protected. This assessment is local, no-pressure, and built for SMB decision makers who need real answers — fast.
📥 Get your free network assessment from Securafy
2. Wireshark
Wireshark is the industry standard for network protocol analysis — and it’s completely free. It allows your IT team or service provider to capture and inspect traffic at a granular level.
What it does:
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Monitors all incoming and outgoing network activity
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Identifies suspicious data flows or abnormal traffic patterns
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Helps pinpoint misconfigured systems, bandwidth issues, or malware-infected devices
Why it matters:
If you’re experiencing slow performance, potential intrusions, or strange network behavior, Wireshark helps you investigate in real time. It’s an essential tool for diagnosing threats or bottlenecks before they cause business disruption.
Best for: IT teams, managed service providers, or technical leaders responsible for network stability.
3. OpenVAS (Greenbone Vulnerability Management)
OpenVAS is a powerful open-source vulnerability scanning platform that gives you enterprise-grade security scanning at zero cost.
What it does:
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Scans your internal and external systems for thousands of known vulnerabilities
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Delivers risk scores and remediation advice
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Continuously updated with new CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures)
Why it matters:
Most attacks exploit known, unpatched vulnerabilities — and many SMBs aren’t running regular scans. OpenVAS helps you find and fix exposures before attackers do.
Best for: Ohio businesses with in-house IT or outsourced MSPs that want more control over vulnerability management.
4. KeePassXC
KeePassXC is a free, open-source password manager that helps your organization enforce strong credential hygiene — one of the top defenses against phishing and data breaches.
What it does:
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Stores and encrypts passwords locally — no cloud dependency
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Enables employees to generate and store complex, unique passwords
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Organizes credentials by department, function, or role
Why it matters:
Passwords are still one of the easiest ways attackers gain access to systems. For Ohio law firms, medical practices, or accounting teams with access to sensitive data, a password manager is a minimum requirement.
Bonus: KeePassXC can be deployed in air-gapped or highly regulated environments where cloud tools aren’t allowed.
5. CISA’s Free Cybersecurity Services
🔗 cisa.gov/free-cybersecurity-services-and-tools
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency offers a suite of free services for critical infrastructure and SMBs, including:
What’s available:
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Vulnerability scanning of public-facing systems
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Email security reviews (DMARC, SPF, DKIM)
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Remote phishing assessments
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Cyber hygiene reports and penetration testing (for eligible organizations)
Why it matters:
CISA’s tools give you access to government-grade threat intelligence and proactive scans — at no cost. This is especially relevant for Ohio businesses involved in public contracts, healthcare, utilities, or logistics.
Use CISA’s free scans alongside Securafy’s network assessment for complete internal/external visibility.
6. NetSpot
NetSpot helps you perform a wireless site survey to optimize your Wi-Fi coverage and performance.
What it does:
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Maps signal strength across physical locations
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Identifies dead zones and overlapping frequencies
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Helps plan access point placement for better connectivity
Why it matters:
For offices, clinics, or retail spaces that rely on wireless systems, poor signal strength impacts productivity and security. Weak Wi-Fi zones are also prime entry points for unauthorized access.
NetSpot helps you harden physical-layer security by ensuring stable, reliable wireless coverage.
7. Fing
🔗 fing.com
Fing is a free network scanning tool that provides visibility into every device connected to your network.
What it does:
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Discovers all active devices — even rogue or shadow IT assets
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Identifies open ports, system names, and vendor info
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Sends alerts when new devices connect
Why it matters:
Unsecured or unknown devices are one of the biggest blind spots in SMB security. Fing helps small businesses monitor environments in real time and detect unauthorized access before it becomes a threat.
Pair it with your network assessment findings to maintain visibility between audits.
8. Zabbix
Zabbix is a free, enterprise-grade monitoring platform for networks, servers, and cloud infrastructure.
What it does:
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Tracks system performance metrics, uptime, and health status
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Sends real-time alerts based on thresholds or anomalies
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Supports custom dashboards and integrations
Why it matters:
Zabbix helps SMBs implement proactive IT management. It’s especially useful for distributed workforces or growing teams where visibility across endpoints is essential.
Use it to monitor key assets highlighted in your Securafy network report.
9. Snort
Snort is a well-established open-source intrusion detection and prevention system (IDS/IPS).
What it does:
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Monitors network traffic for malicious activity
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Detects port scans, brute-force attempts, malware behavior
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Can block or log suspicious traffic based on rules
Why it matters:
Most SMBs don’t have real-time threat detection in place. Snort fills that gap — especially for companies managing their own firewall or edge devices.
Integrate it with your perimeter security findings from your Securafy network assessment for layered protection.
10. Cyber Readiness Institute: Cyber Readiness Program
This free training program helps business owners and employees implement basic cyber hygiene practices.
What’s included:
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Training modules on phishing, MFA, password policy, and remote work security
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Templates for internal cybersecurity policies
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Self-paced lessons for technical and non-technical staff
Why it matters:
Many breaches begin with human error. This program gives SMBs a structured, low-cost way to improve internal awareness and reduce avoidable risk.
Combine it with your Securafy network report to guide follow-up training and awareness campaigns.
Start Free. Then Scale.
You don’t need a six-figure security budget to make meaningful improvements. These free tools — when used strategically — can help your business:
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Detect vulnerabilities
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Improve system performance
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Train employees
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Justify future investments
Start with Securafy’s 47-point network assessment for a detailed, expert-led view of where you stand — and what to prioritize next.
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