Cybersecurity threats aren’t slowing down — and neither should your defenses. For Ohio business owners, keeping up with compliance, ransomware, phishing, and data protection can feel overwhelming, especially with limited internal IT resources.
The good news? Not every cybersecurity step requires a budget line.
Below are five of the most valuable free cybersecurity resources available in 2025, including a featured tool from Securafy built specifically for small and mid-sized businesses in Ohio. These tools can help you:
Assess your cyber risk posture
Make informed technology decisions
Educate your team
Reduce exposure without upfront costs
Before you invest in software or hire a cybersecurity firm, start here.
Website: securafy.com/free-it-buyers-guide-ohio
Many Ohio business owners aren’t sure where to begin when it comes to choosing IT and cybersecurity partners — and that’s where Securafy’s free IT Buyer’s Guide comes in.
This guide is written specifically for small and mid-sized businesses navigating Ohio’s vendor landscape. It’s not a sales brochure — it’s an actionable framework to help you:
Understand what services your business actually needs
Compare providers without relying on buzzwords or jargon
Ask the right questions to avoid lock-in or overpaying
Align your IT investments with compliance and business goals
Many SMBs get locked into overpriced or underperforming IT contracts simply because they didn’t know what to ask. Securafy’s guide helps you avoid that mistake by showing you:
What a good provider contract should include
Red flags to watch for in support SLAs
How to tie IT services directly to security, compliance, and business continuity
Whether you’re managing patient data under HIPAA, handling sensitive financials, or running OT systems in a factory, the wrong provider can create long-term risk. This guide is built with local compliance pressures, regional vendors, and SMB limitations in mind.
Website: cisa.gov/free-cybersecurity-services-and-tools
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) offers a powerful suite of free tools and services — many of which are underutilized by SMBs simply because they don’t know they’re available.
These services include:
Vulnerability Scanning: CISA will scan your public-facing assets (e.g., websites, email servers) and alert you to high-risk misconfigurations and software flaws.
Phishing Simulations: Test your employees’ awareness of social engineering threats without paying for third-party tools.
Remote Penetration Testing (by request): Eligible organizations can request a limited-scope penetration test simulating real attacker behavior.
Cyber Hygiene Reports: Ongoing monitoring of external risks like expired SSLs, weak DMARC settings, and exposed services.
These tools are backed by federal cybersecurity intelligence — meaning you get proactive alerts about vulnerabilities being actively exploited in the wild.
Local governments, healthcare networks, energy providers, and logistics companies operating in Ohio are all part of the broader critical infrastructure landscape. That means your business is eligible for support — and you don’t have to pay a dollar for it.
Website: gcatoolkit.org/smallbusiness
The GCA Small Business Toolkit is a free, easy-to-follow resource that guides business owners through practical, high-impact cybersecurity steps.
What it includes:
Step-by-step instructions for securing devices, networks, and online accounts
Tools to implement secure DNS, email protection (DMARC), and password management
Vendor-agnostic guidance on backup solutions and software patching
Links to free tools from partners like Quad9, Cloudflare, and LastPass
Unlike broad government guidance, the GCA toolkit is practical. It tells you what to do, how to do it, and where to get the tools for free. No technical jargon or complex configurations required.
Whether you're a three-person marketing agency or a 50-person legal firm, this toolkit provides enterprise-level protections in plain language. Perfect for teams without full-time IT staff but with real compliance risks.
Website: cyberreadinessinstitute.org
The Cyber Readiness Program is a free, self-paced learning program created for non-technical business leaders. It’s designed to help small and mid-sized companies improve cyber hygiene and reduce operational risk without a security team.
Key program elements:
Policy templates for password management, software updates, and employee access
Training tools to help staff identify and respond to phishing or malware attempts
A full cyber readiness plan you can roll out internally with no cost or consultants
This isn’t a technical course — it’s designed for decision-makers. The program helps build internal awareness, basic cyber leadership, and sustainable practices over time.
From CPA firms to nonprofits and logistics providers, many Ohio businesses are required to implement cybersecurity practices — but lack internal expertise. This program closes that gap.
Website: cisecurity.org
The CIS Controls are globally recognized best practices for securing IT systems and data. Even better — CIS provides free tools and benchmarks for assessing your alignment.
Included resources:
CIS Controls v8: A prioritized, 18-control framework that maps directly to NIST, ISO, and CMMC
Configuration Benchmarks: Predefined security configurations for Windows, Linux, AWS, Microsoft 365, and more
Security Best Practices Guides: Vendor-neutral, updated regularly based on real-world attacks
CIS Controls are used by major insurers and auditors as a baseline for secure operations. They’re practical, mapped to real threats, and provide a roadmap from “no controls” to “fully hardened.”
Manufacturers seeking CMMC compliance, law firms handling sensitive data, and healthcare orgs working under HIPAA can all use CIS tools to document progress toward compliance and improve their cyber insurance posture.
These aren’t filler tools — they’re high-value resources used by serious security teams, repackaged for smaller organizations.
Start with Securafy’s Free IT Buyer’s Guide to build confidence around your vendor decisions, and then explore technical and training tools through federal and nonprofit partners. You’ll gain clarity, reduce risk, and avoid wasting budget on tools that don’t serve your business.