Why We “Secure By Default” (And Why You’ll Be Glad We Do)

At LeadingIT, security isn’t just something we offer, it’s the heartbeat of everything we do. As your Managed Service Provider (MSP), our #1 priority is keeping your organization protected, day in and day out. That’s why we follow the Secure By Default standard throughout onboarding and beyond. 

During your onboarding and security tool implementation, our team works both behind the scenes and directly with you to put Industry Best Security Standards in place. We always try to loop you in to minimize any disruption to your workday, but as you know… cybersecurity doesn’t wait for a meeting invite. Sometimes the safest move is to act fast, secure first, and verify right after. 

So what does “Secure By Default” actually mean? 

Here are a few real-world examples: 

Manual Security Changes We Implement 

• Unencrypted credentials? Updated immediately. 

• Credentials inherited from a previous IT provider? Updated within 7 days. 

• Administrative access? Reviewed and restricted during your first week. 

• Privileged access? Only granted if absolutely necessary. Every request is evaluated for “least privilege.” 

Automated Defenses at Work

Our security tools are built to protect you automatically: 

• Login attempts from unexpected countries. Denied by default. 

• Suspicious email activity like unauthorized forwarding or impossible travel? Account temporarily locked down. 

• Malicious endpoint behavior detected by AV/MDR tools? Device isolated until verified safe. 

It may feel strict at times, but it’s designed to keep you safe, even when you’re asleep, at lunch, or halfway to Cancun. 

FAQ 

Why do we enforce this policy? 
Because you’ve trusted us with your most vital systems. Acting quickly helps prevent a small issue from becoming a widespread problem. Delays cause damage — speed prevents it. 

When are we monitored? 
All day. Every day. LeadingIT’s SOC is live-monitored 24/7/365. 

What’s the most common scenario? 
Clients traveling internationally without telling us — cue the security alerts. 
(Hot tip: submit a travel exclusion with us before you fly.) 

When would a system be locked down? 
When our AI-driven tools detect threat-level activity. A live analyst reviews it, and if it looks dangerous, the system is isolated to stop the spread. 

What if I’m unsure about administrator accounts? 
We’ll help you identify, document, and secure them. No guessing required. 

Our Promise to You 

We take the “Secure By Default” approach because it works. It protects your data, your people, and your business, even if it occasionally means we secure first and apologize for the inconvenience later. You trust us because we do what’s recommended, not what’s convenient. And we take that trust seriously. 

Together, we’ll keep your organization safe, stable, and ready for whatever comes next.