In today’s digital landscape, small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) are under siege. Cyberattacks are no longer reserved for large enterprises with deep pockets and expansive IT teams. Ransomware, phishing, business email compromise, and supply chain attacks are increasingly targeting SMBs—often because they lack the layered defenses and visibility needed to detect and respond effectively.
The SMB cybersecurity challenge
SMBs face a unique set of cybersecurity challenges. They often operate with limited budgets, minimal in-house expertise, and a patchwork of security tools that don’t communicate with each other. This fragmented approach creates blind spots—gaps that attackers are all too eager to exploit.
Endpoint protection alone isn’t enough. Neither is a firewall. And while Microsoft 365 offers built-in security features, they require careful configuration and ongoing monitoring to be truly effective. What SMBs need is a unified solution that brings these elements together under one roof.
Recognizing this growing threat, Calyptix® Security and OpenText™ Cybersecurity have partnered to deliver a powerful new offering: Community Shield® Plus. This integrated solution combines Calyptix’s trusted firewall technology with endpoint and Microsoft 365 monitoring, enhanced by OpenText’s enterprise-grade cybersecurity services. The result? A streamlined, scalable, and affordable path to cyber resilience for SMBs.
Introducing Community Shield Plus
Community Shield Plus is built on the foundation of Calyptix’s AccessEnforcer® firewall powered by its Community Shield collective threat intelligence, Community Shield Plus extends protection to endpoints and cloud services, offering:
- Network monitoring: real-time visibility into traffic and threats at the perimeter.
- Endpoint monitoring: detection of suspicious activity on devices, including malware, unauthorized access, and lateral movement.
- Microsoft 365 monitoring: oversight of email, identity, and collaboration tools to catch phishing, account compromise, and data exfiltration.
This triad of protection ensures that SMBs are covered across the most critical attack surfaces—without the complexity of managing multiple vendors or platforms.
Powered by OpenText Cybersecurity
What sets Community Shield Plus apart is its integration with OpenText Cybersecurity, a global leader in managed security services. Through this partnership, Calyptix customers gain access to:
- Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Services: Support for regulatory requirements, risk assessments, and policy development—enhanced by offerings like the OpenText Security Health Check Service, which helps organizations assess their current security posture, identify gaps, and align with best practices for cyber resilience.
- Digital Forensics & Incident Response (DFIR): Expert-led investigations and recovery support in the event of a breach—bolstered by services like the OpenText DFIR Service, which provides rapid containment, forensic analysis, and post-incident reporting to help organizations understand the root cause, mitigate impact, and strengthen defenses against future attacks.
- Managed Security Services: Continuous monitoring, alert triage, and remediation guidance—grounded in the principles outlined in OpenText’s blog on Managed Security Services, which emphasizes the importance of proactive threat management, visibility across hybrid environments, and the strategic role MSSPs play in helping organizations navigate today’s complex cyber landscape.
At the heart of Community Shield Plus is Managed Extended Detection and Response (MxDR): A proactive, 24/7 threat detection and response service that correlates data across endpoints, networks, and cloud environments.
OpenText MxDR and these services are delivered by seasoned cybersecurity professionals, giving SMBs access to the same level of protection as large enterprises—without the overhead.
Designed for simplicity and scale
One of the most compelling aspects of Community Shield Plus is its simplicity. Calyptix has spent over two decades serving SMBs, and it shows in the design of this solution:
- Predictable pricing: No hidden fees, no bloated platforms. The base plan includes 10 endpoints, Microsoft 365 domain monitoring, and AccessEnforcer® network monitoring.
- Scalability: As businesses grow, Community Shield Plus grows with them—adding endpoints, users, and services as needed.
- Ease of deployment: Whether managed in-house or through a Managed Service Provider (MSP), setup is straightforward and support is always available.
This makes Community Shield Plus ideal for SMBs that want robust security without the headaches of enterprise-grade complexity.
One vendor, one relationship
In a market crowded with point solutions and overlapping platforms, Calyptix offers something refreshingly different: a single-vendor experience. With Community Shield Plus, SMBs get firewall, endpoint, and cloud protection—all managed through one relationship, one support team, and one billing process.
This not only simplifies procurement and operations but also ensures that alerts and data are correlated across layers. When a suspicious login attempt on Microsoft 365 coincides with unusual network traffic and endpoint behavior, Community Shield Plus connects the dots—enabling faster, more accurate response.
Built for MSPs and SMBs alike
Calyptix has long been a trusted partner to MSPs across North America. Community Shield Plus continues that tradition, offering:
MSP-Ready Support: US-based experts who understand the realities of SMB environments.
- Multi-tenant management: Tools that make it easy for MSPs to manage multiple clients from a single dashboard.
- Regular updates and innovation: Continuous R&D ensures that the platform evolves with the threat landscape.
Whether you’re an MSP looking to expand your security offerings or an SMB seeking a reliable partner, Community Shield Plus delivers.
The step to true protection
Cybersecurity is no longer optional for SMBs. The risks are real, the stakes are high, and the attackers are relentless. But with the right tools and partners, resilience is within reach.
Community Shield Plus, powered by Calyptix and OpenText, offers a compelling solution: comprehensive protection, expert support, and enterprise-grade capabilities—tailored for the needs and budgets of SMBs.
If you’re ready to simplify your security strategy and strengthen your defenses, it’s time to explore Community Shield Plus. Contact us.
