A small business owner reviews a centralized software asset inventory to reduce risk, prevent shadow IT, and control IT costs.
Businesses run on software—line-of-business apps, cloud tools, and mobile apps—but most owners have no clear list of what’s actually in use. That gap creates security holes, license risks, and surprise costs that directly threaten profitability and growth.
What “Inventory and Control of Software Assets” Means
Inventory and control of software assets (CIS Control 2) means keeping an accurate list of every application your business uses, knowing who uses it, why it exists, and ensuring only approved, secure, and licensed software is allowed to run. Done well, this reduces cyber risk, improves compliance, and cuts waste from unused or duplicate tools.
Practical Action Steps for Your Business
Business owner actions:
Require an approved software list for your company and insist that all new software requests go through IT before purchase.
Tie software decisions to business goals and budgets so you can cut unused licenses and redundant tools.
Set a policy that employees cannot install their own apps (“shadow IT”) without written approval.
IT team actions:
Build and maintain a centralized software inventory using discovery tools that scan PCs, servers, and cloud services.
Classify software (critical, important, low risk), link it to specific systems and users, and track license status and renewal dates.
Enforce an allowlist so only approved software can be installed, and regularly remove unsupported, outdated, or unauthorized applications.
Common Client Questions (With Answers)
“Is this just about saving on licenses, or is it really a security thing?” Unmanaged software is a top entry point for attackers because outdated or unknown applications often miss critical security patches. Strong software asset control improves both security and cost management at the same time.
“We’re mostly in the cloud—do we still need this?” Yes, SaaS apps, browser extensions, and cloud tools are all software assets that can leak data or create compliance problems if they aren’t tracked and approved. Cloud environments can actually increase sprawl, which makes a disciplined inventory even more important.
How Farmhouse Networking Helps
Farmhouse Networking implements CIS Controls around software inventory and control as part of a broader, practical cybersecurity and IT management program for SMBs. This includes deploying discovery tools, building your approved software catalog, enforcing policies, and reporting on license usage and security risks in plain business language you can act on.
Ready to see where your software risks and wasted spend are hiding? Email support@farmhousenetworking.com for more information about how Farmhouse Networking can help improve your business.
Implementing CIS Controls helps small businesses safeguard sensitive data and comply with regulations.
Data breaches can devastate small businesses, but CIS Controls give you a proven path toward robust data protection and regulatory compliance—without breaking the bank. Here’s how any business owner can get started today.
Practical Action Steps
Survey business data assets: Identify your key customer, employee, and business records and where they’re stored.
Classify business data: Assign “Public,” “Internal,” or “Sensitive” tags and limit who can access the most critical files.
Secure device and network configurations: Change default passwords, apply updates, and enable firewall protection.
Monitor and review: Turn on audit logs for key systems; routinely check logs for odd access.
Automate backups and test restores: Protect against ransomware and disasters with offsite, automatic backups.
Educate your team: Organize short trainings so every employee knows cybersecurity basics and your incident response plan.
Frequently Asked Client Questions
Q: Will CIS Controls help with industry regulations (GDPR, CCPA, etc.)? A: Absolutely! CIS Controls support the foundation of compliance for most data protection laws worldwide through access management, encryption, and monitoring.
Q: How much time and expertise does this take? A: With Farmhouse Networking, most controls are easy to implement—even for non-technical teams. We guide you step by step so your team is protected without added stress.
How Farmhouse Networking Can Help
Farmhouse Networking sets up CIS Controls for any SMB: from asset tracking to secure data access, backup management, and employee training. We implement everything, making compliance and security easy and effective for your business.
Call to Action
Protect your business and comply with regulations. Email support@farmhousenetworking.com to connect with our team and get started.
A small business owner implements security configuration for business devices and software as part of IT best practices.
Small to mid-sized business owners face the same cyber dangers as Fortune 500 companies. Misconfigurations can open the door to data theft, financial loss, and operational chaos. Secure configuration of every company asset and software is a non-negotiable step in your risk management plan.
Practical Steps for SMBs
Inventory all hardware, mobile devices, and software—no asset is too small to track.
Apply baseline security configurations using global standards, such as CIS Benchmarks and NIST guidelines.
Schedule regular patching and enforce automatic updates.
Limit admin access, enforce strong authentication, and document all configuration changes.
Uninstall anything not needed and disable unused network ports and services.
Encrypt sensitive business data transmissions and use secure protocols for all connections.
Monitor for any changes or vulnerabilities with automated tools.
Client Q&A
Q: Is this overkill? We’re not a bank. A: Basic misconfigurations fuel most breaches, regardless of company size. A secure foundation keeps your doors open and customers confident.
Q: How do I make sure this is all kept up to date? A: Farmhouse Networking offers managed services that maintain and audit your configurations, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.
How Farmhouse Networking Can Help
Farmhouse Networking is your partner in building, managing, and auditing secure configurations for all your business assets. Trust us to streamline processes, improve productivity, and safeguard data.
Small business security strengthened with CIS account management controls
Small business owners face evolving security threats and regulatory obligations. Implementing CIS Account Management Control is key to protecting data, assets, and reputation.
Practical Steps for SMBs
Catalog All User and Service Accounts: Record names, departments, and account activity for every user and automated process.
Use Strong and Unique Passwords: Demand complex passwords, rotate them annually, and use MFA whenever possible.
Disable Dormant Accounts: Purge inactive accounts every 45 days for better security hygiene.
Limit and Monitor Admin Privileges: Assign admin roles sparingly and monitor usage.
Centralize Account Oversight: Deploy a directory or identity manager for simplified user management and audit trails.
Questions & Answers
Q: What’s the biggest risk of poor account management? A: Unauthorized access can lead to financial loss, data breach, or legal liability—CIS controls dramatically reduce this risk.
Q: Does this require expensive software? A: Many tools, such as Microsoft Active Directory, are affordable and scalable for SMBs. CIS controls guide you in choosing solutions that fit your needs.
How Farmhouse Networking Helps
Farmhouse Networking guides SMBs through creating robust account management policies, deploying affordable directory services, and training your team for optimal cyber hygiene.
Call to Action
Start protecting your business today—email support@farmhousenetworking.com to learn how CIS controls can boost your cybersecurity.
And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. - 2 Corinthians 9:8-10
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