{"id":2499,"date":"2026-06-22T02:16:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T07:16:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/?p=2499"},"modified":"2026-06-22T02:18:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T07:18:05","slug":"why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\/","title":{"rendered":"Why SMBs Are Moving Toward Identity-First Security Strategies"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 2026, cybersecurity is no longer just about protecting devices or securing office networks. As businesses increasingly adopt cloud platforms, hybrid work environments, and remote collaboration tools, the traditional network perimeter has largely disappeared.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For small and midsize businesses (SMBs) in Bothell and Renton, this shift is changing how cybersecurity strategies are built. Instead of focusing primarily on firewalls and endpoint protection, many organizations are now prioritizing something far more critical: user identity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>This is why identity-first security strategies are rapidly becoming the foundation of modern cybersecurity.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As cybercriminals continue targeting employee credentials, login systems, and cloud accounts, businesses are realizing that protecting identities is often the most effective way to prevent breaches before they happen.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Is Identity-First Security?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Identity-first security is a cybersecurity approach that focuses on verifying and protecting user identities before granting access to systems, applications, and data.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rather than assuming anyone inside a network is trustworthy, identity-first security continuously validates:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Who the user is<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What device they are using<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Where they are logging in from<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What resources they should access<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Whether their behavior appears suspicious<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This approach aligns closely with modern <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/from-mfa-to-zero-trust-the-new-standards-in-cyber-defense\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Zero Trust security<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> models, where no user or device is automatically trusted.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In today\u2019s cloud-driven business environments, identity has become the new security perimeter for businesses investing in stronger <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/services-cybersecurity\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">cybersecurity services<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Why Traditional Security Models Are No Longer Enough<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For many years, businesses relied on perimeter-based security strategies designed to protect office networks and internal systems.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The problem is that modern business operations no longer exist entirely inside office walls.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Employees now access business systems through:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cloud applications<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Remote devices<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mobile phones<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Home networks<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Shared collaboration platforms<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Third-party software integrations<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This has created far more opportunities for cybercriminals to target login credentials and user accounts instead of directly attacking networks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In many modern cyberattacks, compromised identities are the entry point.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This is why businesses are shifting security focus toward stronger <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/the-future-of-digital-identity-what-businesses-should-expect-from-next-gen-authentication\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">identity protection<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and access management.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Credential Theft Has Become One of the Biggest Cybersecurity Threats<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cybercriminals increasingly target usernames, passwords, and login sessions because stealing credentials is often easier than bypassing advanced security systems directly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Attackers commonly use:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Phishing emails<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Social engineering scams<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Credential stuffing attacks<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fake login pages<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">AI-generated impersonation tactics<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Once attackers gain access to legitimate accounts, they can often move through systems undetected.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For SMBs, a single compromised account can lead to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Data breaches<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Financial fraud<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ransomware attacks<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cloud account compromise<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Operational disruption<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Identity-first security helps reduce these risks by strengthening authentication and continuously monitoring access activity using modern <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/smarter-cybersecurity-in-2026-how-ai-and-automation-are-changing-the-game\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">threat detection<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Is Becoming Standard<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the most important components of identity-first security is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">MFA requires users to verify their identity through multiple authentication methods, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Passwords<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mobile authentication apps<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Security codes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Biometric verification<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Even if passwords are stolen, MFA makes unauthorized access significantly more difficult.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 2026, MFA is no longer considered optional. In fact, many:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cyber insurance providers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Compliance frameworks<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cloud platforms<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Security standards<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">now require MFA as a baseline security measure.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Businesses that still rely solely on passwords are exposing themselves to major security risks and higher <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/compliance\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">compliance risks<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Cloud Adoption Is Driving Identity-Centered Security<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As businesses continue migrating to cloud platforms like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and cloud storage environments, identity security becomes even more important.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Unlike traditional office-based systems, cloud environments are accessible from virtually anywhere.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This flexibility improves productivity, but it also creates greater exposure if accounts are compromised.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Identity-first security helps businesses secure:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cloud applications<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Remote access systems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Collaboration tools<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Shared business data<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Third-party integrations<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">By controlling access at the identity level, businesses can improve security without limiting operational flexibility through stronger <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/cloud-services\/\">\u00a0<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">cloud security<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2502\" src=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/06\/21-2-1024x535.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"804\" height=\"420\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/06\/21-2-1024x535.png 1024w, https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/06\/21-2-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/06\/21-2-768x401.png 768w, https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/06\/21-2.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 804px) 100vw, 804px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>Identity-First Security Supports Hybrid Work Environments<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hybrid work has permanently changed how employees interact with business systems.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Employees now work from:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Home offices<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Coffee shops<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Airports<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Shared workspaces<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mobile devices<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Traditional network-based security strategies struggle to protect these distributed environments effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Identity-first security allows businesses to verify users consistently regardless of location.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This helps organizations maintain stronger security while supporting the flexibility employees now expect through secure <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/remote-work-security-protecting-teams-across-devices-networks-and-apps\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">remote work<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> environments.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Zero Trust Security Is Accelerating the Shift<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Many SMBs are also adopting Zero Trust security frameworks, which closely align with identity-first security principles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Zero Trust operates on the principle:<br \/>\n\u201cNever trust, always verify.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This means businesses continuously authenticate and validate every access request instead of automatically trusting users inside the network.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Identity-first strategies support Zero Trust by enabling:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Conditional access policies<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Continuous authentication<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Least-privilege access controls<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Behavioral monitoring<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Device verification<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Together, these controls reduce the risk of unauthorized access and insider threats while strengthening overall <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">business security<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Identity Monitoring Helps Detect Suspicious Activity Faster<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Modern identity security platforms can monitor user behavior and detect unusual activity patterns in real time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Examples include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Logins from unfamiliar locations<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Impossible travel scenarios<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Unusual file access activity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Abnormal login times<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Repeated failed login attempts<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">AI-powered monitoring tools help businesses identify potential threats earlier and respond faster before significant damage occurs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This proactive visibility is becoming critical as cyberattacks grow more sophisticated and require advanced <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/network-management\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">network monitoring<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Compliance and Cyber Insurance Requirements Are Changing<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Identity security is also becoming increasingly important for compliance and cyber insurance purposes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Businesses in industries such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Healthcare<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Finance<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Legal services<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Professional services<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">often face strict requirements related to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Access controls<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Authentication policies<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">User activity logging<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Data protection<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cyber insurance providers are also requiring stronger identity protections before approving or renewing coverage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Businesses without proper identity security controls may face:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Higher premiums<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reduced coverage<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Increased compliance risk<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Identity-first security helps organizations align with evolving regulatory expectations and modern <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-cyber-insurance-providers-are-asking-tougher-questions-in-2025\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">cyber insurance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2503\" src=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/06\/22-2-1024x535.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"819\" height=\"428\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/06\/22-2-1024x535.png 1024w, https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/06\/22-2-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/06\/22-2-768x401.png 768w, https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/06\/22-2.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>Employee Education Remains Essential<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Technology alone cannot fully prevent identity-based attacks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Employees still play a major role in cybersecurity because attackers frequently rely on:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Phishing emails<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fake login pages<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Social engineering tactics<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Impersonation attempts<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Businesses should provide regular training on:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Password security<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Recognizing phishing attempts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Secure authentication practices<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Handling suspicious login requests<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Protecting sensitive information<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A strong identity security strategy combines both technology and employee awareness through continuous <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/cybersecurity-starts-with-your-staff-why-security-awareness-training-isnt-optional-anymore\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">security training<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Why SMBs Need a Proactive Identity Security Strategy<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Many SMBs mistakenly believe they are too small to be targeted by advanced cyberattacks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In reality, attackers often target smaller businesses specifically because they may have weaker security controls and fewer IT resources.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A proactive identity-first security strategy helps businesses:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reduce unauthorized access risks<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Improve cloud security<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Support remote work safely<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Strengthen compliance<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Improve cybersecurity resilience<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As digital operations continue expanding, identity protection is becoming one of the most important aspects of business cybersecurity and proactive\u00a0 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/managed-it-services\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">IT management<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Why Local IT Expertise Matters<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Implementing identity-first security requires careful planning and ongoing management.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Businesses need to properly configure:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Access permissions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">MFA policies<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Identity monitoring tools<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cloud security settings<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">User access controls<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Working with a trusted local IT provider helps businesses build scalable security strategies aligned with operational goals and compliance requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For businesses in Bothell and Renton, having experienced <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/it-support\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">local IT support<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> can help simplify identity security while reducing overall cyber risk.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Conclusion: Identity Has Become the New Security Perimeter<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As businesses continue embracing cloud platforms, remote work, and digital collaboration, traditional cybersecurity models are no longer enough to protect modern environments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Identity-first security strategies are helping SMBs strengthen access controls, reduce credential-based attacks, and improve overall cybersecurity resilience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 2026, protecting user identities is becoming just as important as protecting devices and networks\u00a0 if not more important.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Businesses that invest in strong authentication, proactive monitoring, and identity-centered security strategies will be better prepared to defend against evolving cyber threats.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/contact-us\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-978\" src=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2025\/04\/Blue-and-White-Bold-Call-To-Action-LinkedIn-Banner-1200-x-300-px-6-1024x256-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"828\" height=\"207\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2025\/04\/Blue-and-White-Bold-Call-To-Action-LinkedIn-Banner-1200-x-300-px-6-1024x256-1.png 1024w, https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2025\/04\/Blue-and-White-Bold-Call-To-Action-LinkedIn-Banner-1200-x-300-px-6-1024x256-1-300x75.png 300w, https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2025\/04\/Blue-and-White-Bold-Call-To-Action-LinkedIn-Banner-1200-x-300-px-6-1024x256-1-768x192.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 828px) 100vw, 828px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 2026, cybersecurity is no longer just about protecting devices or securing&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1041,"featured_media":2501,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[33,32,62,47,45,24,29,23,31,53,30],"class_list":["post-2499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-it","tag-ai-and-compliance","tag-ai-in-business","tag-ai-powered-cybercrime","tag-ai-powered-it-strategy","tag-backup-and-disaster-recovery","tag-backup-and-recovery-strategy","tag-cmit-unified-comms-experts","tag-it-support-renton-bothell","tag-modern-ucaas-platforms","tag-strategic-it-partnerships","tag-unified-tech-strategy-renton"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 4.9.10 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"CMIT Solutions Bothell helps businesses improve security through identity management, access controls, multi-factor authentication, and zero trust strategies.\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"max-image-preview:large\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cmitbothelldm\"\/>\n\t<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\/\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"generator\" content=\"All in One SEO Pro (AIOSEO) 4.9.10\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Bothell, WA 1091 | CMIT Solutions\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Identity-First Security Protects| CMIT Solutions Bothell\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"CMIT Solutions Bothell helps businesses improve security through identity management, access controls, multi-factor authentication, and zero trust strategies.\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\/\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-06-22T07:16:58+00:00\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-22T07:18:05+00:00\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"How Identity-First Security Protects| CMIT Solutions Bothell\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"CMIT Solutions Bothell helps businesses improve security through identity management, access controls, multi-factor authentication, and zero trust strategies.\" \/>\n\t\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"aioseo-schema\">\n\t\t\t{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"headline\":\"Why SMBs Are Moving Toward Identity-First Security Strategies\",\"description\":\"Why SMBs Are Moving Toward Identity-First Security StrategiesIn 2026, cybersecurity is no longer just about protecting devices or securing office networks. As businesses increasingly adopt cloud platf...\",\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Your Name\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-22\",\"wordCount\":1125,\"timeRequired\":\"PT6M\",\"keywords\":\"security, businesses, nbsp, access, identity, identity-first, cybersecurity, cloud, as, work\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\\\/#breadcrumblist\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091#listItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\",\"nextItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/local-it\\\/#listItem\",\"name\":\"Local IT\"}},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/local-it\\\/#listItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Local IT\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/local-it\\\/\",\"nextItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\\\/#listItem\",\"name\":\"Why SMBs Are Moving Toward Identity-First Security Strategies\"},\"previousItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091#listItem\",\"name\":\"Home\"}},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\\\/#listItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Why SMBs Are Moving Toward Identity-First Security Strategies\",\"previousItem\":{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/category\\\/local-it\\\/#listItem\",\"name\":\"Local IT\"}}]},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"CMIT Solutions Bothell\",\"description\":\"CMIT Solutions\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/template\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2022\\\/09\\\/CMMIT-Solutions-Logo.png\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\\\/#organizationLogo\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\\\/#organizationLogo\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/cmitbothelldm\\\/#author\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/cmitbothelldm\\\/\",\"name\":\"cmitbothelldm\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\\\/#authorImage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/7249b610e9825f7245fcc49f858ca6981d7783f45873408c9a2db44efba79e71?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"width\":96,\"height\":96,\"caption\":\"cmitbothelldm\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\\\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\\\/\",\"name\":\"How Identity-First Security Protects| CMIT Solutions Bothell\",\"description\":\"CMIT Solutions Bothell helps businesses improve security through identity management, access controls, multi-factor authentication, and zero trust strategies.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/#website\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\\\/#breadcrumblist\"},\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/cmitbothelldm\\\/#author\"},\"creator\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/cmitbothelldm\\\/#author\"},\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/105\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/Bulk-1-Copy-of-Bulk-1-Copy-of-Bulk-1-Copy-of-Bulk-1-march-blog-1.png\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\\\/#mainImage\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":628,\"caption\":\"Two businessmen discuss in a modern office beside CMIT Solutions branding and the quote 'Protect identities. Protect business' on a dark blue background.\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/blog\\\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\\\/#mainImage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-22T02:16:58-05:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-22T02:18:05-05:00\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/\",\"name\":\"CMIT Solutions Bothell\",\"description\":\"CMIT Solutions\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cmitsolutions.com\\\/bothell-wa-1091\\\/#organization\"}}]}\n\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro -->\r\n\t\t<title>How Identity-First Security Protects| CMIT Solutions Bothell<\/title>\n\n","aioseo_head_json":{"title":"How Identity-First Security Protects| CMIT Solutions Bothell","description":"CMIT Solutions Bothell helps businesses improve security through identity management, access controls, multi-factor authentication, and zero trust strategies.","canonical_url":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\/","robots":"max-image-preview:large","keywords":"","webmasterTools":{"miscellaneous":""},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","headline":"Why SMBs Are Moving Toward Identity-First Security Strategies","description":"Why SMBs Are Moving Toward Identity-First Security StrategiesIn 2026, cybersecurity is no longer just about protecting devices or securing office networks. As businesses increasingly adopt cloud platf...","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Your Name"},"datePublished":"2026-06-22","wordCount":1125,"timeRequired":"PT6M","keywords":"security, businesses, nbsp, access, identity, identity-first, cybersecurity, cloud, as, work"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\/#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091#listItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091","nextItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/category\/local-it\/#listItem","name":"Local IT"}},{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/category\/local-it\/#listItem","position":2,"name":"Local IT","item":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/category\/local-it\/","nextItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\/#listItem","name":"Why SMBs Are Moving Toward Identity-First Security Strategies"},"previousItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091#listItem","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\/#listItem","position":3,"name":"Why SMBs Are Moving Toward Identity-First Security Strategies","previousItem":{"@type":"ListItem","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/category\/local-it\/#listItem","name":"Local IT"}}]},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/#organization","name":"CMIT Solutions Bothell","description":"CMIT Solutions","url":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"http:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/template\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/09\/CMMIT-Solutions-Logo.png","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\/#organizationLogo"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\/#organizationLogo"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/author\/cmitbothelldm\/#author","url":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/author\/cmitbothelldm\/","name":"cmitbothelldm","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\/#authorImage","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7249b610e9825f7245fcc49f858ca6981d7783f45873408c9a2db44efba79e71?s=96&d=mm&r=g","width":96,"height":96,"caption":"cmitbothelldm"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\/#webpage","url":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\/","name":"How Identity-First Security Protects| CMIT Solutions Bothell","description":"CMIT Solutions Bothell helps businesses improve security through identity management, access controls, multi-factor authentication, and zero trust strategies.","inLanguage":"en-US","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/#website"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\/#breadcrumblist"},"author":{"@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/author\/cmitbothelldm\/#author"},"creator":{"@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/author\/cmitbothelldm\/#author"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/105\/2026\/06\/Bulk-1-Copy-of-Bulk-1-Copy-of-Bulk-1-Copy-of-Bulk-1-march-blog-1.png","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\/#mainImage","width":1200,"height":628,"caption":"Two businessmen discuss in a modern office beside CMIT Solutions branding and the quote 'Protect identities. Protect business' on a dark blue background."},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\/#mainImage"},"datePublished":"2026-06-22T02:16:58-05:00","dateModified":"2026-06-22T02:18:05-05:00"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/#website","url":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/","name":"CMIT Solutions Bothell","description":"CMIT Solutions","inLanguage":"en-US","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/#organization"}}]},"og:locale":"en_US","og:site_name":"Bothell, WA 1091 | CMIT Solutions","og:type":"article","og:title":"How Identity-First Security Protects| CMIT Solutions Bothell","og:description":"CMIT Solutions Bothell helps businesses improve security through identity management, access controls, multi-factor authentication, and zero trust strategies.","og:url":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\/","article:published_time":"2026-06-22T07:16:58+00:00","article:modified_time":"2026-06-22T07:18:05+00:00","twitter:card":"summary_large_image","twitter:title":"How Identity-First Security Protects| CMIT Solutions Bothell","twitter:description":"CMIT Solutions Bothell helps businesses improve security through identity management, access controls, multi-factor authentication, and zero trust strategies."},"aioseo_meta_data":{"post_id":"2499","title":"How Identity-First Security Protects| CMIT Solutions Bothell","description":"CMIT Solutions Bothell helps businesses improve security through identity management, access controls, multi-factor authentication, and zero trust strategies.","keywords":null,"keyphrases":{"focus":{"keyphrase":"","score":0,"analysis":{"keyphraseInTitle":{"score":0,"maxScore":9,"error":1}}},"additional":[]},"primary_term":null,"canonical_url":null,"og_title":null,"og_description":null,"og_object_type":"default","og_image_type":"default","og_image_url":null,"og_image_width":null,"og_image_height":null,"og_image_custom_url":null,"og_image_custom_fields":null,"og_video":"","og_custom_url":null,"og_article_section":null,"og_article_tags":null,"twitter_use_og":false,"twitter_card":"default","twitter_image_type":"default","twitter_image_url":null,"twitter_image_custom_url":null,"twitter_image_custom_fields":null,"twitter_title":null,"twitter_description":null,"schema":{"blockGraphs":[],"customGraphs":[{"id":"#aioseo-custom-mqovta48e4q3","custom":true,"graphName":"Article","schema":"{ \"@type\": \"Article\", \"headline\": \"Why SMBs Are Moving Toward Identity-First Security Strategies\", \"description\": \"Why SMBs Are Moving Toward Identity-First Security StrategiesIn 2026, cybersecurity is no longer just about protecting devices or securing office networks. As businesses increasingly adopt cloud platf...\", \"author\": { \"@type\": \"Person\", \"name\": \"Your Name\" }, \"datePublished\": \"2026-06-22\", \"wordCount\": 1125, \"timeRequired\": \"PT6M\", \"keywords\": \"security, businesses, nbsp, access, identity, identity-first, cybersecurity, cloud, as, work\" }"}],"default":{"data":{"Article":[],"Course":[],"Dataset":[],"FAQPage":[],"Movie":[],"Person":[],"Product":[],"ProductReview":[],"Car":[],"Recipe":[],"Service":[],"SoftwareApplication":[],"WebPage":[]},"graphName":"BlogPosting","isEnabled":false},"graphs":[]},"schema_type":"default","schema_type_options":null,"pillar_content":false,"robots_default":true,"robots_noindex":false,"robots_noarchive":false,"robots_nosnippet":false,"robots_nofollow":false,"robots_noimageindex":false,"robots_noodp":false,"robots_notranslate":false,"robots_max_snippet":"-1","robots_max_videopreview":"-1","robots_max_imagepreview":"large","priority":null,"frequency":"default","local_seo":null,"seo_analyzer_scan_date":null,"breadcrumb_settings":null,"limit_modified_date":false,"open_ai":null,"ai":{"faqs":[],"keyPoints":[],"schemas":[],"titles":[],"descriptions":[],"socialPosts":{"email":[],"linkedin":[],"twitter":[],"facebook":[],"instagram":[]}},"created":"2026-06-22 07:03:37","updated":"2026-06-22 07:18:06"},"aioseo_breadcrumb":"<div class=\"aioseo-breadcrumbs\"><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\" title=\"Home\">Home<\/a>\n<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb-separator\">\u00bb<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/category\/local-it\/\" title=\"Local IT\">Local IT<\/a>\n<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb-separator\">\u00bb<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\tWhy SMBs Are Moving Toward Identity-First Security Strategies\n<\/span><\/div>","aioseo_breadcrumb_json":[{"label":"Home","link":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091"},{"label":"Local IT","link":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/category\/local-it\/"},{"label":"Why SMBs Are Moving Toward Identity-First Security Strategies","link":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/blog\/why-smbs-are-moving-toward-identity-first-security-strategies\/"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1041"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2499"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2499\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2501"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/bothell-wa-1091\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}