About Us
Cybersecurity doesn’t have to be confusing, overpriced, or out of reach. Based in the Smoky Mountains and serving clients nationwide, we help small businesses get enterprise-grade cybersecurity that’s practical, affordable, and built to last.
About
Our Story
I’m Seth Bagdanov, founder of Smoky Mountains Cybersecurity. After more than 12 years working hands-on in IT, MSP support, and cybersecurity strategy, I saw small businesses constantly falling victim to the same scenarios. Leaders knew they needed better protection, but their options were either overpay for bloated enterprise solutions or buy into inadequate security packages their MSP upsold them. After years of watching clients fall prey to empty vendor marketing without improving their security posture, I knew there had to be a better way to make cybersecurity accessible for any business.
That’s what drove me to start Smoky Mountains Cybersecurity in 2024. Based in Knoxville, Tennessee and working with clients nationwide, I partner with business leaders, internal IT teams, and MSPs to cut through the noise, identify real risks, and build affordable strategies that bring effective cybersecurity within reach of any business.
How
We’re Different
You already have an IT doctor. We’re the specialist who keeps your business’s heart beating.
Most IT providers do a little bit of everything: backups, antivirus, Microsoft licenses, fixing printers, connecting to Wi-Fi.
That’s like your family doctor who’s great for everyday care. But when you hear something irregular, you don’t want “general care.” You want a specialist.
That’s where Smoky Mountains Cybersecurity steps in.
We’re not here to upsell products or replace your IT team. We’re the specialist partner who brings clarity, accountability, and measurable progress so your business can operate confidently, knowing the essentials are handled right.
We Diagnose Before We Prescribe
Most MSPs lead with pre-packaged solutions, but we start with understanding your business. Before recommending any changes, we learn how your operations actually work: who accesses what, where your risks lie, and what’s mission-critical. Then we create a prioritized roadmap that solves real problems, whether that means better processes, employee training, or strategic technology investments.
We Work With Your IT Team, Not Against Them
We don’t replace your MSP or internal IT staff: we complement them. While they keep systems running, we bring cybersecurity strategy, policy development, and accountability frameworks that make their work more effective. This partnership means everyone looks good when auditors, insurers, or clients start asking the hard questions about your security posture.
We Measure Progress in Real Wins, Not Security Scores
We don’t chase vanity metrics or abstract dashboards. We measure success through concrete improvements you can point to. Maybe you didn’t have multi-factor authentication protecting your VPN: now you do. Maybe you lacked an incident response plan: now you have one that’s tested. Perhaps your team clicked suspicious links: now they’re trained to spot threats. Every step forward is tangible evidence that your business is safer than it was yesterday.
About
Our Approach
Cybersecurity isn’t solved by a single product or checklist but built on balanced strategy. We use a straightforward framework of People, Policies, and Technology to guide every engagement.
Within that framework, we review your business across six key cybersecurity domains. This ensures no blind spots, from protecting your network and data to preparing your employees to building policies that actually work in daily operations.
The result is practical, layered defense that grows with your business: clear enough to act on today and strong enough to protect you tomorrow.
Projects Completed
Years of Technology Experience
Satisfied Small Businesses Protected
Industries
We Serve a Variety of Businesses & Industries
We specialize in supporting small and mid-sized businesses across the United States. From Central California to East Tennessee and beyond, our clients include organizations in:
Legal Services
Finance & Accounting
Healthcare Practices
Property Management & Real Estate
Get Your Custom Small Business Security Assessment
We’ll analyze your current cybersecurity posture, discuss your specific business concerns, and show you exactly how our proven risk review process can protect your growing company.