Considering the throw weight you can see from light box launcher equipped units...my opinion is that AMM/CM (anti-missile missile/counter missile) are a necessary evil if you want to to survive. Some form of PD energy battery (ie CIWS, turreted Gauss cannon, light-fast laser, etc) are usually a good backup.
I've started a new campaign in v4.82 and this is my current escort cruiser:
Portland class Escort Cruiser 11000 tons 930 Crew 2171 BP TCS 220 TH 265.65 EM 660
3450 km/s Armour 3-44 Shields 22-240 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 21 PPV 15
Annual Failure Rate: 84% IFR: 1.2% Maintenance Capacity 1419 MSP Max Repair 315 MSP
Magazine 910
Ion Engine E7.8 (mil/cbt) (11) Power 69 Fuel Use 78% Signature 24.15 Armour 0 Exp 12%
Fuel Capacity 600,000 Litres Range 125.9 billion km (422 days at full power)
Gamma R240/12 Shields (11) Total Fuel Cost 132 Litres per day
Quad Gauss Cannon RF4-R1-100 Turret (1x16) Range 10,000km TS: 16000 km/s Power 0-0 RM 1 ROF 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Fire Control S04 16-16000 (1) Max Range: 32,000 km TS: 16000 km/s 69 37 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Counter Missile Launcher mk1 (10) Missile Size 1 Rate of Fire 10
Missile Fire Control FC105-R1 (2) Range 3.2m km Resolution 1
CM-1-1 (910) Speed: 24,000 km/s End: 2.1m Range: 3m km WH: 1 Size: 1 TH: 232 / 139 / 69
Active Search Sensor S315-R1 (1) GPS 315 Range 3.2m km Resolution 1
ECCM-1 (3) ECM 10
Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s
This design is classed as a military vessel for maintenance purposes
Word to the wise, I have cheated a little. My database has been modifed with turret speeds matching 4x same generation fire control and Gauss cannon sizes being between .1hs and 1.0 hs instead of being between .5hs and 6hs.