Let’s be honest—if you’re running a small business, cybersecurity probably isn’t your favorite topic.

You’re juggling cash flow, inventory, staffing, customers, and a dozen apps just to stay afloat. Adding “threat intelligence” or “ransomware resilience” to your to-do list? Not happening.

Hackers know this.

That’s why small and midsize businesses (SMBs) have become their preferred targets. Easier than hitting a hardened enterprise, but still valuable enough to extort, exploit, or pivot through to bigger fish.

The numbers back it up.

SMBs: Big Impact, Low Defense

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) (1), business email compromise (BEC) losses hit $2.7 billion in 2022. Many of these attacks started in small companies.

A 2023 CISA survey showed that less than 40% of small businesses have a cybersecurity plan at all. Only 17% had implemented MFA organization-wide.

Yet small businesses power 44% of U.S. economic activity and employ nearly half the private workforce. They’re the literal backbone of the economy—and they’re exposed.

Why Are SMBs So Vulnerable?

Here are some of the usual culprits:

  • Outdated systems: still running Windows 7 or on-prem Exchange.
  • Weak passwords: reused logins across multiple platforms.
  • Lack of training: employees don’t recognize phishing or social engineering.
  • No backups or recovery plans: one crypto locker can shut down the whole shop.
  • Third-party exposure: vulnerable through vendors or cloud services.

Most small teams simply don’t have the staff or budget to implement a robust cybersecurity program—let alone monitor it.

Free Resources Actually Worth Using

Here’s the good news: you don’t need a SOC or a six-figure budget to start improving your cybersecurity posture.

Some seriously solid help is available, for free:

Bookmark those four. They’re updated, practical, and designed for real-world small businesses, not just CISOs.

A Word on Compliance and Insurance

Cyber insurance for SMBs has gotten stricter. Expect questions about:

  • MFA use (especially for email and remote access)
  • Backup frequency and segmentation
  • Employee training
  • Endpoint protection
  • Response plans

Also, depending on your state or sector, you may be subject to data privacy or breach notification laws—even if you’re a 5-person shop.

Cyber isn’t just an IT issue anymore. It’s operational risk.

Final Thought: You Don’t Have to Be Perfect—Just Better Than Before

Most attackers are looking for low-hanging fruit. If you can:

  • Use a password manager
  • Turn on MFA everywhere
  • Run backups and test them
  • Train your staff on phishing

…you’re already ahead of the curve.

Perfection isn’t the goal. Resilience is.

And with the right guidance (and a little push), even a scrappy small business can become a much harder target.

Want straight-talk IT guidance like this? Subscribe to ITGuru365 and get real-world cyber strategy without the fluff.

  1. Sharif, O., Hoque, M., Kayes, A., & Sarker, I. (2020). Detecting Suspicious Texts Using Machine Learning Techniques. Applied Sciences, 10(18), 6527.