The Stats Don’t Lie: Small Businesses Are Prime Cyber Targets
We’ll just say it — small businesses are officially in the crosshairs. Cybercriminals aren’t just going after the big guys anymore. In fact, you’re more likely to be hit because you’re small. Why? Because most small businesses just aren’t ready for it. Let’s break it down.
0%
of cyberattacks target small businesses
0%
of small businesses shut down after a breach
$0
average cost of a cyberattack
In 2023, a staggering 43% of all cyberattacks targeted small businesses. Nearly half. Why? Because hackers know that smaller teams often don’t have full-time IT support or strong security systems in place.
To make it worse, 60% of small businesses that suffer a cyberattack shut down within 6 months.
Phishing Is Still the #1 Move
Phishing emails are the easiest way in. They look legit, someone clicks, enters their login info, and boom — attackers have the keys to your kingdom. One in every 323 emails sent to small businesses is malicious (bdemerson.com), and small biz employees are 350% more likely to fall for social engineering attacks.
Pro tip: Train your team, use email filtering, and always turn on multi-factor authentication.
Most Small Businesses Just Aren’t Ready
We get it — cybersecurity can feel overwhelming. But here’s the reality: only 14% of small businesses rate their cybersecurity as “highly effective,” and over half (51%) don’t use any IT security measures at all.
We’re not judging — we’re just saying: that’s exactly what attackers are hoping for.
The Cost of an Attack? Not Pocket Change.
The average cost of a cyberattack on a small business? $254,445. That’s not even including the damage to your reputation, customer trust, or potential legal fallout if data is lost. Oh — and 40% of small businesses report losing important data during an attack. Ouch.
So What Can You Do?
You don’t need a Fortune 500 budget to start locking things down. Start with the basics:
- Use antivirus software and a firewall.
- Set strong passwords — and use a password manager.
- Keep software updated — that means patches, too.
- Turn on MFA wherever it’s offered.
- Back up your data (and test the backups).
- Teach your team what to watch out for.
The Bottom Line?
You don’t have to live in fear — but you do need to pay attention. Small businesses like yours are targets, and pretending otherwise only helps the bad guys.
Good news: we’ve got your back. BITLINK helps businesses of all sizes secure their networks, train their people, and sleep a little easier at night.
Want to see how secure your setup really is? Let’s do a free cybersecurity assessment and take a real look under the hood.
