Why Cybersecurity Matters—Especially for Small Businesses
Cyber threats aren’t just “big-company problems.” Today’s attackers actively target smaller organizations because they know time and budgets are tight, processes are informal, and one compromised login can halt operations.
The business case at a glance
Small businesses are prime targets. Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report found SMBs are targeted nearly 4× more often than large enterprises—attackers go where defenses are lighter. Verizon
Losses are exploding. The FBI logged $16.6 billion in reported cyber losses in 2024, a 33% jump year over year. Even as complaint counts dipped slightly, criminals got more efficient and costly. Federal Bureau of InvestigationDark ReadingInternet Crime Complaint Center
Breaches are expensive—even when you’re small. IBM’s 2025 report pegs the average U.S. data-breach cost at $10.22 million, an all-time high (global average: $4.44 million). Costs scale down with company size, but the relative hit to a small firm’s cash flow, reputation, and downtime is often greater. IBM NewsroomIBM
Ransomware pressure is persistent. IC3 reports ransomware complaints against U.S. critical infrastructure rose 9% in 2024—and SMEs are frequent victims because of flat networks, exposed RDP, and weak backups. Reuters
Human errors still dominate. Phishing and stolen credentials remain top breach causes; strong authentication and basic hygiene drastically reduce risk. Verizon
“We’re small—are we really a target?”
Yes. In 2023, 41% of small businesses reported a cyberattack, with a median incident cost of $8,300—enough to derail a monthly budget or payroll. That’s why the U.S. Small Business Administration spotlights cyber safety as core to small-business success. Small Business Administration