Cybersecurity is not just for big companies. Small and medium businesses are actually the most common targets because attackers expect weaker defenses.
The Threat Landscape for SMBs
- 43% of cyber attacks target small businesses
- 60% of small businesses close within 6 months of a breach
- Average breach cost for small businesses: $200,000+
- Most attacks are automated, not targeted. They exploit known vulnerabilities
Essential Protections
Password Security
- Use a password manager. 1Password, Bitwarden, Dashlane
- Unique passwords. Never reuse passwords across accounts
- Password length over complexity. 16+ characters
- Two-factor authentication (2FA). On every account that supports it
- Hardware keys. YubiKey for critical accounts
Employee Training
- Phishing awareness. Most breaches start with a phishing email
- Regular training. Quarterly, not annual
- Simulated phishing. Test employees with fake attacks
- Clear reporting process. Make it easy to report suspicious emails
- Security policies. Document and enforce
Endpoint Protection
- Antivirus/EDR. Modern endpoint detection and response
- Patch management. Keep all software updated
- Device encryption. Full disk encryption on laptops
- Mobile device management. For company phones
- Screen lock. Auto-lock after inactivity
Network Security
- Firewall. Hardware or cloud-based
- VPN. For remote access
- Network segmentation. Separate guest and internal networks
- DNS filtering. Block malicious domains
- WiFi security. WPA3, change default passwords
Backup and Recovery
- 3-2-1 rule. 3 copies, 2 media, 1 off-site
- Test restores. A backup you cannot restore is not a backup
- Immutable backups. Protected from ransomware
- Regular schedule. Daily for critical data
Access Control
- Principle of least privilege. Minimum access for the job
- Review access regularly. Remove access when people leave
- Separation of duties. No single person has too much access
- Just-in-time access. Grant elevated access temporarily
Incident Response Plan
- Detect. How will you know there is a problem?
- Contain. Limit the damage
- Eradicate. Remove the threat
- Recover. Restore from backups
- Learn. Document and improve
Security on a Budget
- Free: Strong passwords, 2FA, employee training
- Low cost: Password manager, basic EDR, backup service
- Invest in: Professional security assessment, managed detection
How Switch 2 One Helps
We help SMBs build practical, affordable cybersecurity defenses. Book a free strategy session.