What you'll learn in this article
- Small and medium-sized businesses are frequent targets because they hold valuable data but often lack dedicated security resources.
- Modern cyberattacks increasingly bypass traditional defenses through phishing, credential theft, and malware-free techniques.
- Human behavior and everyday workflows play a major role in security outcomes, making employee awareness and training essential.
- A layered approach that combines endpoint protection, SMB email security, and incident preparedness helps reduce risk and improve resilience.
As an IT security leader for a small to medium-sized business (SMB), you’re at a disadvantage when it comes to defending against cybersecurity threats. You face the same threats from cybercriminals and similar levels of risk as enterprise organizations - such as data loss, financial repercussions, and reputational damage - but you have fewer resources to mitigate them.
At the same time, the volume and sophistication of cyberattacks continues to increase. Popular business productivity platforms, like Microsoft O365 or Google Workspace, have become irresistible targets, resulting in increased exposure for organizations of all sizes. You need the best small business cybersecurity you can get, delivered simply and affordably.
Why is cybersecurity for small businesses important?
Cybercriminals are no longer only after big enterprises. They are increasingly targeting small and mid-sizes businesses (SMBs), too.
With the shift to remote and hybrid working, small businesses increasingly adopt cloud solutions, some for the first time, often without investing enough in cybersecurity to protect their cloud working environment. That makes it lucrative for cybercriminals to target these smaller companies and exploit potential threats across distributed systems.
And not only that. Hackers know that no matter the size of an organization, there is always valuable, sensitive data that can be stolen and used for fraudulent activities. These include personal information, such as credit card data, medical records, Social Security numbers, bank account details, the list goes on. Cybercriminals are always trying to figure out new ways to get their hands on data.
Malicious actors, in most cases, target companies for profit because they want to make money. What better way to accomplish their goal than by using ransomware as their preferred attack method or launching a cyber attack designed to disrupt operations and demand payment. It often succeeds, and what proves to be lucrative, continues to thrive.
In order to minimize these risks, it’s important to have robust cybersecurity solutions in place, no matter the size of your organization.
Key cybersecurity threats faced by small businesses
Small businesses face many of the same cyber risks as large enterprises, but with fewer resources to defend against them. Attackers often view SMBs as easier targets because of gaps in tooling, staffing, and visibility across systems.
Common threats include:
- Malware and ransomware – Malicious programs designed to disrupt operations, encrypt data, or steal sensitive information.
- Phishing and business email compromise – Email-based scams that impersonate trusted individuals or organizations to steal credentials and financial information.
- Credential theft – Stolen usernames and passwords used to access systems and move laterally within an environment.
- Exploited vulnerabilities – Weaknesses in software or infrastructure that allow attackers to gain unauthorized access.
- Insider threats – Employees or contractors who intentionally or unintentionally expose systems, data, or workflows to risk.
- Zero-day exploits – Previously unknown vulnerabilities used in targeted attacks before patches or detections are available.
These threats often lead to data theft, operational disruption, financial loss, and reputational damage. For SMBs, even a single incident can have long-term business impact.
How to develop an effective cybersecurity plan for SMBs
An effective cybersecurity plan for small businesses should focus on practical, high-impact actions that strengthen defenses without overwhelming internal teams. The goal is to build a layered strategy that protects data, users, and communication channels while supporting daily operations.
Key steps include:
1. Understand the reality of modern cyberattacks
Organizations must recognize that attackers are organized, persistent, and actively targeting SMBs. Security planning starts with acknowledging risk, assessing vulnerabilities, and identifying where sensitive data lives.
2. Implement basic cybersecurity hygiene
Foundational practices significantly reduce exposure. These include strong password policies, multifactor authentication, data backups, encryption, patch management, and securing remote access and cloud environments.
3. Train and support employees
Employees play a critical role in preventing breaches. Ongoing awareness programs, phishing simulations, and clear guidance on handling sensitive information help reduce human-driven risk.
4. Invest in endpoint protection
Modern endpoint tools provide visibility and protection across devices, helping detect and stop threats before they spread through the environment.
5. Secure email and communication channels
Because email remains a primary attack vector, layered protections, including filtering, AI-driven analysis, and monitoring, are essential for preventing phishing and credential-based attacks.
6. Establish an incident response plan
Preparation ensures organizations can respond quickly and effectively when a breach occurs. Clear roles, escalation paths, and communication procedures reduce downtime and confusion during an incident.
A well-structured cybersecurity plan does not rely on a single tool. Instead, it combines people, processes, and technology to reduce exposure, detect threats earlier, and maintain business continuity.
Cybersecurity tips for small businesses
Small businesses are a highly lucrative target for cybercriminals, often due to the limited resources and their potentially weaker security measures.
Some cybersecurity tips for small businesses are:
- Educate your employees. Security Awareness Training is an essential part of any cybersecurity strategy and is a foundational element for securing your (digital) workplace, more often than not, it comes down to a human’s decision – will an employee click on a malicious link or attachment, regardless of the security solution’s warnings?
- Use strong passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Using strong and unique passwords for all accounts and implementing MFA whenever possible adds an extra layer of protection. Educating your employees about password-hygiene is an extra step, which can help provide the necessary understanding and knowledge on the topic.
- Regularly update software and systems. Outdated software can be a potential attack surface – hackers often exploit known vulnerabilities. That’s something which can easily be avoided by keeping your software and systems up-to-date.
- Limit access to sensitive information. Only provide the level of access an employee requires for their role. You can always grant additional access, if needed, to reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
- Backup data. Backing up critical business data and securing it safely will ensure your business will continue operating in case of a ransomware attack or data loss.
- Implement easy to use, robust cybersecurity services. We at Mimecast have you covered. Our small business cybersecurity plans provide affordable, easy to deploy, and easy to manage security, archiving, and resilience without the excessive cost and complexity.
Solutions for SMB cybersecurity
From limited resources to budget constraints and the skills gap, SMBs must constantly balance security concerns with supporting a broad range of organizational requirements.
Mimecast’s small business cybersecurity plans provide affordable, easy to deploy, and easy to manage security, archiving, and resilience, enabling SMBs to achieve enterprise-level security – without the excessive cost and complexity. We can help with challenges like:
Closing gaps in Microsoft 365
Email is the most exploited business application, and
Microsoft is the most targeted platform, facing cyber threats such as
ransomware,
CEO impersonation, and credential theft attacks. A layered security approach and improved endpoint protection are critical to protecting your business, suppliers, and customers.
Simplifying compliance
Due to the volume of data from email and collaboration tools, e-discovery is costly and meeting compliance regulations is complicated. As a result, IT professionals are forced to spend too much time responding to compliance needs instead of focusing on critical tasks. Strengthening security policies and governance controls helps reduce exposure while improving audit readiness.
Improving resilience and recovery
Whether you’re dealing with a cyberattack or Microsoft downtime, your organization can’t afford to be offline. You need to keep email flowing, data protected, and backups secured for recoverability, supported by a defined incident response plan and reliable threat detection capabilities.
