In the Crosshairs of Cybercriminals: Why Is Your Small Business the Hackers’ Favorite Target?

“Nobody will attack us, we’re too small!” – this is a sentence countless SME owners say every day. Yet the reality is that cybercriminals see smaller companies as ideal targets. Statistics show that nearly half of cyberattacks affect small and medium-sized enterprises, and attackers are using increasingly sophisticated methods to go after them.

Many people think hackers only target large corporations, banks, or government institutions. In reality, smaller companies are even more attractive because they often have weaker defenses, update their systems less frequently, and spend less money on IT security. In the eyes of a hacker, this is like leaving your office door wide open.

Yet an SME also stores a huge amount of valuable data that is worth money on the black market. Just think, your business probably has:

• customer databases,
• contracts, quotations,
• financial statements,
• internal business emails.

All of these represent significant value. You don’t have to be a bank or a multinational for hackers to be interested in you. In recent years, ransomware attacks have become especially popular. Attackers simply encrypt company data and then demand a ransom for releasing it. For a small business, even a few days of downtime can be fatal, so many prefer to pay just to be able to continue operations. This is why hackers often specialize in smaller, “easier-to-compromise” companies.

Moreover, the numbers are alarming: 43% of cyber incidents affect SMEs, and 60% of smaller companies go bankrupt within six months after a severe cyberattack because they cannot cover the costs of data loss, recovery, and losing customers. A single attack can cause direct damages of 20–30 million forints or more.

The good news is that today there are many prevention options that are affordable even for smaller companies. It already helps a lot if you:

• regularly update your software,
• use strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication,
• create daily backups,
• and train your colleagues to recognize phishing emails.

In addition, a service-based system administration solution can be a good investment, as a professional team ensures that your company does not become the hackers’ next victim, all for a fixed monthly fee. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking, “we’re too small, nobody will attack us.” That’s exactly why you’re the best target. Protect your business before it’s too late!