You're Not Too Small to Be a Target
Here's the uncomfortable truth: 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses. Hackers know that small businesses typically have weaker defenses, less training, and slower response times. You're not flying under the radar — you're the easy target.
After 17 years of protecting South Shore businesses, we see the same mistakes over and over. Here are the top five — and what to do about them.
Mistake 1: Weak or Reused Passwords
Still using "Company123!" for everything? You're not alone — and that's the problem. Password reuse is the single easiest way for attackers to compromise your systems.
Fix it: Use a password manager (like Bitwarden or 1Password) and enforce unique, complex passwords for every account. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on everything that supports it.
Mistake 2: No Employee Security Training
Your team is your biggest security vulnerability — and your best defense. One employee clicking a phishing link can compromise your entire network.
Fix it: Run quarterly security awareness training. Simulate phishing attacks. Make it part of onboarding. It doesn't need to be expensive — it needs to be consistent.
Mistake 3: No Backup Strategy
Ransomware doesn't just encrypt your files — it encrypts your backups too, if they're connected to your network. Many businesses discover their "backup" doesn't actually work when they need it most.
Fix it: Follow the 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies of your data, on 2 different types of media, with 1 copy offsite. Test your backups regularly. If you haven't tested a restore, you don't have a backup.
Mistake 4: Ignoring Software Updates
Those update notifications you keep dismissing? Many of them are security patches for known vulnerabilities. Every day you wait is a day hackers can exploit that hole.
Fix it: Enable automatic updates where possible. For business-critical systems, implement a managed patching schedule that tests updates before deployment.
Mistake 5: No Incident Response Plan
When (not if) something goes wrong, what's your plan? Who do you call? How do you communicate with customers? Most small businesses have no documented plan.
Fix it: Create a simple incident response plan. Document who to call, what to disconnect, how to communicate, and how to recover. Practice it once a year.
The Good News
None of these fixes require a massive budget. They require awareness, consistency, and a partner who understands your business.
If you're a South Shore business wondering where your security gaps are, we'll assess your setup for free. No sales pitch — just an honest look at where you stand.