When it comes to cybersecurity, there’s a common misconception that hackers only go after big enterprises with more data and deeper pockets.
Unfortunately, the reality is that cyber criminals send out billions of phishing emails and then take down whoever falls for the scams, they don’t care about size because all money is worth stealing to them
Let’s break down why small businesses need cybersecurity just as much as larger organizations and how tailored solutions can keep you secure.
Small Businesses Are Targeted At The Same Rate As The Big Fellas
Recent studies reveal that over 40% of cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses because hackers know that many SMBs ignore even the most basic of protections.
SMBs don’t regularly path their comptuers and netwrok, they don’t routinely check backups, they dont have threat monitoring and they have no disaster recovery plan
When an SMB gets hit, they are way more likely to pay the ransom than a large business that has 3 layers of redundancy for all their vital systems.
How LME Helps: LME Services provides small businesses with comprehensive, affordable cybersecurity solutions that are just as robust as those used by large enterprises.
With 24×7 HUMAN monitoring, our team gets alerted to un-patched computers, missing backups, strange behavior or email issues. We ensures that someone is paying attention.
Cyber Incidents Cost a Lot More Than Just the Ransom
Studies show that 60% of small businesses close within six months of a cyberattack due to the financial toll.
The financial impact of a cyberattack is hard to calculate but as a starter, you have to ask yourself:
- How much money would we lose if we were down for multiple weeks
- Could we wait for 1-2 month audit before receiving your cyber insurance check
- What are the legal fees and ramificatons
- Could you be subject to fines
- Have you filled out any security questionaries that were inaccurate?
- How will this hack affect your brand and customer relationships?
How LME Helps: We are here to guide you if you do get hacked because trying to figure out what to do when the sky is falling means you likely have no recovery plan.
We know what steps to take to get you back up and running, we know who you need to talk to, we have a plan, we have backups and we contingencies so that recovery is quick and potential legal issues are being addressed.
Data Privacy Laws Apply to Businesses of All Sizes
Regulatory requirements like GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA don’t just apply to big corporations; they affect businesses of all sizes.
All small business handles customer data, whether it’s emails, payment information, or employee SSNs, credit card transaction, etc.
You are responsible for keeping everything private. You wouldn’t want your lawyer, or biggest vendor to give away all your data and you if they did give it away you might want to take legal action as well. Failing to comply with data privacy laws can result in substantial fines and damage to your business reputation.
How LME Helps: LME’s cybersecurity solutions include compliance-focused services that help small businesses meet data protection regulations.
We protect sensitive data, stay informed on the latest compliance standards, implementing policies and practices that safeguard customer data and reduce the risk of regulatory penalties.
Getting Hacked Destroys Your Brand
For small businesses, a strong reputation is key to growth and customer loyalty.
When clients call and you can’t do your job because you’ve been down for 2 weeks because of a cyberattack, word of mouth is going to spread fast.
Bad reviews and angry customers leave a lasting effect. When people search for you and see reviews saying that you got hacked and gave up people’s data, you will be a really bad spot.
How LME Helps: With a proactive, multi-layered approach to cybersecurity, LME Services helps SMBs maintain a trustworthy brand reputation by taking Cybersecurity seriously.
We know how to handle Cyber PR and work to ensure that your clients and employees know that things are being taken care of and systems will be back online shortly.
SMBs Are the Easy Steps on the Way to Larger Enterprises
Cybercriminals often use small businesses as stepping stones to larger targets.
If an SMB is part of a larger supply chain or network, hackers may exploit their security vulnerabilities to gain access to other connected businesses. This is known as a supply chain attack, where the compromise of one business leads to a cascading effect on others.
How LME Helps: LME’s cybersecurity solutions help safeguard small businesses within larger networks by implementing security protocols that block unauthorized access and detect suspicious activity early on.
With secure firewalls, strong access controls, and thorough monitoring, we ensure that your business is not the weak link in a broader network.
Cybersecurity Is a Competitive Advantage
With cybersecurity concerns on the rise, customers and partners are increasingly selective about the companies they do business with.
Knowing that a company takes cybersecurity seriously can be a deciding factor for customers choosing between you and a competitor.
An SMB that showcases proper understanding of technology, threats and protecting customer data will look a lot more appealing than a company that does it all “old school” and ignore basic things like sending encrypted emails, securing Wi-Fi and setting up 2FA on important systems
How LME Helps: LME Services helps SMBs leverage cybersecurity as a competitive advantage by developing a marketable security strategy that showcases your mature use of technology to clients and partners.
By showing that you prioritize protecting customer data, you can differentiate your business and establish yourself as a reliable, secure choice in the marketplace.
Why Invest in Cybersecurity, to Stop Disasters!
Cybersecurity is not just a concern for large enterprises—small and mid-sized businesses are equally at risk.
By investing in proactive cybersecurity measures, SMBs can protect their operations, customers, and reputations from cyber threats. At LME Services, we bring years of expertise and a commitment to friendly, effective support that ensures small businesses stay secure.
With tailored, cost-effective cybersecurity solutions, LME helps small businesses navigate today’s digital landscape with confidence. Don’t let misconceptions put your business at risk. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help protect your business from cyber threats. LME Will Get Your Business SOC Compliant and HIPAA Compliant!
Other Services we Offer: ISO Certified & Maintain Compliance, Chicago Cybersecurity Services, Accounting I.T. Services
Further Reading: How Managed IT Services Support Chicago’s Remote and Hybrid Workforces, The Role of Fully Managed IT Support in Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery.
