It’s often assumed that cyberattacks mainly target large enterprises. The reality is quite different: SMBs, being less well protected, today account for a significant share of reported incidents. The good news is that a handful of well-applied measures radically changes the picture.
1. Enable multi-factor authentication
This is the measure with the best cost-effectiveness ratio. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) blocks the vast majority of account compromise attempts, even when a password has been stolen.
2. Keep systems up to date
Most attacks exploit flaws that vendors have already patched. A rigorous patch management process closes these doors before they can be used.
3. Back up — and test your restores
A backup you’ve never tested isn’t really a backup. The 3-2-1 rule remains a benchmark:
- three copies of your data;
- on two different media;
- with one stored off-site.
4. Train your teams
People remain the most targeted link. Short, regular phishing training noticeably reduces the click rate on malicious emails.
5. Prepare a response plan
The question isn’t whether an incident will occur, but when. A clear response plan — who to contact, what to isolate, how to communicate — helps limit the damage and resume operations quickly.
These five practices don’t require a colossal budget. Above all, they call for consistency and support tailored to each organization’s reality.