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Why cybercriminals prey on small businesses and how to protect them

Internal digital systems are the core of modern business. Customer bases, reports, tasks, documents, and analytics are concentrated here. This data ensures the stable operation of the company, allows you to build processes and make management decisions.

However, even the most sophisticated system becomes vulnerable if it lacks basic security measures. As practice shows, it is small and medium—sized companies that most often become victims of cyber threats, primarily due to underestimation of risks.

There is a myth that only large companies are interesting to hackers. In fact, it's the opposite. According to the study Innostage, in 2023, the number of attacks on the segment of small and medium-sized businesses increased by 32%.

Reasons:

  • limited budgets for information security;
  • insufficient access control and lack of regulations; 
  • high degree of trust within the team and low digital literacy of individual employees.

This makes such companies more vulnerable in the eyes of intruders.

1. Financial losses

Commercial information falling into the hands of third parties can lead to direct losses.:

  • loss of customers in favor of competitors; 
  • reputational costs leading to lower revenue; 
  • extortion and fraud; 
  • penalties for non-compliance with data protection legislation. 
A simple scenario: the customer base has leaked — a competitor offered "a little cheaper" and took away some of the customers.

2. Loss of trust

Confidential information that is publicly available undermines the trust of customers and partners. This is especially critical for small companies, where every reputational mistake can have fatal consequences.

In 2022, the personal data of Yandex users became publicly available.Food" — names, phone numbers, addresses, and order history. Despite the company's official statement, the leak caused a public outcry and an outflow of customers.

3. Threat to customers

If your clients receive strange emails, calls from "managers", invoices on behalf of your company, it means that the leak has already happened. And even if it's not your fault, you'll have to answer to your customers.

External threats

These include:

  • hacker attacks;
  • competitive intelligence; 
  • extortion and fraud. 

The goal is to gain access to information that can be used to damage the company or make a profit.

Internal threats

Most incidents occur internally:

  • using insecure passwords; 
  • storing files on personal devices or in unsecured cloud storage; 
  • clicking on suspicious links; 
  • intentional actions of employees (for example, copying the database before being fired). 

Employees with access to critical information are particularly at risk, especially if they are in conflict with management or are about to leave for competitors.

1. Setting up access rights

Restrict access to information by role. An employee should see only the part of the data that they need to work with. This minimizes the risks of unauthorized use or leakage.

2. Using strong passwords

Avoid simple and repetitive passwords. Use passwords that are at least 10 characters long, with a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters. There is a unique password for each service.

3. Two-factor authentication (2FA)

Even if the password becomes known to third parties, 2FA adds an additional layer of protection. Access to the data will not be possible without confirmation via a mobile device.

4. Competent integrator

When implementing digital systems, especially corporate portals (for example, Bitrix24), it is important to involve an experienced integrator who will not only set up business processes, but also ensure data security. Check for competencies, certificates, and reviews.

5. Limitation of integrator's rights

The integrator does not have to have full access to all company data. Modern systems allow you to set individual access rights. It is also recommended to sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) and record all the terms in an official contract.

6. Activity monitoring

Management systems allow you to track who entered the portal, when and from where. Regular monitoring of activity logs helps to quickly identify suspicious behavior.

Digitalization provides companies with tangible benefits: increased efficiency, faster processes, and revenue growth. But it is important to remember that technology opens up new opportunities not only for businesses, but also for intruders.

Security must It can be integrated into every stage of digital transformation: from system selection to employee training. Even if your business is small, it is of interest to those who are looking for vulnerable targets.

Information security is not an additional option, but an essential element of sustainable growth.

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Ксения Рабинович

April 18, 2025 10:36