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12.06.2024
When it comes to cybersecurity for businesses, size doesn’t matter in the way most would think. It’s not about how big a company is — it’s about how big their customers are. If a smaller organization processes sensitive data for large organizations, it is expected to protect that data with the same level of security as its biggest clients.
The Misconception: We’re Too Small to Be a Target
Many small businesses mistakenly believe they’re not on a hacker’s radar because of their size. They think, for example, “Why would anyone attack us when they could go after giants like Pfizer or major banks?” The reality is most cyberattacks are not specifically targeted — they are opportunistic.
Hackers often use automated tools to scan the internet for vulnerabilities in any public-facing system, regardless of the company’s size. They send thousands of emails to random email addresses they have gathered on the dark web. Its only after they gain access that they understand who they have compromised. For smaller companies, they investigate who the breached company works with, and that’s where the bigger fish come into play.
Just like law enforcement climbing the chain to catch a kingpin, hackers exploit weaker links in the supply chain to reach their ultimate targets. In fact, more than 50% of breaches occur through third parties. If hackers want to breach a company like Pfizer, breaking into a smaller vendor’s system is often the easiest and most effective route.
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