In 2026, the main IT worry and challenge for SMBs is cybersecurity. Cyberattacks, phishing scams, ransomware, and breaches are rising. As the cybercrime industry grows, small businesses are increasingly seen as attractive targets as they are perceived as being easier to infiltrate, due to their limited resources.
In this article, we look at the challenges small businesses face in warding off the threat of cybercrime and provide a checklist of best practices that will help them minimise the risk of being impacted.
The key challenges for small businesses
1. Increasing sophistication of cybercriminal tactics
Cybersecurity is becoming something of an arms-race with criminals using increasingly sophisticated techniques – often with the help of AI – and security companies working ceaselessly to address new methods.
Instead of the relatively blunt and opportunistic attacks we saw in the past, we are now faced with criminal organisations that are run professionally and have advanced business models. Many have their own research and development departments and support teams. As well as gaps in digital defences and technical flaws, they work to exploit human behaviour and gather information from multiple data sources.
Their tactics are increasingly creative, making use of social engineering and information gleaned from the dark web (i.e. stolen by hackers) to collate information on individuals and then perpetrate phishing scams to gain access to systems. By collecting detailed data on individuals, they can make their malicious emails and voice calls much more convincing.
AI is also being used by criminals, both to identify gaps in security, and associate information with individuals and develop even more sophisticated techniques and realistic messages and even to copy voices.
Security vendors are also using AI to develop counter measures to this growing multiplicity of complex threats. More work is being done to identify and address them in real-time and to connect networks so that everyone can be protected from new threats as quickly as possible.
2. Lack of in-house cybersecurity expertise
Few have any real IT in house expertise in cybersecurity and even those that do have a small IT department may struggle to keep up. Without anyone who really knows their way around and is confident setting up and managing digital protection, it’s difficult for an SMB to be confident that it really is properly protected.
Of course, this increasingly important role can be outsourced to an expert third party – provider, but that’s probably only part of the answer. Whether cybersecurity is managed in house or externally, SMBs need to have a clear, strategic approach to digital protection that aligns with their business goals. In other words, it must make practical sense, not only in terms of the protection it delivers, but also with respect to day-to-day operations and overall cost. The cybersecurity measures need to be good but also proportionate to the needs of the business and the resources it has available.
That point made, it should be remembered that a serious cybersecurity breach can be an existential threat to an SMB. The measures you take should not in any way, leave you vulnerable to infiltration and attacks.
3. Budget and investment
SMBs need to set clear priorities and focus investment on the technologies that will protect their key assets and capabilities. They might want to consider managed services options and making use of expert consultancy services to regularly review and update their policy and approach.
Whatever approach is taken, businesses must understand and accept that putting sufficiently good protection in place will have a cost. And while the initial outlay of putting appropriate measures in place may call for significant investment, there will also be the ongoing cost of monitoring and managing security and reviewing and updating the posture on a regular basis.
The cost of training and re-training staff will also need to be considered.
When looking at managing cybersecurity in-house, it is also worth considering how much of the IT staff’s time this will take, and indeed how much of a challenge it will be to retain IT security experts. In-house teams will also need to have time to keep up with the rapid pace of developments in cybersecurity. When all of these factors are considered, using a specialist third-party security services provider can be quite appealing.
4. Flexible working arrangements
The flexible working habits that have been adopted by almost all businesses now have also brought new security challenges. It is not as easy to monitor and control the activity of remote workers, and they will have business data stored on their laptops.
Remotely connected laptops, tablets and smartphones can also be used as an entry point to the central network and as they are always connecting from different places, it can be harder to detect suspicious activity or infiltration. They may also be more prone to phishing attacks and social engineering when they are working at home or in public locations.
Nine essential cybersecurity best practices for SMBs
1. Endpoint and network security
As a starting point, deploying a next-generation firewall and good endpoint protection solutions are essential. These core security solutions will provide the base level security that every organisation needs. It’s important however, to ensure that all applications and services, and licences for hardware firewalls and other devices, are kept right up to date.
2. Regular audits
SMBs should carry out regular security audits and train employees to recognise potential threats and efforts to glean information that could lead to the business being exposed. They need to foster a general culture of cybersecurity awareness within the business.
3. Cyber awareness training
Employees must be trained to use security software effectively and to recognise potential threats and warning signs that something could be awry. It’s also advisable to provide refresher courses on cybersecurity at regular intervals.
4. Stay up to date with industry developments
It can be a challenge to keep systems up to date and respond swiftly to new developments – but it’s absolutely vital. SMBs must keep on top of their software updates and licences and stay aware of key trends and changes in cybersecurity. Managers and staff should keep themselves up to date with what is happening in the world of cybersecurity and always be on alert for potential scams and attacks.
5. Invest in a managed service provider (MSP)
SMBs should seriously consider managed services options. They are especially appealing for small businesses that don’t want to manage security in-house and divert their employees from their everyday tasks and goals.
That said, even when an SMB makes use of a managed security service, they will still need a good security policy in place and make staff follow security procedures and are fully aware of potential threats.
The other big advantage of using a managed security service, is that the business does not need to have any in-house expertise. Technical staff can be expensive to hire and difficult to retain as they are in such high demand.
6. Implement robust data protection policies
SMBs should have robust data management policies in place and encrypt all sensitive information. Access to systems and data needs to be carefully controlled and traceable. Two-factor authentication is essential. Suppliers should be expected to meet the same standards to ensure that any information passing between them always stays protected. Staff need to have a full understanding of their responsibilities and be made aware of the potential danger of losing devices and data. Policies should be reviewed regularly.
7. Prioritise budget allocation based on what is most important for the organisation’s cyber safety
Clearly, SMBs must prioritise their spending and if cybersecurity is indeed their biggest concern, they must ensure they allocate an appropriate proportion of their IT budget spend to protecting digital assets. SMBs do need to invest more in security solutions, and have a clear cybersecurity strategy that aligns with their business goals.
8. Implement strong hybrid or remote working practices
The practice of working at home or remotely has added a further layer of complexity to digital protection. The use of secure access, identity verification, and multi-factor authentication should all be considered. Remote connections must be protected using VPNs or other secure links. Wherever they are working, staff must always follow security policies and safe practices. Using cloud-based services can help to standardise procedures as employees are compelled to log-on in the same way wherever they are located.
9. Maintain cybersecurity as a high priority
It is important not to ‘set and forget’ with cybersecurity. Keeping protection measures up to date and ensuring that employees are aware of the risks and how to minimise the chances of an infiltration or infection is vital. All SMBs will need some help and support in making sure that they gave the right solutions, services, and policies in place. Some may want to place the management of cybersecurity in the hands of an expert third party. Trusted reseller partners can help them to make these decisions and support them in keeping their security stance up to date.
The expert view
According to Scott Rogers, director – security, TD SYNNEX, SMBs need to be just as alive to the threat of cyberattacks as larger and more high-profile businesses. ‘While attacks on companies such as JLR and M&S achieved national headlines, the thousands of cyberattacks that are suffered by smaller businesses every day receive scant attention. Sadly, this is not a problem that is going away – it’s a constant and ever-changing challenge that all business must face up to.
‘But it’s not all doom and gloom. While it’s certainly true that SMBs need to do more to protect their digital assets, if they take sensible steps and professional advice, and ensure that they have a solid strategy and a robust security policy in place, SMBs can protect themselves very effectively from the cybercrime and minimise the chances that they will be impacted.’
A strategic and considered approach
SMBs need to take a strategic and carefully considered approach to cybersecurity. They need to identify what is important and allocate budgets and resources accordingly. For some, using trusted partners to provide core digital security services may be the best approach. This can reduce the need to invest in IT equipment and software and relieve the business of managing and maintaining systems and networks.
