Small businesses tend to be resilient, fast-moving, and resourceful, but those strengths can also create blind spots. Ransomware operators know many SMBs run lean and may delay security improvements until there’s a problem. Unfortunately, ransomware is the kind of problem that can force decisions under pressure.
One common vulnerability is outdated systems. If a computer or server still “works,” it’s easy to postpone upgrades. But older operating systems and applications may be missing patches that address well-known security holes.
Another issue is backup confidence that isn’t tested. A business may believe it has backups, but those backups might be connected to the network, stored in only one place, or never validated with a real restore.
Finally, staff awareness is frequently uneven. Employees are busy, and phishing emails can be convincing. If your team hasn’t been trained to identify suspicious requests, a single click can open the door.