Hackers Hate These 6 SMB Cybersecurity Tricks (And Why They Work)

There’s a dangerous myth that still circulates among small and mid-sized businesses: “We’re too small to be on a hacker’s radar.” But let me be clear—that mindset is exactly what makes you a target.

Cybercriminals know that SMBs often lack the time, budget, and staff to build strong defenses. They assume your firewalls are outdated, your employees aren’t trained to spot phishing attempts, and your backups—if they exist—haven’t been tested in months. And too often, they’re right.

That’s why Ohio’s small businesses are being hit harder and more often than ever, with ransomware, data breaches, and business email compromise leading the charge. Attackers aren’t just looking for million-dollar paydays—they’re looking for easy wins. And if you’re not prepared, you’re handing them the opportunity.

Now, here's the good news: you don’t need a Fortune 500 budget to protect yourself.

There are simple, affordable, and surprisingly effective strategies you can put in place right now to dramatically reduce your risk. They’re the very tactics hackers hate—because they make your business a much harder target, without requiring enterprise-level spend.

In this post, I’ll walk you through six smart, scalable security moves that can make a real difference—whether you’ve got an in-house IT team or you’re just trying to get ahead of the threats with a trusted provider.

1. Two-Factor Authentication

Let’s start with something painfully easy to implement—and shockingly underused: two-factor authentication (2FA).

The number one way hackers gain access to business systems isn’t through fancy exploits or zero-day vulnerabilities—it’s through stolen or guessed passwords. Whether it’s reused credentials from a data breach, a weak password like admin123, or a successful phishing attempt, it only takes one compromised login to open the door to your entire network.

That’s where 2FA (or its more advanced cousin, multifactor authentication) comes in. It adds a second layer of protection to your login process, typically a temporary code sent to your phone or generated by an authenticator app. So even if a hacker has your password, they can’t log in without that second factor—something only you can access.

What’s wild is how long this technology has been around. It’s been a security standard since the mid-2000s. And most cloud platforms SMBs use—Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Dropbox, QuickBooks Online—already have 2FA available at no extra cost. In many cases, it’s as simple as toggling a setting.

Yet according to JumpCloud’s 2024 IT Trends Report, only about 34% of SMBs are using MFA—compared to 87% of larger enterprises. That gap is exactly what cybercriminals are banking on.

The good news? Rolling out 2FA across your organization takes minutes, not months, and requires little to no training for employees. It’s the kind of move that delivers immediate protection against account takeovers, business email compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive data.

If there’s one cybersecurity control you implement this week, make it this one. It’s low-effort, low-cost, and high-impact—exactly the kind of defense hackers hate to see.

2. Updates

If there’s one thing hackers love more than weak passwords, it’s outdated software. Why? Because it’s practically an open invitation.

Cybercriminals are constantly scanning for systems running old versions of operating systems, browsers, or business applications. And once they find them, exploiting known vulnerabilities is often as simple as running a script. No advanced hacking required—just taking advantage of a hole that should have been patched months ago.

This is exactly how many ransomware attacks begin. In fact, some of the most damaging breaches in recent years weren’t the result of cutting-edge techniques—they were caused by businesses ignoring basic updates long after the security fix was released.

The solution? Set your systems to update automatically whenever possible. This includes:

• Your operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux)

• Business applications like Microsoft 365, Adobe, Zoom, QuickBooks

• Browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox

• Firewalls, routers, and antivirus/EDR software

But here’s the catch—updates only work if people actually install them. And in many SMBs, employees delay or dismiss update prompts, often because they don’t understand the risk.

That’s where employee awareness and policy enforcement come into play. A few best practices:

• Send regular reminders explaining why updates matter

• Make patching a mandatory part of device use

• Use tools that automate and track updates across your environment

• In high-risk environments, consider revoking access to key systems until devices are patched

It might feel like a small thing—but staying current with updates is one of the most effective and affordable ways to close the door on known exploits.

You don’t need a massive IT budget to stay secure. Sometimes, it’s as simple as clicking "Update Now."

3. Employee Training

If your employees don’t know how to spot a phishing email, your business is already at risk. According to CISA, more than 90% of data breaches begin with a single successful phishing message—and it only takes one employee to click the wrong link.

Phishing has evolved. Today’s fake emails look like they came from your bank, Amazon, Microsoft, or even your own CEO. With AI tools now generating ultra-realistic messages and mimicking writing styles, these scams are harder to detect than ever. They’re not riddled with typos anymore—they’re slick, urgent, and convincing.

That’s why employee awareness training isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s one of your most critical security investments. And the good news is, it’s also one of the most affordable and effective.

A recent study by KnowBe4 found that consistent training can reduce phishing click rates from 32.5% to just 5% in 12 months. That’s a massive drop—and a powerful way to harden your human defenses.

The key is making it practical and ongoing. One-hour webinars once a year won’t cut it. The most effective training programs include:

• Real-world examples of phishing emails and business email compromise

• Simulated phishing campaigns to test and train employees in real time

• Short, interactive sessions that fit into the workday

• Regular reinforcement through tips, reminders, and updates as threats evolve

This isn’t about turning your staff into cybersecurity experts. It’s about helping them pause before clicking. It’s about building a culture where security is part of the job—whether someone’s in the accounting department or answering phones at the front desk.

Hackers count on employee mistakes. Training turns those easy targets into your first line of defense.

4. Data Encryption

Data is your business. Customer records, invoices, contracts, emails—it’s all sensitive, and it’s all a target. Hackers know this, and they’re not always after your systems. Sometimes, they’re just after the data that flows through them.

That’s where encryption comes in. Think of it as turning your data into unreadable code—something that only authorized users with the right key can unlock. So even if an attacker intercepts an email, breaches your network, or lifts data from a stolen laptop, they’re left with digital gibberish instead of usable information.

It’s a powerful safeguard—and one that’s increasingly non-negotiable. In fact, many cyber liability insurance policies now require encryption as a baseline for coverage. If you’re not using it, you may be out of compliance with your policy, or worse, ineligible for claims after an incident.

Now, let’s address the common SMB objection: “Isn’t encryption expensive or complicated?” Not anymore.

Tools you’re probably already using—like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace—offer built-in encryption options for email, file storage, and collaboration. These features can be activated and configured without heavy lifting or high costs. There are also affordable third-party solutions for device-level encryption, email security, and secure file sharing.

What matters most is that encryption is applied consistently—across devices, emails, and cloud storage—so that sensitive data is protected in transit and at rest.

Cybercriminals thrive on easy wins. If they get into your systems and find unencrypted customer data, you’ve just handed them value on a silver platter. But if everything’s encrypted? They walk away with nothing.

Encryption is like a seatbelt for your data—you hope you never need it, but if something goes wrong, it can be the difference between a close call and a catastrophe.

5. Limit Employee Access

One of the simplest ways to strengthen your cybersecurity posture is also one of the most overlooked: limiting access to sensitive data and systems.

Too often, small and mid-sized businesses default to giving employees broad, unrestricted access to files, folders, applications—even admin tools. It’s easier, it avoids the hassle of setting up permissions, and it feels like a way to “trust the team.” But here’s the reality: more access means more risk.

Whether it’s an accidental deletion, a compromised account, or even a disgruntled employee, unrestricted access turns small mistakes into big security events.

The smarter approach is built around a principle called “least privilege.” It means giving employees just enough access to do their jobs—nothing more, nothing less.

For example:

• Your marketing intern doesn’t need access to payroll data.

• Your bookkeeper shouldn’t be able to modify firewall settings.

• A customer service rep shouldn’t be able to see HR folders or tax documents.

Limiting access doesn’t mean limiting productivity. A skilled IT team can implement role-based access controls so employees have what they need—and only what they need. In fact, most modern systems like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and cloud-based ERPs make this easier than ever.

For occasional needs, you can use tools that allow temporary admin access or time-bound file sharing, so employees can complete a specific task or project and then automatically lose that elevated access when it’s no longer needed.

It’s about controlling exposure. Because when every employee can see every document, and one of those accounts gets breached? That’s a full-system compromise. But if access is limited? The damage is contained.

Good access control isn’t about lack of trust—it’s about building a smarter, more secure workplace.

6. Data Backups

If there's one cybersecurity threat that keeps SMB leaders up at night, it's ransomware—and for good reason. According to a recent report from OpenText Cybersecurity, 46% of small and mid-sized businesses have already experienced a ransomware attack. The model is simple: cybercriminals encrypt your data and demand payment in exchange for the decryption key. But here's the painful truth—even if you pay, there's no guarantee you'll get your data back.

That’s why backups aren’t just an IT best practice—they’re a business survival strategy.

A well-executed backup plan allows you to say, “No thanks” to ransom demands because you’ve already got clean copies of your data, ready to restore. But not just any backup will do. You need a resilient and tested system that follows one of the most time-tested strategies in cybersecurity: the 3-2-1 rule.

Here’s how it works:

• 3 total copies of your data

• 2 stored on different types of media (e.g., cloud and external drive)

• 1 stored off-site or offline—disconnected from your main network

This approach protects against everything from ransomware and accidental deletion to hardware failure and physical disasters like fire or flood.

But here’s the part many businesses miss: you have to test your backups regularly.

It's not enough to assume they're running in the background. You need to verify restorations, make sure files are intact, and confirm your data is current. Because nothing’s worse than discovering—after an attack—that your last good backup is six months old, incomplete, or corrupted.

Modern backup solutions make this easier than ever. Many platforms allow automated cloud backups, encrypted storage, and alerting if something goes wrong. Your IT provider should be monitoring this for you, and working with you to create a documented recovery plan so you’re never guessing in a crisis.

In a world where ransomware is almost inevitable, backups are your insurance policy. The difference between a temporary disruption and a full-scale business shutdown often comes down to this one step.

Small Changes, Big Impact

Here’s the bottom line: you don’t need a Fortune 500 budget to protect your business like one.

These six strategies—two-factor authentication, timely updates, employee training, encryption, access control, and reliable data backups—are simple, cost-effective, and proven to work. They’re the kinds of moves that frustrate cybercriminals because they close off easy entry points. No flashy tools, no complex deployments—just smart, strategic steps that dramatically reduce your risk.

If you’re missing even one of these layers, your business could be exposed. But the good news? It’s not too late to act. Most of these strategies can be implemented quickly—with the right guidance—and they don’t require a massive overhaul to start making a difference.

The most resilient SMBs aren’t the ones that have the most tools—they’re the ones that apply the right ones with discipline and consistency.

Ready to make your business harder to hack?

At Securafy, we help Ohio-based businesses take practical, right-sized steps toward better cybersecurity—no scare tactics, no jargon, just real solutions that work for real businesses.

Let’s talk about where your vulnerabilities are, and how we can turn those gaps into strengths—starting with the basics hackers hate the most.