Why are Small Businesses Targeted by Hackers?

Although it’s cyber attacks on giants like Target and Chase Bank that make the news, small businesses are actually more often the victims of hacks. You would think that there would be less valuable information to steal, not really making them worth going after. So why are small businesses targeted by hackers? In reality, small businesses make much better targets because they often have outdated cyber security, don’t have the resources to pursue the thieves, and the information to steal is still very much worth the effort.

Easier to Hack

Thieves often go for the easiest target, and hackers are no exception. Small businesses usually have outdated technology and weak cyber security. By going after an easy target, hackers are more likely to be successful in their attack and gain access to valuable the information that small businesses have. Client social security numbers, financial information, and even client lists can be easily sold on the black market.

Less Resources to Fight Back

Attacking a large, wealthy company means a higher risk of being caught and prosecuted. Small businesses are often so devastated by the hack that they hardly have the time or resources to track down the perpetrators and seek restitution.

Large companies not only have the money and legal teams to go after hackers, but law enforcement devotes more resources to large hacks on powerful victims as well. Small businesses are not nearly as capable of fighting back as the big guys.

The Less Media Attention, the Better

How many criminals have you heard of that want to attract attention to themselves? A good thief is one you never know was there. The more attention a hack attracts, the more risk of the thief getting discovered. The hack of a small business with a small amount of data stolen is not likely to attract a ton of media and law enforcement attention. The small business may not even know it was stolen! The smaller the target, the less unwanted attention on the hacker.

Protect your Small Business from a Devastating Hack

The hard truth about hacks on small businesses is that they can be devastating to business owners and easy for hackers to perpetrate. Many company simply cannot recover from huge data losses and wind up closing their doors because of it.

Preemptive cyber security measures and having a cloud backup solution can save small businesses from ruin. Don’t be an easy target and stop the attack before it happens. Read more on cyber security for small businesses and cloud backup solutions to keep your business safe.