7 Ways SMEs Get Hacked (And How to Fix It Cheaply)

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) often think they are "too small to target." The reality is quite the opposite. Hackers target SMEs precisely because they often lack the robust defenses of larger corporations. The good news? Securing your business doesn't require an enterprise budget.

1. Phishing Attacks: The Human Weakness

The Incident: An employee receives an email that looks like it's from Microsoft or a vendor, asking to "verify credentials." One click, and the hacker is inside.

The Cheap Fix: Implement regular awareness training. Tools like GoPhish can simulate attacks for free. More importantly, turn on Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) everywhere. It costs nothing and stops 99% of these attacks.

2. Weak Passwords

The Incident: Employees use passwords like "Company123" or reuse the same password across multiple sites. When one site is breached, your company is exposed.

The Cheap Fix: Enforce a password policy. Use a password manager like Bitwarden (which has a free tier) to generate and store complex passwords.

3. Unpatched Software

The Incident: Operating systems or software like Adobe Reader are left outdated. Hackers use automated tools to scan the internet for these known vulnerabilities.

The Cheap Fix: Enable "Automatic Updates" on all devices. It’s free and effective.

4. Unsecured Remote Access (RDP)

The Incident: Companies open Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) ports to the internet to let employees work from home without a VPN.

The Cheap Fix: Never expose RDP directly to the internet. malicious bots scan for this constantly. Use a simple VPN or tools like Cloudflare Tunnel (often free for small teams) to secure access.

5. Lack of Backups

The Incident: Ransomware encrypts all your files and demands $50,000 for the decryption key.

The Cheap Fix: follow the 3-2-1 rule. Keep 3 copies of data, on 2 different media, with 1 offsite. Cloud storage solutions like OneDrive or Google Drive (often already part of your subscription) have versioning features that can act as a simple ransomware recovery tool.

6. Public Wi-Fi Dangers

The Incident: An employee works from a coffee shop and connects to unsecured public Wi-Fi. A hacker nearby intercepts the traffic.

The Cheap Fix: Mandate the use of a VPN when working remotely. Or simply insist employees use their cellular hotspot, which is far more secure than public Wi-Fi.

7. Insider Threats (Accidental or Malicious)

The Incident: An employee leaves the company but still has access to the cloud drive and email.

The Cheap Fix: Have an offboarding checklist. Ensure access is revoked immediately upon termination. Use the "Least Privilege Principle"—only give employees access to what they strictly need.

Need a Turnkey Solution?

Managing these fixes yourself is cheap, but time-consuming. Go Expandia's Managed IT Services handle all of this—patching, security, and monitoring—so you can focus on growth.

FAQ

Is free antivirus software enough for my business?

While better than nothing, free antivirus software often lacks critical features like ransomware protection, centralized management, and real-time support. For businesses, paid endpoint protection offers much stronger security at a low cost.

How often should I train my employees on cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity training should be continuous. Quarterly workshops combined with monthly simulated phishing tests are recommended to keep security top-of-mind.

What is the single most effective way to improve security cheaply?

Enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on all email and business accounts. It allows you to block 99.9% of automated account compromise attacks and is often free.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity doesn't have to be a budget-breaker. By focusing on the basics—updates, backups, complex passwords, and employee awareness—you can eliminate the vast majority of threats facing SMEs today.