What cybersecurity does a small business actually need?

Small businesses are the number-one target for cyberattacks precisely because attackers assume — usually correctly — that the basics are missing. The good news: the basics stop the overwhelming majority of real-world attacks, and none of them require an enterprise budget.

The essential stack: multi-factor authentication on everything (email first — most breaches start with a compromised mailbox), managed endpoint detection on every computer (modern EDR, not just old-school antivirus), email filtering to catch phishing before staff see it, disciplined patching of systems and software, tested backups that ransomware can't encrypt, and short, regular staff awareness training — because your people are the most-attacked surface you have.

What most small businesses DON'T need: expensive appliances sold on fear, or 'military-grade' anything. A trustworthy provider will build the boring fundamentals first, be able to explain why each piece exists in plain English, and tell you honestly when you're secure enough for your risk level. If a pitch leads with fear and jargon, keep walking.