The Top 5 Cyber Threats That Targeted Small Businesses in 2025

Jim Montagne, Senior Account Director & Business Development

Small businesses often underestimate how attractive they are to cybercriminals. Attackers know these organizations rarely have the same depth of resources, staffing, or layered defenses as larger enterprises, which makes them easier targets. The fallout from a single attack can be devastating, from lost revenue and reputational harm to legal liability. As we look back at 2025 and onward, there are five cyber threats that stand out as the most pressing for small businesses.

1. Phishing

Phishing continues to be the easiest way for attackers to gain access. Whether through an email, text message, or even a phone call, the goal is to trick an employee into clicking a link or giving away sensitive information. Modern phishing attacks are no longer riddled with spelling mistakes. Many use polished branding, AI-generated text, and cloned websites that can fool even cautious users. Once a credential is stolen, it can be used to access business email, cloud systems, or even financial accounts.

Solution: A layered approach works best. Email security filters reduce the number of malicious messages that ever reach inboxes. Security awareness training helps employees recognize the ones that get through. Together, these defenses dramatically cut down on successful phishing attempts.

2. Ransomware

Ransomware remains one of the most damaging threats facing small businesses. Attackers don’t just encrypt files anymore. Increasingly, they steal sensitive data first, then threaten to leak it if a ransom isn’t paid. That combination of disruption and extortion has proven highly effective for cybercriminal groups. For a small business, even a few days of downtime can have lasting consequences.

Solution: Endpoint detection and response (EDR) is a strong first step but pairing it with managed detection and response (MDR) or extended detection and response (XDR) adds the human expertise needed to stop ransomware quickly. Equally important are secure, offline backups. Having clean backups makes it possible to restore operations without caving in to criminal demands.

3. Malware

While ransomware gets the headlines, more traditional forms of malware still cause damage every day. Keyloggers, spyware, and remote access trojans are often used to establish persistence inside a network. Once installed, they can quietly siphon off data, harvest credentials, or provide attackers with remote control of company systems.

Solution: Endpoint security solutions such as CHECKLIGHT® from CISO Global can identify and stop these infections. By continuously monitoring your environment for suspicious behavior, endpoint protection reduces the window of opportunity for attackers. Keeping systems patched and up to date also lowers the chance of malware taking hold in the first place.

4. Business Email Compromise (BEC)

BEC has become one of the costliest threats to small businesses. Unlike traditional phishing, which relies on a broad net, BEC is highly targeted. Attackers impersonate executives, vendors, or partners to trick employees into transferring money or sharing sensitive data. These scams often bypass technical defenses because the emails themselves may not contain malicious links or attachments.

Solution: Multi-factor authentication helps protect accounts from takeover, making it harder for attackers to send fraudulent emails from real addresses. Email security tools can flag suspicious senders, and awareness training ensures employees know how to verify unusual requests. Together, these measures reduce the likelihood of a successful BEC attack.

5. Data Theft Through Compromised Devices

As remote and hybrid work remains common, attackers are increasingly targeting laptops, tablets, and phones used outside the office. A compromised device can become an entry point to an entire business network. Data theft from these devices often goes unnoticed until much later, when stolen information shows up for sale or is used in follow-on attacks.

Solution: Endpoint protection and mobile device security are critical. CHECKLIGHT®, for example, offers visibility into device activity no matter where the endpoint is located. Combined with employee education around safe device use and strong password practices, businesses can minimize the risks associated with compromised devices.

Building a Resilient Defense

No single solution eliminates cyber risk. The most effective strategy for small businesses is to combine multiple layers of defense. Endpoint security, email filtering, secure backups, and continuous education together create a much stronger posture than any one tool can provide on its own.

At CISO Global, we work with organizations of every size to identify the right mix of protections, including solutions like CHECKLIGHT® that give visibility into threats before they spiral out of control. Small businesses may not be able to outspend attackers, but with the right defenses in place, they can outsmart them and keep operations running securely.