--- title: Cyber Attacks on the Rise in Small Businesses description: Even if you are a small business, you are not exempt from the threat of a cyber-attack. Cyber-crime is rising and SMBs are becoming the target of hackers. image: https://blog.totalprosource.com/hubfs/iStock_96658127_LARGE.jpg --- - [Customer Support](https://www.totalprosource.com/support) - [Join Our Team](https://www.totalprosource.com/careers) [![logo-m](https://blog.totalprosource.com/hubfs/logo-m.svg)](https://www.totalprosource.com/) - [Solutions](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions) - [IT Solutions](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/it-solutions) - [Managed IT Services](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/it-solutions/managed-it-services) - [Cybersecurity](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/it-solutions/cybersecurity) - [Business Continuity](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/it-solutions/business-continuity) - [Hosted Voice](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/it-solutions/hosted-voice) - [Cloud Solutions](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/it-solutions/cloud-solutions) - [Managed Content Services](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/managed-content-services) - [Digital Transformation](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/managed-content-services/digital-transformation) - [Business Process Optimization](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/managed-content-services/business-process-optimization) - [Accounts Payable Automation](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/managed-content-services/ap-automation) - [Document Management for SMBs](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/managed-content-services/document-management-smbs) - [Print Solutions](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/print-solutions) - [Managed Print Services](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/print-solutions/managed-print-services) - [Copiers & Printers](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/print-solutions/copiers-printers) - [Production Print](https://www.totalprosource.com/solutions/print-solutions/production-print) - [Industries](https://www.totalprosource.com/industries) - [Education](https://www.totalprosource.com/industries/education) - [Healthcare](https://www.totalprosource.com/industries/healthcare) - [Government](https://www.totalprosource.com/industries/government) - [Manufacturing & Distribution](https://www.totalprosource.com/industries/manufacturing-distribution) - [Banking & Financial Services](https://www.totalprosource.com/industries/banking-financial-services) - [Legal](https://www.totalprosource.com/industries/legal) - [Non-Profit & Religious](https://www.totalprosource.com/industries/non-profit-religious) - [Small & Medium-Sized Businesses](https://www.totalprosource.com/industries/small-medium-sized-businesses) - [Professional Services](https://www.totalprosource.com/industries/professional-services) - [Resources](https://www.totalprosource.com/resources) - [Who We Are](https://www.totalprosource.com/who-we-are) - [About](https://www.totalprosource.com/who-we-are/about) - [TotalPro Experience](https://www.totalprosource.com/who-we-are/totalpro-experience) - [History](https://www.totalprosource.com/who-we-are/history) - [Awards](https://www.totalprosource.com/who-we-are/awards) - [Community Involvement](https://www.totalprosource.com/who-we-are/community-involvement) - [Locations](https://www.totalprosource.com/who-we-are/locations) - [Contact](https://www.totalprosource.com/contact-us) Speak With a Solutions ExpertContact Menu**Close** ### Sales or General Inquiries Our business is built on helping you leveraging technology for strategic advantage. Contact our team to learn how our powerful, scalable, affordable technology solutions can transform how you do business. Contact a Solutions Expert ### Customer Support Our solutions are backed by dedicated support teams who are committed to your success. Whether you need IT support, software support, or hardware service, we've got you covered so you can get back to business. [Contact Support](https://www.totalprosource.com/support) [1.888.698.0763](tel:18886980763) ![](https://blog.totalprosource.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Prosource_August2020/images/close.svg) ### Contact a Solutions Expert # Cyber Attacks on the Rise in Small Businesses By: [Danielle Hoverman](https://blog.totalprosource.com/author/danielle-hoverman) October 17, 2016 In late September, Yahoo confirmed that over 500 million user accounts were believed to be hacked by a state-sponsored actor in 2014. The massive data breach exposed information including names, emails, passwords, telephone numbers, dates of birth, and in some cases, encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers. ![iStock_96658127_LARGE.jpg](https://blog.totalprosource.com/hs-fs/hubfs/iStock_96658127_LARGE.jpg?width=711&height=474&name=iStock_96658127_LARGE.jpg) Even if you are a small business, you are not exempt from the threat of a cyber-attack. Cyber-crime is continuing to rise and small businesses are increasingly becoming the target of hackers. According to Symantec’s 2016 Internet Security Threat Report, small business (classified as businesses with 250 or less employees) have become a big target for phishers. In 2015, 43% of phishing campaigns targeted small businesses. That’s an increase of 9% from 2014 and 18% since 2011. **You Might Also Like: Blog Article - ["How to Spot Common Cyber Scams"](https://blog.totalprosource.com/how-to-spot-common-cyber-scams)\]** Hackers are indiscriminately choosing their victims. The report also shows that about 1 in 40 small businesses are at risk of being the victim of a cyber-crime. Security breaches can be a major problem for small businesses because they often don’t have the resources to recover from an attack. It’s important that small businesses invest in protecting their data and business so they are prepared in the event of an attack. **\[You Might Also Like: Blog Article - ["Keeping Your Business Secure Starts with Educating Employees About Cyber Security"](https://blog.totalprosource.com/keeping-your-business-secure-starts-with-educating-employees-about-cyber-security)\]** Phishing attacks will continue to be targeted to employees at small businesses. Implementing proper training on phishing schemes to employees is key. Helping employees better identify suspicious emails will help reduce the likelihood that an employee will open one. It’s also important that you consult your IT team or an IT expert to develop a comprehensive plan for mitigating the impact of a cyber-attack against your business. **[Click here to read Symantec's "2016 Internet Security Threat Report](https://www.symantec.com/content/dam/symantec/docs/reports/istr-21-2016-en.pdf?aid=elq_9562&om_sem_kw=elq_14861989&om_ext_cid=biz_email_elq_)** [Cybersecurity](https://blog.totalprosource.com/topic/cybersecurity), [Cyberattacks](https://blog.totalprosource.com/topic/cyberattacks) ## Read On ### [Can Your SMB Withstand a Cyber Attack? Tools You Need to Safeguard Against Cyber Attacks Prosource’s National Cyber Security Awareness...](https://blog.totalprosource.com/can-your-smb-withstand-a-cyber-attack-tools-you-need-to-safeguard-against-cyber-attacks) ### [\[eBook\] 14 Ways to Safeguard Your Business Against Cyber Attacks What is your organization doing to secure its data? If your answer is, "I'm not sure," now is the...](https://blog.totalprosource.com/ebook-14-cyber-security-tools) ### [Can You Answer These 8 Questions About Cyber Security in Your Business? 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