---
title: "[News] Small Businesses Face Big Security Risks | DuoCircle"
description: "Why are small businesses at greater risk for phishing and hacking? It’s not because they make the juiciest targets. It’s because they make the easiest targets."
image: "https://www.duocircle.com/images/og-default.png"
canonical: "https://www.duocircle.com/blog/announcements/news-small-businesses-face-big-security-risks/"
---

Quick Answer

Small businesses are easier targets than large ones, not juicier ones: they rarely have a dedicated security team and face the same threats. Recent examples include Columbia Surgical Specialists, a Spokane healthcare provider that paid nearly $15,000 in ransom hours before scheduled surgeries, and Jackson County, Georgia, which paid $400,000 to recover from a ransomware infection. The post's argument is that SaaS-delivered security has closed the affordability gap: phishing protection, spam filtering, and email security can deploy in about 10 minutes for under $50/month per organization, with no hardware to buy. Columbia's $15,000 ransom would have funded 27 years of that protection.

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![Big Security Risks](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2019/03/SMTP-server-mail-4735.jpg) 

_Why are small businesses at greater risk for phishing and hacking?_ It’s not because they make the juiciest targets. It’s because they make the _easiest_ targets. Why is that? Because they don’t always have what it takes to defend themselves.

According to an article on SC Magazine, [Smaller orgs struggle to get the security resources they need](https://www.scmagazine.com/home/security-news/smaller-orgs-struggle-to-get-the-security-resources-they-need/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=SCUS%5FNewswire%5F20190311&hmSubId=01xQvtS0ero1&email%5Fhash=0da939dab246e8101d6090def505f6f5&mpweb=1325-6317-1896988). _“Small organizations often don’t have the resources to put toward cybersecurity, and the shortage of skilled talent makes their plight even more difficult,”_ Nathan Wenzler, senior director of cybersecurity at Moss Adams, told SC Media Executive Editor Teri Robinson.

Small companies frequently don’t have a dedicated security team because they can’t afford the large salaries to bring in skilled security officers. Yet, they have the same security threats.

[![Ransomware Attack](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2019/03/SPF-record-checker-5369.jpg)](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2019/03/SPF-record-checker-5369.jpg)

As an example, a small healthcare facility called Columbia Surgical Specialists in Spokane, WA recently [paid an almost $15,000 ransom to regain access to files encrypted during a ransomware attack](https://www.scmagazine.com/home/security-news/ransomware/columbia-surgical-specialists-pay-15000-ransom-to-unlock-files/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=SCUS%5FNewswire%5F20190311&hmSubId=01xQvtS0ero1&email%5Fhash=0da939dab246e8101d6090def505f6f5&mpweb=1325-6361-1896988). According to their newsletter, “\[They\] received notice from the people that encrypted the files just a few hours before several patients were scheduled for surgeries, and they made it clear we would not have access to patient information until we paid a fee.”

If that isn’t bad enough, [Officials in Jackson County, Georgia, paid $400,000](https://web.archive.org/web/20260215083735/https://blog.knowbe4.com/georgia-county-pays-a-whopping-400000-to-get-rid-of-a-ransomware-infection) to cyber-criminals this week to get rid of a ransomware infection and regain access to their IT systems.

> Stories like this are why it’s imperative for small companies to find security solutions with the following two attributes: low cost and easy set up.

When it comes to phishing and hacking and ransomware, attackers don’t really care that you’re a small business. You still have to defend your company.

The good news for small businesses today is that almost every form of **cybersecurity service** is available as a SaaS (software-as-a-service) product. And that’s great for small businesses for two reasons. First, it eliminates the need for a high-salaried technical staff. There’s no hardware to buy or install. There’s no software to buy or configure. And in most cases, these security services can be deployed in as little as 10 minutes. Some services will even help companies set things up if they need the help.

The other reason SaaS security products are great for small businesses is because of their price. They’re super affordable. It’s not uncommon to find the entry levels of these service for less than fifty bucks a month. For that amount, Columbia Surgical Specialists could have purchased 27 years’ worth of protection for the ransom they paid!

[![phishing protection](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2019/03/spf-record-6495.jpg)](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2019/03/spf-record-6495.jpg)

Whether it’s [phishing protection](/email/phishing-protection), spam filtering or email security, there’s an **affordable SaaS solution** for your small business. If you don’t know where to begin, head on over to [DuoCircle](/) and see what we have to keep your small business safe from security risks.

![Brad Slavin](https://media.mailhop.org/dmarcreport/images/team/brad-slavin.jpg) 

Brad Slavin 

General Manager

General Manager at DuoCircle. Product strategy and commercial lead across the email security portfolio.

## Secure your email infrastructure

Protect, authenticate, and deliver. Contact our team to find the right solution.

[Contact Sales](/contact/) [Explore Products](/products/) 

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