--- title: "Small Business’s Shocking Response to Cyber Threats | DuoCircle" description: "You almost have to be living under a rock or in a cave to not be aware of the constant threat from cyber events in general and phasing attacks and ransomware." image: "https://www.duocircle.com/images/og-default.png" canonical: "https://www.duocircle.com/blog/phishing-protection/small-businesss-shocking-response-to-cyber-threats/" --- Quick Answer BullGuard research found that one in five small and mid-size businesses use no endpoint security at all, and 43 percent have no cybersecurity defense plan. Nearly 60 percent of SMB owners believe they are unlikely to be targeted, but 18.5 percent suffered a cyberattack or breach in the prior year. SMBs have become disproportionate targets precisely because of weak defenses. The gap is not affordability, small-business-grade phishing protection, MFA, and managed filtering exist at low cost, it is awareness. Treating cybersecurity as optional until after an incident is the most expensive choice an SMB can make. Share [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=undefined%2Fblog%2Fphishing-protection%2Fsmall-businesss-shocking-response-to-cyber-threats%2F "Share on LinkedIn") [ ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Small%20Business%E2%80%99s%20Shocking%20Response%20to%20Cyber%20Threats&url=undefined%2Fblog%2Fphishing-protection%2Fsmall-businesss-shocking-response-to-cyber-threats%2F "Share on X/Twitter") [ ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=undefined%2Fblog%2Fphishing-protection%2Fsmall-businesss-shocking-response-to-cyber-threats%2F "Share on Facebook") [ ](https://reddit.com/submit?url=undefined%2Fblog%2Fphishing-protection%2Fsmall-businesss-shocking-response-to-cyber-threats%2F&title=Small%20Business%E2%80%99s%20Shocking%20Response%20to%20Cyber%20Threats "Share on Reddit") [ ](mailto:?subject=Small%20Business%E2%80%99s%20Shocking%20Response%20to%20Cyber%20Threats&body=Check out this article: undefined%2Fblog%2Fphishing-protection%2Fsmall-businesss-shocking-response-to-cyber-threats%2F "Share via Email") ![Cyber Threats](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2020/03/spf-record-7362-1.jpg) _You almost have to be living under a rock or in a cave to not be aware of the constant threat from cyber events in general and phasing attacks and ransomware in particular_. But that’s what seems to be the case for a lot of small and mid-size businesses today. According to an [article](https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2020/02/27/smbs-breach-prepared/) on Help Net Security referencing a Bullguard study, “_one in five companies use no endpoint security whatsoever._” None! “Additionally, worrisome, _the BullGuard study found 43% of SMB owners have no cybersecurity defense plan in place at all_, leaving their most sensitive financial, customer and business data, and ultimately their companies, at **significant risk**.” [![cybersecurity](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2020/03/spf-record-7363.jpg)](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2020/03/spf-record-7363.jpg) Under normal circumstances, SMBs would not be the first target of cyber criminals because they don’t typically offer as big a pay day as larger organizations. _But due to their general lack of security, SMBs have become disproportionately large targets_. Why is that? Two reasons. The first one is that “_Caught between inadequate consumer solutions and overly complex enterprise software_, many small business owners may be inclined to **skip cybersecurity**.” The other one? Overconfidence. “Nearly **60% of SMB owners** believe their business is unlikely to be targeted by cyber criminals, however _the results **revealed that 18.5%** of SMB owners have suffered from a cyber-attack or data breach within the past year_.” While the second reason is most likely accurate, the first one is not. There may be inadequate consumer solutions, but there are definitely not inadequate small business solutions. They exist, they’re inexpensively priced and they work. [Phishing Protection](/email/phishing-protection) from DuoCircle is one such solution that protects small businesses from **phishing attacks**, the number one cyber-attack threat vector. [![Phishing Protection](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2020/03/spf-record-7364.jpg)](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2020/03/spf-record-7364.jpg) _Phishing Protection is cloud-based email security with real-time link scanning_. Cloud-based means there’s no hardware, software or maintenance costs, which is perfect for small businesses. And _real-time link scanning means that companies are protected against the most sophisticated attacks today: delayed phishing attacks_. _And the cost? How about pennies per month per employee. Again, perfect for cost-conscious SMBs_. Small and mid-size businesses are not doing enough to protect themselves from cyber-attacks today, but it’s not because they don’t care. _It’s because they don’t know how easy and affordable it is to protect themselves_. Now you know. Don’t be a statistic. _Try **Phishing Protection** risk free for 30 days at [DuoCircle.com](/)_. ![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/) Share this article [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.duocircle.com%2Fblog%2Fphishing-protection%2Fsmall-businesss-shocking-response-to-cyber-threats%2F) [ ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Small%20Business%E2%80%99s%20Shocking%20Response%20to%20Cyber%20Threats&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.duocircle.com%2Fblog%2Fphishing-protection%2Fsmall-businesss-shocking-response-to-cyber-threats%2F) [ ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.duocircle.com%2Fblog%2Fphishing-protection%2Fsmall-businesss-shocking-response-to-cyber-threats%2F) Copy Related Articles - [ ![AI-Generated Phishing](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2026/04/spf-record-4522.jpg) AI-Generated Phishing Has Eliminated the Typo: Why Traditional Email Filters Are No Longer Enough Phishing ](/blog/ai-generated-phishing-eliminates-typos-making-traditional-email-filters-ineffective/) - [ ![spf-permerror-4555](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2023/05/spf-permerror-4555.jpg) 10 Applications of ChatGPT that Hackers Are Already Exploiting Phishing ](/blog/phishing-protection/10-applications-of-chatgpt-that-hackers-are-already-exploiting/) - [ ![Email-Based Cyber-Attacks](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2016/03/spf-record-tester-4455.jpg) 65% of Global Businesses Ill-Equipped to Defend Against Email-Based Cyber-Attacks Phishing ](/blog/phishing-protection/65-global-businesses-ill-equipped-defend-email-based-cyber-attacks/) - [ ![Email-based Ransomware Attacks](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2018/02/email-smtp-service-7834.jpg) 7 Ways to Protect Your Organization from Email-based Ransomware Attacks Phishing ](/blog/phishing-protection/7-ways-protect-organization-email-based-ransomware-attacks/) ## Related Articles [ Phishing 11m AI-Generated Phishing Has Eliminated the Typo: Why Traditional Email Filters Are No Longer Enough Apr 28, 2026 ](/blog/ai-generated-phishing-eliminates-typos-making-traditional-email-filters-ineffective/)[ Phishing 5m 10 Applications of ChatGPT that Hackers Are Already Exploiting May 3, 2023 ](/blog/phishing-protection/10-applications-of-chatgpt-that-hackers-are-already-exploiting/)[ Phishing 4m 65% of Global Businesses Ill-Equipped to Defend Against Email-Based Cyber-Attacks Mar 29, 2016 ](/blog/phishing-protection/65-global-businesses-ill-equipped-defend-email-based-cyber-attacks/)[ Phishing 9m 7 Ways to Protect Your Organization from Email-based Ransomware Attacks Feb 11, 2018 ](/blog/phishing-protection/7-ways-protect-organization-email-based-ransomware-attacks/) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","name":"DuoCircle LLC","url":"https://www.duocircle.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.duocircle.com/images/duocircle-logo.png"},"description":"DuoCircle is a portfolio of specialized email products covering protection, authentication, delivery, and routing. 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