For years, small and midsize businesses have told themselves a version of the same thing: “We’re too small to be a target.” Maybe you’ve thought that too — especially when every headline about cyberattacks seems to involve big corporations, hospitals, or massive data breaches.
But the truth is, that mindset is now outdated — and dangerous.
Cybercriminals have shifted tactics. Instead of going after Fortune 500 companies with complex defenses and full-time IT teams, they’re focusing more and more on local businesses with weaker protections and more to lose. In Jacksonville, Saint Johns, and across Northeast Florida, we’ve seen businesses of all sizes get hit — from professional firms to retail shops and even family-run service companies.
The New Reality: Everyone’s a Target
Hackers aren’t sitting in basements manually typing code to break into your business. Most attacks today are automated. Tools like phishing kits and ransomware packages are sold on the dark web and deployed at scale — scanning the internet for vulnerabilities like open ports, outdated systems, or unprotected email accounts.
If your business sends email, uses the internet, has a website, or relies on computers to serve customers — then you’re already on the radar. It’s not about size — it’s about surface area.
The Cost of Doing Nothing
When a breach happens, it’s rarely just an IT problem. It becomes a legal issue, a financial hit, and a reputation crisis. We’ve seen companies lose access to critical files for days. Others face client trust issues, insurance claims, and in some cases, lawsuits.
The real cost isn’t always in dollars. It’s the downtime, the lost business, and the sheer stress of navigating something that could have been prevented.
So What Should You Be Doing?
You don’t need a 12-person cybersecurity team — but you do need a plan. That means putting the right protections in place, like strong email filtering, regular software updates, secure backups, and basic cybersecurity training for your staff. These aren’t complicated steps, but they are essential — and they make all the difference when something goes wrong.
Cybersecurity Can Be Simple — If You Know Who to Call
At Cost+, we work with businesses throughout Jacksonville, Saint Johns and also throughout the country, to take the stress out of cybersecurity. Whether you need a second opinion, want to check your exposure, or just want things locked down quietly in the background — we’re here to help.
Schedule your free cybersecurity consultation today. It doesn’t cost anything to be sure.