10 blind spots in your SMB’s cyber defense

Katherine Little 6 Oct 2022

Why having a comprehensive security posture is the best strategy.

Many organizations struggle with developing the right strategy to keep their business protected and also achieve a defense that is cyber resilient. 

What is cyber resiliency? It’s an organization's ability to prevent, withstand, and recover from cyberattacks. Cyber resilience is critical for modern organizations, as no business, regardless of size, is immune from an attack. 

How cyber resilient is your organization? Would it be able to survive a breach?

Key stats

  • Four in 10 SMB owners worry they’ll be the victim of a cyberattack within the next year

  • 6 out of 7 small business owners are not prepared for a cyberattack

  • 1 in 5 SMBs don't have any cybersecurity in place

  • 57% of SMBs believe they won’t be targeted by hackers

Top blind spots that leave your business vulnerable to threats



  1. Unpatched systems: 57% of data breaches are attributed to poor patch management. Applying security patches is vital to prevent cybercriminals from exploiting vulnerabilities that could halt operations.

    Avast Patch Management automates the patching process to save time and money. It simplifies installation and configuration to keep your business safe and compliant with industry regulations and business requirements.

  2. Not backing up your data: 60% of SMBs hit with ransomware go out of business within six months. Keeping mission critical data backed up at all times is crucial.

    Avast Business Cloud Backup keeps data secure and ensures business continuity by protecting endpoint devices and servers with an automated backup process that is easy to deploy and manage from anywhere.

  3. Weak passwords: 19% of businesses use easily guessed passwords or share passwords across accounts. Utilizing strong passwords is important for securing business data and systems.

  4. Poor access control: Access control enables organizations to manage who is authorized to access corporate data and resources. Having this process in place keeps your data out of the wrong hands. 

  5. Employee lack of knowledge: 30% of SMBs fall prey to phishing emails every year. Is your staff trained on spotting suspicious activity that could help avoid an online scam or a data breach? 

  6. No plan in place in case of a breach: If a breach does happen, you need a disaster recovery plan in place. This plan helps secure your network, prevent further damage, identify the breach source, and more.

  7. Lack of antivirus: Having antivirus installed (and keeping it updated) is important in blocking malware, viruses, ransomware, and other cyberthreats.

    Avast Small Business Solutions deliver the protection and services you need, including our award-winning antivirus, in one easy package. 

  8. Unsecured networks: If you have a Wi-Fi network, be sure it’s secure. Furthermore, utilize a virtual private network (VPN) for remote workers to access your network safely.

    With our Premium and Ultimate Business Security (part of our Avast Small Business Solutions), you’ll get our unlimited, built-in VPN (available on Windows) that encrypts your data and secures employees’ internet connections when using public Wi-Fi networks. 

  9. BYOD without a policy in place: Nearly 95% of businesses now allow bring-your-own-device (BYOD) in one form or another. It’s essential that companies have a documented BYOD policy that focuses on security precautions.

  10. No multi-factor authentication: Multi-factor authentication (MFA) provides extra layers of security outside of the basic username and password credential requirements. It is designed to validate the identity of users trying to access a system.

Still wondering about cyber resiliency and how to get there? Avast Business security solutions can help you with your blind spots. Our solutions are proactive and powerful, yet simple, easy-to-use, and affordable, making it possible for you to run your business with confidence.

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