Think Your Business Is Too Small for Hackers? Think Again.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and at a recent Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce gathering at Parker's Lighthouse, one technology expert had a message for business owners: You don't have to be a large corporation to become a target for cybercriminals.

Mendel, founder of Friendly IT Pros, brought more than 25 years of technology experience to the discussion. His Southern California company specializes in helping small businesses manage their technology and cybersecurity.

Rather than overwhelm the audience with technical jargon, he focused on protecting what business owners have worked hard to build.

And he had a story of his own to share.

A $40,000 Scam That Almost Worked

Even cybersecurity professionals aren't immune to attempted scams.

Mendel described how someone recently tried to trick his company into handing over approximately $40,000 worth of computer hardware.

The scammer created a convincing website, registered a domain name, and sent carefully crafted messages to his office staff.

Fortunately, the attempt didn't succeed. But it illustrated how easily a business could become a target, even one whose job is protecting other businesses.

Mendel cited a survey indicating that 56% of small businesses had experienced at least one cyberattack during the previous 12 months.

For a small company, even a temporary disruption can mean lost revenue, interrupted operations, and damaged customer relationships.

Cybersecurity Is a Lot Like Driving a Car

To make cybersecurity easier to understand, Mendel used an unexpected comparison: four friends taking a road trip from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara.

They need a vehicle that locks, working warning systems, knowledge of the road, reliable directions, and a plan if something goes wrong.

Cybersecurity works much the same way.

Passwords control access. Security software watches for threats. Employee training helps people recognize danger. Backups provide a way to recover.

Mendel called this a layered approach to security. No single safeguard can protect an entire business.

Five Things Every Business Owner Can Do This Week

Mendel offered five practical steps that businesses could begin implementing immediately.

1. Turn on multifactor authentication. That extra verification step can help prevent someone from accessing an account with a stolen password.
2. Back up critical business data. Make sure backups are running and test whether files can actually be restored.
3. Review administrator access. Limit permissions and promptly remove accounts when employees leave.
4. Verify payment changes. If someone emails requesting new banking information, call a trusted number already on file.
5. Schedule a cybersecurity review. Identify weaknesses before someone else discovers them.

Artificial Intelligence Changes the Game

Audience questions turned to artificial intelligence and its ability to create convincing scams.

Mendel acknowledged that AI makes sophisticated attacks easier to produce, but emphasized that traditional security practices remain effective.

"For the majority of small businesses, the basics are what's going to save you," he explained.

Another question concerned sharing customer information with AI services. Mendel cautioned business owners to understand what information they're providing and whether outside services could access sensitive company data.

He offered similar advice about signing into websites through Google. While the login process can be secure, users should carefully review requests to share email, contacts, calendars, or files.

Protecting What You've Built

For small-business owners, cybersecurity can seem like another technical responsibility competing for attention.

But Mendel's message was about more than protecting computers. It was about keeping a business operating and protecting the relationships and trust built over years.

His advice was straightforward: Start with the basics, build several layers of protection, and don't wait until something goes wrong.

Friendly IT Pros
Email: service@friendlyitpros.com
Phone: 562-643-3732