Simple, Smart, and Effective—These Tricks Are Your Best First Line of Defense

Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (SMBs) are often seen as easy targets by hackers.  Why?  Because they’re assumed to have fewer resources, smaller budgets, and a “we’re too small to get hacked” mindset.  But here’s the thing—you don’t need a Fortune 500-sized budget to lock down your business.  In fact, these simple cybersecurity moves are affordable, surprisingly easy to roll out, and super effective.  Here are three tricks hackers can’t stand:

  1. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Passwords are often the weakest link.  Hackers love it when SMBs rely on a single password to access sensitive data.  Multi-factor authentication throws a wrench in their plans.  With MFA, you need your password and a second form of verification—like a text code—to log in.  Even if a hacker guesses or steals your password, they’re out of luck without that second code.  And the best part?  Platforms like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace offer it for free.  It’s easy, powerful, and wildly underused.
  2. Software Updates. Outdated software is like an open invitation to cybercriminals.  Patches and updates exist for a reason—they fix holes that attackers love to exploit.  Turn on auto-updates for your devices and apps and keep everyone in your organization accountable.  If needed, delay access to tools until updates are installed.  A little inconvenience beats the cost of a data breach.
  3. Employee Training. Phishing scams are sneaky.  Over 90% of data breaches start when someone clicks the wrong link.  Hackers impersonate banks, vendors, or even coworkers in emails.  Training your staff to spot the signs of a fake email can seriously lower your risk.  Short, consistent training that includes real-world examples and mock phishing attempts works best.  Contact us to learn more about our Employee Security Training and Testing services.  These proven, hands-on cybersecurity training programs will give your workforce the insight and critical eye needed to spot and prevent social engineering attacks.


Contact IT Radix for more cybersecurity tricks that hackers hate.

First published in our September 2025 IT Radix Resource newsletter