Fear, worry, concern, anxiety. There’s a lot of scaremongering around cyberattacks and the damage they can do to a business like yours. But, in this rapidly evolving digital landscape, it can be hard to know what to do about the many cybersecurity challenges SMBs face.

The World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025 (WEF) report highlights the critical issues that SMBs should be aware of to protect operations and data. We’ll run through them here. And importantly, we’ll give you pointers on the most effective steps to take to protect your business.

6 key takeaways for SMBs from the World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025

An overarching theme from this important global report was how complex the cyber landscape has become. Threats are more sophisticated. The global outlook’s increasingly uncertain. And people and businesses are getting left behind. A security-first mindset is vital for business owners. Here’s why:

1. Sophistication of cybercrime

Those cunning cybercriminals are getting more and more sneaky. With advanced tools like AI at their fingertips, the effectiveness and scale of their attacks are growing.

Ransomware’s the top fear for 72% of respondents in this report. And nearly 47% cite attacks powered by generative AI (GenAI) as their primary concern. There was a sharp increase in phishing and social engineering attacks in 2024, with 42% of organisations reporting such incidents.

It’s never been more important for SMBs to adopt proactive cybersecurity measures. Continuous monitoring and employee training will help to defend your business against increasingly sophisticated threats.

2. Rapid adoption of emerging technologies

We’re big fans of AI and we recognise what a powerful tool it can be for SMBs. We use it daily. But alongside the significant benefits of emerging technologies come new risks.

This report showed that around 66% of organisations expect AI to significantly impact cybersecurity in the coming year. However, only 37% have the processes in place to assess the security of AI tools before deployment. A whopping 35% of small businesses think their cyber resilience isn’t adequate. That number’s risen sevenfold since 2022 when it was only 5%.

We recommend SMBs to implement robust evaluation procedures that ensure new technologies don’t become potential entry points for cyberattacks.

3. Escalating geopolitical tensions

With daily headlines announcing the latest measures, moves and declarations from global leaders, tension and uncertainty are rife across the world. The precarious global political situation contributes to a more unpredictable cybersecurity environment.

Nearly 60% of organisations have adjusted their cybersecurity strategies in response to geopolitical issues. What are the big fears for business leaders? For one in three CEOs, it’s the risk of cyber espionage and loss of sensitive information and/or IP. The main concern for 45% of cyber leaders (CISOs) is the disruption of operations and business processes.

What can you do about it? Stay informed about international developments and how they might impact your digital security.

4. Supply chain vulnerabilities

Modern supply chains have become incredibly complex. But you’re not in control of the security levels of your suppliers. That’s a big cybersecurity risk. Software vulnerabilities can be introduced by a third-party supplier. Any weaknesses in their infrastructure will be prime targets for cyberattacks, allowing them to infiltrate your ecosystem.

A significant 54% of large organisations identify supply chain challenges as their biggest barrier to achieving cyber resilience.

We’re not suggesting you stop using third-party vendors. But you must assess and monitor their cybersecurity practices to lower your risk of cyberattack via any system vulnerabilities.

5. Widening cyber skills gap

Many businesses are aware of a lack of cybersecurity professionals. Only 14% are confident that they have the people and skills they need today. That cyber skills gap has increased by 8% since 2024. Two out of three businesses report a lack of essential talent and skills to meet their security requirements.

That’s far from ideal given the challenges that businesses of all sizes face today. It highlights the importance of investing in training and development, recruiting cybersecurity talent, or outsourcing to specialist experts who can fulfil this vital role.

6. Increasing regulatory requirements

In this ever-changing digital landscape, cybersecurity regulations evolve constantly. These regulations vary significantly across regions and jurisdictions. It’s hard for businesses to keep track.

More than 76% of Chief Information Security Officers at the WEF state that fragmented regulations across jurisdictions greatly affect their business’ ability to keep compliant.

It’s crucial that you keep your finger on the pulse and stay abreast of relevant regulations. You must keep your business compliant to avoid legal repercussions and maintain customer trust.

What can you do to protect your business?

There’s a lot to think about and keep on top of here. But these are our best practice suggestions to help you navigate these challenges:

1. Develop a comprehensive cybersecurity plan: Define your policies and procedures to protect against potential risks. You should also document what to do if you do have a security breach.

2. Implement continuous monitoring: Set up real time monitoring, detection and response solutions to provide 24/7 protection.

3. Conduct regular risk assessments: Identify vulnerabilities within your systems and supply chains.

4. Invest in employee training: Educate staff regularly on cybersecurity best practices and emerging threats.

5. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA): Enhance security by requiring multiple forms of verification for system access.

6. Stay informed about regulatory changes: Regularly review and adapt to new cybersecurity laws and guidelines that relate to your industry and region.

We’re here to help protect your business

We’re not in the business of scaremongering, but we recognise that these are major concerns facing SMBs. We are in the business of IT security though, and we’re here to help strengthen your cyber resilience and safeguard your operations.

Whether you want strategic advice or top-notch security systems, we can partner with you to provide expert support. Please get in touch to discuss your concerns, and we’ll find the best solutions for you.