As small businesses increasingly embrace digital transformation, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated. Cyber threats continue to evolve, and the stakes are higher than ever. At avilo, we understand the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect your business.

In this comprehensive guide, we present the top 50 cybersecurity statistics for small businesses in 2025. These insights will help you understand the current landscape and underscore the necessity of fortifying your defenses.

Cybersecurity Landscape

1. Global Cost of Cybercrime: Cybercrime is projected to cost the world $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, up from $3 trillion in 2015 (Cybersecurity Ventures).

2. Small Business Target: 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses, highlighting their vulnerability (Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report 2024).

3. Average Cost of a Data Breach: The average cost of a data breach for small businesses is $2.98 million (IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025).

Ransomware Attacks

4. Increase in Ransomware Attacks: Ransomware attacks increased by 37% in 2024 (SonicWall Cyber Threat Report).

5. Ransom Payment: 68% of small businesses that experienced a ransomware attack in 2024 paid the ransom (Sophos State of Ransomware 2024).

6. Ransomware Recovery Costs: The average cost of recovering from a ransomware attack for small businesses is $1.85 million (Coveware Quarterly Ransomware Report 2025).

Phishing and Social Engineering

7. Phishing Attacks: 80% of data breaches in small businesses involve phishing attacks (Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report 2024).

8. Employee Training: Companies that conduct regular security awareness training reduce phishing susceptibility by up to 70% (KnowBe4 Security Awareness Training).

9. Social Engineering: 98% of cyberattacks rely on social engineering tactics (CyberEdge Group 2024 Cyberthreat Defense Report).

Data Breaches

10. Frequency of Data Breaches: 61% of small businesses experienced a data breach in 2024 (Identity Theft Resource Center 2024 Data Breach Report).

11. Detection Time: The average time to detect a data breach is 196 days (IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025).

12. Data Breach Source: 60% of data breaches involve vulnerabilities for which a patch was available but not applied (Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report 2024).

Cybersecurity Investments

13. Cybersecurity Spending: Small businesses are expected to spend $90 billion on cybersecurity by 2025 (Gartner 2025 Cybersecurity Forecast).

14. Cost Savings: Investing in cybersecurity measures can save small businesses up to $1.4 million per breach (IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025).

15. Insurance Adoption: 30% of small businesses have adopted cyber insurance to mitigate risks (AON Cyber Insurance Market Review 2024).

Cloud Security

16. Cloud Adoption: 83% of small businesses have adopted cloud services (Flexera 2024 State of the Cloud Report).

17. Cloud Security Incidents: 50% of businesses reported a cloud security incident in the past year (Oracle and KPMG Cloud Threat Report 2024).

18. Multi-Factor Authentication: Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) can prevent 99.9% of cloud account hacks (Microsoft Security Intelligence Report 2024).

Endpoint Security

19. Endpoints Compromised: 70% of small businesses experienced endpoint attacks in 2024 (Ponemon Institute State of Endpoint Security Risk Report).

20. Mobile Device Security: 53% of small businesses report that mobile devices pose a significant security risk (Lookout State of Mobile Security Report 2024).

21. Antivirus Protection: 87% of small businesses use antivirus solutions as part of their endpoint security strategy (Cybersecurity Insiders Endpoint Security Report 2024).

Regulatory Compliance

22. GDPR Fines: GDPR fines for small businesses totaled €210 million in 2024 (European Data Protection Board Annual Report 2024).

23. Compliance Costs: Small businesses spend an average of $1.3 million annually on compliance with data protection regulations (Ponemon Institute Cost of Compliance Report 2024).

24. Non-Compliance Risks: Non-compliance with data protection regulations increases the risk of a data breach by 200% (DLA Piper GDPR Fines and Data Breach Survey 2024).

Cybersecurity Workforce

25. Cybersecurity Talent Gap: There is a global shortage of 3.5 million cybersecurity professionals (ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study 2024).

26. Outsourcing Security: 47% of small businesses outsource their cybersecurity needs (Clutch Small Business IT Outsourcing Survey 2024).

27. Security Training: Small businesses that invest in regular cybersecurity training reduce incident rates by 45% (SANS Institute Security Awareness Report 2024).

Incident Response

28. Incident Response Plans: Only 29% of small businesses have a documented incident response plan (Ponemon Institute Cyber Resilience Study 2024).

29. Incident Response Time: Businesses with an incident response plan reduce breach costs by $2 million on average (IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025).

30. Third-Party Response: 54% of small businesses rely on third-party services for incident response (Forrester Incident Response Services Report 2024).

Emerging Threats

31. AI-Powered Attacks: AI-powered cyberattacks increased by 32% in 2024 (NVIDIA AI and Cybersecurity Report).

32. IoT Device Vulnerabilities: 67% of IoT devices used by small businesses have known vulnerabilities (Unit 42 IoT Threat Report 2024).

33. Deepfake Attacks: 23% of small businesses reported incidents involving deepfake technology in 2024 (Deeptrace Labs 2024 Threat Report).

Cybersecurity Best Practices

34. Regular Updates: 65% of small businesses that regularly update their software reduce the risk of cyberattacks by 50% (Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report 2024).

35. Password Policies: Strong password policies can prevent 81% of data breaches (LastPass Global Password Security Report 2024).

36. Backup Solutions: 75% of small businesses use automated backup solutions to protect their data (Veeam Data Protection Report 2024).

Industry-Specific Threats

37. Healthcare Breaches: 34% of healthcare organizations experienced a cyberattack in 2024 (Healthcare Cybersecurity Report 2024).

38. Financial Sector: Financial institutions faced a 40% increase in cyberattacks in 2024 (FS-ISAC Financial Services Cybersecurity Report).

39. Retail Cybersecurity: 28% of retail businesses experienced a data breach in 2024 (Retail Cybersecurity Report 2024).

Cybersecurity Technologies

40. AI and Machine Learning: 56% of small businesses use AI and machine learning to detect and prevent cyber threats (Capgemini Research Institute Cybersecurity Report 2024).

41. Zero Trust Architecture: 45% of small businesses have implemented zero trust security models (Okta State of Zero Trust Security Report 2024).

42. Encryption Use: 78% of small businesses use encryption to protect sensitive data (Thales Data Threat Report 2024).

Future Trends

43. Quantum Computing: 30% of cybersecurity professionals believe quantum computing will significantly impact encryption standards within the next five years (Quantum Security Report 2024).

44. 5G Security: 65% of small businesses view 5G security as a critical concern (Ericsson Mobility Report 2024).

45. Biometric Security: 48% of small businesses plan to implement biometric security measures by 2025 (Future of Biometrics Report 2024).

Cybersecurity Awareness

46. Employee Awareness: 60% of small businesses conduct regular cybersecurity awareness training (CybSafe Cyber Awareness Report 2024).

47. Security Policies: 52% of small businesses have formal cybersecurity policies in place (Infosec Institute Cybersecurity Report 2024).

48. Incident Reporting: 40% of small businesses have a formal process for reporting cybersecurity incidents (National Cyber Security Centre Small Business Guide 2024).

Cybersecurity Tools

49. Firewalls: 85% of small businesses use firewalls as a primary defense mechanism (Network Security Report 2024).

50. Intrusion Detection Systems: 62% of small businesses use intrusion detection systems to monitor network traffic (NIST Cybersecurity Framework Implementation Guide 2024).

Conclusion

These statistics underscore the critical importance of cybersecurity for small businesses in 2025. The evolving threat landscape demands proactive measures and a robust cybersecurity strategy. At avilo, we are committed to helping small businesses navigate these challenges with comprehensive IT solutions that protect your assets and ensure your business continuity.

Ready to strengthen your cybersecurity posture? Contact avilo today to learn how we can help safeguard your business against emerging threats and ensure a secure digital future: post@avilo.no