WE'RE TOO SMALL TO BE A TARGET: DEBUNKING THE #1 MYTH FOR CANADIAN INDUSTRIAL SMES

For many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Canada's industrial sector, cybersecurity can feel like a problem for the "big guys." It's easy to assume that hackers are only interested in large corporations with deep pockets.

This is the single most dangerous myth in industrial cybersecurity today.

The reality is that SMEs are not just targets; they are often the preferred targets for cybercriminals. Here's why:

1. You Are a Gateway to a Bigger Prize
Many SMEs are critical links in the supply chains of larger corporations. Attackers know this. By breaching your network, they can steal credentials, implant malware, or use your trusted connections to launch an attack against your much larger customers. Your company becomes an unwitting stepping stone.

2. You Are Perceived as an Easier Target
Cybercriminals operate on a simple cost-benefit analysis. They know that SMEs often have limited IT resources, less sophisticated security controls, and no dedicated security staff. This makes you a "soft target"—an easy and profitable victim for ransomware attacks and data theft.

3. The Impact of Downtime is Greater
A large corporation might be able to absorb the financial hit from a few days of operational downtime. For an SME, a week of lost production can be a business-ending event. Attackers know this and leverage it to increase the pressure for a quick ransomware payment.

Effective Security is Within Reach

The good news is that protecting your industrial operations doesn't require a multi-million-dollar budget. Effective OT security for an SME starts with getting the fundamentals right:

Isolate Your Plant Network: Ensure your critical control systems are not directly connected to the internet or your general business network.

Control Remote Access: Use a secure, managed solution for any remote access required by vendors or employees. Simple tools like RDP or TeamViewer are not secure enough for industrial environments.

Get an Expert Assessment: Partner with a specialized OT security firm to conduct a vulnerability assessment. This will give you a clear, prioritized roadmap of where to focus your limited resources for the biggest impact.

Your size is not your shield. In today's interconnected world, every company is a target. By taking proactive, scalable steps to secure your operations, you can protect your business, your employees, and your customers from this growing threat.