Nearly half of small businesses have experienced random cyberattacks in 2022, according to a survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).."Cyberattacks are a growing threat to small businesses, but enhancing cybersecurity can be intimidating and accessing cybersecurity support can be costly for small businesses," said Mandy D'Autremont, Vice-President of Marketing Partnerships at CFIB..According to the recent survey, 45% of all small businesses were the victim of a random cyberattack in the last year, while 27% experienced a targeted attack. Additionally, 11% of businesses had experienced a whaling attempt in the past year, which is a phishing attack where a scammer targets or impersonates a CEO or business leader..Businesses in the professional services and wholesale sectors were most likely to report experiencing cyberattacks in the past year. The survey also found only 11% of businesses had offered mandatory cybersecurity training to their employees in the past year, while 8% had provided optional training..In light of this news, the CFIB will be launching its Cybersecurity Academy, an online education program to train business owners and their employees on how to improve cybersecurity in their business..The was developed in partnership with Mastercard and CFIB's cybersecurity specialists. It includes topics such as preventing ransomware and cyberattacks, recognizing fraud, and identifying and preventing social engineering..D'Autremont said the Cybersecurity Academy will make learning about cybersecurity more approachable, while also giving business owners "practical tools and information to enhance their cybersecurity."."In the digital era, it's crucial to know how to protect your business and avoid losing valuable assets and time," D'Autremont said. "It is paramount that we do everything we can to get small business owners access to cybersecurity training for themselves and their employees..D'Autremont said combining specialized courses, engaging technology, incentives and expanded access will help protect the CFIB's members, the broader business community and Canada's economy.
