October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and recent headlines highlight how vital it’s become for small businesses in Reno, Sparks, and across Northern Nevada to get proactive about digital safety. Even local government agencies in Nevada have faced service shutdowns from successful cyber-attacks this year, putting the spotlight on the need for robust network security practices.
Cyber Risks Are Rising—So Are Costs
Stats in 2025 show that over 60% of small businesses that suffer a cyberattack will shut down within six months, and the average cost of a breach now exceeds $200,000. SMBs are especially at risk—ransomware attackers and phishing scammers increasingly target companies with 1–50 employees because resources are tighter and defenses may be weaker.
Top Security Challenges Facing Local Businesses
- Ransomware & Data Theft: Nearly 25% more ransomware incidents than last year, now often involving theft of sensitive data before encryption.
- Phishing Attacks: Still the most common method of compromise, accounting for a third of all small business breaches.
- Cloud & Supply Chain Risks: A major spike in incidents caused by cloud misconfigurations or vulnerable third-party vendors, affecting even those using major providers.
- Compliance Headaches: Local business owners are increasingly required to meet standards like HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and new state privacy laws for insurance and client contracts.
What You Can Do (Practical Steps)
- Update software and apply patches promptly outdated infrastructure is a favorite target.
- Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) and strong password policies.
- Train staff to spot phishing scams and social engineering attempts.
- Set up secure guest WiFi networks and separate them from core business systems.
- Maintain and regularly test backups.
- Document cybersecurity practices to help with compliance and insurance renewals.
- Consider partnering with a trusted IT provider to fill in knowledge or resource gaps, especially for small teams that can’t hire full-time IT staff.
Local and Free Resources
Nevada’s SBDC and other state organizations offer toolkits and workshops for cyber risk management and compliance, much of it designed especially for local small businesses.
Protect your business by making Cybersecurity Awareness Month your starting point. If you’re unsure where to begin, ask your IT provider about a complimentary security assessment or practical steps tailored to Northern Nevada’s threat l