{"id":156833,"date":"2025-06-02T15:57:24","date_gmt":"2025-06-02T20:57:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/?post_type=resource&p=156833"},"modified":"2025-06-02T15:57:31","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T20:57:31","slug":"cybersecurity-for-mid-sized-businesses","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/wpengine.com\/resources\/cybersecurity-for-mid-sized-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"The Most Common Cyber Threats Facing Mid-Sized Businesses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cybersecurity threats aren\u2019t just a concern for large enterprises\u2014small and mid-sized businesses are increasingly being targeted. In fact, a recent study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce<\/a> reports that 74% of small-to-mid-sized companies (20\u2013500 employees) see cyber threats as a growing concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For mid-sized companies without dedicated security teams, a successful attack can lead to more than just site downtime\u2014it can disrupt business operations, damage customer trust, and rack up devastating costs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article explores why WordPress is a prime target for attackers, risks related to cybersecurity for mid-sized businesses, the most common cyber threats facing WordPress sites today, and how a managed hosting provider can help protect your site at a foundational level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is WordPress a target for cyberattacks?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

WordPress powers more than 40% of all websites globally, making it the most popular content management system (CMS) by far. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This ubiquitousness makes WordPress sites attractive targets for hackers, as a single vulnerability in a plugin or line of code can create the potential for them to gain unauthorized access to millions of sites. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"WordPress<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The effect of cyberattacks on mid-sized organizations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After a cyberattack, the immediate effects are obvious: you may be completely locked out of your site\u2019s administrative dashboard, have hackers reach out to you with a ransom to restore access, or maybe the company credit card suddenly starts racking up unexpected expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The impacts of a cyberattack will almost inevitably affect your finances, but more than that, they can also affect your business operations and reputation in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Financial impacts of a cyberattack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The financial costs are the first and most obvious effect of a cyberattack on a mid-sized business. When cybercriminals access your site, oftentimes they\u2019ll send a ransom note, offering to restore your site for a hefty price. However, it\u2019s best practice not to engage with these criminals, as they may be tempted to keep raising the restoration price with no intention of reestablishing your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The alternative route of working with a cybersecurity firm to reclaim your site, while not a cheaper option, is often the better choice to ensure any money you pay is actually going toward work that may restore your business site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, according to Huntress<\/a>, mid-sized companies can expect to pay around a quarter of a million dollars to restore access to a site that has been compromised. Estimates from Wasatch Preferred<\/a> are similar for mid-sized businesses experiencing a cybersecurity breach that does not result in business interruption. That estimate skyrockets, though, if business operations are interrupted, bringing the estimated total cost of a security incident up to nearly $ 1 M.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, lost customer data can open your business up to the potential for lawsuits, and these legal ramifications can further increase the financial burden on businesses already dealing with the fallout of a cyberattack. Unfortunately, Huntress\u2019 findings also report that 60% of mid-sized companies permanently close within six months of a successful cyberattack due to the financial pressure it places on the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Operational impacts of a cyberattack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the wake of a cyberattack, your business operations will also likely be affected. Here are a few examples of operational failures businesses may experience after a cyberattack:<\/p>\n\n\n\n