SMBs in Quebec operate in a demanding environment. Systems keep multiplying, teams are small, and suppliers are numerous. Tools are spread across cloud platforms, remote work setups, and multiple operational sites. This mix of environments increases the need to secure every part of the infrastructure, including cloud environments, because threats evolve quickly.  

In this context, cyberattacks are becoming more frequent. The constant evolution of technologies and attack methods requires stronger vigilance and ongoing adjustments to security strategies.  

Why SMBs are prime targets ? 

Local businesses are not targeted because of their size. They are targeted because of operational weaknesses. Attackers focus on people, unsecured networks like unprotected Wi-Fi, outdated systems, and poorly managed suppliers.  

This trend is not new, but it has accelerated with the advent of artificial intelligence and the emergence of new attack techniques. Businesses must stay informed about sector developments and regularly update their cybersecurity practices.  

To achieve real protection in 2026, organizations need clear, accessible, and tailored cybersecurity policies. Good practices must be integrated into daily operations, and security standards must be respected. Every employee has a role in protecting company data. Individual responsibility is key to preventing cyber incidents.  

No complex solutions. No abstract promises. Daily actions and disciplined behaviour are what protect your operations. Consistent application of good practices is crucial for maintaining system security and performance.  

Improving security becomes easier with steady methods that match your reality. The following sections outline what to avoid, the risks to be aware of, essential practices to adopt, and valuable insights from our experts.  

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Why is risk assessment the mandatory first step  

Before implementing any cybersecurity measures, a proper risk assessment is necessary. This step gives a clear view of the threats affecting your systems, networks, and data. By identifying vulnerabilities, you can prioritize the right actions and choose the practices that fit your organization.  

Risk assessment also requires clear guidelines to create structure, support security decisions, and maintain consistent risk management across the business.  

A proper assessment is not theoretical. It relies on regular audits, vulnerability tests, and continuous analysis of the digital environment. These actions help detect weaknesses early and establish strong protections such as effective firewalls, anti-malware tools, and network segmentation.  

Being proactive is the most vigorous defence. It reduces attack risks, protects sensitive data, and ensures business continuity. Experts agree on one point. A strong risk assessment is essential to anticipate threats and reinforce your security while using resources efficiently. In 2026, this step is non-negotiable for any company that wants to stay protected and competitive.  

Essential practices to protect an SMB in 2026  

 What to avoid  

• Not knowing your risks or failing to communicate them.  
• Ignoring updates on critical systems or operating systems. 
• Letting teams improvise. 
• Delaying assessments and audits. 
• Assuming "it won't happen to us". 
• Training only a small portion of the team.  

The biggest risk  

One thing is clear. The most significant risk is an attack that forces your business to stop operating. SMBs that fail after a cyberattack are the ones that ignore their risks and skip continuous training.  

The lack of adapted plans, whether incident response plans or business continuity plans, increases the organization's vulnerability. This leads people to react instead of plan. It prevents the team from having a solid incident plan where everyone understands the strategy and their role.  

Best practices  

Nick Di Nezza, cybersecurity and compliance analyst, puts it. "When an SMB knows its risks, it makes better decisions. Visibility changes everything." This is why we created a 12-question risk assessment that gives a clear overview of your situation.  

This audit helps you establish the foundations you need:   

• Build a simple inventory. It helps structure priorities in a clear and critical order.  
• Identify essential systems.  A clear view of what needs protection guides both human and technical efforts to maintain continuity.  
• Prioritize sensitive areas. Training, tools, and protective measures can be targeted where they are most effective.  
• Document responsibilities. Teams gain a clear action plan that reduces the need for improvisation.  
• Create a security control checklist.

To take it a step further, SMBs can utilize specialized tools, dedicated applications, or cybersecurity platforms. These tools help monitor threats across different environments and strengthen overall security.  

How to manage access and strengthen authentication? 

What to avoid  

• Giving too many permissions. 
• Not adapting access levels to each user. 
• Keeping access active for former employees. 
• Reusing passwords. 
• Not requiring MFA. 

Why it matters  

In the latest CIRA survey, companies affected by ransomware reported that 74 percent of their data was exfiltrated. Most breaches occur through email, making it crucial to protect sensitive information and restrict unauthorized access.  

What to do instead  

Domenico Cerrone, Senior Director of Information Technology, succinctly summarizes the issue. "Control over who can access what must be constant. Every unnecessary permission becomes an open window for attackers."  

He highlights 5 essential points for a strong access management policy:  

• Enable MFA for everyone, on every system. 
• Remove permissions and accounts when an employee leaves the organization. A simple checklist helps maintain consistency.  
• Review permissions quarterly for both employees and suppliers. 
• Use an IAM solution to secure identity, password management, and access control. 
• Enforce strong password policies with required complexity and a clear list of banned passwords. 

Structuring your access and permission processes is essential to maintaining security and operational efficiency.  

Why team training remains a priority?

What to avoid  

• Training the team once or not at all. 
• Delivering all the information in a single long session. 
• Using examples that are too broad or not based on real cases. 
• Ignoring reporting procedures or failing to communicate them.  

Why it matters  

According to the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, most social engineering attacks succeed because they rely on human action. Human error remains one of the main drivers of cyber incidents in Canada.  

 Best practices  

For cybersecurity expert Nick Di Nezza, training is the foundation of any organization that wants to build a strong human shield and develop a solid security culture. Tools exist, but the method matters if you want information to stick.  

• Short sessions improve retention.  
• Regular reminders reinforce habits.  
• Simulated phishing attacks expose real risks.  
• Documenting good practices supports daily behaviour.  
• Clear internal procedures make it easier to react when an incident occurs.  

For SMBs with limited knowledge, online training programs can take care of the entire process.  

Types of training  

Nick highlights three main formats:  

• Cybersecurity Awareness Training 
• Cybersecurity Training for High-Risk Users 
• Cybersecurity: The Essentials for Business Leaders  

Custom programs are also possible to ensure the content reflects the results of an audit or the specific challenges of the organization.    

Why are backups and restore tests essential?  

What to avoid  

• Backing up data without ever testing it. 
• Keeping backups on the same network as production systems. 
• Failing to verify data integrity.  
• Forgetting to document recovery procedures. 

 Why it matters  

Reliable backups protect your clients' data and your company's information. If a system is compromised, transparent and efficient recovery steps prevent extended operational shutdowns.  

 Best practices  

Regular backups are essential. Domenico Cerrone sums it up nicely: "An untested backup is not a backup. Testing reduces surprises."  

• Testing restores ensures your backups are actually usable.  
• Offline copies protect data from malicious encryption.  
• Encrypting sensitive backups protects confidentiality.  
• A simple, documented recovery plan speeds up business resumption.  

How to integrate suppliers and partners into your security?

What to avoid  

• Sharing information without verifying whether the supplier really needs it. 
• Giving broad or unnecessary access to external partners. 
• Failing to validate the security practices of suppliers.  
• Relying solely on trust. 
• Operating without a structured plan or explicit rules for all suppliers.  

Why it matters  

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security notes a rise in incidents caused by external suppliers. Blind trust is the equivalent of handing out the combination to your safe. You need to grant access only where it creates value and restrict the rest.  

Best practices  

Chris Feghali explains it clearly: "A supplier should strengthen your security, not weaken it."  His recommendation is simple. A strong internal framework creates alignment. Everything else flows from that structure.   

Key elements include:  

• Setting priorities. Define what matters most and direct everyone toward the same objectives.  
• Establishing simple rules.  Clear, accessible policies that everyone can follow.  
• Clarifying responsibilities. Assign every risk and every action to a specific person, even in small teams. 
• Creating accountability. Ensure everyone understands their role and acts accordingly.  
• Integrating security into business decisions. Every strategic choice must consider its security impact.  

Which protection should you choose for continuous threat detection?  

What to avoid  

• Relying only on an antivirus. 
• Ignoring unusualbehaviour. 
• Operatingwithout logging.  
• Reacting only when an incident becomes visible. 
• Installing security tools only on workstations. 

Why it matters  

According to the Business Development Bank of Canada, 73 percent of Canadian SMBs have experienced a cybersecurity incident. The longer a threat remains undetected, the greater its impact and the higher its costs.   

Best practices  

Chris Feghali summarizes the priority well: "Rapid detection changes everything. What you see early, you can better manage it."  

• Set up continuous monitoring tools such as EDR solutions (Endpoint Detection and Response) or MDR services (Managed Detection and Response).  
• Define clear alerts and review weekly reports on a regular basis.  
• Document the response steps after every incident. 

A well-defined incident response plan is essential for reacting effectively and minimizing damage in the event of an attack.    

How to keep systems secure throughout the year  

What to avoid  

• Delaying updates. 
• Keeping outdated systems. 
• Ignoring security patches. 
• Forgetting connected devices. 

Why it matters  

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security confirms that many attacks exploit vulnerabilities that have been known for more than 12 months. Unapplied patches remain an open door. CIRA's survey reinforces this. Many Canadian businesses believe they are protected when, in fact, they are not.  

Best practices   

Domenico Cerrone uses a simple example to explain the importance of updates: "Delaying a patch is leaving a door open. Updates are non-negotiable."  

• Activate automatic updates for all systems.  
• Remove unnecessary software and enforce a clear policy on applications.  
• Apply patches as soon as possible.  
• Update IoT and connected devices.  
• Verify critical versions to reduce vulnerabilities.  
• Security updates must be deployed quickly across all systems and devices used by the company.  

How to prepare and respond to a cybersecurity incident  

Even with robust cybersecurity practices, no system is entirely secure. This is why every organization must be ready to respond quickly and effectively when an attack occurs.  

The first step is to create an incident response plan that is clear and accessible to all team members. The plan must describe how to contain the threat, assess the impact, and restore systems and data as quickly as possible.  

Employee awareness plays a central role. Every staff member should recognize early signs of an attack, such as phishing attempts, malware, or unauthorized access. Strong passwords, regular updates, and constant vigilance reduce risk exposure.   

When an incident happens, communication is critical. Informing clients, partners, and stakeholders maintains trust and shows that the business is taking control of the situation. Documenting each step helps identify improvements and strengthen future defences.  

The ability to restore systems quickly, supported by reliable backups and proven procedures, significantly limits the impact of an attack. Preparing and testing your incident response plan ensures that your organization can effectively face threats and continue operating even in challenging situations. 

Conclusion 

Cybercriminals do not choose their targets based on size. They look for open access, outdated systems, and poor preparation. 

The good news is that any business that applies clear and consistent practices becomes much harder to compromise. 

Knowing your risks, structuring access, monitoring your environment, keeping systems up to date, testing backups, managing suppliers, securing connected devices, and training your teams 
all contribute to business continuity and operational protection. 

Cybersecurity is a continuous process that must adapt to stay effective. Following industry developments helps businesses adjust their strategies to new threats and new technologies. A reliable partner can guide decisions and help maintain a long-term, proactive security strategy.