When you hear about cyber attacks in the news, it’s usually about big corporations – multinationals losing millions, or public services grinding to a halt. But the truth is, small businesses are just as much in the firing line. In fact, they’re often an easier target, because security is usually lighter and staff are less prepared.
A small business in Devon found this out the hard way.
A Local Vet Practice That Thought They Were Too Small to Target
Management laughed off the idea of being hit by ransomware. “Who would want to ransom us?” was the reaction when staff raised concerns. To them, cyber attacks were something that happened to banks or tech giants, not a small, local business.
But the warning signs were there. A suspicious program appeared on a shared front-desk computer, and access to their Robovet CRM system suddenly failed. Staff flagged it, but the problem was brushed aside and responsibility bounced between the IT company and the software provider.
A Week of Chaos
The concerns turned out to be well founded. The practice was completely locked out of its systems. No diary. No patient records. No way to run its day-to-day.
For over a week, the business was paralysed. Clinical operations were delayed, staff were stressed, and frustrated clients were left waiting without answers. The IT company was onsite daily, late into the evenings, battling to restore access at the expense of the practice.
The Fallout
- Lost productivity: With no access to patient files or scheduling, staff couldn’t work effectively, and appointments piled up.
- Damaged reputation: Clients don’t see “IT issues” – they see missed appointments and disrupted care.
- Unplanned costs: Emergency support, overtime, and lost revenue added up quickly.
- Stress across the team: Staff knew something was wrong but weren’t listened to – making the whole situation worse.
The Lesson? It Can Happen to You
Cyber criminals don’t discriminate. Small businesses are often targeted precisely because they’re less prepared, with weaker protections and fewer resources to respond. A single click on a phishing email or a missed security update can lock down an entire business.
But it doesn’t have to play out this way.
How Managed Security Helps
With managed security in place, this situation could have looked very different:
- 24/7 monitoring would have flagged the suspicious program immediately.
- Endpoint protection could have stopped the ransomware from spreading.
- Backups & disaster recovery would have meant the practice could restore its systems in hours, not weeks.
- Clear escalation paths would have avoided the finger-pointing between providers.
Instead of a week of chaos, they could have been back to normal in a fraction of the time – with far less damage to their business and reputation.
Don’t Wait for a Wake-Up Call
Too many small businesses only take security seriously after something goes wrong. But by then, the damage – financial, reputational, and emotional – is already done.
The biggest mistake this business made wasn’t a missed patch or a weak password. It was believing, “It won’t happen to us.”
But it did. And it will continue to happen to small businesses who dismiss the threat.
Managed Security isn’t about fear. It’s about peace of mind. It’s knowing your business is protected around the clock, with experts ready to step in before problems spiral.
Talk to us today about managed security – and make sure your business isn’t the next “it won’t happen to us” story.
