Safeguarding Your Business from Cyberattacks

At TECHdept, we understand that no business is completely safe from cyber threats. Whether you’re a small startup or an established company, the reality is that a cybersecurity incident could happen at any moment. That’s why it’s essential to plan not just for prevention, but also for the critical steps that need to be taken immediately after an attack.

The biggest misconception many businesses have is the belief that cyberattacks won’t target them. Whether it’s because they think they’re too small or their systems are too obscure, many businesses fail to prepare for the possibility of a breach. But this kind of thinking can be disastrous when a cyberattack strikes.

Cyberattacks are expensive and disruptive: the average cost of a data breach globally is now around $4.88 million, and for companies in the United States it can exceed $8.6–$10 million per incident, including lost revenue, recovery costs, legal fees, and regulatory fines. Small and medium-sized businesses often experience total financial impacts ranging from tens of thousands up to over a quarter-million dollars or more, and many report significant downtime and customer loss following an attack. On top of direct losses, 60% of small businesses shut down within six months of a major breach.

Even small businesses need to understand the risks they face and have a clear response strategy in place. At TECHdept, we specialize in helping companies in New Mexico—and beyond—strengthen their defenses and prepare for the unexpected.

Common Cybersecurity Threats and How to Respond

Phishing Attacks

Phishing continues to be one of the most common ways cyber criminals gain access to sensitive information. Through deceptive emails and links, attackers often trick employees into disclosing passwords, downloading malware, or providing access to confidential data.

What you can do:

• Immediately reset any compromised passwords

• Inform your team to ensure no one else is affected and issue them new, unique credentials

• Review email logs to pinpoint additional victims or attacks

• Upgrade your email security and conduct regular employee training to help them spot phishing attempts

  
  

Ransomware Attacks

Ransomware can paralyze a business, particularly small ones that may lack the resources to recover quickly. Attackers often encrypt important data, holding it hostage until the company pays a ransom. In some cases, attackers also steal private data to extort the business for even more money.

What you can do:

• Immediately disconnect infected systems from the network to prevent further spread

• Contact law enforcement and cybersecurity experts to assess the breach

• Resist paying the ransom—there’s no guarantee you’ll get the decryption keys

• Restore critical data from secure, up-to-date backups

• Strengthen your backup procedures and consider cyber insurance

  
  

The average ransom payment alone can be hundreds of thousands of dollars, with recovery costs and business interruption often pushing total losses much higher for smaller organizations.

Denial-of-Service (DoS) & Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Attacks

DDoS attacks overload your network with traffic, preventing legitimate users from accessing services. These attacks can cause severe disruptions to your business, especially if you rely on online systems for customer orders, invoicing, or communication.

What you can do:

• Work with your ISP to mitigate malicious traffic and prevent further damage

• Invest in DDoS protection tools that monitor and analyze traffic spikes

• Review server settings to ensure your system is resilient to future attacks

• Regularly monitor traffic for abnormal patterns to catch these attacks early

  
  

Data Breaches and Insider Threats

Data breaches don’t just occur from external hackers—they can also happen due to mistakes made within your own organization, or through malicious actions by employees or contractors.

What you can do:

• Notify affected customers and partners as required by law

• Investigate how the breach occurred and address any system vulnerabilities

• Work closely with legal and compliance teams to ensure proper handling

• Improve encryption, access controls, and employee data security training

  
  

A single data breach incident can cost millions of dollars in direct and indirect expenses—making strong preventive measures and rapid response plans essential.

Supply Chain Attacks

Supply chain attacks exploit weaknesses in third-party vendors that have access to your network. A seemingly innocuous software update or vendor connection could be a backdoor for cybercriminals.

What you can do:

• Notify your vendor and other affected partners as soon as possible

• Patch any security holes created by the breach

• Reevaluate your vendor security policies and implement stricter vetting procedures

  
  

Proactive Cybersecurity: Why It’s Essential for Your Business

These are just a few examples of the many cyber threats that could target your business. The reality is that the cost of dealing with a breach—whether it’s in lost revenue, legal fees, regulatory fines, or damaged reputation—can be far higher than investing in strong cybersecurity practices.

At TECHdept, we help businesses in New Mexico and across the country prepare for the worst and minimize threat vectors. Our expert team can assess your current systems, implement tailored cybersecurity solutions, and ensure your business is ready to handle any cyber threat.

Why Choose TECHdept to Handle Your Cybersecurity?

Many businesses mistakenly believe they can handle cybersecurity on their own, but cyber threats are evolving daily. Without the right expertise, it’s easy for even the most vigilant businesses to miss critical vulnerabilities. That’s where TECHdept steps in.

We offer comprehensive cybersecurity services that go beyond simple prevention. From threat detection to immediate response, we ensure your business has the protection it needs, no matter what cyberattack arises. Our services are designed to provide businesses of all sizes with the tools and expertise necessary to safeguard critical data, respond to incidents quickly, and minimize threat vectors.

Ready to secure your business from cyber threats?

Contact TECHdept today and let us design a customized cybersecurity strategy that fits your needs.