Cybercriminals are heading into 2026 with a plan. While most businesses are focused on growth, hiring, and keeping things running, attackers are reviewing what worked last year and refining how they’ll steal data, money, and access this year. Small businesses remain a common target, not because they’re careless, but because they’re busy. And busy organizations are easier to exploit.
Here’s what that plan looks like, and how to disrupt it.
Smarter Phishing Emails That Blend In
The era of obviously fake phishing emails is over. AI now generates messages that sound natural, match your company’s tone, reference real vendors, and skip the red flags people used to rely on. These attacks don’t depend on typos anymore. They depend on timing.
A modern phishing email might look like this:
“Hi [your name], I tried to send the updated invoice, but it bounced back. Can you confirm this is still the right email for accounting? I’ve attached the revised version. Let me know if you have questions.”
There’s no urgency, no wire request, and nothing that feels suspicious at first glance. That’s the point.
How to respond
- Train your team to verify requests involving money or credentials using a second channel.
- Use email security tools that flag impersonation attempts and suspicious senders.
- Encourage employees to slow down and confirm, without fear of looking difficult or paranoid.
Impersonating Vendors and Executives
Impersonation attacks work because they feel familiar. A vendor asks to update banking details. A message from the CEO asks for a quick payment while they’re “in a meeting.” Sometimes it’s not even written. Voice cloning scams are increasing, using audio pulled from videos, voicemail greetings, or public appearances.
When the request sounds familiar and urgent, people act.
How to respond
- Require verification through known contact information for any payment or banking changes.
- Don’t move money without voice confirmation through established channels.
- Use multi-factor authentication on all finance and administrative accounts.
Targeting Small Businesses on Purpose
As large organizations improved security and tightened insurance requirements, attackers shifted their attention. Instead of one high-risk attack on a major company, they now focus on many smaller, lower-risk targets.
Small businesses have money worth stealing, data worth ransoming, and fewer defenses in place. Attackers know you’re understaffed, juggling priorities, and often assume you’re “too small” to be targeted. That assumption is one of their most effective tools.
How to respond
- Implement baseline security controls like MFA, patching, and tested backups. Being slightly harder to attack than the business next door is often enough.
- Treat cybersecurity as a business requirement rather than a future problem.
- Work with a partner who actively monitors and manages security, instead of reacting after something breaks.
Exploiting New Hires and Seasonal Chaos
New hires want to be helpful and make a good impression. They don’t yet know what requests are normal and what should raise questions. That makes them attractive targets, especially when attackers impersonate executives or HR.
Tax season adds another layer. Fake payroll requests, W-2 scams, and IRS impersonation ramp up quickly, often leading to stolen employee data and fraudulent tax filings before anyone realizes what happened.
How to respond
- Include security awareness in onboarding before granting full system access.
- Document clear rules, such as never sending W-2s by email or approving payments without verification.
- Reinforce that verification is expected and encouraged.
Why Prevention Always Wins
When it comes to cybersecurity, there are two paths.
Option A: React After an Incident
- Emergency response after systems are already compromised
- Costly recovery efforts and lost productivity
- Customer notifications and reputational damage
- High-pressure decisions made with limited information
Option B: Prevent the Incident
- Security controls in place before they’re needed
- Employees trained to pause and verify
- Continuous monitoring and early detection
- Tested backups that allow fast recovery
Prevention doesn’t feel urgent, but it keeps routine issues from becoming business-defining events. That’s the advantage.
How to Stay Off the Easy Target List
A good IT partner helps reduce risk by making secure behavior the default. That includes:
- Monitoring systems around the clock and responding early
- Limiting access so one compromised account doesn’t open everything
- Training teams on modern, realistic scams
- Enforcing verification for financial requests
- Maintaining and testing backups
- Patching vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them
It’s fire prevention, not firefighting.
Take Your Business Off Their List
Cybercriminals are planning their next moves right now. They’re counting on businesses being distracted, overextended, and underprepared. You don’t have to be one of them.
Schedule a free consultation call with us today to understand where you’re exposed, what actually matters, and how to reduce risk without disrupting your day-to-day operations.
Because the best defense is making sure your business isn’t the easiest option.
