Why Cyber Resilience Must Be an SME Priority Now

By Khalimatou Samirah, Cybersecurity Certification Officer

It's becoming increasingly clear: cyber risk is no longer a niche technical concern, it is a core business risk. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Ireland, cyber resilience is now fundamental to trust, continuity and long-term competitiveness.

The cyber threat landscape continues to evolve at pace. Ransomware, data breaches and supply-chain attacks are no longer confined to large organisations with deep pockets. Increasingly, smaller firms are being targeted precisely because they are perceived as less prepared. In my role at the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), I see first-hand how proactive, practical steps can significantly reduce exposure and strengthen resilience -regardless of organisational size.

Cyber resilience does not require perfection, but it does require intent, leadership and consistency. As organisations set priorities for the year ahead, there are five foundational actions every SME should consider.

Cyber resilience is not a one-off project or a box-ticking exercise. It is an ongoing journey that requires leadership, awareness and continuous improvement.

Khalimatou Samirah Cybersecurity Certification Officer

Focus on What Matters Most

Effective cyber resilience starts with understanding your organisation’s most critical assets. This includes customer and employee data, financial records, intellectual property and operational systems. By identifying, labelling and classifying these assets, organisations can better prioritise protection measures, allocate resources wisely and respond more effectively to incidents.

Structured risk assessment tools, such as Digital Resilience for SMEs Tool can support SMEs in making informed, proportionate decisions without unnecessary complexity.

Empower People, Not Just Technology

Technology alone cannot defend an organisation. Employees play a decisive role in cyber security outcomes - both positively and negatively. Investing in regular, relevant training helps staff recognise phishing attempts, social engineering tactics and other common threats. An informed workforce is one of the most effective and cost-efficient defences available to any organisation.

Keep Systems Up to Date

Unpatched systems remain one of the easiest entry points for cyber attackers. Enabling automatic updates for operating systems, applications and security tools is a simple but critical step. Many ransomware incidents and data breaches exploit known vulnerabilities that could have been prevented through timely updates.

Strengthen Access Controls with Multi-Factor Authentication

Passwords alone are no longer sufficient. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds a crucial layer of protection by requiring users to verify their identity through more than one method. For SMEs, MFA is a practical and highly effective way to reduce the risk of unauthorised access and credential compromise.

Prepare for the Worst: Backups Matter

No organisation can eliminate cyber risk entirely. Regular, secure backups of critical data, stored offline or in a separate cloud environment, can make the difference between rapid recovery and prolonged disruption. Just as importantly, backups should be tested periodically to ensure they can be restored when needed.

Looking Ahead

Cyber resilience is not a one-off project or a box-ticking exercise. It is an ongoing journey that requires leadership, awareness and continuous improvement. For SMEs, taking deliberate steps now can significantly reduce risk, protect reputation and support sustainable growth in an increasingly digital economy.

An informed workforce is one of the most effective and cost-efficient defences available to any organisation.

Khalimatou Samirah Cybersecurity Certification Officer

Moving from Actions to Assurance

For organisations looking to take cyber resilience a step further, adopting a formal Information Security Management System (ISMS) can provide structure, accountability and confidence. ISO/IEC 27001 is one of the world’s most widely recognised standards for information security management, offering a systematic approach to managing risk.

NSAI is accredited by the Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) to certify organisations to ISO/IEC 27001:2022. Certification demonstrates a clear commitment to information security and can enhance trust with customers, partners and regulators - both in Ireland and internationally.

NSAI is also a member of the IQNET Association, an international network of conformity assessment bodies. Through IQNET, organisations certified by NSAI can promote their certification globally and obtain an IQNET certificate for schemes such as ISO/IEC 27001:2022.