Why SMBs Put Security First When Powering Up Their Technology Stacks

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Why SMBs Put Security First When Powering Up Their Technology Stacks


SMBs are embracing developments in expertise to realize extra with a leaner employees, allow distant work, automate guide processes, and cut back errors. When carried out thoughtfully, expertise will help smaller companies higher compete with their enterprise counterparts, save on growing labor prices, and generate a sturdy ROI.

IDC’s knowledge clearly illustrates this development. According to IDC’s Worldwide Small and Medium Business Survey (February 2025), 81.8% of all SMBs will improve their tech budgets over the following yr. Furthermore, a smaller share of SMBs plan to chop expertise spending this yr (1.7%, in comparison with 4% in 2024 and eight% in 2023), reflecting SMBs’ rising confidence in applied sciences like AI/automation as extra use instances emerge. It additionally highlights the efforts of distributors providing extra SMB-specific applied sciences and bundles which can be inexpensive and straightforward to deploy and handle. Easy set up, upkeep, and use are paramount for small and medium companies, as 36% of SMBs wouldn’t have any full-time, in-house IT staff. A major 85.5% of small companies (these with 1-99 staff) with a full-time IT worker solely have one, in comparison with 40.9% final yr.

A high expertise space experiencing vital funding development amongst SMBs is AI. Indeed, 47.5% of all SMBs say that conventional AI is a high funding precedence for them within the subsequent 12 months – a greater than 12 share level improve from 35.1% a yr earlier. Additionally, 45% record GenAI as a high precedence, in comparison with 32.8% a yr earlier. SMBs are additionally investing steadily in cellular employee assist, a development that has continued because the pandemic-era transformation of workplace tradition. In 2025, 52.8% of small companies report prioritizing investments in communications via video collaboration or video conferencing, versus 43.7% final yr. Small companies are looking for to improve to the newest video and collaboration instruments that increase safety and incorporate new applied sciences, similar to AI, to boost effectivity. Many SMBs need to enable their staff to work remotely, as they typically can not afford to pay as a lot as bigger organizations. Consequently, they’re growing inventive methods to retain high staff by providing versatile working hours and the power to work remotely or in a hybrid method.

However, IDC’s knowledge strongly illustrates that SMBs are taking a security-first strategy to expertise investments. Before investing in a brand new system or resolution, they guarantee it’s safe. As SMBs have few, if any, IT staff to handle cybersecurity threats, they depend upon expertise suppliers to implement strong safety measures. Increasing safety is each a high funding precedence and a high problem for SMBs; 51.3% of SMBs mentioned that growing safety is a high funding precedence for them within the coming yr. Simultaneously, 46.4% record implementing new expertise securely as a high problem to attaining their enterprise priorities – the primary response from an inventory of ten totally different choices.

There are a number of contributors to this intense deal with safety. One is the shift to the cloud from on-premises options. While the cloud presents nice advantages, similar to accessibility from anyplace, pay-as-you-go pricing, and limitless storage capability, it additionally signifies that SMBs’ distant or hybrid staff are accessing business-critical networks from private units utilizing public Wi-Fi – assume eating places, espresso retailers, airports, and extra. Another shift is the rise in AI investments. AI depends on a steady stream of knowledge to perform. SMBs are demanding readability on the supply of the info used to coach giant language fashions. Is it the seller’s knowledge, the SMB’s knowledge, or artificial knowledge? How is that knowledge getting used, and what protocols are in place to make sure safety? Many SMBs are simply starting to construct model consciousness, client belief, and income. A knowledge breach that tarnishes their picture might be catastrophic.

With nice technological developments come nice duties. While expertise is quickly evolving to assist SMBs sustain with their swift tempo of development, automate processes, allow distant work, and extra, its major position is to be safe.

Message from the Sponsor

SMBs want higher safety within the AI period. By embedding safety into our total portfolio, Cisco helps SMB clients deal with operating and rising their enterprise as a substitute of accelerating the dimensions of their IT group. Partner with Cisco to grab the chance within the SMB phase and shield clients with safety and networking merchandise.

 

Leverage Cisco’s SMB safety content material immediately to drive higher buyer demand

 


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