Small Business Cybersecurity Best Practices: Top Threats to Watch in 2025 (Lessons from NC’s Apex Ransomware Attack)

In July 2024, the Town of Apex, North Carolina, learned firsthand how serious cybersecurity threats can be. A ransomware attack was detected on the town’s network, forcing officials to shut down key systems to prevent further damage. Although Apex’s emergency services stayed online, other departments, such as billing and permitting, were affected for months. The town chose not to negotiate or pay the attackers, following state law, and instead rebuilt its entire network.

For many small business owners, this incident felt close to home. Apex isn’t a big city. It’s a community like many across North Carolina, full of local businesses that rely on technology to keep daily operations running. What happened there could easily happen to a family-run accounting firm, a local manufacturer, or a small retail shop. This article explores the top cyber threats small businesses should prepare for in 2025 and outlines simple cybersecurity practices to strengthen your company’s defenses.

What Happened in Apex: A Cautionary Case Study

On July 2, 2024, Apex’s IT team detected irregular activity that was later confirmed to be a ransomware attack. Within hours, they took systems offline and called in the North Carolina Joint Cybersecurity Task Force for support. The attackers had attempted to lock up critical data and demand a payment, but the town refused to engage. Apex followed state law, which prohibits public entities from paying ransoms, and began restoring systems from clean backups.

It took several months to fully recover. The billing and permit systems didn’t return to normal until early 2025. The town was transparent throughout the process, posting regular updates for residents. This transparency helped build public trust and reduce confusion, even when issues persisted.

For small businesses, the Apex incident is a clear warning. Cyberattacks don’t only target large corporations. They go after anyone with data worth stealing. A single phishing email or outdated operating system can expose sensitive information or cause weeks of downtime.

The 2025 Cyber Threat Landscape for Small Businesses

Cyber threats evolve constantly. In 2025, experts predict a sharper focus on small and mid-sized organizations because they often lack advanced defenses. Here are the main risks to watch.

Ransomware attacks: It continues to be the top threat. New groups like RansomHub and Qilin use double extortion methods, stealing data before encrypting it to pressure victims into paying. The biggest losses aren’t always the ransom itself, but the downtime that follows.

Business email compromise (BEC): Remains the costliest scam. Criminals impersonate vendors or executives, tricking employees into wiring money or changing bank details. These schemes can lead to significant financial losses that may go undetected for months—learn how to spot early warning signs of internal financial fraud.

Unpatched devices and software vulnerabilities: These are another major entry point. Many companies skip software upgrades or delay patch management. Attackers exploit those gaps, especially on VPNs and firewalls. In early 2025, new exploits like CitrixBleed 2 reminded businesses that timely updates matter.

Social engineering: It's getting smarter. Scammers now use AI-generated messages to impersonate real employees or suppliers. Even trained staff can struggle to spot fake requests.

Supply-chain attacks: They are growing, too. When one vendor’s system gets compromised, it can affect all their clients. This makes risk assessment and vendor vetting more important than ever.

The bottom line is that cybercriminals go after the weakest link. If your business has poor network security, outdated antivirus software, or lacks basic security audits, you could be next.

Best Practices for 2025: A Small Business Defense Plan

Every small business can improve its security posture with the right steps. Using the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) framework as a guide, here are six areas to focus on.

1. Governance: Lead from the Top

Cybersecurity isn’t only an IT issue. It starts with leadership. Assign one person to oversee cyber risk and create an incident response plan. Run simple tabletop exercises twice a year to see how your team would react to data breaches or ransomware attacks.

2. Identify: Know Your Assets

Keep track of all hardware, software, and mobile devices. Understand where customer data lives, whether it’s on local servers, laptops, or cloud storage. A complete inventory helps you plan better protection and improve your backup strategy.

3. Protect: Strengthen Everyday Defenses

This is where small business owners can make the biggest difference.

• Use multi-factor authentication for email, accounting tools, and remote access.
• Follow the 3-2-1 backup rule: three copies of your data, on two types of media, with one stored offline.
• Regularly review password policies and encourage the use of a password manager.
• Keep antivirus software and endpoint protection tools updated.
• Run frequent software upgrades on all operating systems.
• Apply patch management best practices and fix known vulnerabilities quickly.
• Train employees on safe email habits and phishing attack recognition.
• Limit administrative privileges to only those who need them.
  These small changes build a strong first line of defense.

4. Detect: Catch Threats Early

Early threat detection is critical. Use monitoring tools that alert you when suspicious logins, file encryptions, or new user accounts appear. If insider threats or employee misconduct are suspected, conducting a discreet workplace investigation can uncover security risks before they escalate. If your business doesn't have in-house expertise, work with an IT provider that offers managed detection or penetration testing to spot weaknesses before criminals do.

5. Respond: Act Quickly During an Incident

Have a written incident response plan. It should list key contacts, including your cyber insurer, law enforcement, and local FBI office. While amateur investigators on social media may offer quick fixes, professional cybersecurity experts and investigators ensure your response is legally sound and thorough. If something happens, isolate affected systems, preserve logs, and communicate clearly with customers.

6. Recover: Build Back Stronger

Practice restoring systems from your backups at least twice a year. Test your cloud storage recovery process as well. Plan how you’ll continue operations if one part of your system goes down. Regular security audits can help identify gaps before another issue arises.

Legal and Compliance Responsibilities in North Carolina

North Carolina has clear rules for businesses affected by cyber incidents. Under state law (G.S. 75-65), any company that suffers a data breach must notify affected residents and the Attorney General’s office as soon as possible. If more than 1,000 people are impacted, credit bureaus must also be informed.

Public entities like Apex are prohibited from paying ransom. While private businesses can make that choice, most experts and insurers strongly advise against it. Paying attackers doesn’t guarantee data recovery and can make your company a future target.

If your business faces a cyber incident, report it through the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov) or contact the North Carolina Department of Justice for guidance.

Lessons from Apex for Every Small Business

The Apex ransomware attack showed how vital preparation and transparency are. The town’s open communication built public confidence even during disruptions. It also highlighted the value of a solid backup strategy and cooperation with state and federal partners.

For small businesses, the same principles apply. Have an updated risk assessment, train employees regularly, and test your defenses. Build relationships with trusted IT vendors and law enforcement before something goes wrong. Simple, consistent cybersecurity practices often matter more than expensive tools.

Build Resilience Before the Next Alert

Cyber incidents like Apex’s serve as a reminder that no organization is too small to be targeted. A good mix of network security, employee awareness, virtual private networks, and endpoint protection can prevent most problems. Regular employee training, password manager use, and tested backup strategies make recovery faster and cheaper.

At Davis & Forest Investigations, we’ve seen firsthand how preventable many digital crimes are. Our team helps small businesses conduct security audits, investigate internal breaches, and improve their overall security posture before threats appear. Cybersecurity is no longer optional. It’s a daily habit that keeps your operations safe, your data secure, and your customers confident.