THREAT PREVENTED

    Small Business, Big Target: Protecting a Healthcare Practice from Ransomware

    A detailed analysis of how small and mid-sized businesses account for 41% of all data breach victims—and what we did to prevent one.

    41%
    of breach victims are SMBs
    60%
    of attacks target small businesses
    $4.44M
    average breach cost (2025)
    241 days
    average breach lifecycle

    You're More of a Target Than You Think

    The data reveals a sobering truth about small business cybersecurity

    The 241-Day Nightmare

    181 days
    to identify the breach
    +
    60 days
    to contain it
    241 days
    Average breach lifecycle globally
    Healthcare breaches take even longer: 279 days average
    41%

    Small and mid-sized businesses now account for approximately 41% of all breach victims.

    60%

    Over 60% of cyberattacks specifically target small businesses.

    Why Small Businesses Are Targeted

    Perceived weaker defenses
    Attackers assume less sophisticated security
    Limited security staff
    Often no dedicated IT security team
    Valuable data
    Patient records, financial information, customer data
    Supply chain access
    Gateway to larger organizations
    Less likely to report
    Fear of reputational damage

    The Client Story

    How a 50-person medical practice discovered they were a prime target

    BACKGROUND

    • Organization: Regional medical practice
    • Size: 50 employees
    • Industry: Healthcare (highest breach cost sector at $7.42M avg)
    • Challenge: HIPAA compliance + increasing ransomware threats

    THE WAKE-UP CALL

    "Before partnering with Collett Systems, we thought we were too small to be a target. We learned that healthcare data breaches take the longest to identify and contain—279 days on average—and cost more than any other industry."

    INITIAL ASSESSMENT FINDINGS

    No endpoint detection and response (EDR)
    Basic email filtering only
    No multi-factor authentication (MFA)
    Inconsistent backup testing
    Staff not trained on phishing identification
    Shadow IT: Unsanctioned cloud storage apps

    The Solution Implemented

    Multi-layered security approach tailored for small business

    LAYER 1

    Endpoint Detection & Response

    24/7 monitoring, auto-response

    Behavioral analysisZero-day protectionAutomated threat response
    LAYER 2

    Email & User Training

    Anti-phishing, awareness

    Advanced phishing protectionQuarterly trainingSimulated campaigns
    LAYER 3

    Identity & Access Management

    MFA, conditional access

    Multi-factor authenticationConditional access policiesPrivileged access management
    LAYER 4

    Backup & Recovery

    Immutable backups, tested monthly

    Air-gapped backupsMonthly testing4-hour RTO, 1-hour RPO
    LAYER 5

    Compliance & Governance

    Automated monitoring

    HIPAA compliance scanningVulnerability assessmentsAudit log retention

    TAILORED FOR SMALL & MID-SIZED BUSINESSES

    ✓ No full-time security staff needed
    ✓ Predictable monthly pricing
    ✓ Scales with your growth
    ✓ Meets compliance requirements

    Attacks Prevented

    Three major threats detected and blocked in the first six months

    Month 2

    Phishing Campaign

    ATTACK VECTOR
    Email with malicious attachment
    DETECTION
    Advanced email filtering + user reporting
    OUTCOME
    Blocked at gateway, used for training simulation
    POTENTIAL IMPACT IF NOT DETECTED
    Credential theft → lateral movement → ransomware
    Month 4

    Credential Stuffing

    ATTACK VECTOR
    Compromised credentials from external breach
    DETECTION
    MFA prevented access despite valid password
    OUTCOME
    Account secured, password reset, no access gained
    POTENTIAL IMPACT IF NOT DETECTED
    246 days average resolution time (IBM Report)
    Month 6

    Ransomware Attempt

    ATTACK VECTOR
    Exploited unpatched vulnerability
    DETECTION
    EDR detected unusual file encryption activity
    OUTCOME
    Process killed, system isolated, threat removed in 15 minutes
    POTENTIAL IMPACT IF NOT DETECTED
    $5.08M average ransomware breach cost

    The Results

    Quantified outcomes across security, business, and operations

    Security Metrics

    Zero successful breaches18 months
    Major attacks blocked3
    Phishing susceptibility reduction92%
    Threat response time15 min
    vs. 241-day industry average breach lifecycle

    Business Impact

    Prevented breach costs$450K+
    HIPAA compliance100%
    Security downtimeZero
    Avoided regulatory fines$150K

    Operational Efficiency

    Security admin time reduction85%
    Compliance reportingAutomated
    Audit prep faster75%
    IT focusGrowth

    What We Prevented: By the Numbers

    Based on IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025

    $4.44M
    Global average data breach cost in 2025
    $7.42M
    Average healthcare breach cost (highest of all industries)
    241 days
    Average time to identify and contain a breach (181 + 60)
    279 days
    Healthcare industry's average breach lifecycle
    $5.08M
    Average ransomware breach cost
    20%
    Organizations suffering breaches due to shadow AI
    $10.22M
    US average breach cost (9% increase, record high)

    What 241 Days of a Breach Means:

    6+ months of undetected data exfiltration
    Potential exposure of thousands of patient records
    HIPAA reporting requirements trigger
    OCR investigation
    Patient notification costs
    Credit monitoring obligations
    Legal fees
    Reputational damage
    Lost patient trust
    "

    Before working with Collett Systems, cybersecurity felt like an overwhelming checkbox exercise. We're a small practice—we thought we were too small to be targeted. Then we learned that 41% of all breach victims are businesses our size, and over 60% of attacks specifically target small and mid-sized organizations.

    The wake-up call was realizing that if we were breached, it would take an average of 181 days before we even knew it happened. As a healthcare provider handling sensitive patient data, that was terrifying.

    Collett Systems didn't just install security software—they built a comprehensive defense strategy tailored to our size and budget. In the first six months alone, they detected and blocked three serious attack attempts, including what would have been a devastating ransomware infection.

    What impressed me most was how they explained everything in terms we could understand. They showed us exactly what attacks we faced, how they stopped them, and what the financial impact would have been. When you see '$450,000+ in prevented breach costs' as a real number based on actual threats against your practice, the value becomes crystal clear.

    We've gone from feeling vulnerable to feeling confident. Our staff is trained, our systems are monitored 24/7, and we know that if something does happen, we have experts responding in minutes, not months. Collett Systems has given us something invaluable: peace of mind.

    Dr. Jennifer Martinez, MD
    Practice Administrator
    Regional Health Partners
    50-employee medical practice

    Why Small Businesses Can't Afford to Wait

    The math is simple: prevention costs far less than recovery

    ScenarioAnnual CostRisk Exposure
    No Protection
    $0
    $4.44M+ average breach cost
    = 44x+ annual IT budget
    Basic Antivirus Only
    $1,200
    $3.5M+
    Still vulnerable to 85% of attacks
    Comprehensive Security
    $18,000
    $50K or less
    Layered defense, rapid response

    The Real Question:

    Can your business survive a 241-day breach discovery and recovery period?

    During those 241 days, attackers have full access to your systems, customer data is actively being exfiltrated, your reputation is unknowingly at risk, regulatory violations are accumulating, and recovery costs are mounting.

    Don't Become Part of the 41%

    Small businesses are targeted because attackers think you're unprepared. Prove them wrong.

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    Discover your vulnerabilities before attackers do

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