It's tempting to think the average cyber extortionist has bigger fish to fry than your small business. Last month alone, hackers targeted the largest petroleum pipeline in the United States, Ireland's national health service, the city of Gary, Indiana, and numerous other big targets.

But while they may receive less attention, 50 to 70 percent of ransomware attacks are aimed at small and medium-sized companies, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said during a U.S. Chamber of Commerce event in May. And changes in business practices, accelerated by the pandemic, have left small businesses even more vulnerable.