SMEs unprepared to defend against advanced cyber threats
Irish SMEs feel unprepared to defend against advanced cyber threats, according to the latest Vodafone Business Cybersecurity Threat Report.
The international survey, which included 300 respondents from Ireland, revealed a stark reality for Ireland’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), warning that 28% of businesses would be at risk of shutting down after just one ransomware attack.
With cyber criminals increasingly harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to launch faster, more convincing and more adaptive attacks, the report warns that no business is immune to risk.
The report highlighted how AI is being used to clone voices, impersonate trusted executives, and create phishing campaigns, making it harder for busy SMEs to spot malicious activity.
The financial impact of such attacks alone is expected to surge by nearly 50% over the next three years.
The report also covered the emergence of adaptive AI malware, a type of malicious software that can learn and adapt its tactics to evade detection. Traditional antivirus systems are becoming less effective against these shape-shifting threats, signalling a critical need for stronger, AI-enabled defences.
Furthermore, the research showed that 50% of SMEs ranked cyber security among their top five priorities, however, 69% admitted they lacked the proper measures to deploy these technologies safely. This gap is leaving many businesses exposed to new forms of cyberattacks.
Vodafone emphasised that there are practical steps SMEs can take to strengthen their cyber security, such as employee training, software updates, multi-factor authentication, regular backups, and partnering with expert providers for monitoring and threat detection. These measures can help businesses close gaps without requiring extensive IT expertise.
Sinead Perry, head of SMB sales – small & medium business at Vodafone Ireland, said: “The scale of AI-powered attacks means no business is too small or too remote to go unnoticed. If you’re online, you’re on the radar. For SMEs, the risk is real – they are big enough to be a target but often don’t have the same security resources as larger firms.
“Attackers only need to succeed once, while your defences must work every time. Irish SMEs now face two major challenges: defending against AI-driven threats and ensuring their own use of AI is secure.
“Today, SMEs manage more data than ever before and operate in a complex digital environment that rivals larger businesses. This makes them attractive targets, and with AI in the mix, this threat is evolving fast. SMEs must act now to strengthen their resilience and protect the future of their business.”
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