Cybersecurity threats facing North Carolina businesses have evolved dramatically. Ransomware attacks targeting small and mid-sized companies surged by over 150% in the past year alone, and the Piedmont Triad region has not been spared. From phishing campaigns tailored to local industries to supply-chain attacks exploiting trusted vendor relationships, the threat landscape demands a proactive, layered defense strategy rather than a reactive, hope-for-the-best approach.
1. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication Everywhere
Passwords alone are no longer sufficient. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds a second verification step, such as a code sent to a mobile device or a biometric scan, that dramatically reduces the risk of unauthorized access. Every business application, email account, and VPN connection should require MFA. This single measure can prevent up to 99% of automated credential-stuffing attacks, which remain one of the most common ways hackers breach small business networks in North Carolina.
2. Conduct Regular Security Awareness Training
Your employees are both your greatest asset and your most vulnerable attack surface. Phishing emails have become remarkably sophisticated, often impersonating vendors, clients, or even internal executives. Regular training sessions that include simulated phishing exercises help staff recognize red flags such as mismatched sender addresses, urgent language, and unusual attachment types. At PCG, we run quarterly phishing simulations for our clients and consistently see click rates drop from over 30% to under 5% within six months.
3. Keep Software and Systems Patched
Unpatched software is an open invitation for attackers. Vulnerability disclosures are weaponized within hours, not weeks, meaning delayed patching creates real exposure. Establish a patch management policy that prioritizes critical and high-severity updates within 48 hours of release. Automate patching where possible for operating systems, browsers, and common business applications, and maintain an inventory of all software assets so nothing falls through the cracks.
4. Deploy Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
Traditional antivirus software catches known threats, but modern attacks use fileless malware, living-off-the-land techniques, and zero-day exploits that signature-based tools miss entirely. Endpoint Detection and Response platforms monitor every endpoint in real time, using behavioral analysis and machine learning to identify suspicious activity the moment it begins. When combined with a 24/7 Security Operations Center, EDR transforms your endpoints from potential liabilities into active defense sensors.
5. Back Up Data Using the 3-2-1 Rule
Maintain at least three copies of your critical data, stored on two different types of media, with one copy kept offsite or in the cloud. Test your backups regularly, because a backup that has never been restored is a backup you cannot trust. In the event of a ransomware attack, reliable backups are often the difference between a brief disruption and a business-ending catastrophe. Ensure backup systems are isolated from your production network so attackers cannot encrypt them alongside your primary data.
6. Segment Your Network
Flat networks, where every device can communicate freely with every other device, allow attackers to move laterally from a single compromised endpoint to your most sensitive systems. Network segmentation creates barriers between departments, device types, and sensitivity levels. Guest Wi-Fi should be completely isolated from business operations, IoT devices should sit on their own VLAN, and access to financial and HR systems should be restricted to only those who need it.
7. Enforce the Principle of Least Privilege
Every user account should have only the minimum permissions necessary to perform its function. Administrative privileges should be tightly controlled and regularly audited. When employees change roles or leave the organization, their access rights must be updated immediately. Overly permissive accounts are a goldmine for attackers, because compromising a single admin account can give them the keys to the entire kingdom.
8. Develop and Test an Incident Response Plan
An incident response plan defines exactly who does what when a security event occurs. It should include contact lists, escalation procedures, communication templates, and clear decision-making authority. The plan is only valuable if it has been tested. Tabletop exercises, where your team walks through a simulated breach scenario, reveal gaps and build the muscle memory needed to respond effectively under pressure. Companies that practice their response plans consistently contain breaches faster and at significantly lower cost.
9. Secure Your Email Gateway
Email remains the primary attack vector for businesses of every size. Advanced email security goes beyond basic spam filtering to include sandboxing of attachments, URL rewriting and time-of-click analysis, impersonation detection, and DMARC/DKIM/SPF authentication. These layers work together to stop malicious messages before they ever reach an inbox, reducing the burden on employees to make split-second decisions about whether a message is legitimate.
10. Partner with a Managed Security Provider
Building and staffing an in-house security operations center is prohibitively expensive for most small and mid-sized businesses. A managed security provider delivers enterprise-grade protection, including 24/7 monitoring, threat hunting, vulnerability management, and incident response, at a fraction of the cost. The right partner understands the specific regulatory and threat landscape facing North Carolina businesses and can tailor their approach to your industry, size, and risk profile.
Taking the Next Step
Cybersecurity is not a one-time project. It is an ongoing discipline that requires consistent attention, investment, and adaptation. Start by assessing where your business stands today against these ten practices, then prioritize the gaps that present the highest risk. If you need guidance on where to begin or want a professional assessment of your current security posture, the PCG team is here to help.