It should be no surprise to anyone who has an online platform for their business that cybersecurity risks are going up every day. Cyberattacks are becoming ever more sophisticated, meaning it can seem harder to keep any online business safe.
So, moving into 2026, you will want to stay ahead of the hackers, which will require more than simple antivirus tools. You need to be aware of the growing risks, such as AI-powered attacks, deep fakes and supply chain issues, to help you stay ahead and keep your data safe.
With that in mind, here are five ways you can make sure that you and your digital footprint remain hidden from online hackers.
Prioritize Threat Detection
For business owners with an online presence, it should be no surprise that cyberhackers and criminals are using AI to help craft convincing messages and to spot issues in your site’s software or other areas, which can allow them to gain access. Thus, you need to rely on getting AI-driven detection and response systems. These can analyse truly huge amounts of behaviour-based data, which can spot odd behavioural patterns faster than any human-based team could. They can also flag other things, such as weird login times, which can help you make decisions on the best ways to protect your site.
There are typically two threat detection systems to choose from. Managed Detection and Response systems (MDR) are popular, and you can learn more about them with the Red Canary article on this security option. Then, there is Extended Detection and Response, which leans more in an AI direction and could be suitable for larger businesses that handle more data and transactions.
Zero-Trust Policies
In the last two years, zero-trust architecture for business has been the basis of security frameworks. It’s simple. As a business owner, you need to trust no use, no devices or connections to your site, they are verified, every time! This will defend your site against insider threats, as well as help you spot lateral movement within a network.
Protect Identity
Your identity and your customers’ identity are one of the most prized targets for hackers, as research shows that in the majority of breaches, this is the target. So, you need to have a strong identity management system, such as authentication that doesn’t require passwords, as well as passcode security keys and, of course, multifactor authentication, which will use biometrics (face or fingerprint scans) as well as cryptographic tokens.
Assess Supply-Chain and Third-Party Risk Controls
Over the last five years, the majority of cyber incidents have occurred via vendors and software suppliers. Going into 2026, this risk is going to be amplified via the growth of cloud services and AI-powered development tools.
So, before you agree to share your data (such as your company address) with a third-party vendor or supplier, make sure to check that they are complying with data regulations, to ensure that they are not a risk to compromising your company’s security. Just be sure to ask at an early date and, if there is a risk, don’t sign anything!
Build a Cyber-Resilient Culture
Of course, you can have the best cybersecurity system in the world. It will fail if one of your staff members responds to a phishing email. You need to build a culture of cyber resilience, which should be based on cyber threat training. So, if applicable, make sure that your staff engage in exercises, as well as have training to ensure that they know what to do should a breach occur.
Bonus Insight! Even though it may seem inconvenient, if you are a small to medium-sized business, your company is at a higher risk of being hacked, solely due to the fact that these companies rarely have the same level of cybersecurity as larger businesses. So, if you have a smaller business that has an online platform, it is well worth looking into MDR options that can help to protect your online presence and your customers’ data.
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