Today’s hackers are armed with artificial intelligence tools that automate and amplify their attacks on small businesses at an unprecedented rate.
The numbers tell a startling story: 82.6% of phishing emails analyzed between September 2024 and February 2025 showed signs of AI use. Meanwhile, 76% of organizations admit they can’t keep pace with AI-powered attacks. For small businesses with limited IT resources, the threat is even more acute.
“Small businesses are prime targets because they typically lack the security infrastructure of larger corporations, yet they handle valuable customer data and financial information,” explains Pete Cannata, chief operating officer of Atlantic.Net. “Hackers know this, and they’re using AI to exploit these gaps at scale.”
Employee training and affordable security tools can level the playing field against these AI-powered attacks, Cannata said. Consider his five strategies for protecting your business.