Cybersecurity for Small Business in Denver: A No-Nonsense Guide

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Female and Male IT Engineers Discussing Technical Details in a Working Data Center

If you think cybercriminals only target big companies, think again. 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses, and 60% of those businesses close within 6 months of a breach. Denver’s growing tech sector makes the Front Range an increasingly attractive target.

This guide covers what every Denver small business needs to know about cybersecurity in 2026 — no jargon, no fear-mongering, just practical steps you can take.

Why Small Businesses Are Targeted

Cybercriminals go after small businesses because:

  • Weaker defenses — Most don’t have dedicated security teams or enterprise tools
  • Valuable data — Customer records, financial data, and employee info are all worth money
  • Gateway to bigger targets — If you work with larger companies, attackers use you as a stepping stone
  • More likely to pay ransom — Small businesses can’t afford extended downtime, so they pay

The 7 Essential Cybersecurity Measures for 2026

1. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) — Everywhere

MFA blocks 99.9% of automated attacks. Enable it on email, VPN, cloud applications, banking, and any system with sensitive data. This is the single highest-impact security measure you can implement.

Cost: Free (built into Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and most cloud services)

2. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

Traditional antivirus isn’t enough anymore. EDR monitors every device on your network for suspicious behavior, not just known malware signatures. It can detect and isolate threats in real-time.

Cost: $5-$15/device/month

3. Email Security and Filtering

91% of cyberattacks start with a phishing email. Advanced email filtering catches malicious links, attachments, and impersonation attempts before they reach your employees’ inboxes.

Cost: $2-$5/user/month

4. Employee Security Awareness Training

Your employees are your first line of defense — and your biggest vulnerability. Regular training with simulated phishing tests dramatically reduces the risk of someone clicking a malicious link.

Cost: $2-$4/user/month

5. Regular Backups with Tested Recovery

Backups are your insurance policy against ransomware. Follow the 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies of your data, on 2 different media types, with 1 stored offsite/cloud. And test your restores regularly — a backup you can’t restore from is worthless.

6. Network Segmentation and Access Controls

Not everyone needs access to everything. Implement least-privilege access so employees only have access to the systems and data they need for their job. Segment your network so a breach in one area can’t spread everywhere.

7. Incident Response Plan

When (not if) an incident occurs, you need a plan. Who gets called? What gets shut down? How do you communicate with clients? An incident response plan documented and tested before you need it can be the difference between a minor disruption and a business-ending event.

Denver-Specific Considerations

If your Denver business operates in certain industries, you have additional requirements:

  • Healthcare: HIPAA compliance requires specific security controls, access logging, and breach notification procedures
  • Government contracting: CMMC 2.0 certification is now required for DoD contracts. Denver’s proximity to military installations makes this relevant for many local businesses.
  • Finance: PCI-DSS compliance is required if you process credit card payments
  • Legal: Colorado Privacy Act requires specific data protection measures for businesses handling personal data

What to Do Right Now

Start with these three things today:

  1. Enable MFA on everything — this takes 30 minutes and blocks 99% of attacks
  2. Check your backup — verify it’s running, verify you can actually restore from it
  3. Get a security assessment — know where your gaps are before an attacker finds them

Technology Response Team provides comprehensive cybersecurity solutions for Denver businesses — from security assessments to 24/7 monitoring and incident response. We also offer VCISO services for businesses that need strategic security leadership without the six-figure salary.

Get a free cybersecurity assessment — find out where your business is vulnerable and what to fix first.

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