Tech Tips & Cyber Threat Intel for Smart SMEs — June 2025

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June 2025 Tech Report by Hawki IT. Get the latest insider tech advice for your business. www.hawkiit.com/blog

From AI-powered attacks to ransomware targeting your size, here’s what North American SMEs need to know now.

If you're a small or midsize enterprise (SME) with up to 200 users, chances are you're navigating a mix of rapid growth, hybrid operations, global expansion—and unfortunately, a rising cyber threat landscape. The good news? Staying secure and competitive doesn’t require a Fortune 500 budget—just smart moves, timely insight, and the right IT partner.

tech-tips-cyber-threat-intel-for-smart-smes-—-june-2025

Here’s your June 2025 update: 3 major cybersecurity trends that could impact your business this quarter, plus actionable IT tips to protect and grow your company.

Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) Is Booming — And You’re on the Hit List

What’s happening:

Ransomware groups have evolved their playbooks. With RaaS models, even low-level criminals can "subscribe" to hacking kits and launch automated, highly effective ransomware attacks. In Q2 2025, a 38% increase in ransomware attacks was reported among North American companies with fewer than 250 employees—many of them caught off guard with minimal protections.

Why SMEs are targeted:

Fewer security controls
Limited IT resources
Often hold critical, sensitive data (client financials, IP, HR files)

Real-world example:

A 120-user logistics firm in Illinois was hit in April by a ransomware variant delivered through a fake shipping invoice email. They lost 4 days of operations and paid over $70,000 in recovery and downtime costs—even though they had backups.

What you should do:

Set up immutable backups in the cloud (can’t be altered or deleted by ransomware).
Use Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) or Extended Detection & Response (XDR) for faster threat isolation.
Schedule quarterly simulated phishing tests with staff.

Need help testing your ransomware readiness?

Hawki IT offers a free gap analysis—zero obligation. Book here

2. MFA Fatigue Attacks Are Still Fooling Staff — Time to Level Up

What’s happening:

“MFA fatigue” is when hackers bombard a user with multi-factor authentication requests until they get annoyed and approve one. It’s old news—but it’s still effective, especially against remote or hybrid workers.

This is how the Uber breach happened. And it's now hitting small businesses.

Red flags your team may miss:

Receiving MFA requests outside of work hours
Approving a login without verifying the device or location
Thinking it’s a “glitch” or app issue and clicking approve

Better approach:

Use phishing-resistant MFA (like FIDO2 keys or device-based biometrics)
Apply conditional access rules (e.g., no logins from unexpected regions)
Lock down admin and exec accounts with just-in-time (JIT) access controls

Still using SMS-based 2FA? You’re vulnerable.

Let’s upgrade your access security without disrupting your workflows.

3. AI Is Powering Both the Good Guys—and the Cybercriminals

What's new in 2025:

AI has been supercharged with newer large language models and deepfake tools, making it easier for threat actors to:

Write convincing phishing emails with perfect grammar
Auto-discover weak points in company infrastructure
Even mimic voices of executives for fake "urgent" requests
But don’t panic—AI can be your ally too.
Smart AI use for SMEs includes:
Using AI-driven threat detection (e.g., Microsoft Defender for Business or Sentinel)
Automating patch management and compliance alerts
Deploying AI for email filtering and business email compromise (BEC) detection
Using AI chatbots internally for IT helpdesk tickets

Get started:

Start with a use-case audit: what security gaps can AI realistically fill?
Train employees to spot AI-generated frauds, including video and voice
Create a written policy for responsible AI use in your organization

Want to explore AI for your SME—without hype or waste?

Hawki IT helps you adopt smarter, safer tech for today and tomorrow.

Pro IT Tips for June 2025

Whether you’ve got a small in-house IT team or outsource entirely, here are proactive tech tips you can implement today:

Automate Patch Management
Patch delays = cyber risk. Automate Windows, macOS, and 3rd-party updates where possible.
Set Up Geo-Blocking on Firewalls
Don’t operate in certain countries? Block inbound traffic from those regions to reduce exposure.
Review All Admin Accounts Monthly
Remove unnecessary permissions and disable ex-employee accounts. You’d be surprised how often this is missed.
Implement Quarterly IT Health Reviews
Just like financials—track what’s working, what’s lagging, and what needs to scale with your team.
Hawki IT includes quarterly executive IT reviews for all managed clients—because tech strategy = business strategy.

Hawki IT Can Help You Scale Safely and Strategically

Hawki IT helps North American SMEs thrive with secure, scalable IT and cloud solutions. Whether your team is 10 or 200+ strong—and whether you operate in Toronto, Chicago, New York, or globally—we’ve got your back.