How Much Should Your SMB Budget for Cybersecurity?
Business.com (published last week)
- Typical spend: SMBs allocate about 13.2% of their IT budget to cybersecurity arxiv.org+14business.com+14lightwaveonline.com+14.
- That can mean: If you’re paying $3,000/mo for IT, expect to invest around $396/month for security solutions .
- High-return spending focuses on:
- Employee training & MFA
- Risk assessments & incident response
- Vulnerability testing and cyber insurance nordlayer.com+15business.com+15getastra.com+15flowspecialty.com
- Risks of under-investing: Data breaches cost on average $4.88 million globally—even smaller breaches can devastate SMBs connectwise.com+4business.com+4ibm.com+4.
Why this matters to Blue Pill Cyber (www.bluepillcyber.com)
At Blue Pill Cyber, you understand that cybersecurity isn’t optional—it’s essential. You cater to SMBs who often feel trapped between needing rock-solid protection and having a tight budget. This article gives you powerful ammunition to shape your messaging:
- 💡 Protect profit margins: Advising clients to plan for 10–20% of IT spend transforms cybersecurity from a cost to a strategic investment.
- 🎯 Targeted solutions: Emphasize no‑frills packages—employee training, MFA, vulnerability scanning, and incident response—delivered for around $50–200/user/month, which aligns with MSP norms linkedin.com+3tealtech.com+3business.com+3.
- 🚫 Avoid catastrophe: Highlight that breaches aren’t just a tech headache—they can cost hundreds of thousands, tank insurance premiums, and even break a business .
Suggested Blue Pill Cyber positioning
1. Transparent Pricing Model
“We recommend budgeting 10–15% of your IT spend for cybersecurity—typically $400–600/mo per client—covering training, MFA, and advanced protections.”
2. Layered Security Approach
- Foundation: Anti‑phishing training + MFA
- Prevention: Regular scans, firewalls, basic backups
- Preparedness: A clear incident response plan + vendor‑assisted recovery procedures
3. “Cost of Doing Nothing” Campaign
Use insight from the Business.com article and others to drive home the cost of inaction. Even “modest investment” in prep and planning dramatically lowers breach risk.
