In an era where digital transformation is reshaping how small businesses operate, one cybersecurity expert is raising concern over a quieter, more deceptive threat: social engineering.
According to James Olaniyan, an experienced IT professional and cybersecurity advocate, social engineering has become one of the most pervasive risks facing small businesses today—not because it attacks systems, but because it targets people.
He explained that these attacks often bypass firewalls and antivirus protections entirely, manipulating human behavior through tactics like fake emails, urgent phone calls, and deceptive requests.
“You can have the most secure infrastructure in place, but if one person clicks the wrong link or gives out information over a phone call, the entire system can be compromised,” he warned in a recent statement.
Drawing from years of experience working with both enterprise clients and lean small business teams, the expert highlighted how limited resources and lack of awareness make smaller organisations especially vulnerable.
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In his words, “Small businesses often think they’re too small to be targets, but that’s exactly why attackers go after them. They know security is usually reactive, not proactive.”
He recounted instances where businesses suffered not just financial losses, but reputational harm that proved even harder to recover from. What makes these attacks so damaging, he pointed out, is that they erode trust—both internally and with customers.
He added that training sessions, real-life simulations, and simple preventive measures—like multi-factor authentication and cautious email handling—can make a significant difference.
However, he also cautioned that without leadership buy-in and consistent reinforcement, these efforts lose their power over time.
The expert concluded by urging small business leaders to rethink how they approach security, not as an IT checklist, but as an organisational priority. In today’s digital climate, empowering employees to recognise and resist manipulation isn’t optional—it’s essential.