Ransomware attacks are no longer just an enterprise issue, they’ve become one of the most pressing cybersecurity threats to small and medium, sized businesses (SMBs). Yet, despite the rising risk, many SMBs still operate under dangerously outdated assumptions about ransomware and how to defend against it.
In this post, we’ll break down the top 5 ransomware myths that could leave your business exposed—and show you how a modern solution like Acronis, delivered through palmiq’s co-managed IT services, can help you stay safe.
One of the most common (and most dangerous) misconceptions among small business owners is the belief that cybercriminals only go after large enterprises with millions of dollars at stake.
❌ Reality Check:
Ransomware attackers don’t care how big your company is—they care how vulnerable it is.
In fact, SMBs are often preferred targets because they’re more likely to:
According to a 2024 report by Coveware, 63% of ransomware victims were small and mid-sized businesses with fewer than 500 employees. Why? Because attackers can automate their attacks to scan for unprotected endpoints and exploit common vulnerabilities—no manual targeting necessary.
🔐 The Acronis Advantage:
With Acronis Cyber Protect, your business benefits from AI-powered threat detection and active ransomware protection that continuously monitors for abnormal behavior—whether you’re a 10-person nonprofit or a 200-person e-commerce brand.
Most small businesses assume that having antivirus software installed on all company computers is sufficient to prevent ransomware.
❌ Reality Check:
Traditional antivirus is no longer enough.
Modern ransomware variants can:
By the time antivirus software triggers a warning, your systems may already be compromised. And worse—standard antivirus doesn’t always help you recover encrypted files.
🛡 How Acronis Protects Differently:
Acronis goes far beyond antivirus with integrated:
This layered approach means you not only detect threats early—you can also recover quickly, minimizing business disruption.
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Many SMBs rely on Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or other SaaS platforms—and assume these services automatically back up their data in case of ransomware or accidental deletion.
❌ Reality Check:
Cloud services offer availability and redundancy—not full backups.
Microsoft’s own Service Agreement makes this clear: “We recommend that you regularly back up the content and data that you store on the services or store using third-party apps and services.”
Cloud providers do not guarantee:
📦 Acronis BaaS (Backup as a Service) Fixes That Gap:
Acronis offers full, image-based backups of cloud data—including Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace—stored in separate, secure environments. If ransomware hits, you can restore clean data instantly, without relying on what your SaaS provider offers.
Some business leaders view ransomware as an expensive inconvenience. If their files get encrypted, they’ll just pay the ransom and move on.
❌ Reality Check:
Paying the ransom is not a reliable recovery strategy.
Here’s why:
Even if you do recover your files, your systems may still be infected with backdoors or keyloggers.
💡 Prevention > Payment
Acronis protects against encryption and data loss before the ransom demand ever happens. Even if ransomware does manage to get through:
Cybersecurity tools are often seen as a luxury for large organizations. Many SMBs believe that real-time protection, backup, and recovery services are out of reach for their budget.
❌ Reality Check:
The cost of prevention is a fraction of the cost of a successful ransomware attack.
The average ransomware incident costs SMBs between $50,000 and $150,000 in downtime, lost productivity, remediation, and reputational damage. That doesn’t include legal liability or compliance fines.
💰 Acronis with palmiq Is Built for SMBs:
Palmiq delivers Acronis cybersecurity and backup services through a co-managed model, giving you:
You get the protection you need—without breaking the budget.
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With palmiq’s co-managed approach, you don’t need to overhaul your internal systems or replace your existing team. Instead, we become an extension of your business, offering:
You stay in control of your IT environment—we just give you the tools and muscle to secure it.
Ransomware isn’t going away. In fact, it’s getting smarter, faster, and more expensive by the day.
But the myths that leave SMBs vulnerable can be dismantled with the right knowledge—and the right tools. Acronis, deployed by palmiq, gives you:
If you’re relying on outdated antivirus or hoping you’ll be overlooked by attackers, it’s time to rethink your strategy.
Schedule a free cybersecurity consultation with palmiq today.
We’ll review your current vulnerabilities and show you how to implement full ransomware protection using Acronis—on your budget, your timeline, and your terms.
👉 Book Your Free Cyber Risk Review
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