(BPT) - As the holiday season approaches, cybercriminals are ramping up their efforts to exploit both businesses and individuals. Cybercriminals know the biggest vulnerability in any organization isn't the technology - it's the people behind it. Whether you're working late to finish up projects or just trying to get some last-minute holiday shopping done, it only takes one slip-up to trigger a costly cyberattack.

Humans remain the weak link in the security chain. According to Verizon data, 68% of breaches involve a non-malicious human element, such as an employee falling for a social engineering attack or making a simple mistake. These human errors can open the door to significant data breaches and financial losses. Even more concerning, a 2022 Statista study found many employees are using their employer-issued devices for personal tasks - 50% checking email and 32% shopping online - creating more entry points for cybercriminals to exploit.

This human factor makes small businesses particularly attractive targets. With fewer resources allocated to cyber security, small businesses are 350% more likely to experience social engineering attacks than their larger counterparts, according to a StrongDM study. Criminals know these businesses are often more vulnerable and easier to breach, plus they hold valuable data worth stealing.

The financial impact can be staggering. According to Acuity Insurance data, the average cyber insurance claim costs more than $20,000. The cost can be much higher than just the immediate financial loss - it can damage a business's reputation and customer trust.

So how can you protect your business? Start by preparing your employees. Ensure they understand what to look for and how to respond if they make a mistake - like clicking on a suspicious link. Implement multifactor authentication wherever possible and reinforce the message that no business is too small to be targeted by cybercriminals.

Add cyber insurance to your business's insurance policy. It provides protection for businesses by helping mitigate financial losses and covers a wide range of cyber-risks, including fraud, data breaches, identity theft, cyber extortion and system attacks. Beyond financial reimbursement, cyber insurance gives businesses access to expert resources for incident response, like information technology forensics, legal support and public relations professionals. Cyber insurance provides peace of mind by putting you in contact with experts who know how to manage the aftermath of a cyber event, and the financial backing to know that a cyber incident won't cost you your business.