Often when we think about cybersecurity threats, we tend to think of sophisticated attacks carried out by highly skilled, well-resourced hackers. But most incidents, in fact, begin closer to home, exploiting basic weaknesses that organisations haven’t considered. E-mail inboxes, shared files, mobile devices and routine software updates all carry risks that can easily go unnoticed.

Just think about how a typical working day unfolds. An employee receives an e-mail that seems to come from a trusted supplier, duping them into clicking a malicious link or downloading an attachment.

Another reuses a familiar password across multiple systems for the sake of convenience. A team postpones a software update because they think it’s too much hassle for that day, or a colleague signs up for an online tool without informing their IT team. All of these actions might seem minor in isolation, but collectively they add up to real opportunities for hackers.

Part of the problem here is that these risks are hidden in plain sight. Because the tools are familiar and the processes routine, they rarely raise any concerns. Many businesses assume that basic protections like antivirus software and firewalls have them covered.

Others take comfort from nothing having gone wrong and assume that will remain the case. This sense of normality can cause complacency and create gaps that are easily exploited.

Cybercriminals rarely need a single point of failure to succeed. Instead, they look for a combination of small weaknesses. A compromised e-mail account can provide access to internal communications, or a weak password can open the door to a number of systems.

An unpatched vulnerability might permit attackers to progress ever deeper into a network. Incremental steps like these can quickly escalate into a serious cybersecurity incident, often before the business is even aware that anything is wrong.

The impact goes well beyond IT systems on their own. Financial loss and reputational damage are all too common in this kind of scenario, especially where customer data is involved.

In jurisdictions with stringent data protection requirements, like Bermuda, there are also regulatory consequences and potential penalties to think about. What arises from a simple oversight can quickly become a significant, even threatening business issue.

Being alert to and addressing these risks requires a change of mindset. Cybersecurity is not a one-off box to be ticked and then forgotten about; it is an ongoing process and requires continual vigilance, reviewing and improving procedures in response to changing threats and risks.

Just as importantly, it means recognising that employees have a crucial role to play in upholding cybersecurity and in effect serve as your organisation’s first line of defence.

Here are some practical steps your business should take to address and minimise everyday cybersecurity risks:

• Train staff to recognise phishing emails and suspicious activity

• Use strong, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication

• Keep all systems and software up to date with the latest patches - ensure all updates are installed promptly

• Limit user access only to the tools, files and folders necessary for each specific role

• Review and manage any unauthorised apps or tools in use

• Carry out regular security checks or vulnerability scans

By paying closer attention to everyday practices, your business can significantly reduce its exposure to risk.

Small but consistent improvements can have a genuine impact over time, strengthening your resilience and helping to prevent damaging, costly cybersecurity breaches.

• Louise Ralston is the chief operating officer of Cyber Tec Security, a cybersecurity specialist business providing cyber certification-led resilience and adherence to regulatory compliance