Most Canadian small businesses don’t ignore cybersecurity because they don’t care. They ignore it because it feels expensive, complicated, or like something they can “deal with later.” But not having a strong cybersecurity effort can be much more expensive. Let’s go over the numbers together!

Statistics Canada reported that Canadian businesses spent over $1.2 billion on cyber recovery in 2023, double what they spent just two years earlier. And that’s only the direct, measurable cost. It doesn’t include lost productivity, damaged customer trust, compliance issues, or the scramble that happens when your systems suddenly go dark.

If you already know something feels vulnerable in your setup, Joe Apps can help you fix it quickly, just book a free consultation and we’ll go from there.

The Hidden Cost of Cybersecurity Attacks #1: Downtime

When your system goes down – from malware, a hardware failure, a bad update, or a compromised account – business stops. Orders stall. Employees wait. Customers get frustrated.

Downtime doesn’t have to last days to be expensive. Even one hour of inactivity can multiply across staff, customers, and lost revenue.

The Hidden Cost of Cybersecurity Attacks #2: Reputation Damage

Customers trust you with their information. When something goes wrong, even a perceived breach can shake that trust.

Not all breaches need to be reported under Canadian law, but when they do, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner requires businesses to notify affected individuals and explain what happened. That’s a difficult conversation to have if the root cause is something simple that should have been fixed.

The Hidden Cost of Cybersecurity Attacks #3: Compliance Problems Under PIPEDA

PIPEDA expects businesses to use “reasonable security safeguards” to protect personal information. Outdated systems, weak passwords, poor access controls, and missing updates? Those don’t count as “reasonable.”

A cyber incident caused by poor security doesn’t just cost money – it exposes you to mandatory reporting, documentation requirements, potential complaints, and the aforementioned negative impact to your reputation.

Just like downtime, the extra admin time spent dealing with compliance after the fact will eat up labour hours, costing your business productive time that we know you’d much rather spend doing what you do best.

The Hidden Cost of Cybersecurity Attacks #4: Paying for Fixes That Shouldn’t Have Been Needed

Recovering from a cyber incident costs far more than preventing it. Restoring data, rebuilding systems, cleaning infected devices, reconfiguring networks – all of it takes time and costs more when you’re rushing to get everything back online.

Prevention is predictable. Recovery is chaotic. And chaos is expensive.

So How Do You Avoid These Costs in 2026?

The solution isn’t complicated, but it does require commitment:

  • Update your systems automatically.
  • Turn on MFA everywhere.
  • Use a password manager.
  • Back up your data daily.
  • Train your employees regularly.
  • Secure your networks.
  • Replace old, unsupported tech.

These steps aren’t expensive. But ignoring them is.

At Joe Apps, we help small businesses across Ontario and BC build cybersecurity habits that save time, money, and stress – without requiring them to become IT experts. We believe cybersecurity should feel manageable, predictable, and supportive, not overwhelming.

Joe Apps gives Canadian small businesses a simple, affordable way to protect themselves without adding work to your plate. Automated updates. Solid backups. Monitoring. Training. Real Canadian support you can actually reach when you need it.

If you’re ready to lower your risk – and your long-term costs – we’re here when you’re ready. Reach out to Joe Apps today. Let’s build a cybersecurity plan that’s smart, simple, and sustainable.

To learn more:

Statistics Canada – https://www.statcan.gc.ca/

Canadian Centre for Cyber Security – https://www.cyber.gc.ca/

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada – PIPEDA Requirements: https://www.priv.gc.ca/