Spokane Valley is home to a diverse business community, including manufacturers, retailers, healthcare providers, construction firms, professional services companies, logistics operations, and family-owned small businesses. These organizations rely on secure connections between employees, customers, vendors, and community partners every day. A compromised account, unsecured device, or successful phishing attack can disrupt operations, impact customer trust, and create costly downtime.
 
For many business owners, cybersecurity can feel like an issue reserved for large corporations with dedicated IT teams. However, Comcast Business's newly released 2026 Cybersecurity Threat Report makes it clear that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility and a risk for small businesses in the greater Spokane area.

The report analyzed 79.3 billion cybersecurity events over the past year, which is roughly 2,514 per second. In Small Business Month 2026 (May) alone, Comcast Business blocked threats targeting small businesses at an average rate of more than 230 per second.
 
Cybercriminals are moving away from breaking into accounts, devices and networks, and instead using legitimate logins or taking over everyday devices that are not immediately thought of as a cyber risk. Building devices like security cameras outside a storefront, routers in the back office, TVs providing entertainment for customers and point-of-sale (POS) systems are often unprotected and are becoming low-lift tools for hackers to exploit in attacks.

Phishing emails and drive-by compromise attacks are some of the most common routes for attackers to gain entry, with 25.4 billion and 21.9 billion attempts over the past year, respectively. The report also found 5.8 million attempts to gain control of employee browsers, underscoring that the cyberattack surface has grown to include everyday tools and devices.

Fortunately, there are simple ways that small businesses can protect themselves without the budget or IT team of a large enterprise. Practical steps, including securing every device, implementing stronger password mandates, and training employees to spot attacks like phishing, can keep small businesses from becoming victims. Additionally, choosing a network provider that offers built-in protection against threats and consistent monitoring ensures business owners can stay on top of their security.

It’s more important than ever for small businesses in the valley to use this Cybersecurity Awareness Month as a reminder that cybersecurity is a shared, year-round responsibility. Through protective measures and a trusted connectivity partner, small business owners can stay focused on running their business.

For more information, visit the 2026 Comcast Business Cybersecurity Threat Report, or reach out to your local Comcast Business Manager, Rob Haff at (509) 370-2788 or Rob_Haff@cable.comcast.com.