Let’s be clear: No internet connection, no matter how fast or modern, can stop a cybersecurity breach. Defending against ransomware, phishing, and other threats requires dedicated security tools, strong IT policies, employee training, and often a third-party cybersecurity provider.
What your internet connection can do is ensure those defenses work when they’re needed most. From firewall updates to cloud backups, every layer of your security stack depends on a stable, high-speed connection. Downtime, throttling, or lag at the wrong moment can delay alerts, interrupt protections, or complicate recovery.
In today’s landscape, even the strongest cybersecurity defenses rely on a dependable connection. Below are the leading threats SMBs face in 2025, and how a stable internet connection helps ensure your security tools, alerts, and backups can operate without interruption.
The Top Cybersecurity Threats for SMBs in 2025
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Ransomware
Ransomware remains one of the most dangerous threats to SMBs. According to Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report, ransomware attacks now account for 44% of all breaches, often locking businesses out of their own data until a hefty fee is paid. Without strong security protocols, SMBs risk permanent data loss. And while internet speed doesn’t prevent an attack, having a stable connection ensures your backup and recovery systems can function without interruption.
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Phishing & Social Engineering
Phishing emails are getting harder to detect, thanks to generative AI tools that craft personalized, credible messages. These attacks target employees directly, bypassing even the best technical defenses by exploiting human error. While phishing attacks primarily target people, not systems, businesses with unstable internet may find it harder to keep software updated or cloud-based alert systems operating smoothly, creating operational vulnerabilities.
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DDoS Attacks
Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks overwhelm servers by flooding them with traffic. For small businesses, especially e-commerce platforms or service-based companies that rely on 24/7 uptime, these attacks can be devastating. Without fiber-backed bandwidth and dynamic network response, businesses risk hours of downtime and lost revenue.
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Unpatched Systems
Many small businesses delay system updates because of slow internet speeds or fear of operational disruption. This leaves open doors for cybercriminals. Fiber internet allows for seamless updates, cloud backups, and real-time monitoring, critical features for staying ahead of threats.
What Is Fiber Optic Internet—and Why Does It Matter?
Fiber optic internet uses strands of glass or plastic to transmit data as pulses of light, allowing for faster, more reliable, and more secure data transmission compared to traditional copper or coaxial networks. It’s not just about speed—fiber is inherently harder to tap into or intercept, making it a stronger defense against cyber intrusion.
Fiber connections also support symmetrical upload and download speeds, meaning businesses can send as much data as they receive without lag, ideal for cloud storage, video conferencing, and rapid threat response. And because fiber networks don’t degrade over distance like cable, performance remains consistent even in outlying areas.
Fiber + Security: A Smart Partnership
For SMBs, investing in cybersecurity doesn’t just mean buying antivirus software. It starts with ensuring the foundation, your internet connection, is strong enough to support the systems that protect your business. That’s where Lightcurve Internet comes in.
As one of Washington’s most reliable internet providers serving Tacoma, Lakewood, Chehalis, Centralia, Yelm, Selah, Ellensburg, Eatonville, Graham, and the coastal towns of Grays Harbor County, Lightcurve offers fiber infrastructure that’s built for the modern cybersecurity landscape. With responsive local support, no contracts, and no throttling, Lightcurve delivers speed and provides stability when it matters most.
Fiber internet isn’t a defense mechanism, but it is the infrastructure that keeps your business tools, communications, and security systems running without interruption. To switch to Fiber and check availability, call Lightcurve today at (800) 548-0170.
