Top Cybersecurity Threats Facing Canadian Businesses
The FBI’s annual Internet Crime Report consistently identifies the same three root causes behind the majority of successful breaches. They’re not exotic zero-days or nation-state attacks — they’re preventable failures in basic security hygiene that attackers exploit over and over again because they work. In this video, Fusion Computing’s CISSP-certified CEO Mike Pearlstein breaks down what these causes are and what Canadian businesses need to have in place to defend against each one.
The Three Root Causes of Most Breaches
1. Compromised Credentials
Stolen or weak passwords are the single most common entry point for attackers. Phishing campaigns, credential stuffing attacks, and password reuse across services all lead back to the same outcome: a valid username and password in the hands of someone who shouldn’t have it. The defence is multi-factor authentication (MFA) enforced across all systems — not optional, not just for some users, everywhere.
2. Unpatched Vulnerabilities
Attackers routinely scan the internet for known vulnerabilities and exploit them within days of public disclosure. Organizations that fall behind on patching — especially for internet-facing systems — are presenting a known attack surface. Fusion’s managed security program includes continuous vulnerability scanning and a defined patching SLA to close this window.
3. Social Engineering / Phishing
Business Email Compromise (BEC) and phishing remain the highest-volume attack methods against Canadian SMBs. AI-generated phishing emails have dramatically increased the quality and volume of attacks. The defence is layered: email filtering, anti-impersonation controls, and regular security awareness training so your team can recognize and report suspicious messages.
What “Good” Looks Like for a Canadian Business
Defending against all three requires a combination of technical controls and human awareness. Fusion’s cybersecurity assessment evaluates your current coverage across all three categories and produces a prioritized remediation plan. Organizations implementing CIS Controls v8.1 IG1/IG2 will have effective defences against all three root causes.
What Fusion Clients Actually Say
“I got the call no business owner wants — our systems were locked and there was a ransom demand on every screen. I called Fusion in a panic at 9pm on a Friday. They had someone working on it within the hour. By Monday morning our team walked in, sat down, and got back to work like nothing happened. Every file recovered. No ransom paid.”
“Within the first week of Fusion’s onboarding, they found unpatched servers, no working backups, and admin credentials that hadn’t been changed since 2019. It was genuinely alarming. Fusion fixed all of it in the first 30 days and built us an actual security baseline.”
What Fusion Clients Actually Say
“I got the call no business owner wants — our systems were locked and there was a ransom demand on every screen. I called Fusion in a panic at 9pm on a Friday. They had someone working on it within the hour. By Monday morning our team walked in, sat down, and got back to work like nothing happened. Every file recovered. No ransom paid.”
“Within the first week of Fusion’s onboarding, they found unpatched servers, no working backups, and admin credentials that hadn’t been changed since 2019. It was genuinely alarming. Fusion fixed all of it in the first 30 days and built us an actual security baseline.”
Fusion Computing is a member of the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce.
Fusion Computing serves Threats Video businesses from our offices in Toronto (100 King St W) and Hamilton (64 Hatt St, Dundas). Most issues resolve remotely in minutes. When on-site response is needed, our technicians reach Threats Video promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common cause of data breaches in Canada?
Compromised credentials — stolen or weak passwords — are the most common entry point. Multi-factor authentication is the single highest-impact control for preventing credential-based breaches, and Fusion enforces MFA across all client environments as a baseline requirement.
How can a small business protect against phishing attacks?
Three layers: (1) Email filtering with anti-impersonation and attachment sandboxing, (2) MFA so that even if credentials are stolen the attacker can’t log in, and (3) Security awareness training so employees recognize and report suspicious emails before they click. Fusion implements all three as standard in every managed security engagement.
How often should Canadian businesses conduct cybersecurity training?
Security awareness training should run continuously, not as an annual event. Fusion recommends monthly micro-training modules plus quarterly simulated phishing campaigns. Staff who click simulated phishing emails receive immediate training — this produces measurably better outcomes than annual classroom training.
Find out if your business is protected against these top three threats. Book a free cybersecurity assessment with Fusion Computing.
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