Every 11 seconds, a business falls victim to a cyberattack. For small and medium business owners, that statistic isn’t just alarming—it’s paralysing. With limited resources and endless security options, most SME owners feel lost, relying on hope rather than strategy.
But there’s a better way. Think of your business like a human body. You wouldn’t leave your heart exposed just because protecting your toes seems easier. Yet many SMEs fall into this trap with cybersecurity, trying to protect everything equally instead of focusing on what truly matters.
What is Systems Thinking and Why Should You Care?
Systems thinking is simply viewing your business as a connected whole rather than separate parts. Instead of getting overwhelmed by individual security measures, you see how everything works together—just like your body’s organs.
This approach helps you:
- Identify what’s truly essential to your business
- Understand how different parts of your business affect each other
- Focus your protection efforts where they matter most
- Use your security budget more effectively
Mapping Your Business System: Start Here
Before you can protect your business, you need to know what you’re protecting. Start by mapping out your business system:
- List all key business functions (sales, operations, data storage, etc.)
- Identify how these functions connect and depend on each other
- Mark which systems handle sensitive data
- Note which processes directly impact revenue
Your Business’s Vital Organs: What to Protect First
Think of your business’s critical components as vital organs, examples might include:
- Brain (Decision-making systems): Strategic data, planning documents, financial forecasts
- Heart (Revenue operations): Payment processing, customer databases, core product delivery
- Lungs (Communication networks): Email systems, internal communications, client portals
Protecting these “organs” first gives you the biggest security impact for your investment.
Building Your Protection Strategy
Now that you know what’s vital, here’s how to protect it:
- Start with the core:
- Secure your most critical systems first
- Implement strong access controls
- Back up essential data
- Layer your defences:
- Use multiple security measures for critical assets
- Don’t rely on single solutions
- Create redundancies for vital systems
- Monitor and adapt:
- Regularly review security measures
- Update protections as your business grows
- Test your security regularly
Five Essential Tips for Success
- Focus on critical systems first Don’t try to protect everything at once. Start with what would hurt most to lose.
- Think in connections Remember that a breach in one area can affect others. Protect these connections.
- Layer your security Use multiple protective measures for vital systems, like wearing both a belt and suspenders.
- Document everything Keep clear records of your security measures and why you chose them.
- Review regularly Set quarterly dates to review and update your security strategy.
Moving Forward: From Overwhelm to Control
Systems thinking transforms cybersecurity from an overwhelming technical challenge into a manageable business strategy. Start small—identify your “vital organs” this week. Next week, assess their current protections. Build from there.
Remember: Perfect security doesn’t exist, but smart security does. By focusing on what matters most and understanding how your business systems connect, you can build effective protection that grows with your business.
Don’t wait for a cybersecurity crisis before thinking about the long-term health of your business. Start mapping your most important business systems today.
About the Author
Michael Collins is a highly skilled leader in the field of cyber security, with more than 20 years of practical knowledge and expertise in the sector he possesses a wealth of experience in scaling cyber security capabilities and building highly effective teams. Michael has experience in both large multinational organisations and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and has worked in various countries, including the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and New Zealand. Michael is the founder of Cyber Cognition, a cyber security advisory and education company dedicated to transforming how people and businesses think about cyber security. He is often sought after for his expertise in providing advisory services and holds positions as an independent director and security advisor for both Boards and startups. Michael is a recognised expert in the field of systems thinking and cyber security, having authored several articles for industry publications, delivered presentations at national conferences, published in scientific journals, and been featured on numerous
podcasts.