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Small Business Tech Trends of 2022

When you think of small businesses, you may think of classic mom-and-pop, Main Street stores with just a few employees, and even fewer expenditures. Even TV and movies love to paint small businesses as old-fashioned shops with carefree owners who spend their time lounging and chatting up regulars. While this rosy picture may be accurate for a few small business owners, for the vast majority, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Small businesses and their owners face unique, difficult challenges that have no clear solution. This was especially clear when the COVID-19 pandemic began to rage in early 2020. While big businesses had the technological infrastructure to weather the storm, many small businesses simply couldn’t survive, through no fault of their own. For the businesses whose doors didn’t shutter in the early months of the pandemic, they soon found that innovation was the only way they could survive. From Zoom meetings to online ordering, COVID-19 forced small businesses to evolve. And even as the pandemic reaches its two-year anniversary, these involuntary changes aren’t leaving any time soon. As the country (and the world) continue to live with the pandemic, more small businesses are beginning to utilize these new technology trends to survive in this new normal.

Automation and Artificial Intelligence

When it comes to saving time, there is no better tool for small businesses than automation. Automation can complete many of the small, minute tasks that add up. Things like welcome emails, communications with leads, and inventory management can all be automized, allowing more time for business owners to focus on profit-driven tasks. Best of all, there are useful automation software for nearly every facet of business. Spending a lot of time setting up meetings? Try out Calendly, a useful tool that minimizes the time-consuming back-and-forth of arranging appointments. Want to set your social media posts weeks in advance? Try Hootsuite or Sprout, two programs that can post to your company’s social pages automatically. More and more small businesses are utilizing tools like these to cut down time spent on tasks that don’t affect the bottom line.

This increased adoption of tech shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, small businesses that extensively utilize digital tools earn twice as much revenue per employee than businesses that don’t[1]. It’s simple: When businesses let technology handle small, everyday tasks, they become more successful. However, this doesn’t mean that once a business automizes some things, it’ll magically increase profits. Small businesses have to constantly be on the lookout for programs that give them an advantage over their big-business competitors. One of these programs is quickly growing in popularity, and could even be considered an evolution of automation: Artificial Intelligence (AI).

One of the most popular AI programs for small businesses is chatbots. With these bots, businesses can communicate with web visitors and determine if they need help automatically. More uses include creating marketing content and streamlining inventory management[2]. Although similar to automation, AI goes one step further: It can analyze data and make logical decisions for your specific situation. From resume scanners to employee schedulers, Artificial Intelligence is becoming more useful (and more affordable) for small businesses that seek to prioritize their efficiency.

Digital Advertising is Changing

For the past decade, there has been a single, dominant platform in the social media advertising business: Facebook. It has long been known that advertisements are the lifeblood of the world’s most popular social media site. In fact, Facebook makes a whopping 98% of its revenue from ads[3]. Because of its unending data collection, Facebook can target ads at the micro-level, allowing them to charge advertisers even more. However, extensive data collection and ad-supported social media aren’t exclusive to Facebook anymore. While the company is still making a gaudy amount of money from ads, cracks are beginning to show.

One thing is certain: Facebook is getting older. Now, if your business’s target demographic is 45+, you won’t have much of a problem. But if your business is targeting the coveted 18 to 34 demographic, you may need a more complex marketing strategy. That’s because young people simply don’t use Facebook as much as they used to. In 2016, 60% of teens used Facebook at least once a month. In 2021, that number dropped to 27%[4]. Apps like Snapchat, Instagram, especially TikTok are simply more popular with young people, creating the need for multi-front digital marketing strategies.

Software Integration

The great thing about tech is that there are a virtually infinite number of programs that can help increase efficiency and revenue at small businesses. The bad thing is that, sometimes, too many programs can cause diminishing returns. After all, if you’re uploading data to a dozen different software programs every day, are you really saving time? Additionally, if you’re uploading the same data, over and over again, there’s a higher likelihood of data errors as well. That’s why small business owners have begun to embrace software integration. With integration, not only does software help you complete tasks, but it also communicates with your other software programs. Uploading information from a new lead? With software integration, you can simply add the information once, and it’ll be available on all your integrated programs. Employees need to communicate in order to get work done efficiently. Why can’t software do it too?

While the dream of completely seamless integrated software isn’t quite here yet, there are a number of programs tailored for small businesses that are incredibly convenient. Software like Quickbooks and Xero integrate accounting, expenses, and even employee scheduling. With these tools, small business owners are realizing just how much time, money, and effort they can save by utilizing software integration. 

Cybersecurity Risks

By now, you’ve almost certainly heard the risks of having poor cybersecurity infrastructure. Without protection, small businesses put themselves, their data, and their customers at risk every day. Thankfully, more and more small businesses have realized this risk, and have taken steps to minimize their chances of a catastrophic data breach. In fact, over half of small and medium-sized businesses now have a cybersecurity plan in place[5]. And as cybersecurity programs continue to become more available and affordable, this number is certain to rise in the coming years. While cybersecurity risks are, of course, ever-present, the rising popularity of cybersecurity solutions among small businesses is incredibly promising. Cybercrime risks are unlikely to completely disappear any time soon, but if more and more businesses begin to prioritize cybersecurity, nefarious cybercriminals will have to work harder to wreak their havoc.

Unfortunately, reality isn’t that rosy, at least not yet. While some small businesses have finally taken action to protect their cybersecurity, for many businesses, there’s still work to do. Only 9% of small businesses have cyber liability insurance. Therefore, it’s no surprise that 83% of small and medium-sized businesses are not prepared for the financial consequences of a cyberattack[5]. Ultimately, many small businesses have not reached true cybersecurity protection. While it’s great to see more small businesses finally begin to take cybercrime seriously, there’s still a long way to go. And while companies that have invested in cybersecurity can do business with peace of mind, those that haven’t will be at risk every single day.

About AXEL

No matter what industry your business is in, cybercrime poses a very real threat. At AXEL, we want to help you keep yourself (and your customers) safe from the threats of ransomware and data breaches. That’s why we created AXEL Go. AXEL Go uses military-grade encryption, blockchain technology, and decentralized servers to ensure it’s the most secure file transfer software on the market. Whether you need to transfer large files or send files online, AXEL Go is the best cloud storage solution. If you’re ready to try the most secure file-sharing app for PC and mobile devices, download AXEL Go for free here.

[1] “Small Business Technology Trends: Deloitte Us.” Deloitte United States, May 20, 2020. https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/technology-media-and-telecommunications/articles/connected-small-businesses.html

[2] Rist, Oliver. “Small Businesses Are Using AI-Sometimes.” PCMAG. PCMag, December 7, 2021. https://www.pcmag.com/news/small-businesses-are-using-ai-sometimes

[3] “Facebook Ad Revenue 2009-2020.” Statista, February 18, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/271258/facebooks-advertising-revenue-worldwide/

[4] Leonhardt, Megan. “Teens Have Been Losing Interest in Facebook for Years.” Fortune. Fortune, October 26, 2021. https://fortune.com/2021/10/25/facebook-teens-usage-harm-studies/

[5] “10 Small Business Cyber Security Statistics That You Should Know – and How to Improve Them.” Cybersecurity Magazine, May 20, 2021. https://cybersecurity-magazine.com/10-small-business-cyber-security-statistics-that-you-should-know-and-how-to-improve-them/

Devastating Data Breaches – Part 5: Facebook Dismisses Data Security

In the history of the Internet, no tech company may be more controversial than Facebook. Started in 2004 and initially limited to Harvard University students, Facebook quickly hit the mainstream as the premier social networking site. In just a few years, it overtook older sites like MySpace and Friendster, making it the go-to social network for hundreds of millions of people. However, this massive growth has not been without controversy.

Facebook has long been criticized for its record on privacy and security. From collecting mountains of information on individuals to its involvement in state-sponsored surveillance, Facebook’s record on privacy is shaky [1]. But even though billions are skeptical of Facebook and its security practices, it’s still the most popular social network in the world. Combined with its ownership of popular messaging app WhatsApp and photo-sharing app Instagram, Facebook has become one of the Silicon Valley giants where their main product isn’t a product or software, but users themselves. Because of this, it is in Facebook’s best interest to collect as much information as possible from its users. While this strategy certainly lines Facebook’s pockets with oodles of advertiser cash, it forces user privacy to take a backseat and puts user security at risk. Unfortunately, in 2019, this security risk became realized for hundreds of millions of people.

In honor of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, AXEL is writing about some of the worst leaks, data breaches, and ransomware attacks in history. Check out our previous posts about Yahoo, Marriott, Equifax, and Target to learn about what went wrong, what could’ve been done, and how each company responded to devastating data breaches.

Before The Breach

In 2019, Facebook was already facing the aftermath of another massive privacy mishap, the Cambridge Analytica scandal. With Facebook’s knowledge, Cambridge Analytica, a political data analytics firm, harvested data from 87 million Facebook accounts. It then sold this information to multiple United States presidential campaigns in order to inundate potential supporters with political advertisements [2]. 

Following the revelations of this data thievery, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg even testified in front of Congress, along with taking out full-page advertisements in major newspapers, vowing to “ensure this doesn’t happen again [2].” Following an investigation, the Federal Trade Commission fined Facebook USD $5 billion, the largest fine ever levied by the United States government [3].

Put simply, Facebook was not seen in a positive light by many people. Its track record regarding data privacy had always been shaky, but this new scandal not only drew the ire of government officials, but the general public as well. After this scandal, all eyes were on Facebook to see if it would actually make changes to protect user privacy. Unfortunately, Facebook did not keep its promises for long. 

The Leak

In 2019, through a vulnerability in Facebook’s code, the personal data of 533 million Facebook users was stolen [4]. Concerningly, the perpetrators of this attack did not acquire the data through hacking or phishing, but simply by finding a vulnerability that allowed users to record millions of phone numbers from Facebook’s servers. In August 2019, Facebook patched this vulnerability, but was unaware of the stolen data. However, in April 2021, phone numbers of the 533 million users were posted to a hacking forum. This data mainly consisted of names and phone numbers, but some email addresses and birth dates were compromised as well [4]. Even worse, the data was posted for free on a public forum, meaning that any scammer or spammer with basic computer knowledge could access this stolen data [4].

While no financial or government data, such as credit card numbers or Social Security numbers, were posted, the release of phone numbers and corresponding names was a goldmine for scammers. Primarily, these cybercriminals could use this information to send phishing scams to unsuspecting users. While the attack could have been much worse, the leak of over half a billion phone numbers directly after Facebook’s previous data scandal was not received well by the general public.

Facebook did little to satiate the outrage following the leak. After the leak was publicly revealed, Facebook stressed that the leaked data was outdated (albeit, by only two years) and that the security flaw had already been patched. Additionally, Facebook refused to notify the affected users, stating that there was nothing that users could do to mitigate the consequences [5]. 

The Aftermath

While a leak that puts 533 million phone numbers at risk may sound like a big deal, for Facebook, it’s just a drop in the bucket of criticism the company has received regarding user privacy. After all, the Cambridge Analytica scandal forced Zuckerberg to testify before Congress. For Facebook, this is a run-of-the-mill data breach. In fact, in a leaked email detailing the company’s response to the breach, a Facebook employee stated “We expect more scraping incidents and think it’s important to both frame this as a broad industry issue and normalize the fact that this activity happens regularly [6].”

Unfortunately, it appears Facebook is not planning on making substantive changes regarding user privacy. This isn’t particularly surprising, as Facebook has become a giant because of its willingness to collect user information. However, just because Facebook is slow to change doesn’t mean you have to be a victim. You can protect your data by following simple cybersecurity tips, like not clicking unfamiliar links and double-checking email addresses. If Facebook isn’t going to protect your privacy, it’s up to you to do it yourself.

Protect Your Data with AXEL Go

Another way to protect your privacy is to use a secure file-sharing software. Offering industry-leading encryption and decentralized blockchain technology, AXEL Go is the best way to protect yourself or your business from unauthorized cybercriminals. Featuring a myriad of unique privacy features, AXEL Go is the best way to keep your data safe. If you’re ready to try the best protection, get two free weeks of AXEL Go here. 

[1] Greenwald, Glenn, and Ewen MacAskill. “NSA Prism Program Taps in to User Data of Apple, Google and Others.” The Guardian. June 07, 2013. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/06/us-tech-giants-nsa-data.

[2] Meredith, Sam. “Facebook-Cambridge Analytica: A Timeline of the Data Hijacking Scandal.” CNBC. April 10, 2018. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/10/facebook-cambridge-analytica-a-timeline-of-the-data-hijacking-scandal.html.

[3] Nuñez, Michael. “FTC Slaps Facebook With $5 Billion Fine, Forces New Privacy Controls.” Forbes. July 24, 2019. https://www.forbes.com/sites/mnunez/2019/07/24/ftcs-unprecedented-slap-fines-facebook-5-billion-forces-new-privacy-controls/.

[4] Holmes, Aaron. “533 Million Facebook Users’ Phone Numbers and Personal Data Have Been Leaked Online.” Business Insider. April 03, 2021. https://www.businessinsider.com/stolen-data-of-533-million-facebook-users-leaked-online-2021-4.

[5] Farmer, Ryan. “Facebook’s April 2021 Data Breach Explained.” StrongVPN Blog. April 30, 2021. https://blog.strongvpn.com/facebook-data-breach-april-2021/.


[6] “Facebook Downplays Data Breach in Internal Email.” BBC News. April 20, 2021. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56815478.

How To Sound Like A Cybersecurity Expert

Cybersecurity is a buzzy topic these days. Everyone seems to be clamoring for tips on how to stay safe online, and you read in a listicle somewhere that cybersecurity is currently one of the fastest growing fields. So how can you get a piece of the respect and professional prestige that a cybersecurity expert might have? Simply follow these tips.

Warn people about social media

Inform people that by posting photos of their brunch on social media, they are giving hackers and state actors the tools necessary to take you down.

But actually, that’s too specific and information-y to remember, and it’s kind of a downer. Make your warnings vague, as in, “that Facebook is up to no good!” or “be careful about Twitter!” This way, when the next terrible Facebook or Twitter thing happens, people will recognize your prescience.

Bring encryption up often

Now, you may not know what encryption is, and I certainly don’t, but what we do know is that it’s somehow important to cybersecurity experts. Talk about it a lot, and if you encounter someone whose knowledge on encryption is more advanced than yours, simply run away.

Make a big deal out of the dark web

Studies have shown that people love hearing about the dark web. Take advantage of this fact to improve your social standing by making a huge honkin’ deal out of the dark web whenever you can.

If you see someone holding a credit card, mention that there’s lots of stolen credit card information on the dark web. This will confuse them into thinking you can help them keep their credit card information off the dark web.

Extra points if you can explain to people what TOR stands for. But if someone actually asks you how it works, this is again the moment to simply run away.

Loudly proclaim that quantum computing is the future of cybersecurity

This is certainly true. Don’t ask me why.

If someone asks you to elaborate on your claims, run away.

Chant “identity, not perimeter” to anyone in your general vicinity

The idea here is that perimeter security, or the mighty firewall as some call it, will be overtaken by identity and access management security, which allows for more granular permissions to be set, and ensures that even if someone does breach the firewall, they won’t have access to everything.

But that’s sort of a long thing to remember, so just remember the chant. If anyone asks questions about the chant, tell them to stop interrupting the chant.

Start a group chat to share cybersecurity articles you don’t understand

You’re not legit until you’re sharing articles saying common facts that we all know about like “phishing is a thing,” and “hackers have our data.”

To solidify your standing as a thought leader, however, you need to take it one step further. Sharing articles about concepts you don’t understand will allow you to rise to the top of the cybersecurity fake expert field. Look for a title like “why you NEED quantum encryption TOR identity blockchain security NOW.” If someone asks you what that means, tell them it’s too late for them if they don’t know.