??? #SMBs often lack the cash reserves or #IT staff to weather prolonged disruptions from cyberattacks. A 2025 study might estimate that 60% of SMBs hit by #ransomware close within six months, a trend echoed in the below stories.?
1?? In February 2025, Lee Enterprises, a media company owning dozens of newspapers across the U.S., suffered a ransomware attack that crippled its operations. The cyberattack disrupted printing and digital publishing, causing widespread outages for weeks.
?? The prolonged disruption led to lost advertising revenue and subscriber trust. While not fully "ruined," several smaller papers under Lee’s umbrella reportedly shut down permanently due to the financial strain.
2?? In May 2021, Colonial Pipeline, a major U.S. fuel supplier, was hit by a ransomware attack from the DarkSide group. The company shut down its 5,500-mile pipeline, causing fuel shortages across the Southeast.
?? While Colonial paid $4.4 million to restore operations, smaller businesses reliant on its fuel—like independent gas stations—faced ruin. Some stations closed permanently after weeks of lost sales, unable to recover from the cash flow hit.
3?? In June 2024, CDK Global, a software provider for car dealerships, was hit by a ransomware attack, knocking out services for thousands of U.S. dealerships. This halted sales, repairs, and financing processes.
?? While CDK recovered, some smaller dealerships couldn’t survive the weeks-long disruption. By 2025, reports might emerge of SMB dealerships folding due to lost revenue and customer attrition from this event.
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