Turmoil in the Middle East raises the risk of state-sponsored attacks on American companies and infrastructure 

Though the conflict with Iran remains stalled, the U.S. government is urging companies nationwide to prepare for a potential new wave of cyberattacks originating from Iranian state-backed threat actors. These attacks could target critical infrastructure, financial institutions, and private businesses as acts of retaliation. 

In a joint alert, the FBI, National Security Agency (NSA), Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3), and the Department of Homeland Security’s civilian cybersecurity wing warned organizations to strengthen their defenses immediately. 

Here’s what’s happening, and what your business needs to do to stay secure. 

The Threat from Iran 

In late June, U.S. officials issued a direct warning to the private sector be on high alert for increased Iranian cyber activity. Although no major attacks have made headlines yet, threat intelligence groups report a significant rise in low-level cyber probing, spear-phishing campaigns, and infrastructure scanning by actors linked to Iran’s government. 

Recent coverage from The Wall Street Journal highlights the industries most at risk: 

  • Finance 
  • Energy 
  • Healthcare 
  • Public sector and infrastructure 
  • Technology providers and managed service providers (MSPs) 

Iranian threat actors’ goals range from simple disruption to more destructive tactics such as ransomware and wiper malware—designed not just to steal data but to cause lasting operational damage. 

Iran’s motivations stem from ongoing geopolitical tensions and a desire to retaliate against perceived adversaries. Cyber operations offer a low-cost, deniable way to disrupt critical infrastructure, destabilize economies, and exert political pressure without escalating to conventional conflict. Targeting smaller organizations, especially those connected to critical sectors or supply chains, amplifies the overall impact and increases disruption. 

Small Businesses at Risk 

While nation-state hackers still focus on high-profile targets like government agencies or large corporations, small and midsize businesses remain highly vulnerable and attractive targets for several reasons: 

  • Supply Chain Risks: Cybercriminals frequently exploit smaller vendors and service providers as gateways to infiltrate larger organizations. 
  • Phishing and Social Engineering: Attackers rely heavily on spear-phishing campaigns that can bypass technical defenses by targeting employees directly. 
  • Ransomware and Disruptive Malware: These attacks are opportunistic, hitting any organization with exploitable weaknesses, regardless of size or industry. 
  • Lack of Preparedness: Many SMBs lack formal incident response plans, limiting their ability to quickly detect, contain, and recover from breaches. 

If your business depends on digital systems to serve customers, manage financial data, or protect sensitive information, you are a potential target. A breach can cause severe operational disruption, regulatory consequences, and lasting damage to your reputation. 

ISM’s Recommendations to Stay Safe 

This government warning highlights the urgent need to review and strengthen your organization’s cybersecurity defenses. Here’s what we recommend: 

  • Reinforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
    Ensure MFA is enabled for all users—especially administrators—across every system to add a critical layer of security. 
  • Conduct a Security Risk Assessment
    Perform a thorough audit of your network to identify vulnerabilities, exposed services, outdated software, and accounts with excessive permissions. 
  • Review Your Backup Strategy
    Verify that backups are recent, encrypted, and stored securely off-network. Regularly test your recovery process to ensure business continuity. 
  • Educate Your Team
    Refresh employee training on phishing and social engineering tactics. Remember, attackers often exploit human error first. 
  • Update and Patch Everything
    Apply all critical updates promptly across firewalls, servers, operating systems, and third-party applications to close security gaps. 
  • Create or Update Your Incident Response Plan
    Establish clear roles and procedures for responding to a cyber incident, because time is critical when managing a breach. 

Don’t Be a Casualty of Cyberwarfare 

Cyberwarfare is real. Being unprepared can make you an easy casualty. As global tensions rise, so does the likelihood that nation-state-backed hackers will target U.S. infrastructure, agencies, and businesses of all sizes. 

Groups supported by hostile governments, including Iran, Russia, North Korea, and China, have already demonstrated their ability to disrupt, extort, and destroy. This latest warning from U.S. intelligence isn’t a one-off. It’s a new reality of global conflict that hits home. 

Now is the time to act to strengthen your defenses and prepare for this new battlefield. 

Be Prepared 

The threat of cyberwarfare is rising. Are you ready?
State-sponsored cyberattacks are no longer rare or distant. They're happening now, and every business is a potential target. 

Know your risks. Build a custom plan. Stay secure.
As this new digital battlefield heats up, ISM is here to help you protect what matters most. 

 Schedule Your Complimentary Security Checkup » We’ll give you the tools you need to stay safe—and keep working.