Pareto Principle

The 80/20 Rule in Cybersecurity: Are You Solving the Right Problems?

The Pareto Principle suggests that 80% of outcomes come from just 20% of efforts. In cybersecurity, this means that a small number of high-impact actions can drastically reduce risk—if you focus on the right ones.

Most security breaches originate from a predictable set of vulnerabilities, such as:

• Weak or reused passwords

• Unpatched operating systems and applications

• Phishing emails leading to credential theft

• Lack of multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Instead of spreading resources thin across every possible risk, organizations should prioritize the 20% of actions that mitigate 80% of threats.

For SMBs, this means:

• Enforcing MFA on all accounts to block unauthorized access

• Regular patching of software and operating systems to eliminate known exploits

• Security awareness training to reduce human error in phishing attacks

• Strengthening access controls to limit unnecessary exposure

Cyber threats are complex, but defending against them doesn’t have to be. The key is to focus on a few strategic actions that deliver the greatest security gains.

What’s the 20% you’re focusing on to protect your business? #Cybersecurity #ParetoPrinciple #SMBSecurity