One morning, you arrive at the office and none of the computers are working. Your files are encrypted, and a message on the screen demands a ransom to recover your data. This scenario doesn't only happen to large corporations. SMEs in Quebec City, Trois-Rivières, and throughout Quebec have become prime targets for ransomware groups.

Here is what you need to know to understand the threat and, most importantly, how to protect yourself from it in concrete terms.

1. What exactly is ransomware?

What this means for your SME

Ransomware is malicious software that infiltrates your computer network, encrypts your files, and demands a ransom payment to regain access to your data.

What makes this threat particularly dangerous in 2026 is the double extortion practiced by most criminal groups: they encrypt your data AND steal it. If you refuse to pay, they threaten to publish it publicly or sell it.

• Data encryption: your files become inaccessible within minutes of the intrusion
• Data theft: customer information, financial data, HR files exfiltrated before encryption
• Time pressure: a timer often appears to force a quick decision under stress
• Rapid spread: a single infected machine can compromise the entire network in a matter of hours

Key takeaway: paying the ransom does not guarantee data recovery. According to the Canadian Centre for Cyber ​​Security, victims who pay do not always recover all of their files.

2. Why are SMEs in Quebec City and Trois-Rivières being targeted?

What this means for your SME

One might think that cybercriminals primarily target large companies. This is false. According to the Canadian Centre for Cyber ​​Security's 2025-2026 National Cyber ​​Threat Assessment, SMEs with fewer than 50 employees represent the majority of ransomware victims in Canada.

The reasons are simple:

• Fewer IT resources: SMEs rarely have a dedicated cybersecurity department
• Valuable data: customer information, financial data, health records, contracts
• Pressure to pay: an SME cannot afford to be paralyzed for several weeks
• Automated attacks: AI tools allow attackers to target hundreds of SMEs simultaneously

The sectors most affected in Quebec include professional services (accountants, notaries, lawyers), medical and dental clinics, manufacturing companies, and engineering firms. These sectors have a strong presence in both Quebec City and Trois-Rivières.

According to the CCCS, ransomware incidents in Canada increased by an average of 26% per year between 2021 and 2024. The trend is not slowing down.

3. How an attack actually unfolds

What this means for your SME

Understanding the stages of an attack means understanding where to block it. Here's how ransomware typically enters a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME):

• Step 1 – Phishing: An employee receives an email that appears legitimate and clicks on a link or opens an attachment. This is the entry point in 60% of cases in Canada, according to the CCCS.
• Step 2 – The silent intrusion: the malware installs itself discreetly and remains dormant for days or weeks to map your network
• Step 3 – Privilege escalation: Attackers seek to gain administrator access to reach the most important data
• Step 4 – Exfiltration: your data is copied and sent to external servers before the triggering
• Step 5 – Encryption: In a few minutes, all your accessible files are encrypted and the ransom message is displayed.

The problem with unprotected backups: if your backups are connected to the same network, they are encrypted along with your primary data. This is why a backup strategy is just as important as prevention.

4. 5 concrete measures to protect your SME

The good news: most successful attacks could have been prevented with basic security measures properly implemented. Here's what the Canadian Centre for Cyber ​​Security and Microsoft recommend.

• 1. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all accounts: Microsoft confirms that MFA blocks 99.9% of account attacks. This is the most effective and easiest measure to deploy.
• 2. Apply updates quickly: the majority of intrusions exploit known vulnerabilities for which patches already exist.
• 3. Train your employees to recognize phishing: an informed employee is your first line of defense. Regular phishing simulations drastically reduce the risks
• 4. Apply the 3-2-1 backup rule: 3 copies of your data, on 2 different media, including 1 copy off-site or in the cloud (Azure Backup, for example). Test your restores regularly.
• 5. Deploy an EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response): unlike traditional antivirus software, an EDR detects suspicious behavior in real time and can stop an attack before it spreads.

5. What should you do if you are attacked?

If you are a victim of ransomware, every minute counts. Here are the actions to take immediately, according to recommendations from the Canadian Centre for Cyber ​​Security:

• Isolate immediately: disconnect infected machines from the network (Wi-Fi and cable) to stop the spread
• Do not shut down the servers: important forensic evidence may be lost. Contact an expert before taking any action.
• Do not pay the ransom without consulting a professional: payment does not guarantee data recovery and may expose you to legal repercussions.
• Report the incident to the Canadian Centre for Cyber ​​Security (cyber.gc.ca) and your local police service.
• Contact your cyber insurance provider: if you have coverage, activate it immediately.

Having a incident response plan in place before an attack occurs makes a huge difference in recovery speed. This is one of the things a vCIO or an IT partner like OKTO Solutions puts in place for you.

6. Where do you start if you don't know where you are?

The first step is an audit of your current security posture. This exercise allows you to quickly identify your most critical vulnerabilities and fix them in order of priority, without having to redo everything at once.

SMEs in Quebec City and Trois-Rivières that work with OKTO Solutions benefit from an assessment of their Microsoft 365 environment, backup strategy, and access. Risks are identified, and a concrete and realistic action plan is proposed.

Discover our cybersecurity services or contact us for a security posture assessment. It's better to act before an attack forces a decision.