Salem-area businesses operate at the intersection of state government, health care, education, agriculture, retail, and professional services. The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce represents businesses across Marion and Polk counties, including many small employers that rely on online payments, cloud applications, connected devices, and customer data.
That reliance carries responsibilities under Oregon law. Businesses that hold personal information must maintain reasonable safeguards and follow state notification requirements after a qualifying data breach. Covered organizations may also have obligations under the Oregon Consumer Privacy Act, while government vendors, health care providers, and payment-processing businesses can face additional contractual or industry requirements.
For Salem Area Chamber members, cybersecurity protects more than business information. It supports customer trust, business continuity, vendor relationships, and access to opportunities throughout the Mid-Willamette Valley.
Comcast Business‘s newly released 2026 Cybersecurity Threat Report makes it clear that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility and a risk for small businesses in the Salem area. The report analyzed 79.3 billion cybersecurity events over the past year, which is roughly 2,514 per second. In Small Business Month 2026 (May) alone, Comcast Business blocked threats targeting small businesses at an average rate of more than 230 per second.
Cybercriminals are moving away from breaking into accounts, devices, and networks, and instead using legitimate logins or taking over everyday devices that are not immediately thought of as a cyber risk. Building devices like security cameras outside a storefront, routers in the back office, TVs providing entertainment for customers, and point-of-sale (POS) systems are often unprotected and are becoming low-lift tools for hackers to exploit in attacks.
Phishing emails and drive-by compromise attacks are some of the most common routes for attackers to gain entry, with 25.4 billion and 21.9 billion attempts over the past year, respectively. The report also found 5.8 million attempts to gain control of employee browsers, underscoring that the cyberattack surface has grown to include everyday tools and devices.
Fortunately, there are simple ways that small businesses can protect themselves without the budget or IT team of a large enterprise. Practical steps, including securing every device, implementing stronger password mandates, and training employees to spot attacks like phishing, can keep small businesses from becoming victims. Additionally, choosing a network provider that offers built-in protection against threats and consistent monitoring ensures business owners can stay on top of their security.
It’s more important than ever for small businesses in greater Salem to use this Cybersecurity Awareness Month as a reminder that cybersecurity is a shared, year-round responsibility. Through protective measures and a trusted connectivity partner, small business owners can stay focused on running their business.
For more information, visit https://business.comcast.com/resources/enterprise/reports/2026-comcast-business-cybersecurity-threat-report, or reach out to your local Comcast Business manager, Jeff Wood, at (541) 972-2854 or Jeff_Wood2@comcast.com.
