Freelancers face higher cyberattack damage than SMEs

According to the HDI Cyber Study 2026, self-employed individuals and freelancers suffer more significant damage from cyberattacks than small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), despite being targeted at similar frequencies.

Research conducted by Sirius Campus involving approximately 1,100 IT and insurance professionals found that while 65% of all attacked entities could repel a cyberattack without damage, only 52% of freelancers were successful. The impact is even more severe for regulated professions such as doctors, lawyers, and architects, where only 40% of attacks were without consequence.

Peter Bertram of HDI Versicherung noted that micro-businesses and freelancers often lack the specialized IT security resources and departments available to larger companies. This vulnerability leads to higher rates of business interruption, data theft, and reputational damage. For regulated professions, 61% reported stolen or deleted client data, and 63% experienced reputational harm.