If you run a small business, most of your technology is easy to see. Laptops sit on desks, phones are always close by, and cloud software is part of daily work. These are the tools people usually think about when security comes up.
There is another layer of technology quietly keeping everything connected that often gets overlooked. It is usually installed once, works without complaint, and then fades into the background. Over time, it becomes something nobody really thinks about at all.
The devices most businesses forget about
Every business relies on a small group of devices to stay connected to the internet. These devices rarely get the same attention as computers or phones, even though everything depends on them working properly.
In most small businesses, this forgotten group includes a few familiar items.
- Routers that connect the business to the internet
- Wi-Fi access points that keep staff and devices online
- Small network boxes installed by an internet provider years ago
Once these devices are set up, they tend to be left alone. They sit in cupboards, under desks, or on shelves, doing their job quietly. Because they do not ask for updates in obvious ways, it is easy to assume they are fine.
From a security point of view, this quiet reliability is exactly what makes them risky.
A real-world example: the MikroTik router vulnerability
A few years ago, a major security flaw was found in hundreds of thousands of MikroTik routers used by small businesses around the world.
What went wrong?
The issue (CVE-2018-14847) made it possible for attackers to log into the router without knowing the password.
In simple terms:
It was like someone discovering that your front door lock could be opened without the key by jiggling it in just the right way.
A CVE, like the one listed above - CVE-2018-14847, stands for Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures. It's basically a public record of a security flaw that has been discovered in a piece of software or hardware. Each CVE describes what the problem is, how serious it might be, and often links to fixes or updates. You don’t need to understand the technical details; the important part is that a CVE means a weakness has been found, which means your devices will need updating to stay secure.
Why did it spread so widely?
The routers themselves were not unusual or poorly designed. The businesses using them were not careless or reckless. It happened because most people never update their router’s firmware - the software that keeps the device secure. The issue spread because router updates are easy to miss.
Unlike laptops or phones, routers do not usually prompt you to install updates. If nobody logs in to check, nothing changes. As a result, many devices stayed vulnerable for months or even years after the fix was available.
Attackers scanned the internet for outdated routers and found plenty of them.
What attackers did once they were inside
Once attackers gained access to these routers, they had several options available. None of them required the business to notice anything was wrong straight away.
Common outcomes included the following.
- Reading router settings, which sometimes exposed stored passwords or access details
- Redirecting some internet traffic to inject unwanted content or attempt to intercept data
- Quietly adding the router to a larger botnet used for other criminal activity
In many cases, businesses had no idea this was happening. Internet access still worked. Wi-Fi still connected. The device continued doing its job, just with an extra, unseen guest.
This is what makes forgotten technology risky. Problems do not always announce themselves.
Why this matters for small businesses
Most small businesses already do a good job with visible technology. Computers update automatically. Phones stay current. Cloud apps are maintained by the provider.
Network devices fall into a different category. They are out of sight, they rarely break, and they do not feel urgent. Over time, they slip off the mental checklist entirely.
At the same time, they are often the first thing an attacker touches when probing a business from the outside. A single outdated device can quietly weaken an otherwise sensible security setup.
How to stay safe (without becoming a networking expert)
You don’t need special skills or expensive tools. Just a simple routine:
1. Log in to your router every few months
Start by logging into your router every few months and checking whether updates are available. If you are unsure how to do this, searching for your router model and the words “update firmware” usually leads to clear, step-by-step instructions.
2. Replace devices that are no longer supported
It is also important to replace devices that are no longer supported by the manufacturer. If updates have stopped entirely, the risk increases over time.
3. Change the default passwords
Check that default passwords have been changed. Many older incidents happened simply because factory settings were never updated.
4. Keep track of your “invisible” tech
It helps to make a short list of technology that is easy to forget. This is not about creating a detailed inventory. It is about making sure nothing quietly disappears from view.
For most businesses, this list includes routers, Wi-Fi access points, printers, and any other device that connects directly to the internet. If it is online, it deserves occasional attention.
BrightShield’s take
Small businesses do not ignore this kind of technology because they do not care. They ignore it because they are busy, and these devices rarely demand attention.
BrightShield helps bring these quiet risks back into focus. By highlighting outdated software and guiding you through practical fixes, we help make sure small gaps stay small.
Final thoughts
Your router does not look important. It hums quietly and gets on with its job. That is exactly why it is easy to forget.
A few minutes of upkeep can close the same kinds of gaps attackers used in the MikroTik incident, and keep your business running safely.
