Costs and benefits for investing in cybersecurity are important to weigh but in the end, are more beneficial for finances as the potential damages caused by an attack with no protection could be at an astronomical rate in comparison to implementing a cybersecurity plan. Now while taking this into account, it is also important to remember some security is unnecessary for the size of a business. Small businesses will not require the same security portfolio as compared to companies like Microsoft or Google. Costs for setting up a secure network would include the equipment and software required, establishing a workforce needed to operate the systems, and depending upon what industry the business is a part of, investing more of the budget in vulnerable areas of the business. Costs for equipment could include firewalls (software, hardware, or both), antiviral software, multifactor authentication, biometric security, and/or email security. Hiring personnel to assess the business and its security needs may be beneficial to save money and identify where security is needed most so funds can be assessed accordingly. Paying for online applications that are safe and reliable to work in conjunction with software measures for the network is another expense worth investing in. Development of the network and its security measures will incur costs for the company tasked with the job and the workforce required to maintain either within its business or outsourcing it to a professional security company. Using professionals such as security architects may be worthwhile to have a better understanding of the company’s infrastructure. The benefits of all these factors include protecting the business and its customer’s data, prevention of significant financial loss, and customers’ willingness in using a service. Protecting the companies data, its employee data, and the consumer’s data are all paramount in maintaining the security of individuals’ information. If the company were to jeopardize its data, not only would it be directly affected but indirectly impact the lives of its workers and customers. Whether that means being out of a contract for a job, employee and consumer data being used maliciously, or worst-case scenario, closing the business entirely.