By Vicky Sidler | Published 9 February 2026 at 12:00 GMT+2

Every so often, a company invites someone to break in just to prove no one can. Surfshark did exactly that. The cybersecurity company recently handed its entire network over to an outside firm called SecuRing, whose job was to poke, prod, and try every trick in the book to find a way in—without access, without passwords, and without special treatment.

The audit was brutal in the best way. It mimicked real attacks, used no privileged credentials, and assumed nothing. The verdict? No critical flaws. No high-risk issues. Just one minor configuration tweak that was handled immediately and without fuss.

TL;DR:

• Surfshark’s systems were tested under real-world attack conditions

• No critical or high-risk vulnerabilities were found

• A minor SSL fix was applied promptly

• The results show a strong and transparent security culture

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Table of Contents:

Security Audits Aren’t Just for Corporate Giants:

Most small businesses will never need a full-blown cybersecurity audit, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t learn from them. Surfshark’s approach—testing systems the same way a criminal would—highlights something every business can relate to: you don’t know how vulnerable you are until someone tries to take advantage of it.

This wasn’t just a formality. It was a genuine attempt to find gaps that could be exploited. SecuRing didn’t get a walkthrough or a set of instructions. They were told to act like attackers and see what happened. The fact that nothing major did happen is the story.

Why Should You Care if You’re Not Surfshark?

You might be thinking, “I don’t run a VPN company, and my biggest security risk is forgetting where I put the Wi-Fi password.” That’s fair. But any business that collects, stores, or shares customer data should pay attention. Here’s why this matters for you.

1. Trust Is Earned Through Transparency:

Most companies say they care about security. Fewer can prove it. Surfshark chose to prove it. They not only allowed an audit, they published the results. That move creates trust in a way no marketing campaign can.

For small businesses, this doesn’t mean paying for a hacker to test your website. It means thinking about how you communicate your reliability. Do you use secure payment tools? Do you protect customer information? And do you ever tell clients what you’re doing behind the scenes to keep their details safe?

2. Real-World Thinking Helps Prevent Real-World Problems:

SecuRing ran attack simulations that mirrored the kinds of things hackers actually do. They didn’t theorise. They tested. The difference matters. In small businesses, we often test if a tool works, not if it breaks when used badly.

Try the opposite. Intentionally fill out your contact form wrong. Try logging in with the wrong password. Use your own system like a frustrated customer. You’ll learn more in ten minutes than from a week of polite user feedback.

3. Speed Matters When Something Goes Wrong:

Even with an otherwise spotless result, one SSL/TLS configuration could have been better. Surfshark didn’t wait. They fixed it immediately. That’s the difference between a company that wants to look secure and one that actually is.

In your world, this might mean fixing a broken checkout button, updating expired plugins, or removing access from a staff member who left six months ago. Delays erode trust. Prompt action builds it.

What This Looks Like in Practice:

Tomas Stamulis, Surfshark’s Chief Security Officer, explained that the goal was to protect infrastructure from unauthorised access, service disruption, and poor configuration. Their audit confirmed exactly that.

If you’re running a business, even without a CSO or a security team, you can apply the same logic. Don’t assume everything’s fine just because it hasn’t broken yet. Ask yourself what’s protecting your customer data, your website, or your email list—and then ask when you last checked that it was working.

No Business Is Too Small for Security:

You don’t need a fancy audit to take this seriously. Ask someone tech-savvy to look over your systems. Update your passwords. Check that your customer forms don’t collect more than you need. These are small habits that add up to better protection.

More importantly, think about how your business communicates trust. A clean invoice, a fast reply, or a simple explanation of your process does more for your brand than most people realise. Security and clarity are part of the same goal—making customers feel safe enough to say yes.

And If You Want to Start with Clarity:

We talk a lot about clarity in marketing. It’s not just about what your website says. It’s about how people feel when they hear what you do. Safe. Informed. Confident they’re in good hands.

If that’s something you want more of, start with one sentence that explains what your business does and why it matters. No jargon. No fluff. Just clarity.

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Related Articles:

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2. Browser Privacy Risk 2026: Yandex, Chrome, and Edge Collect the Most Data

If Surfshark covered your network, this piece covers your browser. Learn which ones are collecting your data and what to do about it.

3. Small Businesses Are Being Targeted—Here's What Cybersecurity Stats Say in 2025

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4. Marketing Confidence 2026: Why Most Teams Feel Lost

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5. AI Fraud Crisis Warning—What Small Biz Must Do Now

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Frequently Asked Questions About Small Business Security and the Surfshark Audit

1. What is a network infrastructure security audit?

It’s a professional test that simulates real-world cyberattacks on a company’s systems to find and fix security weaknesses before criminals can exploit them.

2. Why did Surfshark do a security audit?

They invited a third-party firm to test their systems from the outside to prove they were secure and to show users they take privacy and protection seriously.

3. What did the Surfshark audit find?

No critical or high-risk security issues. Just one small SSL/TLS setting that was fixed immediately.

4. How can small businesses test their own systems for security?

Start by checking who has access to sensitive data, using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, updating software regularly, and asking someone tech-savvy to test your site or system for basic issues.

5. Do I need a security audit for my business website?

Not a full-scale audit, but a regular check-up is smart. Make sure your site is backed up, your plugins are current, and customer data is stored securely.

6. What’s the difference between SSL and TLS?

Both are protocols that encrypt data between a website and its users. TLS is the newer, more secure version. Most sites now use TLS even if they still call it SSL.

7. How does transparency build trust with customers?

When you openly show how you protect data or handle problems, customers are more likely to believe you’re reliable. Publishing audit results, like Surfshark did, is a great example.

8. What are real-world attack scenarios in a security test?

These are simulations of how hackers actually try to break into systems—using phishing, brute force, misconfigurations, and other common tactics without having insider access.

9. How fast should I fix security issues when they’re found?

Immediately. Even small issues can become major vulnerabilities if ignored. Quick fixes show you take protection seriously.

10. How do I explain what my business does in a clear sentence?

Use the5-Minute Marketing Fix. It helps you write one clear sentence that tells people what you do and why it matters—no tech skills required.