How do I calculate cybersecurity ROI?

Use the formula: ROI = (Risk Reduction - Security Cost) / Security Cost. Calculate risk reduction as: (Breach Probability Without Protection x Average Breach Cost) - (Breach Probability With Protection x Average Breach Cost). For most SMEs, this shows 5-10x ROI on basic security investments.

What is the minimum I should spend on security?

At minimum, spend €50-100/month on endpoint protection, backup, and MFA. This prevents ~60% of attacks. For proper protection (85%+ prevention), budget €99-199/month for a comprehensive solution like Easy Cyber Protection that includes compliance tracking.

Does cyber insurance replace security investment?

No. Cyber insurance and security are complementary, not alternatives. Insurance covers costs after a breach; security prevents breaches. Most insurers require minimum security measures and may deny claims if you lack them. Think of security as the fire extinguisher and insurance as fire coverage.

How do I convince my boss to invest in security?

Present it as risk management, not IT spending. Show the ROI calculation with real numbers. Highlight compliance requirements (GDPR, NIS2), insurance implications, and customer expectations. Frame it as: "We currently self-insure €50K risk for €0. This proposal costs €1,200/year to mitigate that risk."

Is free security software good enough?

Free tools provide basic protection but have significant gaps: no centralized management, limited threat detection, no compliance reporting, and no support. For personal use, free is often adequate. For business with customer data, regulatory requirements, and reputation at stake, the €99/month for proper protection is worth it.

ROI of Cybersecurity: Investment vs Risk for Belgian SMEs

The Question Every Business Owner Asks

You have limited budget. Every euro needs to justify itself. So when someone suggests spending money on cybersecurity, the natural response is: "Is this really necessary? We have never had a problem."

You cannot see what security prevents - only what it costs
Breaches happen to "other companies" until they happen to you
The investment seems abstract compared to tangible business needs
Free tools exist - why pay for protection?

These are valid concerns. Let us address them with hard numbers.

The True Cost of Doing Nothing

Many business owners think "no security spending" means "no cost." In reality, inadequate protection is the most expensive option:

Direct breach costs

€50,000 - €150,000

Forensics, recovery, legal fees, customer notification when (not if) a breach occurs.

GDPR fines

Up to €20M or 4%

The Belgian GBA actively fines SMEs for inadequate security measures leading to breaches.

Lost business

15-25% customer churn

Customers leave when they discover you did not protect their data. They tell others.

Insurance denial

Full claim rejection

Cyber insurers increasingly deny claims when basic security measures were missing.

Competitive disadvantage

Lost contracts

Large clients now require security certifications from suppliers. No certification = no contract.

The Surprisingly Affordable Cost of Protection

Here is what adequate cybersecurity actually costs for a typical Belgian SME (10-50 employees):

Basic security suite

€50-150/month

Endpoint protection, email filtering, basic monitoring for all employees.

Proper backup solution

€100-300/month

3-2-1 backups with offsite storage and tested recovery procedures.

Employee training

€500-2,000/year

Regular phishing simulations and security awareness - prevents 90% of breaches.

CyberFundamentals assessment

€500-2,000 one-time

Gap analysis and roadmap to compliance. Often partially subsidized.

Compliance platform

€99-299/month

Easy Cyber Protection: all-in-one platform for Belgian regulatory compliance.

Total: €200-500/month for comprehensive protection

Compare this to €50,000+ for a single breach.

The Insurance Analogy

Think about how you approach other business risks:

Risk	Solution
Car accident	Mandatory insurance + safe driving You would never skip car insurance because "accidents happen to others"
Office fire	Fire insurance + prevention measures Fire extinguishers cost money, but no one questions them
Employee injury	Liability insurance + safety training You invest in prevention because claims are expensive
Cyberattack	Cyber insurance + security measures Yet many skip security because "we are too small to target"

Cyber risk is now the #1 business risk for SMEs. Treat it accordingly.

Calculating Your Risk Exposure

Here is a simple framework to calculate your cybersecurity ROI:

Factor	Without Protection	With Protection
Annual breach probability	25%	5%
Average breach cost	€50,000	€50,000
Expected annual loss	€12,500	€2,500
Protection cost	€0	€1,200/year
Net expected cost	€12,500	€3,700

Net annual savings: €8,800

That is a 733% ROI on your security investment.

What Adequate Protection Actually Costs

For Belgian SMEs, "adequate protection" means meeting CyberFundamentals Basic level. Here are realistic monthly costs by company size:

Micro (1-9 employees)

€99-199/month

Endpoint protection, cloud backup, basic training, compliance tracking

Small (10-49 employees)

€199-499/month

Above + email security, vulnerability scanning, incident response plan

Medium (50-249 employees)

€499-999/month

Above + SIEM basics, dedicated security officer hours, audit preparation

Hidden Benefits Beyond Breach Prevention

ROI calculations often miss significant non-breach benefits:

Customer trust and retention

Customers increasingly ask about data protection. Demonstrable security wins and keeps business.

+5-15% retention

Insurance premium reduction

Cyber insurers offer 10-25% discounts for CyberFundamentals certification.

€500-2,000/year saved

Compliance readiness

GDPR, NIS2, and sector requirements are easier to meet with proper security foundations.

Avoid €10K-50K fines

Competitive advantage

Win contracts requiring security certifications. Stand out from unprotected competitors.

New revenue opportunities

Operational efficiency

Good security practices improve IT hygiene overall - faster systems, fewer problems.

+10-20% IT efficiency

The "Good Enough" Threshold

Not every business needs enterprise-grade security. The key is finding your "good enough" threshold where you get maximum protection for minimum cost:

Minimum viable security

€50/month ~60%

Antivirus, basic backup, MFA on critical accounts. Prevents opportunistic attacks.

Sweet spot for most SMEs Recommended

€99-199/month ~85%

CyberFundamentals Basic compliance. Prevents most common attack vectors.

Comprehensive protection

€300-500/month ~95%

CyberFundamentals Important level. Required for regulated industries or sensitive data.

Enterprise security

€1,000+/month ~99%

SOC, advanced threat detection, 24/7 monitoring. Diminishing returns for most SMEs.

For most Belgian SMEs, the €99-199/month tier offers the best value. You prevent 85% of attacks while spending a fraction of enterprise budgets.

Making the Business Case to Management

When presenting security investment to leadership or board, frame it in business terms:

Don't:

Do not lead with technical threats - executives tune out jargon
Do not use fear - it creates resistance and sounds like sales tactics
Do not ask for budget without showing ROI
Do not compare to competitors without context

Do:

Show the math

Present the ROI calculation above with your specific numbers

Frame as risk management

"We are currently self-insuring against a €50K risk for €0. This proposal costs €1,200/year to cover that risk."

Highlight compliance requirements

"GDPR requires appropriate security measures. This demonstrates due diligence."

Mention insurance implications

"Our cyber insurer requires these measures. Without them, claims may be denied."

Reference customer requirements

"Three prospects this year asked about our security certifications."

Easy Cyber Protection: Belgian SME Security Made Simple

We built Easy Cyber Protection specifically for Belgian SMEs who need CyberFundamentals compliance without enterprise complexity:

All-in-one platform for CyberFundamentals Basic compliance
Dutch, French, and English support for your Belgian team
Step-by-step guidance - no security expertise required
Evidence collection and audit preparation built-in
Starts at €99/month for micro and small businesses