Why Chinese cyberattacks are shifting from governments to private companies and what that means for your security strategy

It wasn’t a big city or a defense contractor that made headlines — it was a small American town. In a recent 60 Minutes report, Chinese hackers infiltrated its local water and power systems. The attackers weren’t after money or credit cards. They were testing access, laying groundwork and quietly proving they could reach into the heart of everyday America.

For business owners, that changes the story. This isn’t about espionage happening in the shadows of Washington or Silicon Valley. It’s about what could happen in your office, your server, your supply chain.

The Quiet Invasion Already Underway

Over the past few years, cybersecurity experts have uncovered a growing web of intrusions tied to Chinese state-backed groups. They’ve breached utilities, telecoms, manufacturing plants and logistics systems — not to steal data, but to position themselves.

Think of it as setting digital traps across America’s infrastructure. These intrusions often go unnoticed for years, hiding in vendor tools, routers or even security software itself.

And while that might sound like someone else’s problem, it’s not. If your business connects to any of these networks, and nearly every business does, you’re part of the same ecosystem that’s being targeted.

Why This Should Be on Every Owner’s Radar

It’s easy to assume hackers go after bigger targets. But the smaller and more local a system is, the more likely it’s overlooked and therefore vulnerable.

The truth is uncomfortable: your company’s data, devices and even supply relationships could become collateral damage in a cyber campaign you never see coming.

This isn’t a Hollywood thriller. It’s operational risk. When networks go down, deliveries stop. When payment systems lock up, payroll halts. When communication tools freeze, your reputation is next.

The New Front Lines of Cybersecurity

Nation-state hacking isn’t random. It’s strategic. The goal isn’t to take over your business today — it’s to understand how your systems work so they can be exploited later.

That’s why the smartest companies are changing their mindset from if to when. They’re building layered defenses, partnering with experts who live and breathe cybersecurity and testing how their teams would respond if a threat actor gained access.

Signs you’re Already on the Radar

  • Unexplained slowdowns in your network or unexpected traffic spikes
  • Password resets that weren’t initiated by your team
  • Software patches that fail to install repeatedly
  • Vendors who can’t explain where their data is stored or who has access

Most small businesses don’t discover they’ve been breached until long after the fact, often when a larger investigation traces the attack back through their systems.

5 Practical Steps to Reduce Exposure

No organization can outspend a foreign government. The goal is not perfection – it’s making intrusion harder and detection faster. The most effective organizations tend to focus on five foundational areas, aligned to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework:

  1. Know what you have (Identify) – Understand your critical assets, data flows, vendors and systems. Even a simple asset inventory is a powerful first step.
  2. Strengthen access (Protect) – Limit who has access and how they authenticate. MFA should be standard for all remote access and administrative tools.
  3. Stay current (Protect/Detect) – Most attacks exploit well-known, unpatched vulnerabilities. Consistent patching and configuration management go a long way.
  4. Build human awareness (Protect) – Mistakes, not malware, are the entry point in most incidents. Practical awareness training reduces risk significantly.
  5. Plan for disruption (Respond/Recover) – A written response plan, tested backups and clearly defined roles help avoid panic and confusion during an incident.

These are not high-budget activities — they are discipline and repetition.

A Moment of Truth for American Businesses

The small-town attack spotlighted on 60 Minutes wasn’t an isolated case — it was a signal flare. It showed how deeply digital warfare has seeped into the systems that keep the economy moving.

And while headlines will fade, the reality won’t. Every American business, from manufacturers to service firms, is connected to this web of risk. The ones who act now, who treat cybersecurity like insurance, not an expense, will be the ones still standing when the next story breaks.

If you haven’t had a cybersecurity risk assessment in the past year, now is the time. Not because you’re scared, but because you’re smart.

Let’s protect your practice before it’s in the headlines. Reach out to Adams Brown Technology Specialists for a confidential consultation.