Originally published at tpdowns.com A Kiwi tradie had his business laptop encrypted by ransomware last year. Cost him $8,000 in downtime and a $4,500 ransom - which he paid. The tool that would have stopped it costs under $80 a year. Small businesses in New Zealand get hit harder by cyber attacks than most owners realise. CERT NZ reported over 8,500 incidents in 2023, and the majority targeted organisations with fewer than 20 staff. The attackers aren't after big enterprise networks - they go where defences are weakest, and a small NZ business with no IT team and five Windows laptops is a prime target. This guide covers the four tools worth your money in 2026, what each actually costs in NZD, and which combination makes sense for your size. The four threats NZ small businesses actually face Before spending anything, know what you're defending against: Phishing emails - fake invoices from "IRD", fake bank alerts, fake courier notifications. Someone clicks, enters credentials, and you're compromised.…