How Cybersecurity Empowers Small Businesses with Champions Defender

Small business owners are facing more cyber risks than ever before. In a recent conversation on the Intrepid Finance podcast, Steve Iskander sat down with Katrina Terry, Founder and CEO of Champions Defender, to talk about how small businesses can protect themselves with affordable and effective cybersecurity solutions. This conversation on how cybersecurity empowers small […]

Business FinanceMay 6, 2025By Intrepid Finance Team
Katrine Terry CEO of Champions Defender and Steve Iskander, CEO of Intrepid

Small business owners are facing more cyber risks than ever before. In a recent conversation on the Intrepid Finance podcast, Steve Iskander sat down with Katrina Terry, Founder and CEO of Champions Defender, to talk about how small businesses can protect themselves with affordable and effective cybersecurity solutions. This conversation on how cybersecurity empowers small businesses is especially important for founders, nonprofits, and growing organizations that often think cybersecurity is out of reach. Katrina explains why that’s not the case and how her team at Champions Defender is changing the game.

Why Cybersecurity Should Matter to Every Small Business

When most small business owners hear the word cybersecurity, they often think of expensive systems and large IT teams. But the reality is that many attacks happen to small businesses precisely because they are seen as easy targets. According to Katrina, the biggest risk is not having a plan at all. Champions Defender works with small businesses to make cybersecurity feel manageable. It starts with an assessment that shows what protections are needed based on each organization’s industry and budget. That first step gives business owners a path forward and helps them focus on what matters most. Cybersecurity empowers small businesses by reducing risk and helping leaders feel confident in the steps they are taking to protect what they’ve built.

Investigative Background Checks That Go Beyond the Basics

One of the biggest surprises in the interview was how many businesses skip deeper background checks when hiring or bringing on partners. Katrina shared a story where her investigative team uncovered over 20 hidden financial crimes for an individual who had passed a standard background check. Without the deep dive, the business would have faced major risk. Champions Defender specializes in this type of investigative work. They do more than run a basic search. Their team looks at court records, social media activity, and red flags that could cause trouble later. This level of detail can protect companies from internal threats before they even begin. This is another example of how cybersecurity empowers small businesses. By adding strong vetting processes, business owners can make better hiring decisions and avoid costly mistakes.

Cybersecurity as a Long-Term Strategy

Many small businesses think of cybersecurity as a one-time fix. Katrina makes the case that it should be part of a long-term strategy. Her team creates scalable security plans that grow with the business. Whether a company is just starting or already scaling, Champions Defender meets them where they are. This partnership-based model also includes training and tools to help the entire team become more aware of threats. It’s not just about tech. It’s about building resilience at every level of the organization. This practical, step-by-step approach is how cybersecurity empowers small businesses in a real and lasting way.

Giving Back While Protecting Others

Another part of the conversation that stood out was the mission behind Champions Defender. A portion of their profits goes toward fighting child trafficking. For Katrina and her team, that mission gives even more meaning to the work they do. When small businesses choose to work with Champions Defender, they are not just protecting their company. They are also supporting a bigger cause.

Final Thoughts

If you are a small business owner or nonprofit leader who has been putting off a cybersecurity plan, this interview is a great starting point. Katrina Terry offers a simple reminder. You do not need a huge budget to take the first step. What matters is starting with what you can do now. Cybersecurity empowers small businesses by providing protection, peace of mind, and a path forward. And with the right partner, it can also align with your values and mission. To learn more about Champions Defender or watch the full interview with Katrina Terry, visit the Intrepid Finance blog or reach out to our team.

Related Blogs

Modern branded graphic about the Intrepid Finance and CLBI partnership bringing lending technology and training to commercial brokers.
05 min readJune 8, 2026

Modern Lending Technology & Training for Commericial Brokers Nationwide

Intrepid Finance and Commercial Loan Brokers Institute Partner to Bring Modern Lending Technology & Training to Commercial Brokers Nationwide FISHERS, Ind. – April 21, 2026– Starting this month, commercial loan brokers across the country will have access to a new kind of lending technology. Intrepid Finance, an AI-powered fintech company transforming commercial lending, and the […]

Read More
Modern digital graphic showing how manual underwriting increases costs and slows commercial lending.
05 min readJune 2, 2026

Beyond the Spreadsheet: The True Cost of Manual Underwriting

Manual underwriting is the largest hidden line item in most commercial lenders’ P&L. It never appears as a single number anywhere. It shows up in staff cost, in credit losses, in lost origination volume, and in broker relationships that quietly decay because the lender takes too long to respond. The cost of manual underwriting has […]

Read More
Modern digital graphic showing how brokers vet a business funding platform before signing.
05 min readMay 26, 2026

Beyond the Sales Demo: 8 Questions to Vet a Business Funding Platform

There are two kinds of brokers shopping for a business funding platform. The first kind buys on the demo. They watch the slick walkthrough, hear the founder’s pitch, and sign up because everything looked great. Six months later, they’re locked into a contract, can’t export their client data, and the integrations they were promised aren’t […]

Read More

Start Growing Today

Faster underwriting. Smarter matching. Cleaner deal flow. Built for the way capital actually moves.