Over 40% of SMEs Have Suffered Online Attacks
June 2007
44% of small businesses in the UK have been a victim of cyber crime, including internet scams, identity fraud, phishing and data theft.Of those businesses affected, more than a third (36%) have suffered a computer virus and almost one in five (18%) have been a victim of internet scams such as phishing, spyware or hacking in the last two years.
Furthermore, as online scams become increasingly sophisticated, the research also highlighted that only 5% of small businesses have access to dedicated IT support, either internally or via an outsourced provider. Instead, many business owners have to take it upon themselves to keep up with the latest online security issues.
As small business enterprises of all kinds, from local tradesmen through to small retailers, become increasingly reliant on technology to run their businesses, the research also showed that cyber crime and other IT problems could be having a significant impact on the UK’s small business community. Notably, sixty percent of those surveyed said their businesses would grind to a halt if their IT system failed. Of those who had experienced online crime or other IT-related problems, almost a fifth (19%) said they lost revenue as a result of downtime, the average figure cited as £1,540. This equates to a staggering £750 million in estimated losses across the UK small business population as a whole.
Today, Get Safe Online, a joint government and industry initiative, is calling on smaller enterprises to make sure they’re taking adequate steps to protect their business.
The research also found that two-thirds (66%) of businesses surveyed store vital documents on their PCs and 69% also store their customer details on IT equipment, yet less than a third (32%) consider themselves to be fully up-to-date with current PC/internet security issues. This makes not only business owners, but also their customers, vulnerable to the risks of online security.
It’s not all bad news, however, as managing director of Get Safe Online, Tony Neate explains: "The good news is that small businesses are taking the general basic steps to protect themselves " for example, 97% of those surveyed in our research protect their IT equipment with anti-virus software.
"However, as cyber crime becomes more sophisticated, basic measures aren’t enough on their own. Businesses also must look at access control, data encryption and secure password practices, as well as looking at other measures such as staff training. But, it’s also important to remember that by taking a few simple precautions, online risks needn’t overshadow the huge benefits that the internet brings to UK businesses, " Neate adds.
John Dunsmure, managing director of the British Chamber of Commerce, added: "It’s crucial that businesses know the risks and take steps to protect themselves, particularly in the case of smaller businesses, when often someone’s livelihood can hang in the balance. It’s good to see initiatives like Get Safe Online recognising the particular challenges faced by smaller businesses."
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