News
Comment from Smoothwall: SMEs have put cyber security on the back burner
June 2016 by Smoothwall
Following the study from Barclaycard that just one in five (20
per cent) rank cyber security as a top business
priority, David Navin, Head of Corporate at Smoothwall, comments:
"When it comes to security, it is unsettling that so many SMEs are not making it
their top priority, especially as two thirds of SMEs have been victim of cybercrime
in the past two years alone. It is hugely naive of them to feel that they are not
at risk from cyber attacks, when they are just as much in the firing line as larger
companies. In fact SMEs are not only an appealing option to hackers, they are often
an easy one, especially with the majority of SMEs holding large volumes of data,
making them a very attractive target to a hacker but they are also frequently part
of supply chains and could therefore be the backdoor for hackers to gain entry to
larger companies.
"It is now not about if an attack occurs, but when. SMEs need to ensure that they
have a robust security system in place in order to mitigate the risks and protect
their data and that of their partners. While security regulation may not always
directly impact SMEs, often directed at large organisations, they must take a
proactive stance. Not only will it protect them now - but if they are seen as a
security weakness, they will be a less attractive partner for large companies.
Suddenly, security impacts SMEs bottom line and growth prospects. In taking a
smarter approach to cyber security, SMEs protect their future - readying themselves
for growth and making themselves a watertight part of a cyber defence strategy."
