A whopping 98% of UK businesses now operate online in one way or another, with even the smallest of firms benefiting hugely from the use of websites, social media, staff email addresses, online banking and the ability for customers to shop online.
However, the latest Government statistics show over four in ten (43%) of all businesses and charities experienced a cyber breach or attack in the past year. This included computer viruses, hacking, theft of data and theft of financial information. Breaches were identified most often in businesses holding personal data and those where staff use personal devices for work.
Whilst some household name companies have been in the news in recent months due to high profile data breaches, this isn’t just a problem for large companies: nearly half (47%) of small businesses suffered a cyber breach or attack during the last 12 months. This could be something as minor as your work laptop or mobile phone not working properly for a few days and upsetting your normal day-to-day operations. But, at worst, a breach or attack could affect your cashflow, prevent you selling via your website or damage your reputation with customers.
So what can you do to protect yourself? The good news is the vast majority of cyber attacks can be prevented using quick and simple measures. Hackers rely on you failing to do the simple stuff, but getting these basics right will significantly enhance the security of your business.
