SMBs vulnerable to cyber-crime due to lack of resources, warns report

Webroot report suggests that only 37 per cent of SMBs feel 'completely ready' to combat cyber-threats

Most small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are vulnerable to cyber-attacks and hackers because they don't have sufficient resources to protect themselves.

That's the conclusion of a new report commissioned by cyber security firm Webroot that suggests that just 37 per cent of IT decision makers in SMBs feel that their organisation is "completely ready" to manage IT security and protect against cyber-threats.

The Ministry of Defence has previously told SMBs that they're viewed as an easy target by cyber criminals, with a spokesperson warning "they really are out to get you".

A lack of resources appears to be one of the main causes of concern. The report suggests that the majority of SMBs feel that they lack the tools they need to properly protect themselves against cyber-crime, with 60 per cent of respondents of the opinion that their business is more prone to cyber-attacks because of this.

Having a limited number of employees is also viewed as a fundamental risk to cyber-security - small businesses are likely to lack a cyber-security specialist.

According to the Webroot report, this is the case for one third of SMBs which require IT staff to juggle managing cyber-security with other administrative responsibilities, leaving these organisations more open to cyber-attacks such as phishing scams and zero-day attacks.

However, while the report makes worrying reading for IT personnel in SMBs, it reveals that 81 per cent of those surveyed plan to increase their cyber security budget during 2016, with the average boost suggested to be around 22 per cent.

"SMBs play a pivotal role in helping drive the economies of all the countries polled, but past experiences have inevitably taught them they face an uphill battle when it comes to cyber-security," said George Anderson, director of product marketing at Webroot.

"This perception must change. For starters, a viable alternative to the 'go at it alone' status quo is an outsourced approach," he continued.

"It opens the door to a world of experienced managed service providers , the best of which offer comprehensive, lightweight security solutions that are affordable, easy-to-install and provide real-time protection against modern threats," Anderson added.

Naturally, it isn't just SMBs that are vulnerable to cyber-crime, as the recent data breaches at JD Wetherspoon and TalkTalk have clearly demonstrated.

The Webroot SMB cyber security survey was conducted by Wakefield Research and queried 700 IT decision makers in SMBs across the UK, US and Australia.

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