| One-fourth of SMBs not worried about
data security
11 December, 2007
By Vanessa Ho
A recent survey conducted by AT&T revealed that
24 per cent of small businesses interviewed were unconcerned
about computer and online data security and 10 per
cent took no action at all to secure their data.
The survey interviewed 1,000 owners and/or employees
responsible for IT at small businesses in 10 U.S.
metropolitan/regional areas such as San Diego, Detroit
and the Bay Area. Other findings include one-third
of respondents were also unconcerned about wireless
data technology and 17 per cent of small businesses
that do use wireless technology were not taking any
precautions against wireless threats.
Of those companies that have not taken any specific
precautions against computer or wireless threats,
65 per cent of respondents didn't think it was an
issue with their business.
Roy Boggs, vice-president of SMB research at IDC,
stated that small businesses don't usually see themselves
as online security targets. "These are cases
in which ignorance is not bliss," Boggs said.
"Threats are now highly automated and impersonal.
Being small doesn't make you less vulnerable. You
may be less visible than a big bank or government
agency, but you still can be undermined by the bad
guys."
However, the survey noted that 60 per cent of the
small businesses interviewed considered online security
a concern, and 82 per cent have installed software,
such as spam filters or anti-virus protection, to
help keep their business safe from online security
threats.
"Small businesses depend more and more on computers
and communications technology, and they need to understand
how they can protect those systems, whether from a
virus or other man-made attack or from a natural disaster,"
said John Regan, vice-president of business marketing
for AT&T, in a statement
Some other findings of the AT&T survey noted
that when respondents were asked about the importance
of recovering computer data in the event of a disaster,
two-thirds said it was extremely important. More than
nine of 10 small businesses said they did backup their
data, with 47 per cent doing so at least once a day
and almost three-fourths backed up their data at least
weekly.
The survey noted that many small businesses considered
computer security important enough to make it an official
job responsibility. Almost one-third of small businesses
have an employee who handles computer security as
part of his or her job, and 24 per cent of small businesses
have hired an outside consultant to handle security.
Also, the survey indicated that while 73 per cent
did backup their data on-site using CDs, hard drives
or other devices, only seven per cent of small businesses
used the Internet or another computer network to send
data to a remote location. In addition, 78 per cent
of small businesses said it was important for their
business to recover computer data in the event of
a disaster.
Of those small businesses that have not taken specific
steps to backup data, two-thirds (63 per cent) didn't
think it was an issue with their business. Two per
cent didn't know they should take any precautions.
"The fact that so few small businesses back
up their data remotely is surprising because so many
companies recognize the importance of protecting their
data," said Boggs. "It's like flossing your
teeth -- people, including me, know they should but
just don't do it regularly. The key is to make the
process routine, automatic, convenient and painless."
The AT&T survey ranked the participating cities
according to their level of activity in initiating
wireless and online data security and backup measures.
San Diego, Chicago and Atlanta were the top three
areas that were the most protective while Dallas,
the Bay Area and Oklahoma were deemed the least protective.
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