Research from Markel Direct finds that organisations utilise VPNs, employee training, and remote access policies to secure company data.
By Maggie Mancini
A new study from Markel Direct, a specialist insurer of small businesses, has revealed that nearly one in four small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are concerned about how they secure remote working environments for employees who work away from the office.
Securing remote working environments (23%) is the second-highest cybersecurity challenge faced by SME owners, the report finds. The increased sophistication of cyber threats is firmly in the top spot, with 62% of respondents reporting it as a concern. When asked how those with remote workers ensure the security of company data when accessed by employees working from home, most (52%) say they use a virtual private network (VPN), 48% train employees on secure remote work practices, and 46% have remote access policies and controls in place.
The study also finds that 49% of SMEs wouldn’t know what to do in the event of their business suffering a cyber-attack, and 69% didn’t have a cybersecurity policy in place.
Despite this, most U.K. SMEs are taking some proactive measures to prevent cyber-attacks, with 72% having invested in antivirus/anti-malware software. Nearly seven in 10 make sure they regularly update their system software (69%) and 52% are making use of multi-factor authentication.
However, there is more that could be done, as 43% said that their employees are not trained on best practices and potential threats, and over half (53%) do not have cyber insurance in place in case of a breach, leaving their businesses vulnerable.
“Staying ahead of cyber threats is crucial for small business owners, especially as AI-driven attacks continue to evolve,” says Rob Rees, divisional director of Markel Direct. “Having a robust cybersecurity policy in place can help create a framework to safeguard against ongoing threats, whilst cyber insurance can help to protect your business in the event of a targeted attack.”
