smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Small businesses need to be proactive in ensuring they do not fall victim to cyber crime, a new report indicates.

Research from Get Safe Online, a joint government and industry initiative, showed that 44 per cent of the UK's small firms had been a victim of this kind of crime, including internet scams, phishing, data theft and identity fraud.

Among those who had experienced cyber crime, 19 per cent said they had lost revenue as a result, with the typical business being £1,540 out of pocket.

In spite of this, only five per cent of small businesses have access to dedicated IT support (either in-house or outsourced), with many business owners attempting to keep up with online security threats themselves.

Sharon Lemon of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) urged small companies to use the new leaflet at www.getsafeonline.org, to make sure they are safe.

The campaign recommends a series of simple steps, including protecting IT equipment from theft, securing remote access, using encryption, protecting e-commerce websites and controlling access to critical information.

Get Safe Online's managing director, Tony Neate, comments: 'The good news is that small businesses are taking the general basic steps to protect themselves - for example, 97 per cent of those surveyed in our research protect their IT equipment with anti-virus software.

'However, as cyber crime becomes more sophisticated, basic measures aren't enough on their own. Businesses also must look at access control, data encryption and secure password practices, as well as looking at other measures such as staff training.'

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