SMEs should make cyber security a top priority, says expert

APMG International Lead Assessor Andy Taylor has said that SMEs should make cyber security one of their top priorities.

Taylor stated that hackers see small and medium-sized businesses as easier targets, as they believe that these businesses do less to protect their important data.

Tips

According to Taylor, many threats experienced by SMEs can take place within companies - such as when employees misuse data, or it becomes accidentally corrupted.

He offered a number of tips to help SMEs protect their business from cyber security threats, advising them to keep software updated, make passwords stronger, and be “vigilant” with emails.

Taylor also advised SMEs that staff training can reduce the risk of cyber-attacks, and that they should make staff aware of cyber security threats and how to deal with them.

Priority

Discussing what steps businesses can take to train their staff, he said: “Most security issues are based on ignorance, not malicious intent. Assume staff don't know all the answers and give them an environment to learn.”

His advice comes after government research showed that the average cyber-attack costs small businesses between £75,000 and £311,000.