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Infosecurity Europe has revealed the findings of a recent poll , highlighting that the risk of data breaches is further exacerbated by reduced investment – with a quarter of small businesses spending less on cyber-resilience .

THERE WAS

A STICKING PLASTER PLACED OVER SECURITY

DURING

THE SHIFT TO REMOTE WORKING , WHICH ISN ’ T SUSTAINABLE .

LACK OF EXPERTISE is the

The surge in remote workers driven by COVID-19 lockdowns is the second biggest stumbling block , cited by 34 % of respondents . The findings suggest that the need for SMBs to adopt digital ways of working at pace may have significantly increased their cybersecurity risk and vulnerabilities .

The impacts felt by small businesses across the UK as a result of the coronavirus pandemic are estimated to be six times larger than they were during the 2008 recession , according to analysis undertaken by O ₂

Business and the Centre for Economic Business Research ( Cebr ).

Infosecurity Europe ’ s poll set out to find out how SMBs are managing to build and invest in cyber-resilience – their ability to prepare for , respond to and recover from cyberattacks – and the obstacles they face .

“ The rapid pivot to remote working was – and continues to be – a huge challenge for SMBs ,” said Maxine Holt , Senior Research Director at Omdia .

“ These organisations typically don ’ t have a dedicated cybersecurity function and it ’ s part of someone ’ s job to oversee it . There was a sticking plaster placed over security during the shift to remote working , which isn ’ t sustainable . Companies must now peel the sticking plaster back and put longer term security approaches in place .”

The skills deficit is of particular concern as half ( 49.7 %) of poll respondents believe small companies bear primary responsibility for educating and supporting themselves in