Member Article

69% of Yorkshire businesses prepared for cyber attacks

A survey of Yorkshire businesses undertaken by QBE, the business insurance specialist, shows that 69% now have a plan to protect their company and its data against a cyber attack, compared to 48% in 2012.

This is the second year that QBE has asked businesses about their cyber crime risk management procedures and is now seeing an increase in awareness and active steps to prevent online fraud and crime by Yorkshire companies.

Alongside these positive developments, 29% of Yorkshire companies still have no plan for either protecting themselves against or responding to a cyber attack - although this is an improvement from the 48% with no plan 12 months ago.

While effective risk management is key to protecting businesses from the threat posed by online criminals, there is also a critical role to be played by comprehensive insurance to cover costs and losses should the worst happen.

The survey showed that currently nearly half of Yorkshire businesses, 47%, have no insurance policy against fraudulent or malicious online activity against them. 44% of Yorkshire businesses, however, have responded to this growing problem by buying some form of insurance cover against cyber crime.

David Kelly, commercial manager, Leeds, QBE European Operations, said: “It is reassuring that there is growing awareness amongst Yorkshire businesses about the problem of cyber crime.

“I would urge all organisations to consider cyber insurance as soon as possible and for those with existing cover to check that they are comprehensively protected against all types of online crime and data breaches and no elements are omitted or excluded.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mark Lane .