Member Article

65% of Yorkshire businesses experienced cybercrime last year

More Yorkshire and North East businesses than ever are facing the threat of losing confidential information through cyber attacks, according to research published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

The 2013 Information Security Breaches Survey, which is funded by BIS and carried out by PwC, has shown that 65% of Yorkshire and North East businesses across all sectors experienced an unauthorised outside attack such as a hack, in the last year.

81% of companies surveyed had also experienced staff related incidents, 65% of which were misuse of email access.

William Richardson, forensic services partner, PwC Leeds, said: “UK and Yorkshire businesses face more advanced threats than ever before from unauthorised outsiders.

“The business world has changed and companies of all sizes, in all countries and across industries, are now routinely sharing information across business borders, whether it’s with business partners or employees’ personal devices.

“Cyber security is critical. It is no longer only an IT challenge; business leaders need to make sure they are protecting what is most critical to their organisation’s growth and reputation.

“Organisations also need to make sure that the way they are spending their money in the control of cyber threats is effective. Spending on cyber control as a percentage of an organisation’s IT budget is up this year from an average of 8 per cent to 10 per cent, but the number of breaches and their impact is also up as well so it is clear that there is work to be done in measuring the effectiveness of the security spend.”

In addition, Yorkshire and North East SMEs are increasingly under threat with 80% experiencing a frequent unauthorised access to systems or data.

And shockingly, 100% of those surveyed had seen misuse of confidential information. It is estimated this costs small businesses up to six per cent of their turnover, when they could protect themselves for far less.

This comes as the Technology Strategy Board extends its Innovation Vouchers scheme to allow small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to bid for up to £5,000 from a £500,000 pot to improve their cyber security by bringing in outside expertise.

BIS is also publishing guidance to help small businesses put cyber security higher up the agenda and make it part of their normal business risk management procedures.

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