Member Article

Almost half of businesses don’t have adequate cybersecurity for remote working

Almost half (48%) of IT leaders admit their organisation’s cybersecurity isn’t good enough for remote working, according to new research from Distology .

With remote/hybrid working now the new norm, and the fact that cyber attackers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, organisations across the country are being encouraged to review their cybersecurity strategy as 44% of those surveyed have been impacted by a cyber-attack.

Almost half (46%) of IT decision makers across the UK believe their organisation will be attacked by cyber criminals in the future, with 54% admitting their organisation’s sensitive data is at risk of being breached.

When asked where their concerns originated from, more than one in three (37%) admit employees in their organisation haven’t been educated on how to avoid a security breach.

A further 57% admit they’re worried employees are using the same password across multiple platforms, resulting in increased vulnerability to attacks due to it being easier for cybercriminals to manipulate accounts. While employees in almost half (46%) of the organisations surveyed are using tech that is more than 10 years old.

For this reason, Distology, specialists in cybersecurity distribution, is calling on businesses across the country to review their cybersecurity strategy. Not only will this help to keep the organisation, stakeholders and sensitive data safe, it’ll also ensure employees are equipped for the new world of work.

“It’s concerning, but not a surprise, to hear that so many organisations are putting themselves, their stakeholders, their sensitive data and ultimately their reputation at risk, due to a combination of a lack of employee training, dated technologies in place and/or a minimal cybersecurity strategy to futureproof themselves against threats.

“Technology from five years ago, let alone ten years ago, wasn’t built with today’s threats in mind. And, as threat actors show no signs of reducing in intelligence, outdated security solutions make it so much easier for attackers to exploit a business’ weaknesses. In addition, every employee in every organisation should have at the very least, a basic level of training on how to spot and avoid a potential cyber-attack.” commented Lance Williams, Chief Product Officer at Distology.

With so many IT decision makers admitting to having insufficient cybersecurity protection and training in place, it’s no surprise that almost half (46%) believe the biggest cybersecurity threat lies in advancements in technology and threats.

As a result, many are looking to update the cybersecurity measures they have in place, in the not-too-distant future.

When it comes to where businesses plan to spend their budget in 2022, the research revealed the biggest focus (in order of importance) will be on:

1. Next generation firewalls (29%)
2. Multi-factor authentication (28%)
3. Secure remote access (27%)

However, there are a number of drivers which influence IT decision makers. Over the course of the next year, organisations will be prioritising products that can be easily integrated into their current security portfolio, 24/7 support to help with any issues that do arise and products they can trust.

Top 10 buying drivers

1. Integration with their current security portfolio (28%)
2. 24/7 support (27%)
3. Trust in the technology product (26%)
4. Trust in the technology brand name (26%)
5. Access to a trial within their environment to see the product in action (25%)
6. Service level agreements (24%)
7. Good reviews/recommendations (23%)
8. The product having a good uptake across the industry (23%)
9. Relationship with IT reseller/partner (22%)
10. Ease of use/management (22%)

“With the new year on the horizon, now is the time for leaders to review their current cybersecurity strategy to ensure they’re fully equipped to face the challenges of 2022 and beyond,” concluded Lance.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jessica Louise Simm .