Insecurities about security

In our final analysis of exclusive research into how small and medium-sized enterprises view and use technology Helen Beckett looks at how they respond to threats, both real and imagined, from viruses and hackers. The internet has extended the reach of small businesses but it has also has made them vulnerable. In Computer Weekly and BT’s SME Audit (a survey of companies with fewer than 500 employees about their attitudes to IT) their fears about the malignant forces roaming the internet – both real and imagined – showed up as the biggest concern shared by small and medium-sized organisations. With 60% registering “serious concern” about the danger of hackers and viruses and a further 32% expressing “moderate concern”, confidence in the community is clearly low. The Federation of Small Business confirms that scares about internet security play on the fears of naturally conservative SMEs and, in particular, that they are worried about transacting online. “They hanker after the certainties of a world where ‘my word is my bond’,” says Stephen Alambritus, head of parliamentary affairs for the federation. “They want the firm handshake, the cheque in the post.” August was the busiest month on record for malicious activity: 800 new viruses were detected and the big four – Mimail, Blaster, Nachi and Sobig – all seriously compromised security of big and small firms alike. Full Story