Nearly one in four small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are concerned about cybersecurity and remote work.
They question how they can secure a safe environment for employees working away from the office.
This is according to a new study by Markel Direct, a small business insurer. They surveyed 500 SME owners to share their cybersecurity concerns.
Almost half of SMEs reported not knowing what to do in the event of a cyber-attack (49%). 69% even reported they didn’t have a cybersecurity policy in place.
Securing remote environments was a key concern for 23% of SMEs, ranking second place in the list of cybersecurity concerns.
For 62% of respondents, the main concern was the increased sophistication of cyber-threats.
The study also analyzed how remote companies ensure the security of company data when accessed by employees working from home.
52% said they use virtual private network (VPN) access. Additionally, 48% said they train their employees on secure remote work practices and 46% have remote access policies in place.
Most SMEs are taking proactive measures to prevent cyber-attacks, with 72% having invested in antivirus software.
Plus, 7 in 10 companies make sure they regularly update their system software and 52% use multi-factor authentication.
Finally, 43% said their employees are not trained on best practices and potential threats, and over half don´t have cyber insurance in place.
