Inadequate cyber security practices 'putting SMEs at risk', analysis suggests

26 Jun 2017

Poor cyber and data security habits are putting one in ten small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at risk, an analysis carried out by accounting software developer Reckon has suggested.

Reckon found that 10% of small business owners and employees regularly send confidential files via personal devices rather than work machines. It also revealed that many send sensitive documents to personal email addresses, as opposed to work ones.

The research suggested that 25% of business owners and their employees save confidential documents onto their desktops, rather than onto a central server.

Reckon warned that poor cyber security practices may expose confidential information to the risk of hacks or unauthorised use.

It stated that the 2018 implementation of the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will make adhering to basic cyber security practices compulsory.

Mark Woolley, Commercial Director at Reckon, said: 'It's truly concerning that so many SMEs here in the UK are ignoring basic data protection rules.

'Incorrectly managing data and information . . . can pose financial, reputational and security issues to a business; something that no business owner wants to have to deal with.'