SME News Q4 2018

4 SME NEWS / Q4 2018 NEWS , Three in five SMEs have experienced a Cyber Attack over 12 months A Government survey conducted last year, as part of the National Cyber Security Programme, revealed 46%of UK businesses experienced at least one cybersecurity breach or attack in 2017. Furthermore, the report also found 66%of cyber attacks occurred in SMEs, 45%occurred inmicro businesses and 41% in large companies. With nearly half of the country’s businesses having experienced a cybersecurity breach, and small and medi- um enterprises being the most af- fected by these breaches, Instant Offices highlights the need for better data protection practices in the SME environment. More Connectivity = Greater Risk In recent years, workspaces have become far more connected, both physically and digitally. Employ- ees work across multiple unse- cured devices, from office desk- tops to personal laptops to tablets and even their mobile phones. In addition, more SME owners are embracing flexible and co-work- ing office spaces to save on start- up costs and keep their business agile. Without a solid security plan in place, this leaves sensitive dig- ital information and company se- crets open to a higher risk of theft. The Rise of BYOD in the Work- place BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) is a practice that allows employees to use their personal computers, smartphones or tablets for work purposes. While it might sound like a convenient solution for on- the-go business activities, BYOD also exposes companies to the increased risk of a cybersecurity breach. Data leaks, data loss, malicious apps and viruses, lack of control and lack of transparency are all problems that come with BYOD. However, that hasn’t stopped it