85% of UK businesses are confident their remote employees have the knowledge to mitigate cybersecurity risks

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...yet almost two thirds of these businesses think that they are likely to be impacted by a cybersecurity incident

 

BRATISLAVA –  ESET, a global leader in cybersecurity, reveals that 85% of UK businesses are confident their home-working employees, specifically those working with finance software or participating in official company transactions, have the knowledge and technology to mitigate cybersecurity risks. This could possibly be due to increased education around cybersecurity in recent years, but could potentially indicate a false sense of security as well.

Yet, this general sense of confidence comes as almost two thirds (65%) of these businesses also think they are likely to be impacted by a cybersecurity incident. With a recent study from Vodafone showing that over a million UK small businesses would be at risk of going bust if they were targeted by hackers, ESET’s findings demonstrate how important it is that remote employees are given comprehensive education on how to reduce the risk of a cybersecurity incident.

ESET has explored the attitudes of senior managers toward financial technology (FinTech) and security in the business segment of its global FinTech research, surveying 1200 senior managers in a variety of industries across the UK, US, Japan and Mexico. One of the key areas the survey focussed on was business confidence around remote working and its effects on the security of finances.

It is no secret that since the COVID-19 lockdowns began a year ago, cybercrime has increased, and remote working has presented increased risks for businesses. Cybercrime was already on the rise pre-pandemic, and our research revealed that 35% of UK businesses said they had experienced a cyber breach in the past. However, more than an eighth (15%) did not know if their company had ever experienced a cybersecurity breach, indicating that the scale of the threat posed to businesses may not be fully understood.

The pandemic has illuminated cybersecurity as a key concern for businesses, and the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2021 even ranks cyber risks among key global risks. Similarly, our research outlined that 80% of senior business leaders in the UK adopt a cybersecurity-first approach when investing in new technology solutions, and 69% of businesses are actively investing in new technologies for better security of finances.

Commenting on the results, Jake Moore, Cybersecurity Specialist at ESET, said, “As cybercrime continues to permeate the business world, and with serious financial and reputational consequences, it is essential that businesses are mitigating any risks. Even as the UK begins easing lockdown measures and a return to the office draws closer, it is clear that mass remote working is here to stay.

“This shift in the way we work has permanently altered the threat landscape, and with new opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit, it is essential that all employees across any organisation are equipped with the knowledge and tools to detect and prevent a cyberattack or data breach. As we begin to move forward from the pandemic, cybersecurity cannot be overlooked as an essential part of business strategy, and ESET’s research reflects the necessity of continued investment in cybersecurity.” To learn more about ESET and its global financial technology research, please visit our newsroom.

 

About ESET 
For more than 30 years, ESET® has been developing industry-leading IT security software and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure and consumers worldwide from increasingly sophisticated digital threats. From endpoint and mobile security to endpoint detection and response, as well as encryption and multi-factor authentication, ESET’s high-performing, easy-to-use solutions unobtrusively protect and monitor 24/7, updating defences in real time to keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. Evolving threats require an evolving IT security company that enables the safe use of technology. This is backed by ESET’s R&D centres worldwide, working in support of our shared future. For more information, visit our website or follow us on LinkedInFacebook, and Twitter.