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According to a study, more than 40% of SMEs are concerned about cybersecurity

2023-04-29T10:44:01.652Z


A survey detected that, among the points to be resolved, computer security is neglected. Computer security continues to appear as a serious problem. While 8 out of 10 SMEs acknowledge that they are going through a digital transformation process, cybersecurity is consolidated as the main concern : a study identified cybersecurity as the main challenge (41%) , followed by the increase in sales volume (31%) , the connection and acquisition of new clients (23%). The numbers come from an


Computer security continues to appear as a serious problem.

While 8 out of 10 SMEs acknowledge that they are going through a digital transformation process,

cybersecurity is consolidated as the main concern

: a study identified cybersecurity as the main challenge

(41%)

, followed by the increase in sales volume (31%) , the connection and acquisition of new clients (23%).

The numbers come from an annual study carried out by the consulting firm

Edelman

for

Microsoft Argentina

.

The survey indicates that 80 percent of companies continue to undergo a digital transformation process, driven three years ago by the pandemic, and, in turn, it is positively weighted by 95 percent of them.

Within those numbers, nearly half

have serious cybersecurity concerns

.

The data is not minor if one considers the enormous number of Argentine companies that were encrypted by ransomware actors, a type of program that encrypts information, blocks it, and demands a ransom money to return it.

From Osde to Ingenio Ledesma, passing through Grupo Albanesi, although it is true that cybercriminals usually target large companies,

small and medium-sized enterprises are not far behind

: many suffered cyberattacks but because they are not long-known companies, they do not reach the headlines of the media.

Whether it is for a Fortune 500 or an SME,

cybersecurity must be a central axis of any commercial operation.

It is increasingly common to see threat actors - organized or occasional - attacking small companies and organizations.

Last year the IceFire group encrypted Ipeactive, an internet provider from

Olavarría

and on the other hand CoomingProject attacked

InterWarp

, another CABA ISP.

In both cases, the information of the company, its employees and its clients was leaked”, Mauro Eldritch, BCA threat analyst, explains to Clarín.

Without a doubt, investment in information security continues to be a problem for companies.

A significant increase

SMEs are an attractive target for attackers.

Photo File

According to the survey, the point of comparison is 2021, when the same survey was carried out: in relation to that year, cybersecurity went from being one of the many to being the main concern of small and medium-sized local companies.

"Currently, 66 percent of leaders considered that cybersecurity worries them, while 70 percent did not hesitate to point it out as a priority. The issue of cybersecurity is installed on the agenda of organizations, especially those of medium size, and forms part of the policies of a large proportion of companies", they explain.

Regarding what possibilities an SME may have, Eldritch is clear: “It is possible to plan and execute a cybersecurity plan adapted to any actor in the industry regardless of its size and budget, so there is no room for excuses when it comes to to secure our own information and, above all, that of third parties (customers, partners and even employees, whose personal information is not the property of the company for which they provide service)”, he says.

Among the most widely used technologies are antivirus,

cloud storage

and calculation and text presentation and remote collaboration software, these being the last three where the largest investment gaps occur.

This is not minor if one considers that the cloud, although it is a solution, can also be a headache in terms of cyber attacks. 

“Cybersecurity and digital marketing technologies, as well as hardware, have the highest percentages of investing customers and will continue to do so.

​Bank loans continue to be the main source of financing investment in technology, although flexible payment schemes with partners have grown,” the study details.

"Small and medium-sized companies

represent a fundamental sector of the Argentine economy

and are the main source of formal employment in the country," said Sebastián Aveille, leader in Microsoft's Strategic Alliances for Latin America.

“That is why it is so important to closely monitor their evolution and offer solutions that allow them to reach their full potential.

During the last year, we have observed that in addition to the adoption of technology, hybrid work and the recruitment and loyalty of talent, cybersecurity has become the main challenge for SMEs”, he added.

"As a benchmark organization in the field of innovation and information security, from Microsoft we are prepared to accompany each SME in the digital transformation process," he closed.

Remote work, another risk factor

Computers at home, a gateway for cybercriminals.

Photo Guillermo Rodriguez Adami

Another of the findings of the study highlights that during the last year, although the percentage of companies that practice 100% remote work has decreased,

the number that practices hybrid work has increased.

"Within the universe of companies that use the hybrid modality, face-to-face work continues to occupy most of the workers' time. Digital native and non-native companies did not show great differences in this regard," they add.

"Small and medium-sized companies consulted in the study expressed the advantage of working in a hybrid mode, greater well-being for employees (43%), increased productivity (39%), cost reduction (39%), opening of new clients 35 %). Companies also still face barriers such as employee engagement (28%), internet connection problems (47% in digital natives), or cybersecurity (24%)," they warn.

This also implies a risk factor, since

remote work

, without the necessary precautions (creating safe work environments in terms of computer security, using only authorized devices and so on), can be

an attack vector for cybercriminals.

Regarding this last point, "28% of companies claimed to have experienced cybersecurity problems, a percentage that is higher among digital natives (43%), companies spend an average of 25% of their budget on cybersecurity technology, antivirus and new work platforms being the main measures adopted".

“The Digital Transformation for SMEs study, prepared every year by Microsoft Argentina and Edelman, aims to understand in depth the digital transformation experience of small and medium-sized Argentine companies almost three years after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The survey took into account the main trends, expectations and needs in terms of technology adoption, cybersecurity, hybrid work and talent recruitment ”, concludes the study.

look also

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Source: clarin

All tech articles on 2023-04-29

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