46% of SMEs Sharing Confidential Files by Email During Lockdown

Blog Layout

46% of SMEs Sharing Confidential Files by Email During Lockdown

Leo Daniels • Jun 19, 2020

This is a subtitle for your new post

Nearly half (46%) of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) regularly share confidential files via email, including financial and employee data in spreadsheets, according to a new study from the Lanop Accountancy Group. This is despite the fact that 60% have not upgraded their organizations’ cybersecurity capabilities since shifting to remote working during COVID-19.

In a survey of 100 company owners of SMEs based in London, UK, which focused on their security habits during the pandemic, 59% revealed they had received an increase in phishing emails since lockdown began.

Cybersecurity expert Tim Sadler, CEO of Tessian, said: “Protecting people on email has to be a priority in this new hybrid world where employees can work from anywhere. All it takes is one simple mistake or typo for sensitive and confidential files to land in the wrong inbox and for a company to suffer a significant data breach.”

SMEs also outlined IT difficulties they have faced as a result of moving to a remote working model. A quarter said they share a Zoom account with another company, and one in five have been forced to cancel a meeting due to conference systems crashing. Meanwhile, 30% reported purchasing additional laptops, mobiles and tablets to manage remote working.

In addition, one third of company owners don’t believe they have the IT systems to continue remote working for a further three months, while 28% said their staff lack the digital skills to work from home.

Lanop also found nearly half (45%) plan to increase their IT spending in the near future, while 23% will not renew their office lease beyond the crisis.

Sridhar Iyengar, managing director of Zoho Europe, added: “The COVID-19 crisis has forced the majority of business owners to quickly implement remote working systems in order to continue trading despite strict lockdown measures. For many companies, successfully managing urgent projects, team meetings and company finances online against the backdrop of economic turmoil has brought with it a myriad of delays.”

A survey published last month by Bitglass found that most organizations are not sufficiently prepared to securely support remote working, even though 84% intend to continue this practice beyond the crisis.

We’re 1-fix, we can help you secure your business

At 1-fix, we take a realistic approach to technology – ensuring our client’s systems are best protected.

If you have any concerns, questions or simply want to explore how to better secure your business, please do get in touch with the team for a FREE demonstration, consultation to explore how exposed your business might be and identify actions to take.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Join Our Mailing List

All sign-ups are handled inline with our privacy policy and can unsubscribe at any time.

Recent Blogs

Why is outsourcing your IT Support a good thing?

By Craig Atkins • 22 Apr, 2024

Are you tired of juggling IT issues while trying to focus on growing your business? It may be time to consider outsourcing your IT support. We've put together 5 reasons why outsourcing your IT can be beneficial for you...

What is Microsoft Copilot and how can it boost your productivity?

By Grant Davis • 03 Apr, 2024

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, having an intelligent assistant by your side can make all the difference. Enter Microsoft Copilot, a powerful AI companion designed to boost productivity, spark creativity, and simplify complex tasks. Let’s dive into what makes Copilot a game-changer for individuals and businesses alike.