SMEs and cyber security

Karen Renaud; Jacques Ophoff

SMEs and cyber security

Karen Renaud
, Jacques Ophoff

Department of Cybersecurity and Computing

Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

Abstract

It is well known that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are being targeted by cyber criminals, and that many fall victim to attacks. We carried out an investigation, funded by the Scottish Government, to find out what the state of play was for UK SMEs. We surveyed 361 small businesses (with fewer than 250 employees) across the UK to determine their experience of attacks, attitudes towards cyber security, and to assess their current practices in terms of controls they implement and precautions they take in the cyber domain. We asked them several questions to assess their “cyber situational awareness”, based on Endsley’s (1985) theory[1]. Our questions were aimed at assessing SMEs’ awareness of:

The reality of cyber security threats.
The precautions and controls they could take.
The need to act upon their knowledge.

Original language	English
Specialist publication	Cyber Insights Magazine
Publisher	Global Foundation for Cyber Studies and Research (GFCyber)
Publication status	Published - 27 Jul 2021

Access to Document

https://www.cyber-insights.org/3-simple-tips-for-using-technology-to-get-ahead-your-competition/

Moving businesses towards cyber resilience
Ophoff, J. (Creator) & Renaud, K. (Creator), Figshare, 31 Mar 2022
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.17091512
Dataset

Moving businesses towards cyber resilience
Renaud, K. (Other) & Ophoff, J. (Other), 27 Apr 2021
Research output: Non-textual form › Digital or Visual Products

Cite this

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AB - It is well known that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are being targeted by cyber criminals, and that many fall victim to attacks. We carried out an investigation, funded by the Scottish Government, to find out what the state of play was for UK SMEs. We surveyed 361 small businesses (with fewer than 250 employees) across the UK to determine their experience of attacks, attitudes towards cyber security, and to assess their current practices in terms of controls they implement and precautions they take in the cyber domain. We asked them several questions to assess their “cyber situational awareness”, based on Endsley’s (1985) theory[1]. Our questions were aimed at assessing SMEs’ awareness of: The reality of cyber security threats. The precautions and controls they could take. The need to act upon their knowledge.

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SMEs and cyber security

Abstract

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Datasets

Moving businesses towards cyber resilience

Research output

Moving businesses towards cyber resilience

Cite this