Worries over cyber-security threat of more remote working

More than half of employers believe their IT systems have been left more exposed to attack following the huge increase in people working from home during the pandemic, according to a new survey.

The survey of almost 1,000 UK firms by the British Chambers of Commerce and IT company Cisco also found that one in 10 firms said they had been the victim of a cyber-attack in the last year, rising to more than one in seven for larger firms.

Yet despite this, four out of five firms said they did not currently have accredited cyber-security measures in place to protect against attacks.

Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said: “The huge shift to home working, and the use of cloud computing, for tens of thousands of employees happened almost overnight, so it is not surprising that many firms were caught out by the implications this had for their cyber-security arrangements.

“All of the BCC’s research indicates that a shift to a more hybrid way of working, with many staff now splitting their time between the office and home, is here to stay, so it is more vital than ever that firms have the right cyber-security protections in place.

“With one in 10 firms confirming they have come under attack in the last year, the need to take action now could not be more important.”

Aine Rogers, Head of Small Business, Cisco UK & Ireland, added that the survey showed a need to evolve thinking to focus on securing employees and what they are doing, not where they are.

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