UK mid-sized firms voice concerns over cybersecurity threats

Mid-sized enterprises in the United Kingdom have expressed a significant degree of anxiety regarding cyber security, with some 43% of them worried about potential hacking and cyber attacks, according to newly released data from technology company ANS.

Out of these, 45% reported that they were either 'very' or 'fairly' apprehensive that their present cyber security measures were not strong enough. In addition, another 43% showed concern regarding the management of their cyber security, as revealed in the Business Blockers report.

These extensive worries among UK mid-size enterprises, in light of the existing state of the cyber threat environment, are hardly baseless. Businesses of all sizes face an increasingly high level of threats, with the government's latest Cyber Security Breaches Survey estimating that a total of 7.78 million cyber-crime incidents took place against UK businesses over the previous year.

Stephen Crow, Head of Information Security at ANS, spoke about the report's discoveries: "The cyber threat landscape is ever changing, and regrettably, UK mid-sized enterprises are all too frequently the targets for cyber criminals.

"No matter their size or turnover, all businesses must invest in cyber security now and take a proactive position," he said.

Crow added that, "For any mid-sized enterprise, cyber security technology can be accessible and cost-effective. And for those enterprises who reported concerns around managing cyber security, there is no reason it cannot be easy to manage long-term."

Crow also emphasised that although maintaining up-to-date knowledge of threat intelligence can be intimidating, employing a digital transformation partner can lend support to ensure the entire process is as smooth as possible.

Despite this growing threat landscape, ANS's report reveals a substantial number of businesses in the United Kingdom that remain unconcerned about cyber security. While 35% of businesses were 'not very worried', 14% were 'not worried at all'. This suggests a significant need for education about the frequency and severity of cyber attacks and how businesses can better protect themselves.

In addition to the widely cited anxiety about getting hacked and experiencing a cyber attack, UK mid-sized enterprises have expressed serious concerns about other aspects such as the cost of doing business (42%), hitting growth targets (35%), not having the right technology to meet business goals (29%), and being left behind by competitors (27%).

The Business Blockers report also surveyed attitudes towards emerging technological concepts such as artificial intelligence and low code, along with the obstacles inhibiting business growth in the UK.