| Small businesses thinking of making the move to | | | | of small businesses have access to dedicated IT |
| accept payments from customers via the internet | | | | support, either internally or via an outsourced provider. |
| need to seek advice before doing so, according to | | | | Instead, many business owners have to take it upon |
| Tony Neate, managing director of Get Safe Online. | | | | themselves to keep up with the latest online security |
| Research taken by the organisation reveals that 44 | | | | issues. Of those who had experienced online crime or |
| per cent of small businesses in the UK have been a | | | | other IT-related problems, almost a fifth (19 per cent) |
| victim of cybercrime, including internet scams, identity | | | | said they lost revenue as a result of downtime - the |
| fraud, phishing and data theft. Of those businesses | | | | average figure cited as £1,540 - or an estimated |
| affected, more than a third (36 per cent) had suffered | | | | £750 million in losses across the UK small |
| a computer virus and almost one in five (18 per cent) | | | | business population as a whole. |
| had been a victim of internet scams such as phishing, | | | | Furthermore 60 per cent of small businesses said they |
| spyware or hacking in the last two years. | | | | would grind to a halt altogether if their PCs were taken |
| In such an environment, Mr Neate said that as soon as | | | | down by cybercrime or IT related issues. |
| your company is responsible for handling other people's | | | | While businesses must look at access control, data |
| confidential information, then new rules and regulations | | | | encryption and secure password practices, as well as |
| come in to play. | | | | looking at other measures such as staff training, it's |
| He reveals that there are now regulations that have | | | | also important to remember that by taking a few |
| been brought in by the credit card companies, and | | | | simple precautions should mean that online risks |
| small business outfits probably need to have a look at | | | | needn't overshadow the huge benefits that the internet |
| those because they will likely be imposed on them as | | | | brings to UK businesses. |
| a result of taking credit card details. | | | | Disclaimer: |
| The message is that if you are not an expert in | | | | This article has been written for information and |
| relation to computers and computer security and you | | | | interest purposes only. The information contained within |
| have your own e-commerce site or server, then you | | | | this article is the opinion of the author only, and should |
| need to get advice. Furthermore, if you are taking | | | | not be construed as advice or used to make financial |
| people's credit card details and transacting online, make | | | | decisions. Expert financial advice should always be |
| sure you have listened to the correct advice. | | | | sought and any links contained within this article are |
| However, Get Safe Online reveals only five per cent | | | | included for information purposes only. |