Barely half of Irish businesses run regular automated data back-ups
Pro
Image: Stockfresh
Almost six in 10 Irish businesses (57%) do not regularly update their software, while more than half (51%) fail to run regular automated data backups according to a survey by insurance broker and risk management firm Gallagher in Ireland.
The findings were based on a survey of 300 business decision makers in Ireland and the UK, 100 of which were based in Ireland.
Researchers warned that, despite these basic gaps in protection, 92% of businesses believed they were adequately protected against cyber-attacks highlighting a disconnect between perception and reality.
Furthermore, just four in ten (39%) organisations reported having provided cybersecurity training to their staff, one of the most effective methods of preventing cyber incidents.
The survey also found 49% of respondents conducted regular automated data back-ups; 48% used multi-factor authentication for all applications utilising remote access; 43% conducted regular updates of software; 41% run system vulnerability scans; and 36% underwent regular data back-ups.
Laura Vickers, managing director of commercial lines at Gallagher in Ireland said: “Our research suggests that there is a mismatch between how well protected businesses in Ireland believe they are against cyber attacks – and the steps they have taken to manage such threats. Regularly updating software is a very basic step but it is crucial for cyber security, as updates often include security patches that address vulnerabilities and this in turn could potentially prevent cyber attacks and data breaches. Yet our survey shows that only 43% of Irish businesses do this.
“Automatic data backup is another crucial cyber security measure, as it helps protect against data loss from various incidents – such as ransomware attacks, hardware failures, and accidental deletions. Automated backups are considered more reliable and less error-prone than manual backups. Yet only half of Irish businesses run regular automated data back-ups.”
The research also found that almost two thirds (64%) of Irish businesses believed they were ‘very protected’ against a cyber attack and a further 28% said they were ‘quite protected’.
TechCentral Reporters
