Survey: Realities of a Remote Workforce Increase Cybersecurity Concerns for Half of All Small Business Owners, But Policies, Training Still Lag

The overnight move to a “virtual workplace” has increased cybersecurity concerns for small business owners, but many still have not implemented remote working policies to address cybersecurity threats, according to a survey conducted in late March. Half of all business owners are concerned that remote working will lead to more cyberattacks, but nearly 40 percent feel that economic uncertainty will prevent them from making necessary cybersecurity investments.

For companies with fewer than 20 employees, only 22 percent provided additional cybersecurity training for remote working, and just 33 percent provided “any” training for it. For larger small businesses, that last figure rose only to 46 percent. Only 40 percent of small businesses have implemented a remote work policy focused on cybersecurity as a result of the pandemic. Almost 60 percent said that some employees would be using personal devices to work from home.