Business News

Cyber security briefing calls attention to growing threats to Irish SMEs

By Business & Finance
31 May 2016
cyber security Perspecsys Photos

Irish SMEs have never been more vulnerable to cyber threats, according to Magnet, the organisers of an event taking place in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin on June 15th.

The frequency of cyber attacks against Irish businesses has risen from 25% in 2012 to 44% today – considerably higher than the global average of 32%. The cost associated with cybercrime has also increased over that time.

Ongoing threats include ransomware, data breaches, identity theft and fraud.

Mark Fielding, CEO, ISME will also outline the challenges Irish businesses are facing with rapidly evolving technology platforms, and the security risk that can present.

Mark Kellett, CEO of Magnet, the third largest provider of business telecoms in Ireland, will outline how to secure valued data assets and critical control systems.

“Legacy technologies and over reliance on anti-virus software are actually now part of the problem,” said Kellett prior to the event.

He continued: “A lot of existing safeguards are no longer adequate, and our new ways of working pose a threat too. Staff having access to multiple devices and using them in multiple locations, not just the office, as well as the adoption of cloud-based technology, are all creating a perfect storm of vulnerabilities for Irish business.”

The potential of cyber attack is worrying Irish businesses, according to Magnet Network’s Regional Business Barometer from January 2016 last. The survey found that businesses are more concerned in 2016 (20%) than they were the same time last year (4%).

Guest speakers at the event at the Aviva Stadium include Pat Moran, head of Cybercrime and IT Forensics at PwC, and Stuart Borgman, director of Cyber Security Engineering at the world’s fastest growing network security company, Palo Alto Networks.

Photo: Perspecsys Photos