New survey shows that not enough companies are taking security risks seriously, but some are leading the way with software solutions.
Still think cyberattacks only happen to other companies and people? If you do, you’re not alone. According to a new survey from Paychex, nearly a third (27%) of employers aren’t currently leveraging any type of data security software. Despite this, 81% of respondents say they feel confident that their data is as secure as possible. The truth is that no one is completely safe as hackers become increasingly sophisticated. Fortunately, there are more sophisticated software solutions as well.
Both those employers that use security software and those who don’t share confidence about their cybersecurity. In fact, 81% of survey respondents say they feel confident that their data is as secure as possible. When asked if their business would be able to recover from a data breach, 84% say they could. Elsewhere:
- 81% say their employees recognize the importance of data security.
- 72% say they regularly review their data security approach to ensure they are following best practices.
- 70% say their company has a clear data security policy.
- 60% say their company trains all employees on data security.
According to survey results, of the 73% of companies that use data security software:
- 48% use on-premise software.
- 11% use cloud-based software.
- 14% use both of the above.
Not surprisingly, the survey results suggest that larger companies are more likely to train employees on data security. The vast majority (89%) of companies with 100-500 employees say they provide this training, compared to only 59% of those with 1-19 workers.
“While it’s reassuring to see the majority of business owners are taking the appropriate steps—from employee training to software investments—to defend against the threat of a cyberattack or data breach, it’s not a once and done commitment,” says Bradley Schaufenbuel, Paychex chief information security officer. “As the risks of these incidents increase, employers must consistently reevaluate and adapt their security policies and controls to ensure they are as protected as much as possible against the latest types of threats.”
