Amidst the ever-growing complexities of cybersecurity threats, small and medium-sized businesses face increasing vulnerabilities. To get ahead, IT teams must consider equipping their teams with AI-boosted protections and next-gen manageability tools – central features of Intel’s vPro platform. In this article by SME.tech’s Jess Abell, we learn about the key challenges for SMBs today and how Intel’s solutions empower customers to navigate the evolving threat landscape with confidence and reliability.
SMBs: Big targets, low on resources
Rarely does a day pass without news of a new cyberattack or data breach. Systems taken offline – sometimes for days at a time – or sensitive personal information stolen. It’s every business’ nightmare.
For a long time, the focus was on enterprises, but we now know that small and medium-sized companies are just as at risk as their larger counterparts. According to McAfee Corp’s Global Small Business Study, 44% of small businesses have experienced a cyberattack and 17% have experienced more than one. For 67% of the organisations that experienced a cyberattack, the incident occurred in the last two years, indicating that the threat of cybercrime has become more prevalent.
In fact, many SMEs have a much smaller resource-pool to lean on when it comes to managing cyberattacks. IT departments are often responsible for everything from network configuration to remote desktop management, and from renewing licenses to refreshing hardware.
Cyber awareness training might simply be a compulsory module on a HR onboarding platform and a security strategy might extend little further than the standard, free software installed on devices.
Throw in a growing remote workforce, increasing sophistication of cyberthreats in an era of AI and a widely-reported skills shortage, it can be difficult for organisations to know where to start to get a handle on it all.
Cybersecurity a top concern for UK SMBs
A recent survey conducted by Intel, in partnership with CXO Priorities, sheds light on the sentiments among IT decision-makers within the UK. The findings paint a picture of the multifaceted challenges facing organisations, with cybersecurity emerging as a top-tier concern alongside data management.
The survey targeted IT directors, IT managers and VP/executive directors of IT based in the UK to find out about their experiences and plans regarding remote working and cybersecurity. The report presents an overview of the current evolution of the threat landscape, explores the complexities of managing cybersecurity and reveals how organisations plan to prioritise and invest.
A majority of respondents acknowledged either a significant (46%) or moderate (44%) level of cybersecurity challenges faced by their organisation.
Indeed, 41% of respondents identified the increasing sophistication of cyberthreats as the most significant challenge, reflecting the evolving nature of security risks. Rapidly evolving technology landscapes (26%) also ranked prominently, highlighting the difficulty in keeping pace with technological advancements and their associated vulnerabilities.
Budget constraints (17%) and human error (16%) were acknowledged but deemed comparatively less impactful.
Phishing was cited as one of the most prevalent cyberthreats – and this only looks set to ramp up as attackers leverage AI to improve their efficiency of such attacks.
Against this backdrop, SMBs must embrace adaptive strategies and sustainable investments to stay one step ahead of the curve.
While this might be painting a gloomy picture, there are ways to mitigate these threats and tackle these challenges early. While attackers are indeed becoming savvier, so too are the defenders.
Getting ahead starts with getting the basics right and providing a layer of security that not only keeps employees protected but ensures they can work flexibly and productively, without any unnecessary interferences, while IT teams can easily manage their remote workforce.
Why Intel vPro?
Addressing the increasing sophistication of cyberthreats requires a comprehensive PC platform built specifically for businesses. Enter Intel vPro.
The platform provides AI-boosted protections at the hardware level and throughout the stack so businesses are better protected. IT is prepared for anything with a full suite of next-gen manageability tools to enable and support users no matter where they work, including functionalities to support a sustainable PC lifecycle, whilst reliable, powerful performance keeps users productive. Businesses can get all this from any device built on Intel vPro, from a comprehensive portfolio of business class options from multiple OEM vendors so any type of user can enjoy a professional-grade experience.
In an era defined by relentless digital innovation and evolving cyberthreats, the imperative for SMBs to prioritise cybersecurity has never been clearer. With Intel vPro leading the charge, SMBs can embark on their Digital Transformation journey with confidence, secure in the knowledge that their businesses are fortified against even the most formidable adversaries.
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