Events , Governance & Risk Management , Infosecurity Europe 2023

Small and Midsized Firms Still Struggle With Cyber Basics

General cybersecurity hygiene has gotten worse at small and midsized businesses, according to Simon Newman, CEO of the Cyber Resilience Center for London. "Businesses are less able to spot that they've been a victim than they perhaps have in previous years," he said.

See Also: Core Elements of Modern Workforce Identity Security

Newman said that "too few organizations are getting the basics right." For instance, they lack robust password policies, data backup procedures, automatic updates and rigorous patching programs. "We're not getting those basics right and because of that, it's making it easy for criminals," he said.

In this video interview with Information Security Media Group at Infosecurity Europe 2023, Newman discussed:

• Why SMEs still struggle with basic cyber hygiene;
• The attacks and attack vectors SMEs need to prepare for;
• Practical steps SMEs can take to improve their security posture.

Newman leads the Cyber Resilience Center for London - a not-for-profit organization focused on reducing the vulnerability of SMEs to common cyberthreats. He previously held a number of senior management roles across the public sector in the U.K. and abroad, including at the Home Office, where he was program director for the National Police Air Service, and strategic adviser to the Ministry of the Interior in the United Arab Emirates. He recently was named an Honorary Visiting Fellow at City, University of London.