Charlotte Businesses Concerned about Wireles Security but Not Likely to Hire Staff to Address IT
Only Two of Five Charlotte Businesses Have Employees to Handle Wireless Security, Lowest Among Cities Surveyed
Charlotte, North Carolina, December 6, 2007
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) has announced that, in Charlotte, wireless security is top of mind, with a majority (55 percent) of business owners expressing concern about wireless data security for their businesses, but only 19 percent of businesses actually have an employee who handles wireless security as part of his or her job, according to a survey conducted by AT&T. Even without staff, 75 percent of Charlotte businesses surveyed have already installed software, such as spam filters or anti-virus protection, to keep their businesses safe from wireless security threats, compared to 73 percent nationally.
Nationally, although a majority of small businesses secure their computer systems, one-fourth (24 percent) are unconcerned about computer and online data security, and 10 percent have taken no action to secure their data. Similarly, one-third (32 percent) of small businesses are unconcerned about wireless data security, and one in six (17 percent) small businesses that use wireless technology has taken no precautions against wireless threats.
Nearly two-thirds (60 percent) of small businesses across the country consider online security a concern, and four-fifths (82 percent) have installed software, such as spam filters or anti-virus protection, to help keep their business safe from online security threats. Of those companies that have not taken any specific precautions against computer or wireless threats, two-thirds (65 percent) don't think it's an issue with their business. In Charlotte, 62 percent of business owners expressed concern about online security, and 79 percent have installed software to prevent online security breaches, just under the national average.
According to Ray Boggs, vice president of small/medium business research at market research firm IDC, small businesses don't usually see themselves as online security targets. "These are cases in which ignorance is not bliss," Boggs said. "Threats are now highly automated and impersonal. Being small doesn't make you less vulnerable. You may be less visible than a big bank or government agency, but you still can be undermined by the bad guys."
"The survey shows that there are still many businesses that don't understand the threats that exist, the impact these threats could have on their business and livelihood, and the easy ways they can guard against them and protect their companies," said John Irwin, senior vice president, Business Communications Systems for AT&T Southeast. "Small businesses here in the Southeast and across the country depend more and more on computers and communications technology, and they need to understand how they can protect those systems, whether from a virus or other man-made attack or from a natural disaster."
Data Backup
When asked about the importance of recovering computer data in the event of a disaster, two-thirds (65 percent) of small businesses said it is extremely important. More than nine of 10 (93 percent) small businesses back up their data, with almost half (47 percent) doing so at least once a day and almost three-fourths (72 percent) backing up their data at least weekly. Charlotte businesses matched the national average, with 47 percent backing up data at least once a day.
Charlotte businesses also reflected the national average in how they choose to back up data. Three-fourths (73 percent) of small businesses back up their data on-site using CDs, hard drives or other devices while only 7 percent use the Internet or another computer network to send data to a remote location. In Charlotte, 73 percent back up data on-site using CDs, hard drives or other devices while only 6 percent use the Internet or another computer network to send data to a remote location.
"The fact that so few small businesses back up their data remotely is surprising because so many companies recognize the importance of protecting their data," said IDC's Boggs. "It's like flossing your teeth — people, including me, know they should but just don't do it regularly. The key is to make the process routine, automatic, convenient and painless."
Study Methodology
The results are based on a telephone survey of 1,000 owners and/or employees responsible for Information Technology (IT) at small businesses in 10 U.S. metropolitan/regional areas. One hundred interviews were completed in each of the 10 markets. The sample of participating companies was drawn from Dunn and Bradstreet's business list of companies located in each of the 10 areas. Each company was screened to include only those that have between two and 25 employees (full- and part-time). Eight of the 10 metropolitan areas are based on DMAs (Designated Market Areas). The other two markets are the states of Connecticut and Oklahoma. Interviewing was conducted between July 2 and Aug. 10, 2007.
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