According to a recent CBI survey, 60% of medium-sized firms engage with their suppliers, partners or clients online. But over half (52%) of these firms plan for no security measures whatsoever.
Small firms fare little better but medium-sized companies, who are more likely to integrate their systems with large firms as well as trade with smaller ones, are putting themselves and their supply chain more at risk.
"Small and medium-sized firms are engaging ever more closely with each other and with their customers online," said Alun Michael, DTI Minister for Industry and the Regions. "In the future we will probably need to start thinking of the supply chain as being something more like a business ‘eco-system', where it is all the more vital for companies to protect their information assets."
The CBI has launched a new IT security guide aimed specifically at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The guide, which has the support of the Department of Trade and Industry and Ernst & Young, includes advice on how to deal with online attack, viruses and cybercrime in the supply chain.
The guide, Securing business value online - A guide for SMEs in the supply chain, can be purchased for £20 from the CBI bookshop.
