Round half (49%) of SME IT groups consider they lack the resources and staffing to defend their group towards cyber-threats, in keeping with a brand new report by JumpCloud.
The survey of 612 IT decision-makers within the UK and US additionally discovered that nearly half (49%) of SME IT groups have skilled layoffs up to now six months, with 28% reporting they’ve gone by means of layoffs and count on extra inside six months.
Almost three-quarters (71%) of respondents added that any cuts to their safety funds would enhance organizational danger.
The excessive risk stage confronted by SMEs was highlighted by the very fact practically half (45%) of those organizations have fallen sufferer of a cyber-attack within the first half of 2024.
Of those companies, 28% have been hit by two assaults, 17% have skilled three, and 5% greater than three.
Moreover, 60% of respondents mentioned they take into account safety as the largest IT problem.
Shadow IT is a Rising Menace to SMEs
Lack of visibility and management of purposes and gadgets with out the IT staff’s information was cited as a priority by 84% of respondents, with 35% ‘very involved’.
Various challenges had been highlighted in addressing shadow IT danger:
- Lack of skill to find all of the purposes utilized by staff (31%)
- Enterprise customers shifting too quick to maintain up with their wants (31%)
- Lack of partnership and communication with enterprise companions (29%)
- Not having a SaaS administration or asset administration resolution to handle shadow IT (24%)
Many SMEs additionally enable staff to make use of a wide range of gadgets for enterprise functions. The typical gadget panorama for these organizations is made up of 63% Home windows, 24% macOS and 18% Linux.
Read here: Most Security Pros Admit Shadow SaaS and AI Use
SMEs Establishing AI Integration Plans
The JumpCloud report highlighted a pickup in SMEs planning for AI use. SMEs planning AI initiatives inside the subsequent six months elevated from 27% in Q1 2024 to 35% in Q2 2024.
Simply 10% mentioned they haven’t any plans to implement AI, down from 13% when surveyed on the finish of 2023.
Moreover, 82% of IT decision-makers surveyed mentioned their organizations needs to be investing in AI, with 77% viewing these applied sciences as a internet constructive for the enterprise.
Read here: Two-Thirds of Organizations Failing to Address AI Risks, ISACA Finds
Round a 3rd (35%) mentioned they’re apprehensive about AI’s impression on their job, representing a major fall from 45% who mentioned the identical in Q1 2024.
Over two-thirds (67%) of SMEs have a coverage round AI.
Nonetheless, considerations about AI’s impression on cybersecurity stay prevalent, with 61% agreeing that AI is outpacing their group’s skill to guard towards threats. 1 / 4 (25%) reported experiencing AI-generated assaults within the first half of 2024.
