Trend Micro Global Survey Reveals Data Loss Among the Biggest Concern for Small Businesses

CUPERTINO, Calif., Nov. 2, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Viruses, Trojans, data-stealing malware, and data leaks were rated as big IT concerns among small businesses, according to Trend Micro's 2010 corporate end user survey, which included 1600 end users(1) in the U.S., U.K., Germany and Japan. On average, 63 percent of small businesses(2) were most concerned by viruses, 60 percent by Trojans, 59 percent by data-stealing malware (malware designed by cybercriminals specifically to steal data), followed by 56 percent by data leaks -- the intentional or unintentional sending of sensitive or crucial information outside the corporate network. Phishing scams and spam were least concerning among the small businesses surveyed.

"What this tells us is that data loss, either through internal data leaks or malware, is a serious issue for small businesses, especially as they become more aware of their attractiveness to cybercriminals," said David Perry, global director of education, Trend Micro. It would not be surprising to see data-stealing malware and data leaks pushed up to number one and two on this list in the next few years."  

Small businesses are less prepared, less aware of data loss

Despite these worries, the survey found that across all countries, small organizations are less likely by 23 percent to have preventative data leak policies in place than large companies.

The biggest difference was found in Japan where 81 percent of large companies have data leak prevention policies in place compared to only 47 percent of small companies.  For those businesses that have preventive data leak policies in place, employees in large companies are also significantly more likely to have received training on data leak prevention than those in small companies.

This is worsened by the fact that employees within large companies indicate more awareness of confidential business information than those in small companies. Employees in large U.S. companies are significantly more likely to indicate data leaks as a serious threat than those in smaller companies: 74 percent in large companies, 49 percent in small companies.

In the U.K., this is also significant: 73 percent of employees from large companies say they are aware of confidential information compared to 63 percent from small companies. Also worth noting is that in every country, employees in larger companies are significantly more likely to agree that other employees have leaked data from within their organization.

Employees say their companies can do better at protection

The survey found that the most prevalent forms of IT protection against data stealing malware is installing security software, restricting Internet access and implementing security policies. Even then, 21 percent of small business employees still say that their IT departments can do a better job at protecting them on potential risks associated with data-stealing malware.  More alarmingly, more than one third (35 percent) of employees in small companies indicated their IT department could have done a better job educating them about data stealing malware.

For more information regarding this survey, please visit:  http://trendmicro.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=23

Small businesses need education, awareness and the right security product that's designed for them

Education, combined with the right security technology specifically designed for your small business, is crucial in the fight against cybercrime. Check out Trend Micro's Top 10 Tips to Keep Your Small Business Safe here.  

For years, small businesses have turned to Trend Micro™ Worry-Free™ Business Security for easy, effective protection against spam, viruses, spyware, phishing attacks, hackers and other threats before they reach your business. The newest version of Worry-Free Business Security, announced today – see press release here, now includes email data loss prevention, integrated Mac-client protection, and device control.

The Trend Micro™ Smart Protection™ Network system delivers the infrastructure behind many Trend Micro products and solutions that stop social networking threats. It uses a number of patent-pending technologies and combines Internet-based (or "in-the-cloud") technologies with lighter-weight, client-based methods to ensure small businesses have immediate access to the latest and strongest protection wherever and however they connect – from home, within the company's network, or on the go.

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Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in Internet content security, focuses on securing the exchange of digital information for businesses and consumers. A pioneer and industry vanguard, Trend Micro is advancing integrated threat management technology to protect operational continuity, personal information, and property from malware, spam, data leaks and the newest Web threats. Visit TrendWatch to learn more about the latest threats. Trend Micro's flexible solutions, available in multiple form factors, are supported 24/7 by threat intelligence experts around the globe. Many of these solutions are powered by the Trend Micro Smart Protection Network cloud computing security infrastructure which delivers advanced protection from the cloud, blocking threats in real-time before they reach you. A transnational company, with headquarters in Tokyo, Trend Micro's trusted security solutions are sold through its business partners worldwide. Please visit Trend Micro.com.

(1) Defined in the survey as full-time employed with email and Internet access at work, and spend over five hours per week on the computer at work.  

(2) In the US, UK and Germany, the split between large and smaller company was made at 500 employees.  In Japan, the split was made at 250 employees.

SOURCE Trend Micro Incorporated