About e-Crime Wales

e-Crime Wales is a partnership of organizations and agencies tackling the threat of e-Crime to the Welsh economy, a threat that currently costs Wales £160 million per year. Bringing together the four Welsh Police Forces, public and private sectors, e-Crime Wales shares intelligence and increases knowledge of risk and prevention amongst Welsh businesses.

The Threat
Many small and medium-sized businesses are under the mistaken impression that their size, or the minimal security steps they have already taken, will protect them from cyber attacks. This assumption is both inaccurate and dangerous.

Attacks on information systems operated by small and mid-sized companies are growing rapidly and having severe impacts on business operations. One survey showed that about one out of every three small businesses was affected by the “MyDoom” virus. That is twice the proportion of large enterprises that were hit by the same virus.

Current estimates put business losses as high as several billions of pounds each week to various forms of cyber attacks.

Obviously, larger firms have more to lose in terms of absolute cost. However, the narrower profit margins under which smaller businesses typically operate make it all the more important that they become pro-active in protecting their information systems.

Think of what would happen if your business computer data were not backed up on a regular basis.

• How badly would the loss of your business computers affect your ability to conduct normal business?

• How much would it cost to repair?

• How much data would be lost beyond replacement? How much would this data loss cost your company?

• Can you afford this kind of down time and inconvenience?

One likely reason that smaller enterprises are being hurt by such a dramatically higher percentage than larger firms is that many larger companies, with greater economies of scale, are making systematic attempts to manage the risk to their information systems. For this they use large information technology departments that small businesses cannot afford.

Why Would Anyone Attack My Business?
Many attacks on Internet and network systems have no particular target. The attacker simply sends a large broadcast that uses any unprotected system as a staging point from which to launch an attack. Using computers without basic protections like firewalls, anti-virus software, and user education not only affects your own business, but many other businesses as the virus is spread around the Internet.

Your system’s lack of protection makes you a target: it can destroy your computer, your network, and can contribute to a virus distribution that slows or halts portions of the Internet. All of us who use the Internet have a responsibility to help create a culture
of security that will enhance consumer and business confidence. But most importantly, failing to heed best step advice could hurt your company significantly.

Visit the e-Crime Wales Website for more detailed information on security threats to your business and how to avoid them.