Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are the backbone of the economy, but they are also simultaneously prime targets for cyberattacks. And despite increased investments in security, many IT professionals at SMEs are more worried about security than ever before.
Security Concerns on the Rise
A new report by JumpCloud found that 50% of respondents are more concerned about security than they were six months ago. Nearly half of respondents' organizations fell victim to a cybersecurity attack in the first half of 2024, and 71% of respondents believe any security-related budget cuts would increase their risk.
IT Sprawl and Lack of Resources Hinder Security
The report highlights several factors that make it difficult for SMEs to secure their IT environments, but two of the standout factors are IT sprawl and lack of resources.
Just about half of SMEs require between five and 10 tools to manage the worker lifecycle, even though 84% would prefer to do so with only one. This sprawl makes it harder to track everything in the environment and increases the risk of security breaches.
At the same time, half of IT professionals say they lack the resources and staffing to secure the organization against cybersecurity threats.
Emerging Technologies Pose New Threats
Additionally, the report found that emerging technologies (such as AI) have contributed to the rise in security risks; 61% of IT professionals agree that AI is outpacing their organization's ability to protect against threats. Furthermore, 84% of SMEs are concerned about shadow IT. Shadow IT is the use of unauthorized applications and services, and it was the cause of 37% of the breaches SMEs have experienced so far this year.
“To help combat the security holes shadow IT creates, IT needs to deploy tools to help spot rogue apps,” said Greg Keller, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, JumpCloud. “This will give IT teams the control and visibility they need to keep organizations safe.”
That leads to our next point: MSPs are a critical tool for many SMEs, and the reports backs that statement. In fact, 76% of SMEs rely on an MSP for at least some functions, and 67% of SMEs plan to increase their investment in MSPs over the next year.
However, some SMEs are looking for more from their MSPs. SMEs who don't use MSPs say it's because they prefer to handle IT themselves. Why? Well, cost was the most common reason why SMEs cut ties with their MSPs. That is why the report suggests that MSPs should focus on security, cost, scale and customer experience to be successful in the SME market.
“IT teams are dealing with many obstacles,” said Keller. “They face uncertainty about economic conditions and elections.”
To summarize, JumpCloud's report provides valuable insights; by understanding these trends, IT teams can make informed decisions about how to best secure their organizations.
Edited by
Alex Passett
