Small Businesses Still Struggling With GDPR

Data and cyber security have been thrown firmly into the forefront of businesses’ and consumers’ minds, with the introduction of the GDPR legislation earlier this month, as well as a number of high-profile data breaches.

But it seems that for many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) it’s difficult to understand all their obligations under GDPR.

A poll commissioned recently by Aon found that half of SMEs are still confused about what is and isn’t allowed under the new data protection regulations, News Anyway reported.

One issue is allowing staff to use their own computers, tablets or phones for work purposes, with over a quarter of the businesses surveyed admitting that they do this.

There are also problems with paper forms and diaries, which can be easily misplaced. As these can often contain personal information, such as names and addresses, they could put businesses in breach of GDPR legislation.

Worryingly, the survey also found that one in four business owners didn’t realise that the loss of paperwork could constitute a data breach.

The research also revealed that 45 per cent of firms don’t have any kind of cyber insurance in place, which could offer some protection in the event of a cyber attack.

Dr Emma Philpott, from the UK Cyber Security Forum, told Business Matters Magazine that once the GDPR deadline passed, the issue of data security slipped down the agenda for many businesses.

She said: “There is a lot of misunderstanding of risks, and still a worry among SMEs that it must be complicated. It is not always about high-end security.”

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