Small business not necessarily weakest security link

Small businesses may not be the weakest link in the supply chain after all, with a lack of skills and best practices being bigger factors, a study by (ISC)² reveals.
Half of the large enterprises view third-party partners of any size as a cybersecurity risk, according to the latest Securing the partner ecosystem study by security professionals’ association (ISC)2.
However, only 14% have experienced a breach as the result of a small business partner, while 17% have been breached as the result of working with a larger partner, the poll of more than 700 security professionals across North America reveals.
These findings contradict the widely held belief that small businesses serve as the easiest conduit for cyber attacks against large enterprises, with 94% of respondents saying they are “confident” or “very confident” in their small business partners’ cybersecurity practices, while 95% said they have a standard process for vetting their suppliers’ cybersecurity capabilities.
“This research highlights the fact that building a strong cybersecurity culture and subscribing to the right best practices can help organisations of any size maximise their security effectiveness,” said Wesley Simpson, (ISC)2 chief operating officer.
“It’s a good reminder that in any partner ecosystem, the responsibility for protecting systems and data needs to be a collaborative effort, and multiple fail safes should be deployed to maintain a vigilant and secure environment. The blame game is a poor deterrent to cyber attacks.”
Nearly two-thirds (64%) of large enterprises outsource at least a quarter (26%) of their daily business tasks, which requires them to allow third-party access to their data. These outsourced functions can include anything from research and development to IT services and account payable.
This data access and sharing are necessary as a large enterprise scales its operations, but the research indicates that access management and vulnerability mitigation is often overlooked.
More than a third (34%) of large enterprise respondents said they have been surprised by the broad level of access a third-party provider has been granted to their network and data, while a similar proportion (39%) of small business respondents expressed the same surprise about the access they were granted when providing services to large enterprise partners.
The study also shows that 35% of large enterprise respondents admitted that when alerted by a third party to insecure data access policies, nothing changes in the large enterprise’s practices, while 55% of small business respondents reported that they still had access to a client’s network or data after completing a project or contract.
More than half (54%) of small business respondents have been surprised by some of their large enterprise clients’ inadequate security practices, and 53% have provided notification of security vulnerabilities they have discovered in large enterprise networks.
The report found that while small businesses have fewer employees overall, the proportion of their cybersecurity staff is not necessarily lower than in large enterprises. Nearly half (42%) of small businesses, with 250 or fewer workers, employ at least five dedicated cybersecurity staff.
By comparison, 75% of large enterprises, with more than 1,000 employees, have at least 10 staff members focused on cybersecurity. This means that some small businesses have a higher percentage of security professionals working to implement best practices and defend data and networks.
The study found that, while they may have differing toolsets, small businesses and large enterprises approach data protection similarly by focusing on many of the same cybersecurity best practices.
Both sets of respondents indicated that they employ the same top three best practices to protect their networks and data:
- Regular automatic scans with antivirus and anti-malware programs.
- Blocking access to known malicious IP addresses through firewall configuration.
- Strong email filters to prevent phishing.
The report concludes that enterprises are just as likely to be breached through a relationship with a larger third-party supplier and that enterprises need to improve their security practices in some critical areas, specifically in relation to addressing security issues discovered by partners and removing access to systems when partners no longer need it
“Breach prevention responsibility rests with all parties in a partnership, and enterprises should have the proper layered security controls in place to defend themselves from all angles of attack,” the report said.
Creating a strong culture focused on cybersecurity is a core element in raising the bar of cyber competence and readiness, no matter the size of the organisation, the report notes.
The report cited a 2018 study by (ISC)2 which found that companies that recruit and maintain strong cybersecurity teams – and are by extension more confident in being able to defend their information systems – do it by fostering a resilient culture of cybersecurity, in which executives understand and reinforce the importance of security practices, hire certified security professionals, train and promote from within, and draft clear job descriptions when hiring.
“Size isn’t the best indicator of a company’s cybersecurity abilities or likelihood of being breached. It’s everyone’s joint responsibility to do their due diligence in working with partners when shared access to networks is concerned,” the report said.
source computerweekly
Industry: Cyber Security

Latest Jobs
-
- IAM Consultant- OKTA
- Germany
- upto €90,000 plus benefits
-
I am looking for an experienced IAM process Manager to help drive forward a series of IAM implementation for a global Manufacturing business, Ideally you will be skilled with Okta and have knowledge of PAM Solutions, You will be responsible for: Driving the design and continuous improvement of complex IAM solutions in close collaboration with business partners Consult on the optimisation of IAM processes and design proper IT-based solutions to meet availability and quality targets Define technical specifications for SW-development (standards, design patterns, test cases, scenarios) and manage the life cycle of designed solutions Actively scan for relevant innovations and new technologies to identify further potential for improving IAM solutions and processes using OKTA Analyse new features of the regular Okta releases We are looking for someone with strong IAM experience as an Architect, Analyst, Technical Engineer, or similar role in the Identity and Security domain Experience with relevant certifications in development/administration, design and configuration of the Okta IAM platforms Familiar with LCM - joiners, movers, leavers, application federation - SAML, OIDC, SCIM and many other IAM terms Good mix of competences in IAM business process and project management concepts and tools e.g., ServiceNow, Jira, PRINCE2, SCRUM (agile)
-
- SAP Security Consultant
- France
- upto €70,000 plus benefits
-
I am looking for an experienced SAP Security Consultant. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of SAP security concepts and be able to apply them to real-world scenarios. ideally you will also have experience with Securitybridge or Onapsis, or a similar SAP security tool. Your responsibilities will include: Reviewing and auditing SAP security settings and controls Identifying and remediating security vulnerabilities Implementing security best practices Educating users on SAP security Experience experience in SAP security Experience with Securitybridge or Onapsis, or a similar SAP security tool would be very advantageous Strong understanding of SAP security concepts Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills Excellent communication and presentation skills Fluent in French & English
-
- Post Grad MSc Cyber security - Junior Cyber Risk Analyst wanted. UK
- United Kingdom
- Entry role
-
The perfect start to your new Cyber Security Career. Post Graduate Cyber Risk Analyst Wanted. Are you are fresh from earning your Cyber Security MSc and eager to start your career in Cyber Security? We are looking for a recent post graduate to join a forward thinking Cyber Security Consultancy for the ideal entry role into Cyber Security. Whilst employed industry experience is not expected, as full training and support will be provided, a history of recent education in Cyber Security / Cyber Risk is essential. We are looking for someone with an inquisitive mind, who is confident to ask the right questions and who isn't afraid to challenge the status quo. Superb communication skills are a must (in person, written and verbal) This is a UK based role that is remote first with monthly travel (1-2 a month) to meet with the team and in time to meet clients. If you aren’t available to travel this isn’t the opportunity. We are unable to provide VISA sponsorship as there will be a requirement to achieve Security clearance If you're adaptable, open to fresh perspectives, and excited to be part of a forward-thinking team and looking for an opportunity to help make a difference in a Cyber consulting role, this opportunity is for you. For more information apply here……
-
- Microsoft Exchange Contractor | London | OUTSIDE IR35 | SC Cleared
- London
- OUTSIDE IR35
-
Microsoft Exchange Contractor | London | OUTSIDE IR35 | SC Cleared • We require someone that has experience of migration exchange from windows server 2012 to 2019. • In depth understand of On-Prem exchange server management and deployment. • Experience migrating On-Prem exchange servers from 2012 upwards. • Secure Email Gateway experience essential Due to the nature of the requirement the individual must be commutable to London 2-3 days a week.