Skip to main content
Thinking about starting a business? Have an idea to explore – or ready to launch? The MEC Resource Centre is here to support you

Search

For a successful business, you need a viable business idea, the skills to make it work and the funding. Discover whether your idea has what it takes.

Forming your business correctly is essential to ensure you are protected and you comply with the rules. Learn how to set up your business.

Advice on protecting your wellbeing, self-confidence and mental health from the pressures of starting and running a business.

Learn why business planning is an essential exercise if your business is to start and grow successfully, attract funding or target new markets.

It is likely you will need funding to start your business unless you have your own money. Discover some of the main sources of start up funding.

Businesses and individuals must account for and pay various taxes. Understand your tax obligations and how to file, account and pay any taxes you owe.

Businesses are required to comply with a wide range of business laws. We introduce the main rules and regulations you must comply with.

Marketing matters. It drives sales and helps promote your brand and products. Discover how to market your business and reach your target customers.

Some businesses need a high street location whilst others can be run from home. Understand the key factors from cost to location, size to security.

Your employees can your biggest asset. They can also be your biggest challenge. We explain how to recruitment and manage staff successfully.

It is likely your business could not function without some form of IT. Learn how to specify, buy, maintain and secure your business IT.

Few businesses manage the leap from start up to high-growth business. Learn what it takes to scale up and take your business to the next level.

A social enterprise is a business that trades to tackle social problems, improve communities, people’s life chances, or the environment.  A social enterprise is a business, not a charity, that makes money and profit. 

Cyber threat rises as more people work on their own devices

22 June 2021

As eight in ten organisations say they actively encourage their employees to use their own devices for work (BYOD), fears about the associated cyber threats are growing.

The rise in remote working has brought with it a surge in the number of people using their own personal devices for work - including computers, tablets and smartphones - a trend known as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). But experts are warning that businesses are ill-equipped to deal with growing security threats such as malware and data theft associated with BYOD.

The 2021 BYOD Security Report, published by Bitglass in a joint venture with Cybersecurity Insiders, has found that many enterprises are "running blind" when it comes to securing BYOD devices against today's cyber security threats. The issue is critical, it says, because many businesses are moving to permanent remote work or hybrid work models.

The study's findings show that 82% of organisations said they now actively enable BYOD to some extent, with 47% saying the use of personal devices for work has gone up in the past year.

However, cyber security professionals are worried about the impact of the rise in BYOD:

  • 62% said their most critical concern is data leakage or loss;
  • 54% are worried about users downloading unsafe apps or content;
  • 53% have fears about devices being lost or stolen;
  • 51% are concerned about unauthorised access to company data and systems.

Suggesting that businesses are ill-prepared when it comes to cyber threats, the findings reveal that nearly half of those polled (49%) said they "are not sure or could not disclose … that unmanaged devices have downloaded malware in the past 12 months".

The study also raises concerns that many organisations are securing BYOD with old tools to protect against modern threats - 41% are relying on endpoint malware protection for BYOD and 30% don't protect against malware for BYOD at all. Just 11% of respondents said they use cloud-based malware protection tools.

"As mobility and remote work environments keep growing, so do challenges ranging from managing device access to handling urgent mobile security concerns," said Holger Schulze, founder, Cybersecurity Insiders. "Our research uncovered a plethora of evidence that shows organisations are not paying enough attention to securing unmanaged personal devices and why the time is now for them to think differently when it comes to securing BYOD."

Anurag Kahol, cto at Bitglass, added: "As enterprises begin to shift to hybrid work environments, personal devices will provide the flexibility and remote access that employees require. This new way of working, however, will undoubtedly stretch the resources of security teams. This is why there has never been a more important time for enterprises to seriously rethink their approach and secure all forms of communication amongst users, devices, apps or web destinations."

Written by Rachel Miller.

Stay up-to-date with business advice and news

Sign up to the lively and colourful newsletter for new and more established small businesses.