SMEs lacking in access security systems

59 percent of UK SMEs are not taking their access security seriously enough and are at “huge risk” of a security breach, according to research.

Digital ID, the access control and smart card specialist, conducted research which found 23 percent of businesses have “very little” visitor security and 36 percent have no visitor security processes at all.

When asked what security measures they did have in place, of the total 59 percent above, most only had locks or security lights, with nearly two thirds of them admitting they were not in use during working hours.

Only 41 percent had more complex security measures in place, with ID cards and restrictive access gates being the most popular.

Adam Bennett, digital marketing manager at Digital ID, said: “At the very least, small businesses should have cyber security in place, but construction sites or building firms, for example, should make sure there’s a level of access control in areas where items or equipment could be stolen.

“It’s not just equipment that can be lost too, but important data, such as payment details and intellectual property, costing a business its reputation as well as money.”

The access control market combined with other technology is expanding. Last year, outsourcer Capita IT Enterprise Services became one of the first UK firms to achieve Physical Security Authorised Technology Provider (ATP) status from Cisco.

The status recognised Capita as having fulfilled Cisco’s training requirements and programme prerequisites to sell, deploy and support Cisco Physical Security products and solutions. Cisco’s solutions support video surveillance, access control, incident management and security operations, enabled by Cisco’s medianet technologies.

Other suppliers to have Physical Security Authorised Technology Provider (ATP) status from Cisco include CompuCom, Nexus, Zones and NetSync.

@AntonySavvas