ConnectWise Survey: SMBs Worried About Security Amid Pandemic

A new ConnectWise survey shows COVID-19 has raised new cybersecurity concerns for SMBs. For instance, three-quarters of them worry about their remote devices or remote employees being breached.

Vanson Bourne conducted the SMB State of Cybersecurity report for ConnectWise. The market research firm polled more than 700 IT and business decision makers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Major Findings

Findings from the ConnectWise survey include:

• Nearly all (91%) SMBs would consider moving to a new IT service provider if it offered the “right” cybersecurity solution.
• Two in three (68%) said the “right” offering means having confidence in an MSP’s ability to respond to security incidents. Fifty-eight percent said it’s having confidence in an MSP’s ability to minimize damage or loss.
• More than one-half of SMBs lack the in-house skills necessary to properly deal with security issues. Almost half (49%) find more cybersecurity expertise as an added benefit of working with an MSP.
• Few (13%) SMBs have regular cybersecurity-related conversations with their MSP. Also, 29% talk to their MSP about cybersecurity only after they have suffered an incident.

A vast majority (86%) of SMBs place cybersecurity within the top five priorities for their organization. And six in 10 will invest more in cybersecurity because it reduces risk for their organization.

SMBs seek out MSPs to help close the security skills gap; therefore, this presents a growing market opportunity for these partners to protect clients against the expanding threat landscape.

ConnectWise’s Jay Ryerse

“There is an increased market opportunity for MSPs who participate in an ongoing basis in cybersecurity training, remain current on the latest threats, and become versed in cybersecurity technology,” said Jay Ryerse, ConnectWise’s vice president of cybersecurity initiatives. “As MSPs raise their understanding across the entire cybersecurity discipline, they find themselves strongly positioned for growth in a post-pandemic economic recovery.”

MSPs should emerge from the pandemic stronger and more agile, he said. They’ll also emerge better prepared with customers for the cybersecurity challenges ahead.