Data breaches: they’re not just for the Targets and federal governments of the world any more. According to a new study from The Hartford, midsize businesses have a good chance of experiencing a data breach — if they haven’t already.
The Hartford’s recent survey of more than 500 midsize business owners and C-level execs found that 43 percent had experienced a data breach within the previous three years, and 13 percent have had a supplier’s data breach impact their own information.
That doesn’t mean business owners don’t recognize the heightened risk, however. According to the survey, 82 percent of midsize business leaders consider a data breach at least a minor risk, while 32 percent see it as a major risk. They also are aware of the risk a breach with a supplier could cause, with 53 percent of midsize leaders considering IT security and data protection practices very important when selecting a supplier.