Fear of fraud deters Irish internet users

Consumer fear of online identity theft could be costing Irish businesses up to EUR250 million a year, according to a survey conducted by research group Behaviour & Attitudes on behalf of tech firm CA. Of the 1.4 million Irish people using the internet, as many as 350,000 do not engage in any online transactions, the survey said, and one-third of this group said they made this choice based on mistrust of all online business. Only 17 percent of Irish consumers believe online organisations are currently doing enough to protect their private data. The study also found that more than 15,000 Irish internet users may have had their identities stolen through sophisticated phishing scams, which entice surfers to supply personal information, such as bank account details, to fraudulent websites mimicking legitimate companies. For more on this story see Finfacts.

SMEs look to outsource online needs

Small and medium-sized firms around the world are increasingly relying on online services firms to sort out their web presence and online advertising strategies, according to a report from the Yankee Group. The group says that because SMEs often lack in-house technical and marketing expertise, as well as the time needed to learn these skills, they are more likely to hire a firm to design and build their website for them. Sanjeev Aggarawal, senior analyst at Yankee Group, said online marketing is "too complicated" for the average SME and so they choose to rely on online services companies. Yankee Group estimates that about 65 percent of SMEs have websites, and 39 percent offer eCommerce facilities, up 5 percent from a year ago. For more on this story see Silicon.com.

Firms fail to back up vital data: survey

Thirty-three percent of small firms are not backing up their data properly, according to KashFlow.co.uk. As much as one-third of small businesses said they had lost vital financial information as a result of a system failure or important paperwork going missing. With many small firms or sole traders only using one computer to manage their business, failure to back up regularly or a lapse in security could prove costly, according to the report. Duane Jackson, managing director of KashFlow.co.uk, said that despite a number of high-profile campaigns to encourage businesses to back up their data on a regular basis, there is clearly still a good deal of firms who have a lot to learn on the subject. For more on this story read Vnunet.com. For practical tips on how to back up your data, see Issue 150 of eBusiness Live.

Half of ICT firms suffer security breaches

Over 50 percent of ICT firms reported a security breach in the last 12 months, according to a global survey conducted by business advisory firm Deloitte. Of the reported security breaches, one-third resulted in significant financial losses for the firms involved. Among those companies whose security had been compromised in the last 12 months, half were attacked from within. Deloitte says this statistic is unsurprising given the increasing popularity of portable media devices, such as memory cards, which are routinely used to store large amounts of confidential data. The report surveyed technology, media and telecoms firms worldwide and shows that many companies are underestimating the need for security. While companies seem to understand the financial implications of security attacks, intangible factors such as damage to reputation, customer dissatisfaction and lost productivity are often overlooked. For more information on this story read ENN.

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1st, 3rd and 9th August, Guinness Enterprise Centre, Dublin 8
This three-day course from the Dublin City Enterprise Board aims to provide guidelines to assist website owners at each stage of website development and the internet marketing process. The objective of the course is to enable business owners to articulate their needs and to make informed decisions when working with web developers and other stakeholders in matters relating to the creation and promotion of their websites.

This site promises to make it easier for companies to find and use electronic marketplaces for international business, with a particular emphasis on SMEs. The not-for-profit project, in which Enterprise Ireland is a partner, aims to provide information to companies in EU member states about electronic trading platforms in various industries all over the world. A searchable directory of international eMarketplaces is provided, along with practical case studies and industry reports on the use of eMarketplaces.