But in Atlanta, wireless security is top of mind. Sixty-three percent of Atlanta business owners are concerned about wireless data security for their businesses, and 79 percent have already installed software, such as spam filters or anti-virus protection, to keep their businesses safe from wireless security threats. Nationally, less than three-quarters (73 percent) of small businesses that use wireless technology have installed such software.
Even with wireless security as a major concern in Atlanta, less than one-fourth (23 percent) of businesses surveyed actually have an employee who handles wireless security as part of his or her job, and only 15 percent of businesses have hired an outside consultant to handle security. Atlanta businesses were the least likely among cities surveyed to hire an outside consultant or company, with the national average at 23 percent.
Atlanta is also ahead of the curve when it comes to online security. Nearly two-thirds (62 percent) of Atlanta small businesses consider online security a concern, compared with 60 percent of small businesses nationally. Nearly nine of 10 (88 percent) of Atlanta small businesses have installed software, such as spam filters or anti-virus protection, to help keep their business safe from online security threats, compared with 82 percent nationally. Of those companies that have not taken any specific precautions against computer or wireless threats, two-thirds (65 percent) nationally don't think it's an issue with their business.
According to Ray Boggs, vice president of small/medium business research at market research firm IDC, small businesses don't usually see themselves as online security targets. "These are cases in which ignorance is not bliss," Boggs said. "Threats are now highly automated and impersonal. Being small doesn't make you less vulnerable. You may be less visible than a big bank or government agency, but you still can be undermined by the bad guys."
"The survey shows that there are still many businesses that don't understand the threats that exist, the impact these threats could have on their business and livelihood, and the easy ways they can guard against them and protect their companies," said John Irwin, senior vice president, Business Communications Systems for AT&T Southeast. "Small businesses here in the Southeast and across the country depend more and more on computers and communications technology, and they need to understand how they can protect those systems, whether from a virus or other man-made attack or from a natural disaster."
Atlanta businesses are also among the most likely to back up data daily, and even hourly. A majority (52 percent) of Atlanta businesses surveyed back up data at least once a day, compared with less than half (47 percent) of businesses nationally.
When asked about the importance of recovering computer data in the event of a disaster, two-thirds (65 percent) of small businesses surveyed said it is extremely important. More than nine of 10 (93 percent) small businesses back up their data, with almost three-fourths (72 percent) backing up their data at least weekly.
Atlanta businesses were the most concerned among U.S. businesses surveyed when asked about the importance of recovering computer data in the event of a disaster, with 86 percent saying that it is important and 72 percent saying data recovery is extremely important. Although three-fourths (75 percent) of Atlanta businesses surveyed back up their data on-site using CDs, hard drives or other devices, compared with the national average of 73 percent, only 8 percent use the Internet or another computer network to send data to a remote location.
"The fact that so few small businesses back up their data remotely is surprising because so many companies recognize the importance of protecting their data," said IDC's Boggs. "It's like flossing your teeth -- people, including me, know they should but just don't do it regularly. The key is to make the process routine, automatic, convenient and painless."
