SME Data Theft Risk Management Study

Identity Fraud, Inc. ("IFI") engaged the Ponemon Institute to conduct the Institute's first data theft risk management survey focused on the Small to Medium Enterprise (SME).

Dr. Larry Ponemon is a world-renowned expert that has worked and developed multiple studies on privacy and data theft issues and their respective costs to consumers, businesses and society-at-large. For more details on the Ponemon Institute, please visit www.ponemon.org.

The survey addressed the following topics:

• The privacy and data protection practices of SMEs.
• Identity theft, data breaches, fraud and other criminal activities experienced by SMEs participating in the study.
• Perceptions about existing and emerging data security threats to their organizations.
• Perceptions about their ability to reduce the risk of data security threats.

Highlights of the survey include:

• 86% have been the victim of bank, checking account and credit card fraud.
• 77% have experienced a burglary.
• 63% have had an employee steal money or other assets (including data).
• Fifty-eight percent of business owners admit they are not protected from data threats.
• Business owners admit that they have limited knowledge and understanding about privacy and security.