Spectrum Internet, the South Wales Internet service provider has challenged Welsh businesses to do more to make sure they are securing details of customers who use their websites and access online information.

Statistics at the Welsh Government’s eCrime Wales event last week revealed that ecrime costs Wales around £1billion per year.

Managing director Giles Phelps said “Working online has become a cost-effective way of doing business, but even small companies must remember that cutting back on security measures is not an option, even in a recession.”

“The cost of data being stolen when an e-criminal breaks in to your system has more than just financial implications,” he said. “A company’s brand, reputation and loyalty can be permanently damaged if a customer feels they cannot trust that the website they are logging onto is secure.”

As part of this week’s Get Safe Online week, Spectrum Internet is raising awareness of the risks and is encouraging business owners to make use of the valuable free information available on the Get Safe Online website: http://www.getsafeonline.org/.