Four Belgian enterprises out of five use ICT security measures

Enterprises
Four Belgian enterprises out of five use ICT security measures

October: European Cyber Security Month

Four Belgian enterprises out of five use ICT security measures: the smallest enterprises (2 to 9 persons employed) indicate to take ICT security measures slightly less often (78 %), while almost all enterprises with more than 50 persons employed take action. All enterprises in the information and communication sector use security measures, while those providing accommodation and food services have a much weaker score (54 %).

This is what emerged from the new results of Statbel, the Belgian statistical office. The figures come from a survey on ICT usage and e-commerce in Belgian enterprises in 2019, and more specifically from a module on ICT security. The results at European level are published by Eurostat.

Keeping the software (including operating systems) up-to-date is the most commonly used security measure. 98 % of the largest enterprises (more than 250 persons employed) use this measure, while only 67 % of those with 2 to 9 persons employed do it. “Intermediate” enterprises have a score around 90 %. Only one enterprise out of five use encryption techniques for data, documents or e-mails and only 28 % perform ICT security tests. The largest enterprises (more than 250 persons employed) score remarkably higher: 68 % use encryption techniques and 83 % perform security tests.

About 4 enterprises out of 10 make their employees aware of their obligations in ICT security. The largest enterprises are the most likely to raise awareness (91 %). The information and communication sector takes the lead (80 %), while the transportation and storage sector is less likely to raise awareness (21 %).

In 2018, 14 % of the enterprises were faced with unavailability of their ICT services, 4.5 % with destruction or corruption of data and 1.3 % with disclosure of confidential data.
15 % of the enterprises are insured against ICT security incidents.

The detailed results of the survey can be found below in dynamic graph form:

  • ICT security measures;
  • Making employees aware of their obligations in ICT security;
  • Problems encountered due to ICT security incidents in 2018;
  • Performance of ICT security related activities;
  • Availability of documents on measures, practices or procedures on ICT security.