AVG offers SMEs free online audit tool to boost security

Internet security firm AVG is offering small and medium sized businesses a free audit tool designed to raise awareness about the scale and gravity of cyber crime and help to shore up defences more effectively.

The AVG Online Security Audit requires companies to answer a few questions online about their business set-up, staff training, server and PC security and current threat awareness levels.

AVG will then identify any gaps in the respondent's corporate defences and email a report with specific recommendations on how to improve security, as well as regular email updates and white papers on emerging threats.

"In line with our bid to help small businesses, we've also highlighted five doorways through which cyber criminals can access company data," said Robert Gorby, AVG's global head of small business.

"These doorways need to be slammed shut to prevent businesses from becoming the latest victims of cyber crime."

The "doorways" identified by AVG include social networks, USB sticks, insider threats, instant messaging and the use of personal devices in the workplace.

A quarter of SMEs have suffered a security breach, and more than 14 per cent do not have security software installed, according to AVG's Market Landscape Report 2010.