Four in 10 buildings are at major risk from cyber attacks, according to a new survey from the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA).
The survey, conducted alongside Scottish electrical trade body SELECT, ran over three weeks in the lead up to Christmas and found 49% of those surveyed said that the risk of hacking, and its impact on unsecured networks, was a potential barrier to installing connected technology.
The findings raise major security and privacy concerns for the UK’s business infrastructure, particularly given the potential increase in smart installations in the coming years, and the growth of cyber attacks in disrupting business and politics.
There were 229 respondents to the survey, including consultants, engineers, end clients, local authorities and facilities managers.
Steve Martin, head of specialist groups at the ECA, commented: “These figures are very concerning, particularly when you consider the inherent risks in the modern day of not securing your business from hackers. Clearly this is an area which clients urgently need to address, given the anticipated growth in smart installations over the coming years.”
