According to the latest 2023 Afnic study, Succeeding with the web, VSEs/SMEs are confirming their online presence but still need to make progress in their practices. As they master the various online presence tools, there is room for improvement, particularly in raising awareness of security and privacy issues.
An online presence
The study shows a mapping of the online presence of micro-enterprises, VSEs and SMEs. 65% of the responding companies state that they have a website that already has a real online presence, even for very small structures. This percentage rises to 83% for SMEs and VSE. At the same time, 82% of them are active in social networks. In addition, 65% of companies declare that they systematically respond to comments and reviews on the web, while 58% work on the natural referencing of their website. If they have an online presence, 66% of those surveyed primarily want to present their activity, but for 49% it is also about being easily identified or even communicating with their customers and prospects (45%). Only 34% do this to sell their products and services online. Still, only 39% say they end up at the top of search engine results.
Best practices related to safety need to be strengthened
This Afnic study reveals indicators of the integration of security and privacy measures that show us that there is some awareness of business risks, but that needs to be strengthened through greater use of tools and adoption of best practices. Only 42% of them make regular backups of their data (sites, databases, etc.) and 31% of their configuration (system, CMS, etc.). It should be noted that 42% have implemented security solutions such as firewalls or antivirus programs (85% of SMEs) and that 41% regularly update security patches (system, software, extensions, etc.). Security audits are not popular as only 10% of them say they do security audits.
Work on your SEO
It remains necessary for SMEs to work on their referencing (or SEO for Search Engine Optimization) to increase visibility, since this control would allow them to increase the visibility of their website on search engines, which would generate organic traffic and attract new visitors . This work could also benefit them by allowing them to gain credibility or improve their content relevance. By working on both your SEO and the relevancy of your website’s content, you’ll effectively respond to internet user requests. This could help you better understand your target audience and improve user experience.
Some reflexes in cybersecurity
Here are some cybersecurity best practices that organizations can implement to protect their systems and data:
- Employee Awareness: Businesses should regularly educate and educate their employees on IT security risks, including phishing attacks, passwords, remote access, and general security practices.
- Regular Updates: Organizations should keep their systems, software and applications up to date with the latest security patches to avoid known vulnerabilities.
- Access Security: Businesses need to ensure access to their systems and data is secure, with strong passwords and two-factor authentication. Employee access should be limited to the information and tools they need to do their jobs.
- Regular Backups: Businesses should perform regular backups of their data to avoid data loss in the event of an incident.
- Use of security software: Businesses should use security software such as antivirus, firewall, and intrusion detection software to protect their systems.
- Mobile Device Management: Organizations should implement a mobile device management policy to protect corporate data stored on smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices.
- Physical Access Control: Organizations must control physical access to their premises and servers to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering and accessing systems and data.