Security measures are an important issue in the field of e-commerce, therefore GoDaddy, the company that empowers everyday entrepreneurs and small businesses owners around the world, announced today the results of its Website Security Survey 2021 recently conducted.
The survey was conducted with a sample size of 1,169 participants, including the MENA region.
It showed that over 50% of MENA respondents reported having websites that process personal information requiring higher standards for website security measures.
As such, survey respondents believe that SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates were the most important feature for website security measures, and 42% of MENA respondents said they have already purchased a website protection solution.
Selina Bieber, General Manager, MENA, GoDaddy stated that
We are pleased to raise awareness on the issue of cyber security protection with the results of our Website Security Survey 2021.
Digital security measures are an extremely crucial issue to GoDaddy, and they take the security of the customer's websites very seriously.
It is critical for MENA entrepreneurs and small business owners to consider the security of their websites by utilizing advanced cyber security technology security measures.
The survey results about security measures
The survey reported that across the region, most of the respondents’ websites process personal information, requiring higher standards for website security measures.
- 84% of MENA respondents felt that the issue of cyber security is important to small businesses.
- 73% agreed that small businesses are at risk of cyberattacks.
- These cyberattacks, phishing, and malware were perceived as the biggest potential security threats to SMBs.
- 74% of MENA respondents believed that malware was the larger threat, followed by phishing at 68%.
When asked about the necessary skills and backup to deal with cyber-attacks, approximately 30% of participants in the MENA region said that they would know how to deal with a cyberattack themselves.
Less than 40% said they would at least know where to go for help, while 32% reported that they would be unsure of how to deal with a cyberattack.
What does the survey state about Security breaches and security measures?
The survey also revealed that when it comes to security breaches, that most MENA respondents had already experienced one with the breach resulting in damage such as website downtime (46%), financial loss (32%), and loss of reputation (19%).
The two biggest fears for MENA entrepreneurs surveyed were ‘exposure of customer data and ‘loss of customer trust’, found the survey.
The survey also included access to information about website security services. Thirty-nine percent of respondents thought the product information was clear and simple to understand.
Thirty-three percent said they run a business website rather than a personal one, with 63% percent saying that their websites had e-commerce capabilities.
Related articles: Top website security threats and how to protect your site from attack
Age of respondents
In this survey, most respondents were between the ages of 31 to 40 and said they possessed medium-tech skills. They were owners of relatively young businesses of 1-2 years. 36% were solo business owners (1-person businesses), while 25% had between 2-4 people working.
GoDaddy conducts region-wide surveys to collect data to help best serve its customers.
Late last year, GoDaddy launched its Entrepreneur Survey 2020 assessing the impact of Covid-19 on entrepreneurs and small businesses and how it led them to shift online and to e-commerce.
