SMEs no e-laggards

Uncertain, indecisive, conservative - they're all words we frequently hear associated with the SME sector, often from vendors with (surprise, surprise) the perfect pre-packed, one-stop-shop solution to sell.

The latest, from software company Sage, suggests our traditional SME is in fact one of four types - a Lion, a Dinosaur, an Ostrich or a Sheep. That's OK if you're one of the small pride of Lions out there - but not terribly flattering for the other 85 per cent of the sector.

The traditional small business sector is certainly cautious when it comes to ebusiness, but should this always be viewed as such a big problem? With tight margins and small profits, a bit of caution could be seen as prudent rather than prudish.

One SME recently interviewed by silicon.com explained the problem, saying most small businesses got a friend or family member to create their website - because the £20,000 to £50,000 demanded by professional companies is completely unrealistic.

But another piece of research out today from Network Associates took quite a different view. In the rush to get online most large, traditional businesses have been lax in security standards and network stamina, it claimed.

Network Associates' UK MD Phil Harragan suggested small companies are much more advanced in their approach to security, willing to listen and act on the advice they get rather than procrastinating for months on end.

It seems it's not just SMEs that need to work harder at ebusiness security - perhaps someone should tell Microsoft?