The real reason that bosses are prohibiting employees of WFH – and it is not to stimulate productivity

Gen Z employees are banned from working from home after they are the target of hackers who are looking for a ‘back door’ access to companies.

A new report from Vodafone Things have lifted the lid on a worrying lack of cyber security awareness and protection between the small to medium -sized companies of the nation (SMEs).

Almost half (48%) of the 18 to 27-year-old employees at small companies was the target of cyber criminals while working from home last year.

In any case, the Junior staff member was then ordered to work back in the office by their boss, according to the survey among 1,000 managers in SMEs.

Millennials were the second largest goals, with scammers attacking almost a quarter (23%) from 28 to 43-year-old WFH employees in 2024.

On average, almost one fifth (19%) of the WFH employees was the target of malignant attempts to gain access to data last year.

Two-thirds (64%) of the companies regularly have staff who work from home or at other off-site locations, while almost two-thirds (60%) of SMEs had the staff use their own IT equipment.

According to Vodafone Business, the Great -Britain -MKB companies are annual losses for an amount of £ 3.4 billion as a result of insufficient cyber security measures, according to the report.

Gen Z employees are banned from working from home after they are the target of hackers

A new report from Vodafone Business has lifted the lid on a worrying lack of cyber security awareness and protection

The report ‘Success: the role of cyber security in SME growth’ showed that the average costs of a cyber attack for a small company are £ 3.398, rising to £ 5.001 for SMEs with 50 or more staff.

Vodafone argues for companies to better equip their employees with essential cyber security tools to guarantee their safety online, regardless of where they register.

Phishing remains the most common form of attack, with seven in 10 (70%) of the companies experiencing attempts to steal sensitive information via e -mail, SMS, telephone or social media.

Ransomware, which affects, locks, locks or corrupts for almost a quarter (23%) of the companies until a ransom is paid.

Many SME companies do not have an extensive cyber security strategy due to budget restrictions, limited expertise and competitive business priorities.

A third (32%) of the companies have no cyber security protection at all, while just over a third (38%) invests less than £ 100 a year to protect their data.

To try to turn the problem, more than one in eight (15%) SME employees are forbidden to work from home because of the risk of falling victim of a cyber attack.

Vodafone Business, a leading advocate for SMEs -digital transformation, has strengthened the importance of proactive cyber security investments.

In order to offer SMEs the necessary tools and knowledge for strengthening their cyber security defense works, Vodafone offers a free trial period of one month of Cybsafe, the leading platform for human risk management that AI, data, psychology and behavioral science use to improve cyber security within organizations.

The trial version provides essential access to the education and training sections of the platform, with different modules that are designed to increase the confidence of the staff in dealing with potential cyber threats, such as phishing or ransomware attacks. Moreover, the trial version is suitable for a maximum of 100 employees.

Nick Gliddon, CEO, Vodafone Business UK, said: ‘SMEs are the backbone of our economy, but they lose a stunning £ 3.4 billion a year due to insufficient cyber security.

‘In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, cyber threats are becoming more advanced and SMEs are increasingly in sight of cyber criminals. Investing in robust cyber security is no longer optional – it is a business -like necessary for protecting sensitive data, maintaining customer confidence and guaranteeing resilience in the long term.

‘At Vodafone Business we understand the crucial role that SMEs play in stimulating innovation and growth, and we are committed to rest with the right tools and expertise to remain protected.

‘However, SMEs cannot tackle this challenge alone. A greater cooperation between companies, market leaders and government agencies is essential to offer these companies the resources, education and support they need to strengthen their cyber defense. By working together, we can create a safer, safer digital environment that enables SMEs to grow with confidence in an increasingly connected world. ‘