SMEs fear own networks

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) fear that their own networks could pose the biggest threat to business prosperity in 2008, states VNUNet.

A survey conducted by Internet service provider Star found that 59% of SME leaders do not believe their networks have the necessary security to withstand an increasing array of e-mail and Internet threats.

Over half also fear they have insufficient redundancy built into their corporate networks to function in the event that a key link fails.

SAP says adoption of its systems is growing among SMEs, especially in rising economies, such as Brazil, China, India and Russia, reports MC Solutions.

At its Sapphire user event, Hans-Peter Klaey, president, SME, SAP, said SMEs now account for about 75% of the company's customer base - with year-on-year growth at a staggering 28% in the first quarter of 2008 alone.

In fact, in that period, Klaey claims SAP gained more than 1 570 new SME customers worldwide - the equivalent of 26 new customers per working day.

The government of Ghana in collaboration with the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Co-operation and the World Bank, is providing US$118.90 million to support the development of the SME sector nationwide, says GBC Ghana.

The government through the ministry has come out with interventions which seek to address challenges such as access to finance, markets, business advisory services, technology, improvement and infrastructure, and entrepreneurship development.

The project is designed to make the SME sector more competitive and efficient and to ensure it adopts the best practices in managing its operations.