BT has enhanced its cybersecurity protection for small businesses with the release of new online resources to help companies protect themselves from online attacks.

BT Content Control and BT Web Protect are now included free as part of BT business broadband. BT Content Control allows customers to configure web traffic according to the categories they wish to block or allow, while BT Web Protect warns customers when accessing suspicious URLs.

The company is also offering Business Antivirus Protection, provided by McAfee, as a paid-for service for customers using business broadband, mobile, or as stand-alone.

BT has also launched its ‘The Future is Now’ campaign, which offers advice-led content and resources to help businesses stay safe online, and a Skills for Tomorrow programme, which provides free webinars on issues around cybersecurity.

The development of the new tools follows research from BT of 1,000 key decision makers at UK SMEs. It found that 51% of the micro business sector surveyed were relying on security products designed to protect consumers rather than businesses.

Chris Sims, Managing Director for BT’s Single Office/Home Office unit, said, “There has been a huge shift over the past two years in the number of small firms moving their business online. Whilst that’s a really encouraging trend, being an online business can also bring its challenges, particularly around cybersecurity.

“Any digital business – large or small – can be a target for cyber criminals, and this is something we’ve seen during the pandemic. And whilst consumer-grade products are great for protecting you while surfing the web, accessing emails and other personal use, they’re not designed for running a business which requires more robust protection and safeguards.

“It’s clear that the UK’s smallest firms need more support in this area, so today we’re launching new free cyber security tools for our BT business broadband customers, together with free online advice to help upskill small businesses on how to stay safe online.”