UK businesses are leaving themselves open to collapse by not checking that the companies they work with are fit to cope with the setbacks that might befall them.

Although SMEs are increasingly reliant on information technology, new research revealed that more than 80% of business had never checked if their suppliers had taken adequate precautions to secure their data. This could include financial information, customer data bases and countless other sources without which, their businesses might not survive.

Your most valuable asset is not the money in your bank account. Your most valuable asset is what you know about your customers - because that will lead to more money in the bank. Money in the bank is good. But it's more important to consistently generate more. Money in your bank reflects what you did yesterday. Knowledge about your customers determines what you will do today and tomorrow.