Cybersecurity for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises

The economic impact of cybercrime rose fivefold between 2013 and 2017; cybercrime is the fastest-growing form of criminal activity, with companies being the first target with a cost to businesses estimated at $5.2 trillion worldwide by 2025 (Accenture, “Cost of Cyber Crime Study”, 2019). EUROPOL reports that “58% of victims are small businesses”. Despite this high vulnerability, only 14% of Micro/Small & Medium Enterprises are prepared to tackle cyber threats (“State of Cybersecurity in Small & Medium Size Businesses” Keeper, 2018). Another industry report (“SME Cyber threat Study”, Keeper, 2019) confirms that MSMEs are neither aware of cyber-risks nor ready: 66% of senior decision-makers at small businesses believe they are unlikely to be a target of online criminals. Similarly, 60% MSMEs have no digital defence plan whatsoever.

Objectives of the project are:

• bridge the skill gaps identified at EU and national levels for micro and small businesses on cybersecurity;
• develop innovative training to provide new skills and competences to entrepreneurs and staff of MSMEs;
• make it possible for young people to become “cybersecurity experts” and identify new jobs in MSMEs. The profile of cybersecurity expert is in high demand: in 2019, IBM reports that the number of cybersecurity job postings has grown 94%;
• contribute to the competitiveness and growth of EU micro and small businesses by providing more relevant and high-quality training and products to tackle the challenges of cybersecurity and better manage cyber threats;

Expected project results:

1. Innovative training resources, courses and materials for MSMEs to empower their staff with skills and competences on cybersecurity
2. A toolbox with operational tools to implement cybersecurity at enterprise level
3. Increased capacity of MSMEs to understand, anticipate, manage and contain cyber threats.
4. Enhanced operational ability to implement cybersecurity in MSMEs:
5. Validated and relevant training resources for the professional profile of “Cybersecurity Expert for MSME”

Project Leader

CTS Customized Training Solutions Sp. z o.o. (Poland)

Partners

CASE – Center for Social and Economic Research (Poland), Institut de Haute Formation aux Politiques Communautaires (Belgium), IDP SAS di Giancarlo Costantino (Italy), SC Gentlab SRL (Romania), Internet Web Solutions SL (Spain)

Funded by: Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership Programme