Password manager and two-factor authentication
Ivan Deceuninck is the general director at HelloPets, an e-commerce company with 16 employees. E-commerce involves a lot of screen work and online tools, and thus cyber risks. Ivan is well aware of this: "Anyone can click on the wrong link or leave their laptop open for too long. That's why we used the subsidy for a cyber awareness training."
The training lasted half a day and took place at the office. "The biggest lesson? That an accident really can happen in a small corner. We all still remember the emails from the 'Nigerian prince'. But we have moved past that stage when you see what is happening today with AI and QR codes." The training did not instill fear in the employees, but it did make them more alert, says Ivan.
After the training, Ivan noticed that not all employees were using strong passwords. Therefore, new rules were introduced. "We are now paying more attention to ensuring our employees use a password manager. And we require the use of two-factor authentication as much as possible." Furthermore, according to Ivan, it is mainly a matter of common sense. His tip to entrepreneurs: "Start with awareness, and the other measures will follow naturally."
CyberSafe Check as an additional benefit
Jelle van der Pal started his own business three years ago as an all-round IT helper. "I have a variety of clients: individuals, companies, and non-profits. The services I provide range from setting up someone's email program to extensive tasks such as website and server management."
The subsidy came in handy for Jelle: "Coincidentally, I was just in the process of purchasing new network equipment. I was able to reclaim part of my investment."
He is also positive about the application process: "You pay the invoice upfront, but that was not a hurdle for me, as I was going to incur the costs anyway. And the money was deposited quickly. An additional benefit was the CyberSafe Check that you have to fill out during the application. As an IT professional, you quickly think you have everything in order, but I hadn't had something like an offline call list yet."
Jelle has followed all the advice well, but he still has a tip for other passionate entrepreneurs. "Document everything you do. You sometimes jump from one thing to another and then forget something. The best security is knowing where everything is located in your business."
About My Cyber Resilient Business
Entrepreneurs can take advantage of the subsidy scheme 'My Cyber Resilient Business' until December 31, 2024. This allows SMEs and freelancers to get reimbursed for 50% of the costs of a cyber measure, up to a maximum of 1,250 euros. The scheme is intended for small businesses with a maximum of 50 employees and an annual turnover of up to 10 million euros.