On Thursday, July 11 at La French Tech session, our founder and CEO, Antoine Pilarczyk, co-hosted a cybersecurity 101 session for entrepreneurs and SMBs that drew in over forty attendees. Working with Allann Bellenger (CTO) and Jean-Luc Faye (APAC CISO), our objective was to enhance cybersecurity for SMBs and then disseminate the guidance to individuals.
La French Tech, \ke.za.ko\? (What is it?)
La French Tech Shanghai is a member of the La French Tech Communities and Capitals network. French IT Communities are private organizations recognized by the French government. They are accredited every three years and comprise a diverse spectrum of individuals from the local IT scene. In accordance with the French Tech Mission and the regional priorities of their ecosystem, they unite local innovation players (start-ups, investment funds, support structures, public services, financiers, major groups, research centers, etc.) and organize them around cooperative initiatives to promote start-up development. La French Tech Shanghai has been committed to growing and invigorating the local innovation community since its founding in 2016. Its goal is to: as part of its 2027 strategy:
“Enable the French, Francophone and Francophile tech ecosystem
of Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta
to thrive in its development.”
Back to the event
What to remember?
Almost half of the businesses claimed that there had previously been an organizational breach. According to the Thales 2024 Data Threat Report, the other half either is unaware that they have been compromised or has not yet been compromised.
“There are only two types of companies: those that have been hacked, and those that will be”
Stated former FBI Director Robert S. Mueller.
Small and startup businesses must create an information system security policy (ISSP) that covers the following subjects, at the very least:
- A strong password policy,
- A regular software update and patch management,
- Some Network security measures,
- An employee training and awareness,
- A Data protection and backup solution.
For businesses, crisis management preparation is also essential. You will lay out the process, test it frequently, and then draw conclusions.
Lastly, the CISO and/or the IT staff are not solely responsible for cybersecurity. Chief executive officers (CEO, CFO, etc.) ought to be involved as well. Consequently, we advise you to:
- To speak the same language as the top management (not too technical, link with the business),
- To make regular briefings to inform them about the cybersecurity landscape (once per month or per quarter),
- To define a matrix of risks,
- To share some executive summaries.
SMBs and startups can benefit immensely from utilizing outside expertise like ours for their cybersecurity needs in the rapidly evolving digital ecosystem of today. You may free up time to concentrate on your main business activities by working with a specialized organization, as opposed to having to hire and train an internal workforce. This calculated step improves your security posture and guarantees that you have access to the most recent technology and industry expertise, enabling you to grow effectively and confidently in a cutthroat market.
At APIS Consulting, we can help you reinforce your IT security practices and cyber security awareness. You can contact us by email: contact@apisconsulting.cn or by adding Antoine on WeChat via the QR code below if you need some trainings, cyber security audits, strengthening your IT security, and/or outsourcing your IT security.
Antoine Pilarczyk founded APIS Consulting in 2021 to help companies in China to improve their cybersecurity awareness. He is a certified Lead Auditor and Lead Implementer ISO 27001.
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