Investing in new hardware
"A valuable initiative from the government that we should be grateful for," says freelancer Suyi Guo. He heard about the scheme through a friend who is also a freelancer and quickly submitted an application for the purchase of new storage for backups and a physical token for two-factor authentication (2FA). As a freelance information security advisor, Suyi knows better than anyone how crucial it is to be well-prepared for cyber incidents or attacks. It was high on his agenda.
"I started my own business not long ago. The subsidy came at just the right time," Suyi says. "Thanks to the subsidy, I was able to approach everything just a bit better. I invested in new hardware, such as extra storage for backups and a physical token that makes two-factor authentication (2FA) much easier. Additionally, I improved my business network by purchasing a router with advanced security features."
Suyi finds the subsidy for cyber resilience 'a cool initiative'. He is surprised that not everyone is taking advantage of this opportunity. "What a shame," he says. He does what he can to change that. "I point out this opportunity to every self-employed entrepreneur I speak to. Still, I think subsidies alone are not enough. Many entrepreneurs, especially in SMEs, lack awareness. More training would definitely help with that. Many people know they need to update their devices, but they don't always understand why that is so important."
Simple application procedure
Jacqueline Rijkers, director of Apollo Relocations, was just revising the ICT policy when she heard about the subsidy scheme. "We still work with a paper planning system, so whatever happens, our moving trucks will keep running. But a cyber attack or incident would of course be very annoying. And then I stumbled upon the subsidy scheme My Cyber Resilient Business in a newsletter from our insurance company. Perfect timing!"
The cyber awareness training that she and her colleagues attended was 'an eye opener', she says. "We learned a lot, for example, how to see if your password has been hacked and how to make your password as secure as possible. We recently started using a password vault, part of which was funded by the subsidy. As a business owner, you need to arm yourself well in this digital world, because if your data traffic is down, you immediately have a big problem."
Jacqueline is positive about the application procedure. "It was very simple. And if you submit something incorrectly, you are quickly called to correct it. It's a shame that not everyone is taking advantage of the scheme yet. Business automation is a significant cost, so every bit helps."
My Cyber Resilient Business
Are you an entrepreneur and want to take advantage of the subsidy scheme My Cyber Resilient Business? You have until the end of the year to apply for a subsidy. The scheme is available for small businesses with a maximum of 50 employees and an annual turnover of up to 10 million euros. Also for freelancers!
