What these diverse entities share is their involvement in the development of software tools aimed at countering cyber and physical threats to e-commerce within the European single market. This initiative, named ENSURESEC, was supported by EU funding. The project’s primary objective was to equip small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the necessary technological knowledge and defenses against hackers and fraudsters.
SMEs, which comprise a significant portion of businesses in Europe, often lack the resources to employ large teams of cybersecurity experts and may have employees with limited understanding of cybersecurity principles. This makes them vulnerable targets for cyber-attacks.
For example, ransomware attacks, where hackers infiltrate a company’s computer systems, encrypt their data, and demand a ransom for its release, have become increasingly prevalent. In 2023, there was a reported 57% increase in ransomware attacks on SMEs compared to the previous year, highlighting the urgent need for improved cybersecurity measures within this sector.
Theodoros Sakopoulos, the owner of ToFarmakeioMou, an online pharmacy in Athens, Greece, participated in ENSURESEC by simulating a hybrid physical and digital attack scenario. In this simulation, hackers attempted to disrupt the GPS tracking system of a drug delivery truck to intercept it and steal its contents. To mitigate this threat, sensor devices were developed to monitor the shipment and alert the pharmacy if any tampering occurred.
Sakopoulos was one of 22 participants in the ENSURESEC project, which lasted for two years until mid-2022. Other participants included CaixaBank from Spain, the IOTA Stiftung (a German foundation focused on advancing research in the digital economy), and the University of Greenwich in the UK.
Augustin Lemesle, a research engineer at the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), highlighted the extensive attack surface in e-commerce, emphasizing that businesses can be vulnerable to attacks from various sources. This underscores the importance of implementing robust cybersecurity measures to protect against threats in the digital realm.
ENSURESEC, coordinated by Augustin Lemesle, brought together participants from 14 European countries, including entities like the Spanish branch of Atos and KU Leuven from Belgium. One of the project’s notable software tools utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor a company’s internal networks, safeguarding them from external threats. This is crucial as internal networks are prime targets for hackers seeking access to sensitive data.
The surge in online shopping since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the importance of cybersecurity for e-commerce businesses. With European e-commerce turnover reaching €899 billion in 2023, SMEs are increasingly relying on digital platforms to serve customers, making them prime targets for cyberattacks.
In response to the growing threat landscape, Luis Carrascal led the EU-funded project CyberKit4SME, focusing on developing user-friendly cybersecurity defenses tailored for smaller European businesses. The project addressed the complexity barrier faced by SMEs in adopting cybersecurity solutions, offering tools to enhance data security, identify security vulnerabilities, and model IT systems for threat analysis.
Automation plays a critical role in simplifying cybersecurity processes for SMEs. By automating tasks like vulnerability assessment and threat detection, both ENSURESEC and CyberKit4SME aim to empower smaller businesses to bolster their cyber defenses effectively.
The technologies developed in these projects are poised to enter the marketplace, with some tools already being commercialized or made open-source. The dissemination of these technologies underscores the commitment to democratizing cybersecurity and equipping SMEs with the tools needed to combat evolving cyber threats.
As attackers continue to target less prepared organizations, the importance of investing in cybersecurity remains paramount. ENSURESEC and CyberKit4SME represent significant strides in advancing cybersecurity capabilities for SMEs and fortifying Europe’s digital resilience in the face of emerging cyber threats.
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