A day-long workshop to identify and combat cyber security threats was organised for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) here today.
The workshop was organised by the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata and CUTS International in collaboration with MSME-DFO, Shillong, and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) aimed at making entrepreneurs cyber-resilient.
The consulate is supporting the initiative across the East and Northeast India to help the region and its people to cope with the growing threat of cyber-crimes for small businesses, especially those led by women entrepreneurs.
Assistant Public Diplomacy Officer of the U.S. Consulate, Juan Clar said combating cyber threats require global action. He said that the United States and India along with Japan, and Australia have come together as the “QUAD” and cyber threat is one of the important pillars of collaboration. Additionally, the ongoing G20 meetings are covering various aspects of combating cyber threats, he added.
Clar also said that the United States is committed to the responsible development and design of digital assets and the technology that underpins new forms of payments and capital flows in the international financial system. The Executive Order on “Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets” demonstrates our determination to lead and shape financial innovation to promote prosperity, prevent abuse, and advance democratic values,” he added.
MSME-DFO Assistant Director, Reading Star Nongbri mentioned that cybercrimes are on the rise in India and many small entrepreneurs, especially women entrepreneurs, are falling prey to fraudsters and ultimately ending up paying money. Therefore it is important that more such workshops should be organised in the state for generating greater awareness among the entrepreneurs, he said.
Associate Director of CUTS International, Arnab Ganguly stressed that adoption of digital technologies have accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic and many MSMEs went online without the required understanding and safeguards to combat cyber-attacks, rendering them vulnerable.
Ganguly said that the workshop would equip the entrepreneurs with the basic understanding of the possible ways of cyber-attacks and methods to combat the threats. He added that the training would help the entrepreneurs to combat at least 70 percent of the cyber-attacks.
The key trainers of the workshop were Saket Kumar Jha, Senior Project Engineer, C-DAC, Patna;Aditya Saha, Project Engineer, C-DAC, Patna; and Lessie Longstreet, Global Director of Outreach and Partner Engagement, Change Behavior, based in the United States.
