CUTS International trains Women Entrepreneurs & MSMEs in Cybersecurity

By: WE Staff | Friday, 5 April 2024

A workshop was held for the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Women Entrepreneurs to deal with the cybersecurity threats and advance their cyber-resilience on 4 April 2024 at the Youth Office, Kohima. The event was held with a collaborative effort led by the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata and Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS) International along with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and YouthNet Incubation Centre (YIC).

The workshop was attended by a majority of women entrepreneurs from over 50 enterprises, supported by the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata, to combat cyber-crimes in East and Northeast India.

The inaugural speech was presented by Sukanta Biswas, CUTS International's senior Program Officer. He mentioned that "The COVID-19 Pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital technologies where the MSMEs have become more vulnerable towards cyberattacks without having adequate knowledge to combat. This workshop would assist the entrepreneurs with the knowledge of cyberattack methods and the ways to deal with the threats." Due to this training workshop, around 70 per cent of the threats will be cut off by the business owners.

GOI Abhishek Mishra, Additional Director of the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) further highlighted that the SMEs merely prioritize cyber security, putting the ecosystem at risk. STPI is building national SME networks and providing international market opportunities for SMEs.

US Consulate General Kolkata, Juan Clar, the Deputy Director of American Center and Assistant Public Affairs Officer noted cybersecurity as a significant challenge for countries, companies, and individuals in the 21st century. He emphasized the need for entrepreneurs to identify and mitigate risks, highlighting strategic partnerships between the US and India.