On October 30th, we hosted an AWDC Café on Cybersecurity. As an industry organisation, it is our responsibility to help make Antwerp’s diamond companies more resilient and less vulnerable to cybercrime and digital fraud. That is why we brought together experts from Cegeka, a Belgian IT company, and Concordia, a Belgian insurance brokerto share their insights on how to stay vigilant and protect your business from online threats.
The seminar highlighted key preventive measures and practical tips. Here are a few important takeaways:
- In case of doubt or issues, think about the STAR principle: Stop, Think (before doing something), Ask (a colleague, manager or expert), React (report suspicion)
- Have a trusted IT or dedicated cybersecurity partner that you can reach out to in case of issues.
- Do not hesitate to report serious problems to AWDC (03 222 07 10).
- In case of an incident (cyber criminality, fraud…), file a complaint at the local police station and report it on the dedicated platform https://notif.safeonweb.be/
The Government of Flanders subsidizes small- and medium-sized companies that want to improve their cybersecurity resilience (up to 50% of the value of the project). Cegeka is one of the partners of this subsidy program, and they can tell you more about the possibilities. More information on this program can be found here: https://www.vlaio.be/en/subsidies/cybersecurity-improvement-trajectories.
Nearly half of all Flemish companies experienced a cyberattack last year, and Belgium is increasingly being targeted by cybercriminals. Given the exceptional value and sensitivity of the diamond trade, it is more important than ever for your company to stay vigilant and well prepared.
