KUALA LUMPUR (June 28): The MATRIX-Cybersecurity for SMEs programme focuses on four areas of implementation as a cybersecurity solution for medium and small enterprises in managing challenges in the era of the digital economy.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the areas consisted of 24/7 cybersecurity monitoring, protection of critical assets, digital signatures for security and efficiency, as well as secure web browsing.

“This is the time for SMEs to prioritise and leverage cybersecurity as a competitive advantage in an effort to increase consumer trust and satisfaction,” he said when launching the programme at the Cyber Defence and Security Exhibition and Conference 2021 (CYDES 2021) virtually today. 

He said the initiative is in line with the increase in the number of SMEs utilising e-commerce platforms to generate revenue and protect businesses from the risk of cyber threats.

Ismail Sabri said the programme was the result of collaboration between the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA), the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and SME Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp), as well as local technology partners.

Meanwhile, MDEC chief digital business officer Aiza Azreen Ahmad said MATRIX's long-term target is to involve and enable 10,000 local SMEs to have cybersecurity capabilities and be competitive in the digital economy.

Citing a report from the International Data Corporation (IDC), she said Malaysia currently occupies the second largest market in ASEAN and Malaysia’s cybersecurity spending is expected to increase further by around RM4 billion by 2024.

Themed ‘Embedding Resilience within Our Cyberspace’, CYDES 2021, which runs from today until June 30, is co-organised by the National Security Council (MKN) and NACSA.

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