Kumar
Durgapur: In a significant step towards strengthening digital security for small businesses, CUTS International and the Young Entrepreneurs Chamber of Commerce and Industries (YECCI) today organised a Capacity Building Workshop on Cybersecurity for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). This pioneering initiative, part of the APAC Cybersecurity Fund (ACF) project supported by Google.org and The Asia Foundation, marks the beginning of an ambitious programme.
The inaugural workshop, attended by 70 entrepreneurs including 20 women business leaders, brought together diverse sectors including rice mills, legal services, mining, real estate, and tribal support services. Distinguished guests, Shri Abul Kalam Azad Islam, Commissioner, Durgapur Municipal Corporation, and Shri Subir Roy, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Durgapur, joined Shri Dilip Kumar, Chairman, YECCI, and Smt Sanchita Chatterjee, Fellow, CUTS International, in launching this critical initiative.
Commissioner Islam highlighted the urgency of cybersecurity awareness, and emphasised how such training workshops are vital in today’s digital landscape. Assistant Commissioner Roy shared concerning insights about the rising cybercrime incidents in West Bengal, particularly through social media platforms and loan applications, stressing that awareness and vigilance are key to prevention.
The workshop delivered practical, hands-on training in essential cybersecurity practices, including password protection, IT inventory management, software update protocols, cyber- attack prevention, and data backup techniques. Shri Chandan Mishra, Cyber Cell Police Station, Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate, led an engaging interactive session that set the tone for the day’s intensive training.
“By 2030, it is expected that every individual will be affected by cybercrimes which are simply
psychological tricks. These crimes, fueled by fear and manipulation, lead to financial and reputational loss. Staying rational, controlling fear and being vigilant can prevent many of these scams,” Mishra conceded.
This workshop is part of an ambitious two-year initiative by CUTS International to reach over 20,000 MSMEs across ten Indian states: West Bengal, Rajasthan, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, and Sikkim. The programme aims to create a robust cybersecurity ecosystem for small businesses across the region.
