Cybersecurity for SMEs: why SBL Cyber Monitoring was founded
Effective cybersecurity is essential for SMEs. Ransomware, data theft and prolonged business disruption can have serious financial consequences. SBL Cyber Monitoring helps SMEs by providing continuous monitoring of their IT and OT environments, enabling suspicious activity and advanced cyberattacks to be detected more quickly.
Cybersecurity for SMEs
After working together for several years and onboarding their first cybersecurity monitoring customers, Jan Jaarsma, Henk Knol and Stef Liethoff decided to combine their expertise. Together, they founded SBL Cyber Monitoring.
SBL Cyber Monitoring makes professional cybersecurity monitoring accessible to SMEs. Its focus is on identifying suspicious activity at an early stage and strengthening organisations’ cyber resilience.
Why is cybersecurity important for SMEs?
Stef Liethoff, CEO of SBL Cyber Monitoring:
“We gained much of our knowledge and experience working with large organisations that had already achieved a certain level of cybersecurity maturity. For smaller organisations, employing an in-house cybersecurity specialist or hiring external expertise is often impractical. This makes them vulnerable to modern cyberattacks, including ransomware.
We want to use our experience to support SMEs. Many SMEs rely on external IT service providers. These providers are generally well equipped to keep IT environments operational and properly configure security solutions such as firewalls and antivirus software.
However, these solutions alone do not always provide sufficient protection against advanced cyberattacks. Detecting and investigating such attacks requires specialist knowledge and experience.”
Continuous cybersecurity monitoring with WatchEagle
With WatchEagle Detection & Response, SBL provides an advanced solution for the continuous monitoring of IT and OT environments. The system analyses network data and helps identify anomalous or suspicious behaviour at an early stage.
Jan Jaarsma, CTO of SBL Cyber Monitoring:
“Our WatchEagle Detection & Response system gives organisations accessible and cost-effective access to advanced detection technology. This significantly increases their resilience against advanced cyberattacks.
We actively work alongside the organisation’s existing IT service provider, enabling us to respond effectively and collaboratively when a cyber incident occurs. We do not replace the IT service provider; instead, we add specialist monitoring and detection capabilities.
When additional security measures are required, they are discussed and implemented in collaboration with the IT service provider.”
Detecting cyberattacks and ransomware at an early stage
Continuous cybersecurity monitoring helps organisations identify suspicious patterns and potential cyberattacks more quickly. This is important because a ransomware attack can disrupt not only the targeted organisation but also its customers, suppliers and other partners within the supply chain.
Stef Liethoff:
“SMEs are the driving force behind our economy and often form an important link within the supply chain. It is therefore essential that these businesses are properly protected.
If a company becomes the victim of a ransomware attack and is unable to deliver its products or services for an extended period, its continued existence may be at risk. Its supply chain partners may also suffer losses. Through our services, we aim to strengthen the cyber resilience of SMEs.”
Cybersecurity monitoring as an extension of IT management
SBL Cyber Monitoring works alongside an organisation’s existing IT service provider. The IT provider remains responsible for managing and configuring the IT environment, while SBL adds specialist expertise and continuous monitoring. This enables cyber threats to be identified more quickly and appropriate action to be taken when an incident occurs.
Would you like to know how continuous monitoring can help your organisation? Learn more about WatchEagle Detection & Response and the monitoring of IT and OT environments.
