KVK English newsletter #3 – Let’s be careful out there!

October is Cybersecurity Month. This is a yearly opportunity for KVK and other organisations to highlight the digital security risks that businesses face. And to help you make good decisions that protect you from fraud, data theft, and serious financial losses. 

Cybersecurity: how to get started 

When you hear about more burglaries in your neighbourhood, do you become more vigilant? Do you check if all the doors and windows are locked before you go to bed? Or install an alarm system or a camera doorbell?  

The answer is usually “yes". But even when hearing and reading about cybercrime every day, SME entrepreneurs can be slow to take cybersecurity measures. Why is that?  

Some think: “It won’t happen to my company” or “We’re too small to interest a hacker”. Others don’t have any personal experience with cyber-attacks, so aren’t aware of how much damage can be done. Some entrepreneurs have good intentions but don’t really know how to get started or what to focus on. 

No matter your situation, cybercriminals have their eye on you and your fellow SMEs. It really is time to get your cybersecurity in order, starting right now! But here’s the thing… you aren’t alone. And you don’t need to invest a fortune in time and money to make a difference. You just need to take the first steps, so let’s get the ball rolling.  

1. Learn from the experiences of others 

Look out for fellow entrepreneurs sharing their stories – from the huge ransomware attacks to simple social media password hacks. Learn how they fell victim to cyber criminals and what they did to fix the damage. Hoppenbrouwers Techniek is a great example. Think of it as a pre-Halloween ritual to give yourself a good scare: 

• “What happens if I accidentally pay that €5,000 into a criminal’s bank account?”  

• “What do I do in a ransomware attack when I might lose all my data?”  

• “What if a hacker pretends to be me and targets my customers and other businesses?”  

Yes, it can get seriously scary, but you’ll also learn how to protect yourself and what to do if it happens to you. 

2. Prevention is always better than cure 

KVK offers support and information, and we have many different cybersecurity articles. To ease into it, start with a checklist. Consider, among other things, if your passwords are secure and if you’ve installed the latest software updates. If you can’t check all of those boxes, well, take action!  

Next, move on to ‘3 tips from a hacker’ and ‘Watch out for phishing’. And maybe you should read up on different types of fraud so that you know what to watch out for.  

Do you feel ready for the tech solutions? Check out these articles on 2-factor authentication and making back-ups. Don’t worry, it’s all surprisingly easy.  

And then just keep on going. You can find lots more cybersecurity topics on KVK.nl/en – not just in October, but all year round. And for more helpful content in English, visit Business.gov.nl. There you can find translations from the Digital Trust Center website, an organisation set up by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. 

3. Who ya gonna call? 

Not the Ghostbusters, no. But if things do go wrong, here’s where to start: 

• Call your IT administrator. Or if you outsource your IT operations, call the helpdesk. 

• Contact your (security) software provider. 

• If you’re the victim of cybercrime, contact the police and the Fraud Help Desk.  

• If there has been a data breach, report it to the Dutch Data Protection Authority.  

4. It might never happen 

Well, we sincerely hope that you never become a victim of cybercrime, but there are no guarantees. Hackers constantly seek out weaknesses and grab any opportunity, big or small. Simply take the threat seriously and do your best to keep them out. Lastly, do you have a cyber question? Email us at kvk.cyber@kvk.nl.    --------------------------------- 

Event calendar 

9 October: Q&A Starting a Business  This recurring Q&A session is a collaboration between IN Amsterdam, KVK and Business.gov.nl. Online and completely in English, it’s a chance to cover the basics of starting a business. And perhaps most importantly, you can ask questions about the topics that matter most to your (future) business.  Sign up 

7 November: ImpactFest  Get inspired and seek sustainable solutions at this event aimed at startups, scale-ups, investors, knowledge institutes, corporates, policymakers, and passionate individuals. It all takes place in The Hague.  Sign up 

9 November: IamExpat Fair  Based in the Grote Kerk in The Hague, this annual event is aimed at internationals in the Netherlands. As such, it can be a good opportunity to network with other businesses and organisations. Or you can book a stall and showcase your services to future customers. 

16 November: KVK Startersdag  If you’re planning to start a business in the Netherlands, or have recently started, this free in-person event at Ahoy in Rotterdam is perfect for you. Experts from KVK and its partners will be there to share information and answer questions. Presentations also take place throughout the day, touching on all sorts of important topics for starters. Even better news: parts of the programme will use live translation software to make KVK Startersdag 2024 more accessible to internationals than ever before.  Sign up  

16 November: KVK Innovation Top 100  Also taking place in Ahoy, but only in the afternoon, the KVK Innovation Top 100 is a showcase for business innovation and growth. There are presentations, sessions, and networking opportunities, topped off by the announcement of the KVK Innovation Top 100 winner. Live translation software will also be used for parts of the programme, so come join us.  Sign up 

Good to know: if you feel a bit more confident understanding Dutch, KVK hosts regular events, online and in-person.   

We’ll be back soon with a new topic and more inspiration for entrepreneurs, so click Follow at the top of this article. If you can’t wait, there’s lots more English-language info to discover on KVK.nl/en.