The current technological and economic environment demands that companies be prepared to face cyberattacks that can lead to significant financial losses or, in the worst-case scenario, the permanent closure of the business. While in the past cybercriminals focused on large corporations, today small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have become the primary target due to their lower investment capacity in security and specialized human resources. This vulnerability makes it essential for SMEs to learn to identify warning signs and act quickly in the face of potential threats. Companies like Velorcios Group, with offices in Gran Canaria and Tenerife, have been advising and raising awareness among the business community about the importance of protecting their systems and sensitive data for over two decades. Pascual Carrascal, general director of Velorcios Group, emphasizes that the 3.5 million self-employed individuals in Spain form the backbone of the business fabric, but they also represent the most fragile link against cyberattacks, requiring enhanced protection and advice. Carrascal highlights the need for a strategy to detect social engineering attempts, such as fraudulent SMS messages, emails, or communications from suppliers. “It’s not about distrusting everything, but rather paying more attention and analyzing each interaction,” he notes. These and other topics will be addressed on January 28 at the event “360º: Cybersecurity in Business,” organized by CANARIAS7 in collaboration with Velorcios Group. In the business realm, it is no longer enough to install antivirus software; it is essential to invest in advanced solutions tailored to both large companies and SMEs, even if they entail additional costs. Once awareness and protection against social engineering have been achieved, the next step is to work on cyber resilience, ensuring the protection and recovery of critical information through backups of customer data, bank accounts, invoices, credentials, and passwords. This backup allows the company to resume its activities as soon as possible in the event of a security incident. “The goal is to minimize the impact of a cyberattack and ensure business continuity,” Carrascal states. Artificial intelligence (AI) represents, just as the internet once did, an opportunity for businesses and consumers by providing tools that enhance productivity and open new possibilities. However, it also poses challenges, especially in terms of cybersecurity, as its evolution is rapid and complex, with no universal solutions. At Velorcios Group, work is being done on two fronts: helping clients leverage AI capabilities and differentiating between the basic use of tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, or Gemini, and the professional integration of AI into business processes to gain efficiency. Carrascal believes that AI can reduce the gap between large and small companies, allowing SMEs to access technologies previously reserved for large corporations. “We are developing models for our clients to implement these capabilities, focusing on team training,” he concludes. Source: canarias7.es