Amid rising concerns over cybersecurity following a series of data breaches at major platforms, the South Korean government is taking steps to protect small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that hold critical technologies.
According to the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA), 89.4% of ransomware attack reports in the country last year were concentrated among SMEs and mid-sized companies. Notably, the manufacturing sector accounted for 47.4% of these incidents, surpassing traditionally security-focused industries like information services (15.8%) and finance (10.5%).
In response to the threats facing the backbone of the national supply chain, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups has allocated 2.2 billion won this year to significantly enhance the 'Technology Guardian Service' under Article 18 of the Technology Protection Act. This initiative aims to prevent both external cyberattacks and insider technology leaks.
The core of this strategy is to establish a 24/7 defense system to support SMEs that lack dedicated cybersecurity personnel. The ministry will implement a '365-day, 24-hour security monitoring' system to detect unusual signs of technology leaks from online hacking in real-time, effectively blocking cyberattacks and preventing technology theft.
Additionally, the ministry will bolster its capabilities in detecting malicious software and ransomware. It plans to provide companies with malware detection and blocking programs, while central monitoring will proactively defend against illegal data leaks and file encryption due to ransomware infections.
The initiative also includes measures to prevent internal information leaks, which can be just as damaging as external breaches. Solutions will be provided to detect and respond to illegal technology leaks by employees using USB drives or email.
Through the Technology Guardian Service, selected SMEs will receive free cybersecurity monitoring and software support for three years. After this period, the ministry plans to offer up to 8.8 million won per company for ongoing online and offline security activities. Special provisions will be made for defense companies and SMEs in critical national industries, extending support periods and adding benefits to minimize risks to the national supply chain.
A ministry official stated, "The Technology Guardian Service will serve as a strong defense for small manufacturers that have become targets for hackers, even without a dedicated security staff."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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