When it comes to cyber threats, businesses—regardless of size—can feel helpless. Protecting against potential attacks and, ideally, developing the capabilities to respond to them and strengthen resilience requires drawing on a wide range of expertise.
Relying on the right expertise
“Today, no one can claim to have all the necessary expertise in-house,” says Frédéric Lens, CEO of F3C Systems, a cybersecurity service provider based in Luxembourg. “A company with 100 to 150 employees in the Grand Duchy usually only has two or three staff members handling IT. Yet, to prevent cyber risks, you must not only understand your attack surface but also identify vulnerabilities through testing, implement the necessary corrective measures, and continuously monitor all IT activities across the entire environment.”
For a small team whose role is not solely focused on cybersecurity, that’s a heavy burden. “Nowadays, advanced skills are also required—skills that must constantly evolve, given both the pace of technological change and the way attackers adapt their methods,” adds Frédéric Lens.
You can think of it as a watchtower, keeping a constant eye on a company’s digital resources
The SOC: the watchtower that guards your digital assets
How can companies overcome this skills gap? According to F3C Systems’ CEO, a Security Operations Center (SOC) is a key element. This system continuously monitors all activities within a network or IT environment to detect anomalies, issue alerts, and, if necessary, take immediate remediation actions to prevent incidents.
“You can think of it as a watchtower, keeping a constant eye on a company’s digital resources,” explains Frédéric Lens. “For a long time, this kind of service was considered accessible only to large corporations. But it has become much more affordable, thanks to technological progress. Today, even a three-person SME can rely on the SOC we offer—at very reasonable rates.”
Pricing models have also evolved: they no longer depend on the volume of data analysed, but on the number of devices or users within the company’s IT environment. The technologies used enable extremely granular analysis of all system data—without exception.
Building on a solid foundation with a structured approach
Setting up a SOC—an effective shield against cyberattacks—requires a thorough understanding of the organisation’s attack surface, as well as identifying which data and applications are critical to business continuity. Audits offered by institutions such as the Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Skilled Trades, or NC3, as part of the “SME Packages – Cybersecurity” initiative, provide a solid starting point. Moreover, up to 70% of the investment costs needed to address vulnerabilities can be covered by public funding.
“These grants represent a remarkable opportunity for businesses, especially SMEs, facing the challenges of cybersecurity. Beyond the available funding, however, it’s essential to adopt a structured approach to monitoring and continuous improvement, based on recognised standards, and to rely on a trusted partner,” notes the CEO. In this regard, F3C Systems is ISO 27001 certified—the international standard for establishing an Information Security Management System (ISMS). “While threats continue to intensify, cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions have never been more accessible,” assures Frédéric Lens.
The other crucial pillar is training and awareness
Raising employee awareness through phishing tests
A strong cybersecurity strategy, however, goes beyond deploying an effective detection and remediation solution such as the SOC. “The other crucial pillar is training and awareness,” explains the CEO of F3C Systems. “Every employee must understand the risks to which the organisation is exposed.”
Indeed, the weakest link in the security chain often remains human error—clicking on a malicious link or sharing login credentials. “In this respect, conducting regular internal phishing campaigns helps to better assess risks. These exercises identify risky behaviours—such as employees who consistently click on links without verifying an email’s legitimacy—while also raising awareness about cybersecurity issues,” adds Frédéric Lens.
Collaboration and continuous improvement
Combined with the analyses performed by the SOC, these exercises contribute to a process of ongoing improvement. “We work side by side with our clients, who have full visibility into the SOC’s analyses, to strengthen their security posture, enhance their policies, and recommend the most suitable measures in response to detected incidents and emerging threats,” concludes Frédéric Lens.
Ultimately, ensuring the best protection for an organisation’s digital assets begins with a process of continuous improvement—built on the right expertise.