Globally, the number of cyber threats is constantly on the rise. These threats may incur grave financial and confidential data losses for companies. Therefore, one of the realms of the companies' focus should be cyber security. The global market offers countless solutions to protect against cyber-attacks. In order to safeguard data security, nations prefer to employ mostly domestic products. As for us, we chose to establish the company "Cybersign" in response to the expanding demands of this industry by having Azerbaijani specialists develop a portal in Azerbaijani. We can now declare with pride that Azerbaijan has a local cyber security solution.
Elvin Akhundov, Azerbaijani entrepreneur, executive director of "Cybersign" LLC, mentioned this during an interview with AZERTAG. The platform presented by "Cybersign" LLC was developed by Azerbaijani experts in Azerbaijani. In addition, “Cybersign” offers penetration testing, email security, infrastructure security and other cyber security solutions. The executive director of "Cybersign" LLC, who recently received a "Startup" certificate for the project from the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBİA), which provides tax benefits to entrepreneurs, pointed out the fact that users in Azerbaijan have up to now benefited from alternative platforms offered by other nations.
- Where did the concept for a startup originate, and how did it take off?
- Companies are taking precautions against the growing number of cyberattacks occurring worldwide. However, we seek to draw attention to the fact that human error accounts for over 90 percent of data losses. Using a cyber awareness and social engineering simulation portal is crucial for companies seeking to safeguard themselves from these types of cyberattacks. As a “Cybersign” team, we developed the first local cyber awareness training and cyber simulation portal in Azerbaijani to safeguard users from cyber threats. We had to clarify the interests of the sector, customers' needs, and various companies' requirements before we could offer our users engaging and interactive training. We are constantly improving the portal while keeping up with the most recent innovations in cyber security. Through the provision of theoretical and practical cyber awareness training, the portal assists companies in defending themselves against social engineering attacks. Along with training courses, interactive quizzes, and other training resources, the portal also offers up-to-date information on cyber threats. Through this platform, companies can identify unusual activities, learn about cyberthreats, and bolster their defences against these threats.
- What or who served as your primary mentor and source of support during the initial phase?
- Cybersecurity is a crucial component for every nation. The cyber security culture is the first factor to take into account, and it varies depending on the nation or company. Therefore, we decided to introduce a local cyber security solution in Azerbaijan and developed a cyber awareness portal. The platform is mainly designed for the corporate sector. Companies can also add their own internal training to the portal. As a "Cybersign" company, our actions will follow the format of cyber security. I would like to note that video trainings are held on all topics of cyber security and education, which are followed by employee verification and certification. It is well known that social engineering attacks are one of the tools used by cybercriminals to obtain personal data. Phishing attacks via phone calls and emails are two instances of this. The portal puts users through tests, which look like authentic phishing attacks, and gets them ready for potential cyberattacks in order to shield them from these threats. After completing the training, companies can use the portal to measure their employees' and company's cyber security index (by sending them phishing emails that look authentic). This will help the companies safeguard from social engineering cyberattacks.
- What can you say about the main goal of the startup and its future plans?
- Our primary objective is to safeguard companies in the cyber ecosystem of Azerbaijan from cyberattacks by offering cyber security solutions and training. Our mission is to assist companies in strengthening their cybersecurity, protecting their systems, and raising awareness of cybersecurity issues. It is intended to launch this platform internationally and make it available to all nations in the near future. The platform has already been developed in Azerbaijani, English, and Russian, and it is planned to be developed in Arabic and Spanish soon. Pentesting, that is, elimination of security holes against potential attacks, is planned for companies using the platform. Many countries around the world employ this platform. While some platforms only offer phishing simulation without an LMS, our platform offers both. The human aspect is the greatest "vulnerability" in the world of cybersecurity. Our platform is primarily different from platforms in other countries due to our greater level of training.
- What benefits will this start-up offer the ecosystem of Azerbaijan?
- Cyber security is a major issue for the state. Our efforts were further boosted by the "Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan on information security and cyber security for the years 2023-2027", approved by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in August last year. The work done in this direction has intensified in our country. We are extending our efforts in this field as well. I believe that this startup will have a significant positive impact on the ecosystem of Azerbaijan. First and foremost, as a local cyber security product in Azerbaijan, our startup will contribute to protection against social engineering cyberattacks targeted at our nation. Furthermore, it will play a significant part in mitigating potential threats by providing its staff with training on various forms of cyberattacks. Our efforts to deliver our trainings in Azerbaijani will secure that our citizens get the information in a more comprehensible and understandable language. This, in turn, contributes to the common good. With the improvement of our portal, the engagement of local experts will yield additional new job opportunities and support the growth of the national economy. We are aware that the biggest "vulnerability" in the field of cyber security is the human component. Training on cybersecurity awareness should be tailored to each country's culture. Our portal differs from other portals primarily in that we offer academic and practical training in Azerbaijani and in accordance with Azerbaijani culture. Our portal is always being updated and was developed upon the requirements of the modern era in mind.
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