Acquisition International - Global Excellence 2021 71 12 Acquisition International - Issue 9 2021 Defending SMEs in the Cyber World Cybersecurity is becoming a growing struggle for businesses around the world with threats becoming more complex and many organisations having unprotected data and poor cybersecurity practices in place. On top of this, the last year has seen a huge increase in hacked and breached data, as remote workers who are working off cloud-based platforms have become a target of cybercriminals. Therefore, cybersecurity has never been more important, and this is where RiskAware comes in. Established in 2018, RiskAware is a specialist cybersecurity company and a leading innovator in its field which helps organisations protect what matters most, affordably and in a way that isn’t confusing or unachievable. Acquisition International magazine has recognised this and awarded RiskAware as Best Boutique Cybersecurity & Risk Management Services Firm 2021 – Canada. Join us as we learn more about the company. ou cannot protect what you do not know and in order to get the right solution in place, you need to understand your current threat position, the gaps in your current security practices, where to spend IT budget for the biggest impact, and what a risk-resilient security approach should look like. It is RiskAware’s vision to assist organisations in seeing the possibilities that will reduce risk and help them to become more resilient and secure. RiskAware is a company made up of seasoned cyber experts who are experience-driven and results-oriented, ensuring clients have everything they need in order to grow their business safely, without having to break the bank. It services organisations of all sizes, specialising in SMEs, including non-profits and start-ups. All organisations need a cybersecurity leader, but RiskAware gets it – not all businesses can afford this. It understands that not all organisations even need a full-time cybersecurity leader, so its ondemand virtual retainer model allocates a bucket of hours that can be allotted on capabilities, as the client sees fit. This allows organisations to gain instant cybersecurity expertise at a fraction of the cost. RiskAware founder and CEO, Michael Castro was first introduced to the concept of cybersecurity back in the 80s, before it even had a name. Having the knack for technology and learning new skills, he graduated from McMaster University and then achieved a diploma and MBA Y Aug21088 degree from Athabasca University. But he didn’t stop there – he went on to acquire the title of Certified Corporate Director (ASC) from Laval University and Chartered Director (C.DIR.) from DeGroote School of Business – McMaster University. He then spent 20 years in the corporate world, honing his skills and gaining experience, during which time, he also became a professional speaker, sharing his knowledge with everyone around him. He even served as a front-line pandemic for 10 years. Over the years, he noticed the lack of resources that SMEs had to protect their data, compared to larger enterprises. So, he took matters into his own hands, and RiskAware was born with a range of services available including managing organisations’ entire cybersecurity programmes; helping them to prepare for compliance audits such as SOC 2 and USO 27001; conducting risk assessments; providing assessment capabilities testing of infrastructure or risk programmes, privacy and awareness; as well as providing training. As a small business itself, Michael has put a lot of hardwork and dedication into growing RiskAware. His motivation comes from helping those who are in need within the industry. Large corporates have resources needed to save themselves, but the industry does not play fair for SMEs. So, Michael and his team always strive to provide the best possible solution for them. Attackers are evolving with time, so RiskAware works to do the same in order to protect clients from cyberattacks. Looking ahead, Michael is keen to continue growing the company, with aims to expand its reach beyond Canada and into the US and the Caribbean, grabbing every opportunity to help anyone who is need. Company: RiskAware Cybersecurity Contact: Michael Castro Email: [email protected] Website: www.riskaware.io
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