Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1516411
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 25 FEBRUARY 2024 6 COMMERCIAL Cyber Assess scheme aims to bolster businesses' cybersecurity and resilience ON 5 February 2024, Silvio Schembri, Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Stra- tegic Projects, together with MITA, launched the Cyber As- sess scheme which aims to bol- ster local businesses' security and resilience by offering spe- cialised cybersecurity expertise and services. Operated by MITA, through the National Cybersecurity Co- ordination Centre (NCC) the Cyber Assess Scheme is geared towards facilitating nation- al-level cybersecurity capaci- ty building. The Cyber Assess Scheme will precisely evaluate and measure IT systems and infrastructures of at least thir- ty local businesses through a comprehensive list of services. With a dedicated budget of up to €150,000, secured through the Recovery and Resilience Facility fund, part of the Nex- tGenerationEU Programme, this initiative aims to provide tailored offerings, furnishing technical and business insight to eligible enterprises free of charge. To ensure fair distribu- tion and effective utilisation of these resources, specific allo- cations have been established for each service category. Busi- nesses can take advantage of the following services: Vulner- ability Assessment, Penetration Testing, Security Architecture Reviews, Risk Assessment, Au- dits and Reviews, all conducted following the highest cyberse- curity standards by experts in the field. The scheme shall operate on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to service availability. The scheme is open to natu- ral or legal entities engaged in economic activities who are formally recognised by the rel- evant Government authorities in Malta. The application win- dow spans six months, from 5th February 2024 to 31st July 2024, allowing interested eligible ap- plicants to submit their appli- cations online at any time. The application process is straight- forward, featuring a simple on- line application and eligibility criteria crafted for easy acces- sibility to Maltese businesses. Applications will be continu- ously reviewed in order of sub- mission, with the MITA-NCC notifying applicants of the out- come. Following acceptance, successful applicants will meet with the selected contractors to confirm the project's scope, and upon a successful outcome, an agreement will be signed be- tween MITA-NCC and the ap- plicant. The application can be ac- cessed through the portal ncc-mita.gov.mt/cyber-assess together with other informa- tion related to the scheme. Any queries are to be addressed to ncc.mita@gov.mt or submitted through the contact form found on the website. The Cyber Assess Scheme aligns with Malta's long-term vision of enhancing global com- petitiveness by establishing a robust reputation for cyberse- curity practices, contributing to the stability and growth of Mal- ta's economy by creating a se- cure business environment that attracts and retains investment. Above: Silvio Schembri, Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects, together with MITA, launched the Cyber Assess scheme