DBS has announced that it will offer a complimentary cybersecurity training programme to help protect Singaporean small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

At the end of the programme, known as DBS #CyberWellness, participating businesses will be given recommendations for suitable cyber insurance and cybersecurity solutions. This enables SMEs to take immediate steps to protect their businesses from potential cyber attacks, DBS said.

The programme is composed of 10 online modules, each covering a different facet of cybersecurity, such as password protection, phishing, digital scams, physical security and social media security. All 10 modules can be accessed on the go and can be completed in less than 120 minutes, making it accessible to busy business owners and employees.

DBS said that it is looking to partner with government agencies, industry associations, and other corporate partners to expand the programme to reach more SMEs in Singapore, which are estimated to number around 280,000 and make up 99% of Singapore’s businesses and employ 70% of its workforce.

The first partner introduced for DBS #CyberWellness is StarHub. The telecommunications provider will provide participating SMEs with a complimentary two-month trial of its plug-and-play cybersecurity software, Secure Access Service Edge for SME, which can help protect businesses from cyber threats.

“SMEs tend to be more vulnerable to cyber threats because they lack the time or resources of bigger companies,” said Joyce Tee, group head of SME banking at DBS. “We believe we can make the biggest impact by equipping the employees of SMEs with foundational cybersecurity skills, which become ingrained everyday habits as they put their skills to practice. Most importantly, trained employees become the first line of cyber defence for SMEs and play a crucial role in averting downtime due to catastrophic cyber attacks."