Imagine you run a small business and know you should protect yourself from hackers, but you have no IT department and no idea which security tools to buy. FORTIKA built something like an app store for cyber security — a marketplace where SMEs can pick ready-made security packages tailored to their specific business, plugged into a small hardware box that sits on top of their existing internet gateway. Instead of hiring expensive consultants, you get a plug-and-play security layer that learns your business patterns and adjusts protection automatically.
Small and medium businesses face the same cyber threats as large enterprises but lack the budget, expertise, and IT staff to identify, acquire, and manage the right security tools. They either overspend on solutions that don't fit, underspend and remain exposed, or simply ignore the risk until a breach forces action. The cost of a single cyber incident can be existential for an SME.
FORTIKA built a hardware-enabled middleware security layer that plugs into existing network gateways, paired with a cloud-based marketplace of curated cyber security services tailored to each SME's profile. The platform includes virtualized security services (light-mode with minimum installation), business profiling for personalized security recommendations, and was validated through pilot installations across 5 types of SMEs with full training documentation.
If you are a small e-commerce business dealing with rising cyber threats to customer data and payment systems — this project developed a hardware-software security gateway with a marketplace of tailored security services. It was tested across 5 major types of SMEs and supported by 2 SME/ICT clusters, meaning the solution was designed specifically for businesses without dedicated IT security teams.
If you are a professional services firm dealing with confidentiality obligations and growing ransomware risks — FORTIKA built a middleware security layer that plugs into your existing network gateway as an add-on. The platform profiles your business and matches you with virtualized security services through its marketplace, so you get enterprise-grade protection without enterprise-grade complexity.
If you are a small medical practice dealing with strict data protection requirements and limited IT budgets — this project created a security ecosystem backed by 16 partners across 9 countries, including 10 SMEs who validated the approach. The light-mode solution offers virtualized security services with minimum download requirements, ideal for offices that cannot afford system downtime.
The project received EUR 3,997,025 in EU funding across 16 partners to develop the platform. Based on available project data, the marketplace model suggests a subscription or pay-per-service pricing for end users, which would be significantly lower than building custom security infrastructure. Specific per-SME pricing is not disclosed in available project data.
FORTIKA was designed as a software-defined smart ecosystem with virtualized security services, meaning it can scale through cloud delivery with minimum local installation. The platform was evaluated across 5 major types of SMEs and supported by 2 local SME/ICT clusters and 1 EU alliance, showing it works across different business sizes and sectors.
The consortium of 16 partners across 9 countries jointly developed the platform. With 11 industry partners (69% industry ratio) and 10 SMEs in the consortium, the technology was built with commercialization in mind. Licensing or access terms would need to be negotiated with the coordinator, ETHNIKO KENTRO EREVNAS KAI TECHNOLOGIKIS ANAPTYXIS in Greece.
The project was funded under the DS-02-2016 topic (Digital Security) and ran from 2017 to 2020, during the GDPR implementation period. The security-by-design approach and profiling features were built with EU regulatory context in mind. Based on available project data, specific compliance certifications are not detailed in the deliverable descriptions.
The project produced pilot installation reports (v1 and v2) that included deployment details and stakeholder training. The hardware component is described as an add-on to existing network gateways, and the light-mode solution offers virtualized services with minimum downloading requirements, suggesting deployment measured in days rather than months.
FORTIKA was explicitly designed as an add-on to existing network gateways, not a replacement. The middleware security layer sits on top of what you already have, and the marketplace provides virtualized services that adapt to your current infrastructure. The 30 deliverables produced include integration documentation from real pilot deployments.
FORTIKA's consortium is strongly industry-oriented with 11 out of 16 partners (69%) coming from industry, including 10 SMEs — meaning the technology was built by and for small businesses. The 16 partners span 9 countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Slovenia, UK), giving the platform broad European market exposure. The coordinator is a Greek national research center (CERTH), backed by 3 universities and 2 research organizations providing the scientific foundation. This high industry ratio and SME concentration signals the project was designed for commercial uptake, not just academic publication.
The coordinator is ETHNIKO KENTRO EREVNAS KAI TECHNOLOGIKIS ANAPTYXIS (CERTH) in Greece. SciTransfer can facilitate an introduction to discuss licensing or deployment options.
Want to explore whether FORTIKA's cyber security platform fits your business? SciTransfer can arrange a direct conversation with the development team and help you evaluate the solution against your specific security needs.
