SMESEC · Project

Affordable Cybersecurity Toolkit Built Specifically for Small and Medium Businesses

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Imagine you run a small business and you know hackers are out there, but hiring a full security team is way out of your budget. A group of 14 organizations across Europe built a cybersecurity toolkit designed specifically for companies like yours — ones without a dedicated IT security department. Think of it as a ready-made security package that helps you understand your risks and protect your digital operations without needing a PhD in computer science. They tested it with real SMEs in real-world conditions to make sure it actually works in practice, not just in a lab.

By the numbers

consortium partners from industry, academia, and research

countries represented in the consortium

73%

of total project costs covered by private companies

SMEs directly involved in building the solution

project deliverables produced

EUR 3,998,922

EU investment in development

months of development and field testing

The business problem

What needed solving

Most small and medium businesses know cyber threats are real but lack the budget, expertise, and staff to implement proper cybersecurity. Off-the-shelf enterprise solutions are too expensive and complex. This leaves SMEs dangerously exposed — one breach can mean lost customer data, regulatory fines, and destroyed reputation.

The solution

What was built

The consortium built a cybersecurity toolkit specifically for SMEs, including tools for managing network security risks and identifying threats. They produced 29 deliverables, including a prototype demonstration validated through field trials across multiple pilot sites and use cases.

Audience

Who needs this

E-commerce SMEs handling customer payment and personal dataSmall professional services firms (legal, accounting) with client confidentiality obligationsSmall manufacturers connecting equipment to digital networksHealthcare clinics and practices managing patient records digitallyTechnology startups building digital products without dedicated security teams

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Retail & E-commerce

SME

Target: Online retailers and e-commerce SMEs handling customer payment data

If you are a small online retailer dealing with the constant threat of data breaches and payment fraud — this project developed a cybersecurity toolkit tested in field trials that helps SMEs identify network security risks and implement protection measures without requiring in-house security expertise. The consortium of 14 partners across 8 countries built this specifically for businesses with limited cybersecurity background and restricted budgets.

Professional Services

SME

Target: Small accounting, legal, or consulting firms handling sensitive client data

If you are a professional services firm dealing with client confidentiality obligations and rising cyber threats — this project built security tools that help you manage information security risks without expensive consultants. With 73% of the project costs covered by private companies, the solutions were designed with real business constraints in mind, not academic ideals. Field trials confirmed the tools work in practical business environments.

Manufacturing

SME

Target: Small manufacturers adopting connected equipment and IoT sensors

If you are a small manufacturer connecting your shop floor equipment to the internet and worried about industrial cyber attacks — this project created a cost-effective security toolkit that protects your digital operations. Built by a consortium with 10 industry partners including 5 SMEs, the tools were designed for companies that are digitizing but lack dedicated cybersecurity staff. The 29 project deliverables include tested components ready for deployment.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

How much would it cost to implement this cybersecurity toolkit?

The project was specifically designed for SMEs with restricted budgets, so affordability was a core design principle. The EUR 3,998,922 EU investment funded the development; actual licensing or deployment costs for end users would need to be discussed with the consortium partners, particularly ATOS as coordinator.

Can this scale across multiple offices or branches?

The toolkit was built to address the needs of SMEs across diverse sectors, as demonstrated by field trials across multiple pilot use cases. Based on the consortium's 8-country spread and multi-sector testing, the solution was designed with cross-border and multi-site applicability in mind.

What about intellectual property and licensing?

The project was led by ATOS, a major IT services company, with 10 industry partners contributing. IP arrangements would be governed by the consortium agreement. Businesses interested in licensing should contact the consortium through ATOS Spain for specific terms.

Does this meet EU data protection regulations like GDPR?

The project explicitly addresses information security and privacy standards for SMEs, referencing ENISA's 2016 study on the topic. Given its EU funding and focus on data protection, the tools were designed with European regulatory requirements in mind. Specific compliance certifications should be verified with the consortium.

How long does implementation take?

The project ran for 36 months from development through field trials. For end users, deployment timelines would depend on company size and existing IT infrastructure. The toolkit was designed for businesses without deep technical backgrounds, suggesting a streamlined implementation process.

Can this integrate with our existing IT systems?

The project deliverables include 29 components covering various aspects of cybersecurity. The field trials tested the solution in real-world pilot environments, which means integration with existing business IT setups was part of the validation process. Specific compatibility details should be discussed with the consortium.

Consortium

Who built it

The SMESEC consortium is heavily industry-driven: 10 out of 14 partners are private companies, covering 73% of total project costs. Led by ATOS Spain — a major European IT services provider with deep cybersecurity expertise — the team includes 5 SMEs who brought firsthand understanding of small business security challenges. Three universities and one research center provided the scientific foundation. The 8-country spread (Spain, France, Netherlands, Greece, Switzerland, Israel, Poland, Romania) gives the solution a genuinely European perspective on cross-border cyber threats and regulatory requirements. For a business buyer, this consortium composition means the tools were built by people who understand both the technology and the commercial reality of running a small company.

ATOS SPAIN SACoordinator · ES
BITDEFENDER SRLparticipant · RO
FACHHOCHSCHULE NORDWESTSCHWEIZ FHNWparticipant · CH
GRIDPOCKET SASparticipant · FR
SCYTL SECURE ELECTRONIC VOTING SAparticipant · ES
CLOUD SOFTWARE GROUP HELLAS MONOPROSOPI ETAIRIA PERIORISMENIS EVTHINISparticipant · EL
IDRYMA TECHNOLOGIAS KAI EREVNASparticipant · EL
GRIDPOCKET SYSTEMS SPOLKA AKCYJNAthirdparty · PL
WORLDSENSING SLparticipant · ES
UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHTparticipant · NL
ATOS IT SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES IBERIA SLthirdparty · ES
IBM ISRAEL - SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LTDparticipant · IL
PANEPISTIMIO PATRONparticipant · EL
EGMparticipant · FR

How to reach the team

ATOS Spain SA coordinated this project. SciTransfer can facilitate an introduction to the right technical contact within the consortium.

Order a report on this consortium See ATOS SPAIN SA profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how SMESEC's cybersecurity toolkit could protect your business? Contact SciTransfer for a tailored briefing and introduction to the consortium team.

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