Today, cybersecurity for businesses has become a strategic priority, impacting both financial security and reputation.
In January, we participated in the Kickstart cybersecurity industry event in Riga, where entrepreneurs, IT leaders, and security experts came together to gain practical insights into digital resilience, cyber risk management, and the role of security monitoring in modern business.
The event was organized by the Latvian Information Technology Cluster and the European Digital Innovation Centre, bringing together technology partners, solution developers, and companies that face cybersecurity challenges on a daily basis.
Among the participants and collaboration partners were BITE Latvia, ZZ Dats, Datakom, and other industry representatives who shared their experience, practical scenarios, and perspectives on the development of security in Latvia.
HORTUS Digital also took part in the event — delivering a presentation on the fundamentals of cyber hygiene and hosting a stand, where we met with company representatives, discussed their security challenges, and demonstrated our approach to continuous cybersecurity. This included presenting our Cyber-SOC (Security Operations Center) service, which provides real-time monitoring and incident management.
Security is increasingly becoming a service — similar to electricity: plug in and use. This model makes high-level cybersecurity solutions accessible to small and medium-sized businesses that do not have their own 24/7 security teams.
A full room as a signal, not a statistic
A full room at a cybersecurity training is no coincidence. It is a sign that companies are increasingly recognizing that security is no longer just an IT function. Cybersecurity is not a one-time project — it requires continuous monitoring and clearly defined responsibilities.
The level of interest, engagement, and discussions throughout the day clearly showed that theory alone is no longer enough. Businesses need practice — simulations, real-life scenarios, and honest risk assessment.
Cybersecurity is not just about implementing technologies. It is a systematic approach — people, processes, and tools working together within a unified ecosystem.
From simulations to reality
Our colleague Oskars Putnins presented real-world, experience-based examples, highlighting the most common areas where risks arise in everyday business operations:
- weak or reused passwords
- phishing emails and SMS messages
- insecure attachments and links
- outdated systems
- unmanaged access rights
- internal incidents
Technically, these may seem like small issues. However, statistically, they are among the most common entry points for cyberattacks. It is in these moments that the true level of an organization’s preparedness becomes visible — far beyond what documentation may suggest.
Working with companies, we consistently observe recurring mistakes, which can lead to both financial losses and reputational risks.
As Oskars Putnins emphasized during the event:
“Technology alone does not solve the problem. Security is a team effort. It only works when technology, people, and processes operate as one system.”
Where companies are truly vulnerable
An important perspective was also shared by our CEO, Didzis Simis, who met with companies at the event stand:
“The majority of companies do not ignore security — they simply lack a clear, practical implementation model. Employees need training and additional knowledge. Understanding what works and where the risks are is the foundation of business security.”
This is exactly why security is increasingly being chosen as a service. Companies are looking for models that ensure continuous monitoring, timely threat detection, and professional incident response — while allowing them to stay focused on their core business.
Professional SOC solutions enable security to operate in the background — systematically, structured, and continuously.
Key takeaway
If we were to summarize the main message of the event in one sentence, it would be this: cybersecurity does not start with an attack — it starts with hygiene.
It begins with simple yet critical actions: how we respond to emails and SMS messages, how we create passwords, update software, manage access rights, and report suspicious activity.
A company’s resilience is not defined by whether it will face an incident, but by how quickly it can detect and respond to it.
Cybersecurity is not a one-time project — it is continuous monitoring, clearly defined processes, and a responsible team.
Thank you to everyone who participated. We will continue working to ensure that cybersecurity in businesses becomes a conscious and strategic decision — built on knowledge, experience, and practical solutions.
