The rise in cyberattacks around the world and in overseas territories has led Réunion to launch “Cyber Réunion”, a brand dedicated to cybersecurity. Supported by the State and the Region, this initiative aims to support local actors in their fight against growing digital threats. (Photo: www.imazpress.com)
Faced with the increase in cyber threats, Reunion has officially launched “Cyber Réunion”, a cybersecurity program intended to strengthen the resilience of businesses, communities, and local associations. This project is supported by the Réunion THD cybersecurity center. This public establishment was set up by the Region in 2018 to promote digital access. He is also committed to protecting Reunion’s digital space.
Cyber Réunion is intended to be a first-level response to cyberattacks. Its objective: to provide technical and organizational assistance, with a dedicated emergency call number (0262 974 999), and resources to help local actors identify, prevent, and react to digital incidents.
On the other hand, the program does not have judicial or investigative powers. Victims will be encouraged to collect the information needed to file a complaint. The challenge will be to secure and support structures in restarting activities. The brand must also “raise the levels of cybersecurity and cyber resilience of the territory, inform about risks and threats and secure the companies and organizations that need it”, indicates Matthieu Druilhe, cybersecurity director at THD.
Read also: Faced with the risk of cyberattacks in Reunion, the State is strengthening its mobilization
“We want to break the loneliness of victims of a computer attack and provide immediate support,” adds Parvine Lacombe, cabinet director at the prefecture of La Réunion.
Thanks to a team of five specialists, to which must be added two analysts, Cyber Réunion will continue its mission of monitoring the “attack surface” of the island and supporting vulnerable companies. Since July, thirty local companies have been analyzed and present potential flaws in their systems.
According to Moïse Moyal, digital security delegate for overseas territories of ANSSI (National Agency for Information Systems Security), cybercrime has exploded since the pandemic, increasing by 80% between 2022 and 2023. “In 2023, 14 incidents were reported to ANSSI, but it is likely that this number is much higher,” specifies Moïse Moyal.
In fact, many companies do not report attacks. According to the digital security delegate for overseas, it is therefore essential to have local relays in terms of cybersecurity. Especially since strategic infrastructures on the island, such as the University Hospital, Colipays and the town hall of Saint-Pierre, have been targeted in recent months by sophisticated attacks.
Cyber Réunion will therefore be accessible free of charge to all institutional and economic players on the island. Individuals, however, are excluded from the system. If they contact the helpline, they will be redirected to competent actors. In the event of a major threat, incidents can be reported 24 hours a day via an online form, while the helpline is available during the day from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
An extension of the time slot is planned to adapt to the constraints of a continuously active cyberspace. “The objective is to allow companies to quickly restart their activities after an attack,” explains Parvine Lacombe.
Read also: Cyberattacks: Réunion is organizing to protect its sensitive data
The initiative is part of a long-term security plan, aligned with the ambitions of the France 2030 program, which aims to support economic development through digital technology while ensuring resilience in the face of growing digital threats. Funded to the tune of 600,000 euros by the State and the same amount by the Region, this cybersecurity program is part of the national cyber recovery plan launched in 2021.
At the same time, the Region still intends to make Reunion Island the second best-fibered territory in France and supports the development of digital infrastructure, including submarine cables, to open up the island. “We have also strengthened our support for training and job creation in the cybersecurity sector,” adds Maya Césari, regional advisor responsible for innovation.
Through the creation of Cyber Réunion, the island joins a network of cyber resource centers established by the State to respond to digital threats in a localized and adapted manner. “The threats are global, but each territory has its specificities, and it is crucial to adapt to local realities,” insists Moïse Moyal. By the end of the year, 15 resource centers will have been created, including three in the overseas territories.
With the creation of this brand, Réunion intends to position itself as a bastion of cybersecurity in the Indian Ocean, offering an adapted response to digital challenges and data protection needs. Thanks to the website www.cyber-reunion.fr, local players can now easily access diagnostic and advisory services, and consider the island's digital future with greater peace of mind.
pb/www.imazpress.com/[email protected]
Réunion News, Cyber Réunion, Cybersecurity, Brand, Digital
