Mastercard is offering free security assessments to small businesses in Canada. The initiative is specifically intended to support establishments that are conducting more business online due to the social distancing requirements associated with COVID-19.
In that regard, Mastercard notes that many smaller businesses are scrambling to introduce new online services, and may not be prepared to deal with the numerous cybersecurity threats that exist in the modern environment. A security assessment can help those organizations spot potential vulnerabilities before a hacker has a chance to exploit them.
The assessments will be provided by Mastercard’s RiskRekon subsidiary, and are available until December 31, 2020. Any Canadian business with 100 employees or fewer is eligible for the service.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy and it’s vital that they be protected,” said Sue Hutchison, Mastercard’s SVP of Product, Digital and New Payments in Canada. “We’re providing free access to the resources small businesses need to safeguard their systems now, and for the future.”
The offer will give small businesses access to RiskRekon’s My Cyber Risk portal, which passively monitors an organization’s digital footprint and continuously evaluates its cyberhealth based on 40 different criteria. It then provides actionable recommendations to improve security.
The decision is in keeping with Mastercard’s broader efforts to build a secure financial environment and facilitate digital commerce during the pandemic. RiskRekon has already made a similar offer to healthcare providers around the world, while Mastercard has helped raise the payment cap for contactless transactions in Canada.
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