The digital revolution comes with a dark side, that of cyberthreats, which continue to grow in complexity and number. Given the growing importance of this topic, Digital Lab has decided to devote an issue of its “Les Cahiers du Digital” collection to it, in order to shed light on the crucial issues surrounding the question, particularly with regard to the Walloon economy.
The Les Cahiers du Digital collection aims to present the public with the major challenges of digital transformation, based on the contributions of experts with recognized field knowledge in the field. This 8th issue, entitled “Cybersecurity: Challenges for the Walloon economy, industrial SMEs and the cryptocurrency sector”, brings together the views of practitioners and experts in the field on the one hand, and university researchers on the other. Through an exploration of the main challenges and existing solutions in the field of IT security, this issue aims to enlighten the reader in a field that is not always easy to grasp.
Chapter 1 - Cybersecurity and SMEs
Walloon companies, among which SMEs form the backbone of the regional economy, are not immune to cyber risks. On the contrary, they are becoming prime targets for cybercriminals due to their relative vulnerability and lucrative potential. Statistics reveal a worrying trend: cyberattacks have doubled between 2019 and 2020, affecting up to 60% of Walloon businesses, with sometimes devastating consequences ranging from financial losses to compromised reputations and endangered data confidentiality. The first article in this issue, written by Jeremy Grandclaudon (Agence du Numérique), Nina Hasratyan (Cyberwal by Digital Wallonia), Lisa Lombardi (AKT for Wallonia (ex UWE)), explores these issues in greater depth. This chapter delves into the reality of SMEs in Wallonia, exposing the specific risks they face and proposing practical solutions to reinforce their security posture.
Chapter 2 - Deciphering cybersecurity to combat cyberthreats more effectively
Taking concrete action to guard against these ubiquitous threats involves not only investment in cutting-edge - and not necessarily expensive - technologies and robust defense strategies, but also a change of mindset and widespread awareness-raising at all levels of the organization. The importance of the human factor is also at the heart of the second chapter proposed by Jean-Philippe Parmentier (INFOPOLE Cluster TIC). He explores in depth the different forms of cyberthreats, highlighting the reasons for their proliferation and offering concrete strategies for countering these attacks, emphasizing the crucial role of the human factor in the process.
Chapter 3 - Settling scores at the O.K. Corral: Bitcoin, Blockchain & Cybersecurity
Finally, this issue closes with a critical analysis of Blockchain technology from a cybersecurity perspective. Although often perceived as a revolutionary digital innovation, blockchain technology and its most emblematic application, Bitcoin, are not immune to challenges and vulnerabilities. Contrary to the widespread image of a technology that is inviolable and unfalsifiable, the authors (Benoît Donnet and Vincent Jacquot, Faculté des Sciences Appliquées - ULiège) provide evidence that reveals potential flaws and risks inherent in this decentralized infrastructure. This chapter therefore takes a critical look at blockchain and Bitcoin, demystifying these often-confused technologies in the process. In concrete terms, the authors show how a cyber attack could be mounted against the Bitcoin infrastructure to steal money.
All Cahiers du Digital are available free of charge, in French and English, via the Digital Lab website.