Trust Valley launches Trust4SMEs to boost cybersecurity for Lake Geneva region SMEs
Tech
19 February 2025
The Trust4SMEs program provides SMEs with affordable cybersecurity training, mentoring, and strategic guidance from industry leaders. | © Trust Valley
The Trust Valley has launched Trust4SMEs, a pilot program designed to help 25 SMEs in the Lake Geneva region strengthen their cybersecurity. The initiative combines expertise from leading cybersecurity providers and academic institutions.
The Trust Valley, a public-private initiative dedicated to digital trust and cybersecurity, has launched Trust4SMEs, a program aimed at enhancing cybersecurity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Lake Geneva region. The initiative, supported by the canton of Vaud, brings together leading cybersecurity firms, academic institutions, and public sector organizations to offer SMEs affordable, high-quality training and advisory services.
The pilot program, which starts in March 2025, will run for 9 to 12 months and provide more than 20 SMEs with tailored support, including training modules, coaching sessions, mentoring, expert discussions, and public conferences. The program is valued at CHF 30,000 per SME, yet participation costs range between CHF 1,500 and CHF 5,000, depending on company size and revenue. The overall program budget is CHF 700,000.
Among the key partners involved in Trust4SMEs are Kudelski, SCRT, PwC Switzerland, Exoscale, Fortinet, EPFL, HEIG-VD, and the Swiss National Cybersecurity Centre (NCSC). Several start-ups from the Tech4Trust acceleration program are also contributing their expertise.
A proactive effort to strengthen Switzerland’s digital resilience
The long-term goal of Trust4SMEs is to expand its reach nationally, providing cybersecurity support to a broader network of Swiss SMEs. Interested companies can apply through a formal selection process, where an independent panel of experts will assess applications based on data sensitivity, industry sector, company size (10-250 employees), and location (Vaud, Geneva, or Valais).
With cyber threats on the rise, Trust4SMEs represents a proactive effort to strengthen Switzerland’s digital resilience, ensuring that SMEs have the tools and knowledge to safeguard their operations in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
