Blackwall aims to close cybersecurity gap among MSMES

LOCAL cybersecurity startup Blackwall Industries is focusing on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to address what it sees as a largely untapped and highly vulnerable segment of the market.

- By Edg Adrian A. Eva

Before its formal establishment in May, the company initially targeted large corporate clients to secure stable revenues, but found it difficult to gain traction without an established track record, said Joseph Daniel B. Ferido, co-founder and head of sales of Blackwall Industries.

“Cybersecurity deals with very sensitive data, so without a name or strong backing, it was difficult for us to close deals with big corporations,” he said in an interview via Zoom.

This prompted his team to shift its focus to MSMEs, which account for about 99% of businesses in the Philippines and are among the most exposed to cyber risks.

“We realized cybersecurity should be for everyone. It shouldn't be limited to corporations that can afford enterprise-level solutions,” Mr. Ferido said.