Complete guide · Updated

Cybersecurity for SMEs
in Reunion Island

Protect your business against ransomware, phishing, and data breaches. ECLAUD IT, a certified Fortinet partner, deploys and manages your IT security — from security audit to 24/7 managed SOC.

In brief

€466,000: average cost of a cyberattack on a French SME (Cour des comptes / ANSSI 2025). 16% of small businesses have been victims of a cyber incident in 2024. ECLAUD IT protects SMEs from 5 to 120 endpoints with Fortinet, a managed SOC, and a monthly-tested disaster recovery plan.

01 — Threats

Why are SMEs the primary target of cyberattacks?

SMEs now account for the majority of cyberattacks in France. The reason is straightforward: they hold sensitive data (customer files, accounting records, contracts) yet rarely have an in-house IT director or a dedicated security team. For a cybercriminal, an SME with a poorly configured firewall represents an easy and profitable target.

In Reunion Island, the situation is even more pronounced. The local economy relies on family-run SMEs with 5 to 50 employees, often dependent on a single internet connection and a non-redundant local server. The scarcity of specialised cybersecurity providers in French overseas territories compounds the exposure. ECLAUD IT is one of the few local MSPs offering a complete cybersecurity solution with Fortinet, from firewall to managed SOC.

"44% of SME directors consider themselves highly exposed to cyber risks, yet 6 in 10 would not know how to assess the consequences of an attack." — Cybermalveillance / ImpactCyber Barometer, 2025
02 — Key figures

The state of the cyber threat in France — 2025

€466,000
Average cost of a cyberattack on a French SME
Cour des comptes / ANSSI 2025
16%
of small businesses victim of a cyber incident in the past 12 months
Cybermalveillance Barometer 2025
+45%
increase in attacks against French SMEs in one year
Orange Cyberdefense 2025
60%
of SME victims shut down within 18 months of a major cyberattack
Cour des comptes / ANSSI 2025
423,021
assistance requests on Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr in 2024 (+49.9%)
2024 Activity Report
€100Bn
annual cost of cybercrime in France — ×20 in 10 years
CESIN × OpinionWay 2025
03 — Attack types

The 5 cyber threats targeting French SMEs

01

Ransomware

Encryption of your data held for ransom. 144 compromises reported to ANSSI in 2024. SMEs are the primary targets because they are less protected.

02

Phishing & spear-phishing

Fraudulent emails impersonating your suppliers or bank. 60% of breaches involve human behaviour (Verizon DBIR 2025).

03

CEO fraud (BEC)

Identity impersonation of the company director to authorise a wire transfer. A rapidly growing threat targeting SMEs that lack a dual-validation process.

04

Data theft

Exfiltration of customer files, accounting data, and intellectual property. Extortion victims increased by 44.5% in one year (Orange Cyberdefense 2025).

05

Supply chain attack

Compromise of a supplier or subcontractor to reach your information system. A vector increasingly affecting SMEs connected to large enterprises.

Screen displaying a cybersecurity lock — SME cybersecurity protection
SME cybersecurity requires a managed approach, combining technology and human expertise.
04 — Our services

Our managed cybersecurity services for SMEs

ECLAUD IT provides comprehensive protection for businesses with 5 to 120 endpoints. Every component is managed, monitored, and maintained by our teams — you have nothing to handle.

Security audit

Vulnerability mapping, penetration testing, risk analysis. A comprehensive assessment of your exposure.

FortiGate Firewall

Fortinet Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW). Application filtering, IPS, VPN, network segmentation. Managed and monitored 24/7.

Managed SOC 24/7

Outsourced Security Operations Centre. Real-time threat detection, event correlation, incident response.

EDR / XDR

Advanced endpoint and server protection. Behavioural detection, automatic threat isolation, remote remediation.

Backup & DRP

Offsite backup, remote replication, monthly-tested disaster recovery plan. Target: restart in under 4 hours.

Security awareness

Team training on phishing, passwords, and best practices. Attack simulations and regular awareness campaigns.

05 — Compliance

NIS2 directive and GDPR — what it means for your SME

The NIS2 directive, which came into force in 2024, extends cybersecurity obligations to approximately 15,000 organisations in France — including a majority of SMEs and mid-sized companies across 18 critical sectors (healthcare, energy, transport, digital, food, water, waste management...).

NIS2 Deadline

Registration on MonEspaceNIS2.gouv.fr is mandatory for affected entities. Full enforcement is scheduled for 1 October 2026. ECLAUD IT supports SMEs through their compliance journey.

GDPR obligations in the event of an incident

In the event of a personal data breach, the GDPR requires notification to the CNIL within 72 hours and, where the risk is high, communication to the affected individuals. Without access logging and data-leak detection, this obligation is impossible to fulfil. A managed SOC ensures the traceability required.

How ECLAUD IT supports you

We audit your NIS2 exposure, implement the required technical measures (firewall, EDR, backup, logging), and document your compliance. A single point of contact for both technical and regulatory compliance matters.

06 — Our method

From audit to continuous protection — our 4-step method

1

Audit & mapping

Analysis of your infrastructure, vulnerability identification, business risk assessment. Detailed report with prioritised remediation plan.

2

Fortinet deployment

Installation and configuration of the FortiGate firewall, network segmentation, VPN setup, activation of FortiGuard services.

3

SOC monitoring

Connection to the managed SOC, log correlation, real-time threat detection. Alerts and incident response 24/7.

4

Training & resilience

Team awareness training, phishing simulations, DRP testing. Continuous improvement of your security posture.

07 — Why us

Why choose ECLAUD IT for your SME cybersecurity?

Certified Fortinet partner

FortiGate, FortiGuard, FortiFlex — we deploy and manage the Fortinet ecosystem, the world leader in firewalls.

Local team in Reunion Island

On-site response in under 4 hours. In-depth knowledge of the local SME landscape and its specific constraints (connectivity, insularity).

Predictable monthly subscription

No heavy upfront investment. Per-endpoint pricing, no annual commitment. FortiFlex enables usage-based billing that scales with you.

Complete outsourced IT management

Cybersecurity is part of our comprehensive managed services offering. One contact for network, endpoints, cloud, security, and compliance.

Security padlock on a computer keyboard — SME data protection
Protecting your data starts with a security audit and a properly configured firewall.
08 — Frequently asked questions

FAQ — Cybersecurity for SMEs

How much does a cyberattack cost an SME?

In 2025, the average cost of a cyberattack on a French SME reaches €466,000 according to the Cour des comptes and ANSSI. This figure includes business downtime, remediation, GDPR penalties and customer loss. 60% of SME victims shut down within 18 months.

Are SMEs really targeted by cyberattacks?

Yes. 16% of French micro and small businesses report having been victims of a cyber incident in the past 12 months (Cybermalveillance 2025). SMEs are prime targets because they rarely have an in-house IT director or an internal SOC.

What is a managed SOC and why do I need one?

A managed SOC (Security Operations Centre) is an outsourced monitoring centre that continuously analyses security events on your network. It detects threats, correlates alerts, and responds to incidents — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is the equivalent of a dedicated security team without the cost of recruitment.

Is my SME affected by the NIS2 directive?

The NIS2 directive applies to organisations with 50+ employees or €10M+ turnover in 18 critical sectors (healthcare, energy, transport, digital, food...). Registration on MonEspaceNIS2.gouv.fr is mandatory. Full enforcement is planned for October 2026.

What is the difference between an antivirus and an EDR?

An antivirus detects known threats via signatures. An EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response) analyses process behaviour in real time, detects unknown threats, and enables remote remediation. For an exposed SME, EDR has become the minimum standard.

Why choose Fortinet for my SME cybersecurity?

Fortinet is the world leader in firewalls with FortiGate. Its range covers SMEs from 5 to 500 endpoints with an excellent performance-to-price ratio. As a certified Fortinet partner, ECLAUD IT deploys and manages your FortiGate with FortiGuard services (IPS, anti-malware, web filtering).

What should I do in the event of a cyberattack on my business?

Immediately isolate infected machines from the network (unplug the cable, turn off Wi-Fi). Never pay the ransom. Contact your IT provider and file a police report. Report the incident on cybermalveillance.gouv.fr. If personal data has been compromised, notify the CNIL within 72 hours.

Protect your SME
before it's too late

Free cybersecurity audit, no commitment. We identify your vulnerabilities and propose a remediation plan tailored to your budget.