Bolstering Cybersecurity Capabilities across the Asia Pacific

“I manage Dato, a social enterprise in Kon Tum, Vietnam, working with over 500 ethnic-minority households producing herbs and spices. At first, I believed cybersecurity was mainly for large corporations — my focus was on learning digital tools for marketing. But after nearly losing important customer data, I felt vulnerable. When I joined the ACF training, I discovered how even small vulnerabilities could endanger my business and our partner households. I learned how to spot phishing attempts, enable two-factor authentication, and introduce safer file-sharing practices for my team. With these changes, I strengthened our business security and held internal sessions to share what I learned with my staff. Today, I see cybersecurity as an essential foundation for our growth and sustainability — ensuring we can thrive safely in the digital economy.”

Luong Hue

Dato Social Enterprise, Kon Tum Vietnam

"I run Jihad Store, a small business in Khulna, Bangladesh. I used to rely on Gmail for communication and bKash for payments, but I didn’t realize how vulnerable my accounts were because of weak passwords. As I started expanding my business online, this risk made me anxious. When I joined the APAC Cybersecurity Fund training, I discovered that cybersecurity isn’t just for large companies. It’s important for entrepreneurs like me too. I learned how to create stronger, unique passwords and set up two-factor authentication. These simple steps gave me the confidence to manage my digital tools safely. Since then, I’ve started mentoring other women in my community, showing them how to secure their accounts and avoid scams. Today, I can honestly say that the training gives me peace of mind, letting me focus on serving my customers without fear."

Jesmin Begum

Jihad Store, Khulna Bangladesh

“I run an e-commerce business in Rajshahi. One day, I got a call claiming I had won a large cash prize — the “bank official” asked for my mobile wallet PIN to “process” the reward. I was excited but unsure, and almost shared my details before realizing it could be a scam. The experience left me shaken and motivated me to join the ACF training. Before the session, I believed I had little control over such fraud. But during the training, I learned practical ways to protect myself: how to identify phishing calls, block suspicious numbers and strengthen account security. With this new knowledge, I confidently avoided future scams and even began warning my neighbours and fellow business owners about similar tricks. Today, I call the training a turning point — what could have been a costly mistake became an opportunity to build confidence and share protection strategies with my community.”

Josna Akter

Rajshahi, Small E-commerce Bangladesh