LGMS, introduces StarSentry, in-house developed plug and play box to help SMEs fend off cyber threats

• 2-year R&D effort, launch comes on heels of national Cybersecurity Bill 2024 
• AI chatbot to be latest feature added to help bolster undermanned SMEs cope with threats

According to LGMS Bhd, a Malaysian cybersecurity company listed on Bursa Malaysia,  84.7% of SMEs in the country have experienced cyber threats in 2022. And with the digital economy expected to contribute 25% towards GDP by the end of 2025, it is no surprise that cybersecurity has become a top of mind priority for Gobind Singh, Malaysia’s Minister of Digital. 

“As our economy continues to transition to new digital paradigms, the government's commitment to securing our digital landscape is further heightened. In this context, cybersecurity has evolved from a specialized concern to what we term as a fundamental necessity,” said Gobind on 4th June at the launch of StarSentry. 

Developed after two years of R&D by LGMS subsidiary, Applied Security Intelligence Sdn Bhd (ASI), StarSentry is a plug and play box designed to better equip SMEs in defending against ever evolving cyber threats.

The launch of StarSentry come on the heels of the introduction of the Cyber Security Bill 2024 by the government in April which holds businesses that operate National Critical Information Infrastructure (NCII) responsible for cybersecurity breaches that impact them and their customers.

“The Cyber Security Bill 2024 applies to Malaysia's Critical National Information Infrastructure to protect the economy and business operations. The Bill can hold individual company directors responsible if found to have neglected cybersecurity, resulting in the company being hacked,” said Gobind, adding, “NCII aims to secure both large enterprises and small businesses to foster a secure digital business environment.”

Fong Choong Fook (pic), Chairman of LGMS, emphasized the importance of visibility and early prevention, and warned about the dangers of being unaware of cyber risks and how to protect against cyber threats. 

Recognising that SMEs, unlike large organizations, may not be able to hire security consultants or security engineers, Fong noted that their biggest challenge was in simply identifying where their biggest risk lay. “They do not know where to start in terms of choosing a cybersecurity solution as there are so many options available,” he said.

StarSentry was built to address this very issue.

“Therefore, StarSentry offers a user-friendly, plug-and-play (install the hardware without any extra configuration) approach at an affordable price, it encompasses a comprehensive solution for SMEs to be aware of cyber threats within their system through advanced vulnerability scanning and proactive threat detection features, along with cyber risk insurance for eligible subscribers,” Fong said.

Like a “cybersecurity doctor”, it conducts vulnerability checks on a weekly basis, letting SMEs know ahead of time what kind of cyber threats they will be facing.

One interesting feature is an internal honeypot protection that serves as a trap for any potential hackers, and quarantining them. Endpoint protection is delivered by WithSecure, a Finland based partner of LGMS.

“We are also looking into using an AI chatbot for SME owners, which is going to help them to understand more about the reports done by Star Sentry,” Fong said.

A one-year subscription costs US$2,745 (RM12,900) with 1 to 1 swap warranty during subscription period and software lifetime OTA upgrades and regular updates. LGMS declined to reveal the cost to create StarSentry and the potential revenue projection.

During the event, LGMS via ASI also signed partnerships with Tokio Marine Insurans Bhd and VSTECS Astar Sdn Bhd.  The former underwrites cyber insurance worth (US$6,384) RM30,000 for StarSentry subscribers while the latter is StarSentry’s exclusive distributor.