Local businesses are largely unaware of technologies available in Bahrain that help counter Internet-based threats, a top executive said.

As e-mail and web technologies converge, the number of security threats has grown and Internet-based threats are proving to be a nightmare for businesses globally and locally, Kalaam Telecom chief executive Veer Passi was quoted as saying in the Gulf daily News, our sister publication.

"Having launched our own unlimited broadband services in January 2013, we have discovered that many businesses have insufficient awareness of technologies available in Bahrain that help counter these threats.

"Kalaam's broadband services come with Fortinet's Unified Threat Management that not only provides email and web security but advanced network-based security options.

"It is common knowledge that e-mails are still the primary way for viruses and malware to infiltrate an organisation's computers," said Kalaam Telecom products and services manager Eyad Al Naqi.

"While there are countless programmes that limit exposure to such attacks, the same cannot be said about securing the web.

"Now attackers can put malicious content on a web page that is instantly accessible by thousands of people or bundle useful downloads from the web like presentations, images, software applications with malicious software.

"Such attacks can lead to catastrophic damages and especially when the company's confidential information gets compromised, thereby resulting in massive commercial and reputational losses,"

In view of this, Kalaam is hosting a short business seminar and luncheon on Tuesday at the Noor Conference Tent, Elite Resort & Spa.

The aim is to help bring awareness to small businesses in Bahrain on cyber threats and on how to prevent such attacks, which would help boost the overall security of the organisation's network and broadband connectivity. – TradeArabia News Service