Laurent Bernat, Author at

Laurent Bernat

Laurent Bernat is a policy analyst at the OECD Secretariat in the Digital Economy Policy Division. He supports the Working Party on Security in the Digital Economy (SDE), under the Committee on Digital Economy Policy (CDEP), as well as the OECD Global Forum on Digital Security for Prosperity. He led the development of the OECD Recommendations on Digital Security Risk Management for Economic and on Social Prosperity (2015) and on Digital Security of Critical Activities (2019). Currently, he coordinates policy work on the digital security of products, vulnerability treatment, “responsible response” by private actors, and the security of communication networks. Laurent worked on many different trust-related policy issues including national cybersecurity strategies, digital identity management, RFID, cryptography policy and the protection of children online. Prior to joining the OECD in 2003, he worked at the French data protection agency, the Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertés (CNIL) and was associate director in an Internet consulting firm. Laurent BERNAT has a master in political science and international relations.

Cyberattacks can spell disaster for businesses of all sizes, but especially smaller firms. The median cost of a ransomware attack can amount to up to USD 1.2 million, and up to USD 1.6 million in the case of computer data breach. Urgent action is needed to support SMEs in better preparing and managing digital security risks.