Kansas SBDC to present Cyber Security Forum

More than 25 cybersecurity experts scheduled to speak on April 25 in Manhattan

TOPEKA, Kansas – The Kansas Small Business Development Center (Kansas SBDC) Cyber Security Center for Small Business in coordination with the Kansas SBDC at Washburn University has announced a cyber security forum scheduled for April 25, 2018, in Manhattan, Kansas.

Twenty-five cyber security experts from a variety of Kansas industries as well as Kansas State University, Washburn University, and the University of Kansas will join Kansas SBDC team members to deliver a one-day event for business owners and managers, human resource professionals, as well as individuals handling confidential or sensitive information in their businesses including attorneys, accountants, and realtors.

“The Kansas SBDC is working to improve the digital footprint of all small businesses,” said Brian Dennis, Kansas SBDC Cyber Security Center for Small Business. “Events like the Cyber Security Forum will allow business owners the opportunities to better understand what steps can be taken to make real changes.”

Small businesses are increasingly targets of cyber attacks. Many will not recover from a successful attack.

20% of small to mid-sized organizations (SMBs) that experienced a successful ransomware infiltration had to cease business operations immediately, and 12% lost revenue (State of Ransomware, Malwarebytes and Osterman Research).

57% of SMBs experienced nine or more hours of downtime from a successful ransomware infiltration. Some organizations were down for more than 100 hours because of the infection (State of Ransomware, Malwarebytes and Osterman Research).

7 in 10 customers would consider leaving a business (e.g., their financial institution, healthcare provider) if it were hit by ransomware (Carbon Black 2017 Ransom Aware survey).

Detailed information about the presentations and speakers, including links to speakers’ bios is available at: https://www.kansassbdc.net/kansas-sbdc-cybersecurity-forum-manhattan/

About Kansas SBDC Cyber Security Center for Small Business

The Kansas SBDC Cyber Security Center for Small Business is a statewide advising, consulting, and training service focused on reducing the risk of cyber-attack on small business. Funding allows the Cyber Security Center to provide advising and training (i.e. risk assessments, NIST standards, benchmarking) to businesses across the state at low or no cost. The Cybersecurity Center is hosted by the University of Kansas in partnership with the Kansas SBDC.

About Kansas SBDC

The Kansas SBDC is a statewide advising, consulting, and training service for small business (typically less than 500 employees) funded by federal, state, and local partners. Funding allows the Kansas SBDC to provide advising and training (i.e. financial analysis, marketing, management) to businesses across the state at low or no cost. Kansas SBDC is an accredited member of America’s SBDC, the most comprehensive small business assistance network in the United States.

To learn more, visit https://www.kansassbdc.net or call 877-625-7232.

For more information on the Kansas SBDC, contact Lisa Roberts, 785-296-6514, lsroberts@ksbdc.net

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