Cyber Security Forum
Cyber Security Forum
March 8, 2017 at 8am
Ashland City Council Chambers
Description:
Ransomware is the single biggest active cyber threat facing small businesses in 2017. The attacks are getting more complex, ransoms are increasing, and there’s no sign of that trend slowing. Last year, hackers raked in more than $1 billion in ransoms, and that amount is projected to increase dramatically this year.
Bad news: small businesses like yours are at the epicenter of this crime wave. Business owners depend on their computers for daily operations, but generally don’t have dedicated IT staff, much less anyone focused on cyber security. When malware strikes, small businesses have two choices: pay up or fold.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
The Ashland Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a one-hour workshop that’ll show you exactly which software to use and how to configure it to protect your business and your bottom line.
Join AJ Van Beest, owner of North Star Cyber Security, to learn about the scope of the problem, and what to do about it. Far from being a sales pitch, in his presentation, AJ will show you exactly how to protect yourself, right down to the software and settings that he uses every day to protect his clients’ businesses.
AJ is a practicing cyber security expert (among other things, he’s one of two “vulnerability assessment and management specialists” for Wisconsin’s state cyber response team) and a small business owner. He’s presented regionally and nationally on cyber security strategy and tactics for the last four years, and he’s passionate about helping small businesses stay safe online.
We anticipate a full house, and seating is limited; RSVP right now to ashchamb@centurytel.net to reserve your spot!
Teaser 1:
Mid-morning Tuesday, an email arrives from a business associate with a PDF attached. You’re busy (who isn’t these days?) so you open it and wham! Your screen fills with a message that your computer has been encrypted. You have to send bitcoins (whatever those are) to some random address on the Internet or you’re going to lose everything on your computer.
The Ashland Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a one-hour workshop that’ll show you exactly which software to use and how to configure it to protect your business and your bottom line. We anticipate a full house, and seating is limited; RSVP right now to reserve your spot!
Teaser 2:
$1,000,000,000. That’s how much small businesses like yours paid to hackers last year because of ransomware. Are you protected, or are you going to be part of that statistic?
The Ashland Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a one-hour workshop that’ll show you exactly which software to use and how to configure it to protect your business and your bottom line. We anticipate a full house, and seating is limited; RSVP right now to reserve your spot!
Teaser 3:
You’re a business person, not a computer geek. You can’t afford to take time away from running your business to figure out all the minutiae of protecting yourself from ransomware. And you don’t have anyone on staff who can take this on, either.
Good news! The Ashland Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a one-hour workshop that’ll show you exactly which software to use and how to configure it to protect your business and your bottom line. We anticipate a full house, and seating is limited; RSVP right now to reserve your spot!