Penn State SBDC to Host Cybersecurity Workshop for Small Businesses

UNIVERSITY PARK — The Penn State Small Business Development Center will offer Cybersecurity for Small Businesses from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Oct. 18. The workshop will be held at the Penn State SBDC, Suite 243, 200 Innovation Boulevard in State College.

John Peterson, business consultant for the Penn State SBDC, said cybersecurity is critical for small businesses.

“Cybersecurity is a top concern for large businesses and big brands, but is often overlooked by small businesses,” Peterson said. “Cyber-attacks are not limited to websites, but can also include invasion into banking systems, phones, email, hardware and internet use. Businesses should incorporate a virtual private network for remote workers who are doing business in a public area or at home.”

Edward Glantz, teaching professor in the College of Information Sciences and Technology and program coordinator for IST’s online cybersecurity Master of Professional Studies in Information Sciences at Penn State, will present new and emerging threats and help business owners identify vulnerabilities.

“Small businesses need to develop security strategies and policies, this includes educating managers and employees about cyber basics,” Glantz said. “We will also look at mapping government requirements into action items for businesses. This can be very beneficial for small businesses.”

Glantz will be joined by Brice Toth, research and development engineer in the Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State and Caroline Sparrow, Jasyn Burby and Tim Zhang, undergraduates in IST’s Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations, to present the following

– Define cybersecurity and explain its importance

– Explain risk and list strategies to control cyber risk

– Describe common cyber threats and emerging trends

– Prepare a cyber-plan for your business

Cost for the workshop is $49.

To register, visit the Penn State Small Business Development Center online or call 814-863-4293.