Description

The 32.5 million small businesses in the USA alone account for 99% of all existing businesses.  They have fully integrated into the modern IT infrastructure through COVID by offering services, goods, and products in-person and online.  Many of these businesses do not even have a storefront, merely run from a small office or home, employing a few people. 

The one commonality they all rely on is needing to trust the infrastructure, software, cloud capabilities, and third-party providers for their business to succeed.  They cannot afford cyber insurance or sophisticated cyber security infrastructure to survive, mainly relying on third-party assistance and help from the services they use.  This includes internet providers, financial systems, payment systems, customer data, and more.  

However, to attackers, small businesses represent an easy opportunity to exploit.  Nation-state attackers target small businesses partnered with larger entities.  Criminal groups use and extort through small ransomware businesses routinely.  “Easy pickings” is what you hear as they cannot defend themselves.

Or can they?

Small businesses have a unique advantage as they are small and easier to maintain.  With the right mindset and implementation strategy, most small businesses can create highly decent security through very few steps and capabilities that set them apart and turn them from easy targets to “not worth it” pretty quickly.  But because many business owners do not have the technical savvy to understand what is needed, it is often overlooked.

Security doesn’t need to be complex.  It doesn’t need a rocket scientist hired to figure it all out and architect it.  The Small Business summit focuses on cybersecurity principles and discussions that small business leaders can implement today with minimal investment with the most significant impact on security.  

When one wrong email click could sink your small business – knowing it could have been prevented by attending the Small Business Summit and learning the critical controls, one more turn-on today in your settings to protect yourself the most with the least cost.  Your business depends on you to learn a few tricks to protect yourself - this must-attend first-time- Summit is one of those summits. 

Join us Live Online and walk away from the Small Business Summit, learning valuable insights and practical tips on protecting your business from cyber threats.

One of the main benefits of attending a small business event on cybersecurity is the opportunity to learn from experts in the field. These experts can provide valuable information on the latest threats and trends in cybersecurity, as well as provide practical guidance on how to safeguard your business.

SANS has partnered with the Cyber Readiness Institute to build this free event.  Their mission is simple: empower small and medium-sized enterprises with free tools and resources to help them become more secure and resilient.  Join us Live Online and walk away from the Small Business Summit, learning valuable insights and practical tips on protecting your business from cyber threats.

Small businesses need to focus on cybersecurity for several reasons:

1. Cyber threats account for 99% of the business that exist: As technology becomes more widespread and sophisticated, cybercriminals are finding new ways to target businesses of all sizes. Small businesses are particularly vulnerable because they often need more resources to devote to cybersecurity.
2. Small businesses hold valuable data: Small companies often have valuable data, such as customer information, financial records, and confidential business information. Cybercriminals are aware of this, and they often target small businesses as a way to access this data.
3. Reputation damage: A data breach can severely damage a small business's reputation and customer relationship. This can lead to loss of business and long-term harm to the company's brand.
4. Financial impact: Cyber attacks can result in significant financial losses for small businesses, including the cost of remediation, loss of business, and potential legal expenses.
5. Compliance requirements: Many small businesses are subject to regulations that require them to protect sensitive information, such as personal data. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in fines and other penalties.

Top 5 Reasons to Attend the Summit:

1. In-depth technical talks focused on the latest skills and techniques
2. Interactive panel discussions from industry experts
3. Networking with leading experts and your peers tackling the same hard-to-solve problems
4. Access to Summit recordings and presentations
5. Earn 6 CPE credits for attending

What Attendees Say

"I've managed to learn something I didn't know from nearly every session, and I've been made aware of additional tools or methodologies that will help." - Dallas Moore

"Summits are a great way to meet and talk to the trail blazers; the individuals who each in their own way help shine a light for the rest of the community." - Michael Decker, ViaSat, Inc.