Cybersecurity seminar set

By submitted, 10/18/17 9:00 AM

TEXARKANA, TX – Manufacturing Solutions, a department of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Existing Business Resource Division, will host a cybersecurity and fraud seminar for small businesses on Wednesday, November 15, from 1-5 p.m. at the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce, 819 N. State Line Ave. Texarkana, TX. Five speakers who are industry experts on cybersecurity-related issues such as cybersecurity fraud and liability, internet safety, financial risk mitigation, ransomware, safe banking procedures, and use of social media in the workplace, will offer practical solutions to address these serious and costly problems facing small businesses.

Attendees will learn ways to strengthen their cybersecurity framework, prevent hacks and mitigate cyber-related losses. The average cost of a cybersecurity breach on an affected small business was an average of $38,000 in 2015 according to a study by cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab.

AEDC Executive Director Mike Preston stated: “Reports of massive data breaches among small businesses are becoming increasingly more common and affect the growth and development of our economy. While cybersecurity is a concern among all businesses, the majority of all targeted cyberattacks in the past year were directed at small and mid-sized businesses. It is especially threatening to these businesses, about 60 percent of which have been reported to go out of business within six months of the attack. We want to do whatever we can to keep Arkansas’ small businesses safe so they can continue to grow and reach their full potential.”

The cost of the seminar is $25 per person, and refreshments will be served. For more information on the seminar or to register, please visit https://www.mfgsolutions.org/event/business-cybersecurity-and-fraud-seminar-texarkana/