The free, virtual cybersecurity forum will take place on Oct. 26, 2022.
10/10/2022 2:30 P.M.
2.5 minute read
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is hosting a free, virtual National Cyber Summit on Oct. 26, 2022. This cybersecurity forum, a first for the agency, will help introduce American small businesses to tools, tips and resources to bolster their cybersecurity infrastructure in addition to exploring new trends and challenges entrepreneurs are increasingly facing.
“America’s small businesses are pivoting to digital technologies and online strategies at historic rates to reach new customers and improve operational efficiencies, but that pivot has also exposed them to significant new threats from cyberattacks,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. “Our SBA team has mobilized to support them against these potentially disruptive threats with cybersecurity resources and trainings across our resource partner networks, as well as through our recently launched Small Business Digital Alliance. Launching the SBA’s first annual cybersecurity summit will help us build on that work and ensure America’s 33 million small businesses and innovative startups can pivot safely online and grow resilient businesses.”
The summit comes on the heels of the recently announced awardees for the SBA’s new pilot program created to help emerging small businesses protect themselves against cyberattacks.
The inaugural summit will feature various speakers, including SBA Administrator Guzman, SBA Associate Administrator Madrid, SBA resource partners, Small Business Development Centers, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), FBI, business chambers, state government partners, experts from the public/private sectors, major technology platforms, and award-winning business coaches.
Comprised of digestible and compact segments, attendees will have the opportunity to network and access practical tips, problem-solving strategies, industry trends, threat avoidance and small-business testimonials in order to learn how to defend themselves against cyber attacks.
“We are energized to bring actual solutions to the table for America’s small businesses, which continue to inspire us all with hope and resilience,” said SBA Associate Administrator of the Office of Entrepreneurial Development Mark Madrid.
Registration for the event is open to all and free. Sign up at www.bit.ly/SBACyberSummit.
Safeguards Rule
Advocacy efforts are increasing for the Federal Trade Commission to extend its effective date for the Standards for Safeguarding Customer Information rule from Dec. 9 this year to Dec. 9, 2023.
The rule requires covered financial institutions to develop, implement, and maintain an information security program with administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect customer information, according to the FTC. The rule defines customer information to mean “any record containing nonpublic personal information about a customer of a financial institution, whether in paper, electronic, or other form, that is handled or maintained by or on behalf of you or your affiliates.”
The rule covers information about regulated entities’ own customers and information about customers of other financial institutions that have provided that data to regulated entities.
ACA has introduced its Safeguards Rule Resource Center, where you can read the text of the amended rule as well as articles breaking down compliance with the rule, listen to related recordings of ACA’s members-only ACA Huddle, purchase access to a special webinar series and more.
If you have executive leadership updates or other member news to share with ACA, contact our communications department at [email protected]. View our publications page for more information and our news submission guidelines here.