The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) commenced its third annual Small Business Cyber Summit on October 16, 2024, in Washington. The event aims to provide small business owners with free educational webinars and resources to enhance their cybersecurity infrastructure. These sessions are part of the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts to promote digital tools for economic growth while reinforcing national cybersecurity.
Acting Associate Administrator Aditi Dussault of SBA’s Office of Entrepreneurial Development emphasized the summit's objective: "The rapidly evolving and interconnected world continues to present new challenges for small-business owners, and it is our objective to empower them with timely and turnkey tools they can integrate now."
The summit features a range of keynote speakers and panelists, including Isabella Casillas Guzman, SBA Administrator; Dilawar Syed, SBA Deputy Administrator; Jen Easterly from CISA; Chris Sacca from "Shark Tank" and Lower Case Capital; Erik Day from Dell; Dr. Tyrone Grandison from Microsoft; Daniel Eliot from NIST; Ola Sage from Cyber RX; Derrick Davis from the Department of Defense; Karen Evans from the Cyber Readiness Institute; Alfred Ortiz from CSD Cyber, among others.
Participants are encouraged to register for the second session scheduled for October 23 via https://bit.ly/SBACyberSummit2024 and follow updates using #SBACyberSummit on social media.
This initiative addresses growing concerns over cyberattacks targeting small businesses. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Report, cybercrimes against small businesses cost $4.57 billion in 2023—a significant increase compared to previous years.
Surveys indicate that many small business owners feel vulnerable to cyber threats but often lack resources or knowledge about where to begin addressing these issues. The SBA Cyber Summit seeks to provide practical solutions through networking opportunities and access to industry experts.
For more information on securing your business, visit https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/manage-your-business/strengthen-your-cybersecurity.