This Small Business Cybersecurity Awareness Workshop is designed to provide essential knowledge and practical guidance on protecting your business's critical systems and sensitive data. With growing cyber threats disrupting daily operations, this workshop equips business owners and employees with the foundational skills needed to safeguard their assets effectively. Participants will gain an understanding of cybersecurity basics, including why information security is crucial and how to implement robust data protection measures.

The workshop covers a simplified cybersecurity framework focused on asset inventory, classification (high, moderate, low risk), and applying protection controls such as identity access management, multifactor authentication, encryption, passwords, and backups. Attendees will learn to classify various types of data—from public marketing materials to highly restricted financial and personal identification information—and understand the impact of potential breaches.

Interactive breakout sessions allow participants to apply concepts directly by classifying their data assets and determining appropriate security controls and monitoring frequencies. Case discussions and exercises provide real-world context to the threats and mitigation strategies relevant to small businesses.

Delivered by a team of ITACS professionals and graduate students, the workshop also features Q&A and feedback sessions, ensuring attendees have the opportunity to clarify concepts and tailor learnings to their operational environments. Resources on zero trust, physical access control, patch management, and cloud security are provided.

This engaging and comprehensive session empowers small businesses to take measurable steps toward improved cybersecurity posture, minimizing risk and disruption. Attendees leave with actionable knowledge and the confidence to better protect their data, systems, and reputation in an increasingly digital world. Your business's security is our priority—join us to build resilience and safeguard your future.