Securing Your Business: Keeping the Hackers at Bay and Your Sanity Intact!

The MASBDC - Western Regional Office Celebrates Cybersecurity Month...

As part of our ongoing commitment to support and protect your business, we are excited to announce an upcoming workshop titled “Securing Your Business: Keeping the Hackers at Bay and Your Sanity Intact!”

In this workshop, we will delve into the critical aspects of protecting your business from cyber threats. We’ll start by exploring industry-standard frameworks that provide robust guidelines for safeguarding your digital assets. We are honored to have a local State Trooper join us to discuss the current cyber threats targeting businesses in our area, offering valuable insights from the front lines of cyber defense. Additionally, an insurance expert will explain the benefits of having a cyber policy, detailing what it covers and how it can be a crucial part of your risk management strategy. Finally, we’ll cover some straightforward, practical steps you can take to enhance your business’s cyber security posture. By the end of this class, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and tools to better protect your business from cyber threats.

SPECIAL GUESTS:

Brian Gavioli - Detective Lieutenant Brian Gavioli is the Unit Commander for the Criminal Information Section and oversees the Commonwealth Fusion Center’s Massachusetts Cybersecurity Program that provides Cyber Threat Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Cyber Incident Response with private, local, state, and federal partners, with a focus on the protection of critical infrastructure.  He is a member of the Massachusetts Cyber Incident Response Team, which was established by the Governor, and is a Task Force Officer with the FBI Boston Cyber Task Force. Prior to his current position, Brian was assigned to the Cyber Crime Unit where he worked as a digital forensics examiner for over 16 years.

Brian has also frequently presented and instructed other law enforcement officers within the Commonwealth and nationwide on the subjects of investigating cybercrime, internet-related child exploitation, internet safety, digital forensics and incident response (DFIR), cybersecurity, and the use of open source intelligence (OSINT) during investigations.

Larry Wilson - Larry Wilson, CISSP, CISA,  is a current cybersecurity consultant and instructor, and the former CISO of University of Massachusetts (UMass), Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and Sumitomo Pharma Americas (SMPA).  He is an  Adjunct Professor at the University of Massachusetts (Lowell) in their MS Cybersecurity Studies program where he teaches classes on Designing a Cybersecurity Program based on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and Designing a Ransomware Program based on the CISA #Stop Ransomware Guide.  He also teaches classes on Cybersecurity Program Development and Ransomware Defenses tat SecureWorld conferences.

Larry has conducted multiple consulting engagements (20+) across various industry sectors, including Government, Education, Health Care and Financial Services.  He has also presented and instructed at industry forums including InfraGard, ISACA New England (including teaching the CISA Certification Class), Educause, Federal Reserve Bank, Advanced Cyber Security Center (ACSC) and many others.

Andrew Zawada - CPA, CFP is the owner of Zawada Insurance in Worcester, MA. He has spent over 20 years helping clients navigate their insurance and financial needs. With his background as a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Financial Planner, Andrew offers personalized insurance solutions that leverage his expertise. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University and an MBA from Babson College. Outside of work, Andrew loves spending time with his wife, Brynn, cheering on their children, Rosie and Theo, at soccer games and swimming meets.

Gene Kingsley is the Cyber Range Manager at the Richard E Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. With over a decade of experience in cybersecurity, he has developed expertise across a wide variety of industries. Gene holds certifications in Windows forensics, risk management, and information security management, demonstrating his comprehensive knowledge of the field.

In addition to his primary role, Gene serves as the Special Vice President of the InfraGard National Members Alliance, a partnership between the FBI and members of the private sector for the protection of U.S. Critical Infrastructure. His diverse background and leadership positions make him a valuable voice in the cybersecurity community, particularly in addressing the unique challenges of securing home office environments.

Gene's talk will draw on his extensive experience to provide practical, accessible advice for maintaining a secure home office in today's rapidly evolving threat landscape.