Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and voice for America’s 33 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, announced that the agency will host 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 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.”

AGENDA (all times EDT and tentative)

Noon – Welcome

12:15 PM – Small Business Roundtable

12:35 PM – SBA Administrator and Microsoft President Executive Exchange

12:55 PM – Small Business Development Center Directors

1:20 PM – Cyber Attack! What Now?

1:50 PM – Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

2:20 PM – State Government Champions

2:50 PM – SBA Digital Alliance technologist panel

3:20 PM – Regional Cyber Hub profile: Georgia Cyber Center

3:40 PM – Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Updates

3:50 PM – National Cybersecurity Priorities

4:05 PM – SBA Leadership Roundtable

4:45 PM – Resource Sharing and Closing Session

SPEAKERS

Isabella Casillas Guzman, Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration

Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President, Microsoft

Kiersten Todt, Chief of Staff, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Kimberly Mentzell, Director of Cybersecurity and Aerospace, Maryland Department of Commerce

Jacob Blacksten, Digital Solutions Manager, Delaware Small Business Development Center

Earl Gregorich, Area Manager & Business Consultant, Greenville Area Small Business Development Centers

Joshua Lawton, Director of Engagement (Americas), Global Cyber Alliance

Scott Anderson, Executive Director, Forge Institute

Eric Toler, Executive Director, Georgia Cyber Center

Ashley Podhradsky, Associate Professor of Digital Forensics, Dakota State University

Jennifer Gold, Director of the Board, InfraGard New York Chapter

Arthur Plews, Chief of Staff, U.S. Small Business Administration

Mark Madrid, Associate Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Entrepreneurial Development

Jennifer Kim, Associate Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Field Operations

Larry Stubblefield, Associate Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Veterans Business Development

Bruce Purdy, Associate Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Small Development Centers

Jack Bienko, Senior Innovation Advisor, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Entrepreneurial Development

Aikta Marcoulier, Regional Administrator – Rocky Mountain region, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Field Operations