Mt. Clemens, MI - The Macomb County Chamber of Commerce and Macomb County Planning and Economic Development will host a Cybersecurity Summit on Friday, December 3 to help businesses learn the newest information around handling cyber attacks.
The free event, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Italian Cultural Center in Clinton Township, will feature a keynote presentation from Kelley Goldblatt, cybersecurity advisor for Michigan with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). In this role, Goldblatt works to strengthen cyber resiliency and security for the country’s critical infrastructure.
“Our annual Business Preparedness event strives to prepare businesses to face challenges that can occur in the workplace, such as: natural disasters, active shooters, drug abuse, health issues and cybersecurity,” said Kelley Lovati, president and CEO, Macomb County Chamber of Commerce. “It is imperative that businesses create a response plan outlining steps to take if they are affected by one of these situations. Each year, this event has a specific theme, and as cybersecurity has been a growing concern, especially with ransomware and attacks on the rise, we feel this is an important focus for this year’s session. We are excited to have a great keynote speaker and an expert panel who will share their knowledge with attendees looking to safeguard their businesses.”
According to IBM’s Cost of Data Breach Report, cyber crime can disrupt and damage businesses and cost millions of dollars in the process. For instance, in 2021, the average cost of a data breach was $4.24 million, which covers discovering and responding to the violation, downtime and lost revenue, and long-term reputational damage.
“The cost and likelihood of cyber attacks grows every year,” said Vicky Rowinski, director, Macomb County Planning and Economic Development. “And while the idea of cyber crime can be intimidating, business leaders cannot let that stand in the way of action. They must take steps now to prevent serious damage to their organizations, because in these ever-changing times, the best defense is preparation.”
Common types of cyber attacks will be discussed at the summit as well as prevention tools and tactics. A panel of cybersecurity professionals will also share experiences that emphasize the importance of preparing a business for these situations. The panel includes:
- Jennifer Tisdale, GRIMM, moderator
- Veronica Baginski, NUDG Systems
- Karen Kiewski, Systems X
- Doug Manska, RCC Business IT
- Alexander Dwornick, Michigan State Police Cyber Command Center
Vicki Selva, executive director of the Michigan Defense Center, will also share details about a new cybersecurity grant program.
All businesses and organizations are welcome to attend this free event, however, registration is required. Click here to learn more.
About Macomb County Planning and Economic Development
The Macomb County Department of Planning & Economic Development supports an environment where businesses prosper and people thrive. Its activities and programs are focused on stimulating the local economy through business retention, expansion and attraction while improving the overall quality of life for residents. The department specializes in providing services to businesses at all stages of development with a concentration on the high-growth industries of aerospace, alternative energy, advanced manufacturing, defense and homeland security. For more information, call 586-469-5285 or visit: https://ped.macombgov.org/Ped-Home