Past Events

Cyberattacks are no longer a big-business-only problem. Small businesses are now prime targets, and AI-powered threats are making attacks faster, cheaper, and harder to detect. 

This session cuts through the noise and gives small business owners the essential playbook to secure operations, protect customer trust, and stay one step ahead — all without breaking the budget.

One of the major updates to CSF 2.0 is the creation of the Govern Function, highlighting the importance of ensuring cybersecurity capabilities support the broader mission through Enterprise Risk Management (ERM).

Governance is the process of determining enterprise objectives, setting direction to achieve those objectives, and monitoring performance to adjust strategy as necessary. Risk governance provides the transparency, responsibility, and accountability that enables managers to effectively manage risk. NIST recently updated a series of publications on integration of Cybersecurity and ERM to align with revisions to CSF 2.0, which can be found here: NIST IR 8286.

In the second webinar of NIST’s new multi-part CSF 2.0 webinar series, we will provide a discussion covering:

• Defining and demystifying governance.
• The role of the Govern Function in a cybersecurity-focused framework.
• Strategies for bidirectional communication between cybersecurity practitioners and leadership using best practice governance models.
• How organizations of all sizes can put cybersecurity governance into practice using the CSF 2.0.
• How you can use the CSF in conjunction with other NIST publications (such as NIST IR 8286 Parts A-D, SP 800-37r2, etc.) to better integrate cybersecurity and enterprise risk management for governance oversight. 
• Where to find CSF 2.0 implementation resources in support of cybersecurity governance.

Time will be reserved at the end for audience questions.

Speakers:

• Julie Chua, Division Chief, Applied Cybersecurity Division, NIST
• Nahla Ivy, Enterprise Risk Management Officer, Office of Financial Resources Management, NIST
• Daniel Eliot, Lead for Small Business Engagement, Applied Cybersecurity Division, NIST 

Fraud & Scams Are on the Rise: Is Your Business Protected?

Picture this: It’s a busy morning and you get a call demanding payment—or else your utilities will be shut off. It’s a scam, and it’s happening to small businesses across Maine every day.

Today’s scams are more sophisticated than ever. From fake invoices to spoofed websites and urgent calls from “official” agencies, small business owners are being targeted in new ways, and the financial fallout can be devastating.

Join Maine SBDC Advisor Dan Umphrey and Brandon McDonald from Northern Maine Development Commission for a practical session that breaks down how to spot scams before they cause harm. This webinar will give you the tools to strengthen your defenses and feel more confident navigating common threats.

You’ll learn how to:

• Spot the top 5 scams currently targeting Maine’s businesses
• Verify suspicious emails, callers, and websites
• Check if your business info has already been compromised
• Understand your legal options and how to report fraud
• Decide if your team needs cybersecurity training
• Whether you’ve been scammed before or want to tighten your defenses, this webinar offers a clear starting point.

Everyone is talking about generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. With 92% of Fortune 500 companies and 60% of small businesses using these tools, you can’t afford to miss out. Whether you’ve been curious but intimidated, or whether you’ve played around with some of the technology but aren’t sure how it can help you in your business, this is the session for you.

Our SBDC’s AI specialist will offer a non-technical introduction to generative AI technology, tips for implementing AI effectively in your business, some great advice about managing the risks and ethical concerns involved, and will lead you a hands-on exercise using a generative AI tool.

No matter what your level of technical know-how is, you’ll leave this session informed, confident and aware of both the risks and the benefits of this emerging technology.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) invites you to a live webinar introducing its recently released Foundations for Operational Technology (OT) Cybersecurity: Asset Inventory Guidance for Owners and Operators. This guidance was developed in collaboration with three U.S. federal agencies, five international partners, and more than a dozen private sector stakeholders.  

During this session, we will explore how robust asset inventories can help OT operators prioritize vulnerabilities, detect unauthorized devices, improve network segmentation, and enhance incident response capabilities. We will also walk through the steps to build an OT Asset Inventory and Taxonomy—highlighting the specific benefits to operators, especially small- and medium-sized entities. 

Cyber criminals are ramping up their efforts to scam you through your mobile devices. This webinar covers essential topics related to cyber readiness, including recognizing phishing attempts, identifying suspicious mobile activities, and establishing secure Wi-Fi connections in public. Join us to gain practical skills to protect your personal and corporate data, reduce security vulnerabilities, and maintain cyber hygiene across multiple platforms.

Speakers: Wyoming SBDC Cybersecurity for Small Business Program Manager Paul Johnson and Program Assistants Marree Reed and Ian Moon.

Cybersecurity is an important issue for businesses of all sizes. In this workshop, we’ll introduce the basics of online security and how it applies to your business and customers. You’ll learn ways you can identify common digital threats and steps you can take to protect your business. You’ll walk away with practical tips and tools to increase your business’ cybersecurity, as well as learn about the Google Cybersecurity Career Certificate to help your employees build skills in this space.

In this session we’ll talk about:

• Why cybersecurity matters for businesses of all sizes
• How to protect your business and your customers online
• What steps you can take after a potential security breach

Cybersecurity is a critical piece of all businesses, especially small businesses. But many people and businesses either don’t take it seriously or assume they have everything covered. Unfortunately, with things on the web constantly changing, even the best security can leave you subject to “malware”, “Phishing scams” or being “hacked”. So how can you mitigate those instances, and be aware of what may cause harm?

During this webinar, we will discuss:

• What cybersecurity is
• Why cybersecurity is important for small businesses
• Types of cyber attacks
• Ways to protect your company

We will also have an SBA representative from the Sacramento SBA District Office provide a brief update of what the SBA is, what resources they have and the latest business information.

From major ransomware incidents to attacks on critical infrastructure, cyber headlines are everywhere. But what do these threats mean for small businesses?

This webinar decodes recent high-profile breaches—like those affecting healthcare systems, government agencies, and retailers—and highlights lessons small businesses can apply to prevent similar risks.

In a new age of artificial intelligence with deep fake technology, protecting your small business from cyber threats can feel overwhelming. Cut through the noise with West Central MN SBDC Associate Director, Amy Anderson, to learn some straightforward strategies to keep your business cyber safe.