Past Events

Red Hat and the Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Office of Space Commerce are co-hosting the fifth annual Cybersecurity Open Forum – Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity, in Washington, D.C. This in-person and virtual event will be an opportunity to hear from leading experts, practitioners, representatives from state and federal agencies about the evolving nature of cybersecurity, from new technologies to new concerns for operational and sovereign resilience. These insights will guide collaborative government and industry partnerships to accelerate innovation while protecting critical industries as a foundation of national economic power.

Join the discussion with leaders from the field who are shaping evolutionary approaches to safeguard against current and emerging threats for secure data and commerce in important commercial sectors. Topics will include technology, communications, computing and security measures that inform best practices and policies within an ever-changing landscape that encompasses threats, vulnerabilities, and intelligence.

Three themes will be highlighted for this year’s Open Forum:

1. Cybersecurity for AI: As artificial intelligence rapidly integrates into government operations and critical infrastructure, the event will delve into the profound cybersecurity implications of this transformative technology. The conference will address the emerging trends in securing AI systems, from autonomous systems to advanced data analytics, and examine how current laws, regulations, and policies may be lagging behind the rapid pace of AI development. Participants will explore innovative strategies and best practices to safeguard against novel threats, ensuring the resilience and trustworthiness of AI-driven systems within the U.S. government and across vital commercial sectors. As always, we dive into the unique aspects of space systems as an illuminating case study and an area to apply lessons and shape future strategy.
2. A focus on results: This conference will emphasize a critical paradigm shift in cybersecurity: moving beyond a mere compliance-driven approach to one centered on tangible results and measurable outcomes. The need is being driven by a radical shift in how complex systems are built and operated with integrated AI, the continued acceleration and sophistication of supply chain threats, and the complexity of modern vulnerability management in the face of an avalanche of CVEs. Key to this transition will be a proactive systems approach to minimizing risk while reliably measuring effectiveness and rapid iterative improvement. We'll look at applying best practices for protecting open data and cloud environments with this goal in mind. And we will aim to identify current cybersecurity trends and address where existing frameworks may be lagging needs, fostering a proactive and outcome-oriented approach to national cybersecurity.
3. A retrospective: In our fifth year, we will look back on our history of the event. How these events have helped enable stakeholders throughout the U.S. Government and industry prepare for the future. A review of some of the past themes, session, and innovations that have been highlighted in this event. A case study on how we have helped influence forward looking policy.

Data is the new liability. Is yours protected from a cybersecurity attack?

Customer data is one of the most valuable assets a business hold.  It is also one of the most targeted.  A single data exposure can damage trust , trigger legal issues, and impact long term growth. Don’t be a victim!

This presentation covers the cyber security fundamentals that all small business owners should understand and act on. Learn the common risk points that make most small businesses susceptible to a cyber-attack or data breach. Understand the risks and identify weak points in your systems. Learn best data practices and the resources available to help business owners protect their data, employees, and customers.

Registration closes at 12:00 PM on Monday, 04/13/2026.

Discover how to scale smarter with the right tools and team.

Louisiana manufacturers face increasing pressure from global competition, workforce shortages, supply chain disruption, aging assets, and exposure to natural disasters. This executive-level training equips manufacturing leaders with proven frameworks to strengthen operational performance, reduce risk, and improve productivity.

Focused on practical execution, this course helps manufacturers improve safety, quality, delivery, cost and growth simultaneously. Participants will get a clear, actionable understanding on how to:

• Strengthen workforce capability and frontline leadership
• Improve supply chain resilience and supplier performance
• Use data, metrics and dashboards to support better decision making

Learn how to prevent and protect from data loss and data leakage resulting from cyber threats. At the end of the course, participants will have multiple, actionable steps to both recognize attacks as well as new behaviors that will thwart attacks.

Cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated—and more automated. This webinar explores how traditional threats like phishing and ransomware are being amplified by artificial intelligence.

Attendees will learn about:

• Modern phishing and impersonation attacks
• Business email compromise and payment fraud
• AI-driven scams and social engineering
• Supply-chain and third-party cyber risks
• Cost-effective ways to improve cyber hygiene

Perfect for small business owners looking to understand today’s risks without becoming cybersecurity experts.

Speakers:

Quiana Gainey, Virginia SBDC Cyber Industry Expert and CEO of SecureTech360

Lori Zeoli, CEO and Founder of xpLORIZE AI – an artificial intelligence consulting agency that primarily services small business owners and solopreneurs

This workshop will discuss emerging and future trends for IoT technologies and their implications for IoT cybersecurity. As IoT becomes more sophisticated, automated and ubiquitous, it becomes increasingly important for IoT cybersecurity considerations to keep pace with emerging risks and threats.

Over two days, the workshop will feature presentations and discussions on many IoT topics, including Federal sector concerns as the NIST Cybersecurity for IoT program works on preparing to update NIST SP 800-213, considerations for federal healthcare use cases, emerging use cases for IoT in the private sector, and the increasing automation of IoT and integration of IoT with AI technologies.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) rarely struggle because they lack software. More often, the challenge is managing numerous unconnected tools. This "tool sprawl" can lead to significant inefficiencies and increased operating costs.

At its core, every business must manage sales, customers, service delivery, payments, and its web presence. We will discuss how a lack of cohesion between physical operations and the digital ecosystem creates bottlenecks. We will also explore best practices for adopting streamlined processes to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve profit margins.

This session is relevant to various sectors, including manufacturing, supply chain, real estate, professional services (wealth management, insurance, accounting, etc.), healthcare clinics (community, mental, dental, ophthalmology, ENT or any specialized service), restaurants, and salons.

Explore advanced cybersecurity tactics to strengthen your business against ever-evolving threats. In this no-fee webinar, we will guide you beyond the Cybersecurity Basics trainings into a deeper exploration of essential topics for building cyber resilience.

Join us for this webinar hosted by the NorCal Small Business Development Center. Zack Barton will lead a discussion with renowned cybersecurity specialist, Jacob Blacksten, to highlight the importance of password management, multi-factor authentication, emergency response plans, and staff training within today's digital space.

NTIA will convene a hybrid industry listening session on the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund (“Innovation Fund”). The session will discuss Innovation Fund progress to date and solicit industry input to help inform a future funding opportunity.

NTIA will convene the public listening session on Monday, March 23, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Please refer to NTIA's website, www.ntia.gov/​program/​innovation-fund for the most current information.

This listening session will focus on advancing AI-native telecommunications networks through the Innovation Fund. This effort is aligned with the Administration's July 2025 AI Action Plan and the Executive Order on Promoting the Export of the American AI Technology Stack with the goal of establishing U.S. leadership in secure AI technologies.

The meeting is open to the public and the press on a first-come, first-serve basis. The hybrid meeting is accessible to people with disabilities and/or individuals requiring accommodations such as real-time captioning. Those individuals who need other ancillary aids should notify the Department at [email protected] at least seven (7) business days prior to the listening session. Access details for the meeting are subject to change. Please refer to NTIA's website, https://www.ntia.gov/​program/​innovation-fund for the most current information.