Wyoming Cybersecurity competition Wants you
LARAMIE – CyberWyoming and the
Wyoming Business Report
want your business to join the 2018 Wyoming Cybersecurity Competition for Small Businesses and Organizations.
CyberWyoming is offering a free informational webinar about the competition on June 7 from noon to 1. To sign up for the webinar, email
info@madesafeinwyoming.org
. The competition, which closes in September, is sponsored by the
Wyoming Business Report
and CyberWyoming.
“If you enter now, there will be plenty of time to meet your cybersecurity goals but if you put it off until August you are going to miss a great opportunity,” said Pat Wolfinbarger, co-founder of CyberWyoming and Made Safe in Wyoming.
The top three business winners will earn a speaking engagement at the Wyoming Cybersecurity Symposium in October; the use of the Made Safe in Wyoming economic development logo and marketing materials to show their customers they meet best practices in cybersecurity; recognition statewide via press releases, an article on CyberWyoming’s and the Wyoming Business Report’s website; a promotional video outlining the business’ successful efforts to meet best practices in cybersecurity; and follow-up articles about cybersecurity in the
Wyoming Business Report
. However, all businesses that participate in the competition will be recognized at the Cybersecurity Symposium, on the two websites, and in a statewide press release.
“This competition takes on a new, positive role. With this competition, we are motivating business owners and recognizing them for their efforts to meet best practices in cybersecurity,” said Abbey Palma, former events director at the
Wyoming Business Report
.
There is no fee to enter the competition; however, some investments may need to be made, for instance, in technical infrastructure, policy writing, or cyberliability insurance. As part of the competition and to create a baseline for the judges, Made Safe in Wyoming is offering their cybersecurity business checklist consultation for free to all participants.
“We don’t actually sell hardware or software and we don’t sell insurance or legal services related to cybersecurity,” said Wolfinbarger. “Since we are a nonprofit organization, we consider ourselves a non-biased third party to provide tailored advice on the cyber risks small businesses can avoid.” Wolfinbarger said there are some things small businesses can do in-house and others about which they may need to consult an expert. “But it is a fallacy that it is going to cost more than purchasing home-use equipment at a box store,” he said.
CyberWyoming is responsible for monitoring efforts to meet best practices and helping the business owners document their progress via the Made Safe in Wyoming program. The final step is submitting the documentation to the judges, chosen by
Wyoming Business Report
staff.
The competition is also a response to a call for enhanced cybersecurity practices in the state made by Gov. Matt Mead at the Wyoming Broadband Summit in October 2017. “For all of you in business, I encourage you to help us find solutions on cybersecurity,” Mead told the summit. “If we improve speed, if we improve capacity and we don’t take care of cybersecurity, we’re just creating a lot of problems.”
