The Valley Industry Association presents “Cybersecurity in the Workplace” at its monthly business luncheon on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at 11:45 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Valencia, 24500 Town Center Drive in Valencia.

Presented by Dr. Bruce Burton, co-chair of Cal Poly’s Advisory Board for Cybersecurity of Critical Infrastructure and advisor to the Cal Poly’s California Cybersecurity Institute, the presentation will be geared toward strategy-driven decision makers.

“California is the number one target of cyber-attacks in our country,” said Dr. Burton, who is also the former manager of Cal Poly’s Cyber Training Center and recently retired from a 30-plus year career in the defense and aerospace sector as senior vice president and deputy to the president of L-3 National Security Solutions. “With both the number of attacks and the cost associated with recovery increasing significantly, it is critical that business leaders take steps to protect their organizations. It is important to understand that the range of options open to these leaders varies widely.”

Cyber criminals do not discriminate; they target vulnerable computer systems regardless of whether they are part of a large corporation, a small business, or belong to a home user, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website. Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. Most U.S. small and medium-sized businesses do not have a contingency plan that outlines procedures for responding to and reporting data breach losses.

A staggering 61% of respondents in the 2017 Ponemon Institute annual survey on the “State of Cybersecurity in Small and Medium-Sized Businesses” say their companies have experienced a cyberattack in the past 12 months. In addition, 54% report data breaches involving customer and employee information in the past 12 months. In the aftermath of these incidents, these companies spent an average of $1,027,053 because of damage or theft of IT assets, according to the survey.

Attendees at the VIA luncheon will leave with actionable steps that can be implemented in their business settings. The breadth of the program will cover knowing the basics of cybersecurity, understanding the evolving threat, and learning best practices. “We will discuss a variety of practical options that offer small and medium sized businesses improved cybersecurity resilience,” Dr. Burton relayed.

“VIA is known for its timely and relevant programming,” said Kathy Norris, VIA CEO. “In August, VIA presented Active Shooter Awareness Training that helped businesses prepare for the unthinkable. Cybersecurity is another reality that threatens every business no matter size or industry.”

Reservations are required. Tickets available at www.VIA.org/calendar or by calling 661.294.8088. For more information, contact the VIA office at admin@via.org.

About the Valley Industry Association:
The Valley Industry Association of Santa Clarita represents business interests throughout the Santa Clarita Valley. VIA provides its members – industrial, commercial and service companies – the opportunity to collaborate on a broad range of business issues. In addition to being a legislative advocate, VIA serves as a one-stop shop for relevant business information, supports local educational initiatives, professional development, and provides networking opportunities.