The Westchester County Association hosted an event for its members and other attendees Thursday about the dangers of cyber vulnerability and how businesses can be proactive against data breaches.
“It”™s not so much about their corporation initially,” David W. Stender, the keynote speaker, said, but first “about them protecting their own information.”
Stender, whose background includes the role of associate chief information officer for cybersecurity at the IRS, provided general tips to business owners on how they can protect themselves and their companies.
“The biggest challenge is they don”™t have the expertise to properly deal with (cybersecurity),” Stender said.
His recommendations included hiring trusted security professionals, keeping systems patched and updated, and limiting access to your business’ financial systems.
Among the most noteworthy suggestions was that companies should buy a separate laptop solely for business transactions and use an Ethernet connection rather than Wi-Fi. Stender said the laptop should be shut down and completely unplugged when company business is not being conducted.
Stender was joined by a panel including Miranda Alfonso-Williams, principal consultant for WAM Consulting Group, Darren Hayes, a professor and director of cybersecurity at Pace University, and Sean Murray, assistant vice president at Chubb Specialty Insurance.
The event was supported by Mercy College and sponsored by M&T Bank, Meridian Risk Management and Tompkins Mahopac Bank.
