HAYS — The Kansas Small Business Development Center at Fort Hays State University will offer its first cybersecurity conference, Cybersecurity 101 for Any Business, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 3 at the Robbins Alumni Center at FHSU.

The conference will be available for owners or employees of any business. Participants can attend in person or with remote viewing groups available in Dodge City, Liberal, and Goodland.

Focusing on real-life examples, the conference will help business owners and support staff learn more about cybersecurity, enabling an understanding of the importance of risk mitigation and actionable steps. 

“One of our goals for this conference is to help small businesses be informed and confident in taking proactive steps to protect their digital environments.,” said Laurie Pieper, assistant director of KSBDC. “We are very excited about the partners that have come together to provide training and resources to support our business communities in Western and North Central Kansas.” 

Speakers from the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, Tree Top Security, Nex-Tech, FHSU, the U.S. SBA, and USD 489 will provide valuable information and opportunities to connect with resources.

“I’m excited about the upcoming Cybersecurity 101 For Any Business Conference in Hays this year,” said Mark Griffin, assistant vice president and chief information officer for FHSU’s technology services. “Cybersecurity has a far-reaching impact, especially on small businesses. Providing this opportunity for our local small businesses to enhance their cybersecurity knowledge is invaluable. In today’s digital landscape, a single major cybersecurity incident can be catastrophic for a small business.”

Registration is available online at https://ksbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/28067

Reduced cost early bird registration ends on Sept. 18. The registration deadline is Sept. 26. For more information, contact Brenda Hampton at 785-628-4563.