The Internet has no borders—and neither do cyber criminals. As international business opportunities continue to expand for Utah business owners, so does the need for increased education about cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
A cybersecurity attack can be crippling to a business’s infrastructure and reputation and big businesses are not the only targets. Small and midsize businesses are especially vulnerable if the business has high-profile clients or a high volume of transactions. Attackers are searching for easy targets with low-level security and weakly encrypted cloud services.
The Utah Global Forum on exporting and importing is specifically designed to help the small and midsize business begin reaching out for new markets or continue to grow the foreign business they already have.
The Forum will be held at the Salt Palace Convention Center on August 26. It will feature a presentation by Dr. Amos Guiora, professor and co-director of the Center for Global Justice, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law. Dr. Guiora is a renowned expert and adviser on cybersecurity and international law and security.
“Regarding cybersecurity, corporate leaders must ascertain—constantly, critically and honestly—their greatest points of vulnerability,” Guiora said. “This requires developing complex protection models and demands rigorous self-reflection. A surprising reality is the ‘time-lapse’ between hacking and recognition. More than anything else, this fact highlights that corporate vulnerability is significantly magnified, thereby demonstrating the overwhelming need for a business to have sophisticated cybersecurity.”
Guiora’s presentation at the Global Forum is intended to arm attendees with the knowledge and tools to identify and protect themselves against cybersecurity threats. Theft is no longer restricted to hands-on crime. Protection of trade secrets, employee and customer information and company financials is critical as company records are constantly vulnerable.
Following Guiora’s presentation, there will be a one hour panel providing a more in-depth look at global cybersecurity. The panel will include representatives from government, education and businesses and will serve to facilitate dialogue surrounding specific concerns and solutions.
The Utah Global Forum on importing and exporting will focus on a total of four key components: successfully marketing in foreign countries, global supply chain, cybersecurity and international finance strategies. Each topic will be highlighted in an engaging, fast-paced presentation, after which attendees will be able to go to an in-depth breakout session about the subject they found most interesting.
Register by August 12 for a discounted price. To learn more and to register for the event, visit UtahGlobalForum.com.