Many businesses, from small to large operations, can benefit from learning about cybersecurity to better protect their everyday functions.
 
This is why this week’s Cybersecurity Conference was designed to address a broad range of audiences, said Ulku Clark, director of the Center for Cyber Defense Education at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
 
The fourth annual conference is on Thursday at the Congdon Building on campus and is held during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The event will include a number of tracks focused on small-medium sized businesses, fintech and maritime security, which are the industries that would benefit the most from the conference’s sessions, Clark said.
 
“However, the basic cybersecurity principles covered in SMB [Server Message Block] sessions are applicable to most people,” Clark said. “While some talks require not much prior knowledge or understanding of cybersecurity topics, there are sessions that cover more advanced topics.”
 
The conference on Thursday will include three keynote speakers:
 
Gary C. Kessler is a principal consultant at software company Fathom5, a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Cyber Statecraft Initiative, co-author of “Maritime Cybersecurity: A Guide for Leaders and Managers” and more. He retired from teaching cybersecurity at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida in 2020 and holds a doctorate in computing technology in education.
 
Jon Brickey is the senior vice president and cybersecurity evangelist at Mastercard. He is also the industry co-chair for the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education and a board member for the Internet Security Alliance, among other involvements. Before joining Mastercard, Brickey served in the Army for over 26 years and retired as a colonel, holding a variety of leadership and technical roles in information systems management and cyberspace operations.
 
Terri Everett, now retired, has 36 years of federal service where she held various positions in three agencies. She has led in several disciplines including human resources, program and project management, procurement and acquisition, government contracting and logistics. Everett has a master’s degree in national security strategy from the National Defense University. She held the highest Department of Defense certification levels in both contracting and program management and was certified by a defense agency as a logistician.
 
The conference will include additional speakers, including representatives from IBM Security Americas and nCino. Click here for the full list of speakers and their bios.

There will also be networking, panels, exhibitors and sessions that include topics such as successful cyber insurance, security and privacy in the digital banking age, blockchain, port cybersecurity and more.

Click here for the full schedule.