Free cybersecurity classes offered in Longview for small businesses

The Washington Small Business Development Center will offer free classes in Longview and Vancouver geared towards giving local small business owners simple tools to keep their online systems secure.

No-cost workshops titled "Small Business Cybersecurity Essentials" will be offered at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 21, at Longview City Hall, 1525 Broadway St., and at 9 a.m. Friday, May 22, at Vancouver City Hall, located at 425 W. Sixth St.

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The workshops are intended to help business owners understand simple steps they can take right away to bolster their security, according to a release issued by the Small Business Development Center.

The Longview and Vancouver events will each feature Michael Wallace from IT support business OLS Technology, but different banking representatives will be at the two events. Joining the workshop in Longview will be Katie Kelley with Columbia Bank.

In Vancouver, the banking industry presenter will be Amy Price with Washington Trust Bank.

The banking professionals will each share tips on protecting a business' finances online by securing online accounts.

Other topics will include the importance of strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, Wi-Fi and device security, how to impose controls on employee access, understanding the latest phishing scams and more.

Kaya Miller, the cybersecurity coordinator for Washington's Small Business Development Center, said in quotes attributed to her in the release that the workshops emphasize simple steps that businesses can take right away.

"Cybersecurity can feel overwhelming, but even small changes can make a big difference," Miller said.

The release cites data from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency stating that small businesses are roughly three times more likely to be targeted by cybercriminals than larger organizations. Further, the cyberattacks can be devastating. Some 60 percent of those small businesses involved in a cyberattack fold within six months.

Admission is free, but preregistration is required. To register for the Longview event, see wsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/99272970. To register for the Vancouver event, see wsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/99272969.

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