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The symposium, entitled Cyber: Prepare, Prevent, Mitigate, Restore, takes place at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront. The seminar focuses on cybersecurity, particularly when it comes to small and mid-sized businesses.
Travelers’ seminar comes after the release of the company’s recent Cyber Index, which revealed that while 89% of small businesses felt confident that they had implemented best practices for cybersecurity, only 27% actually have a written business continuity plan, while just 23% said they had conducted a cyber assessment of vendors that have access to their data.
“Despite cybersecurity being top of mind, many organizations seem to be overlooking some of the most effective strategies to defend against cyber threats and protect their information,” commented Travelers Institute second vice-president Jessica Kearney. “This program will convene thought leaders from the public and private sectors to share insights, firsthand experiences and recommendations to help businesses and organizations prioritize data security as part of their cyber risk mitigation strategy.”
A release said that the event is being held in partnership with the Portland Business Alliance, as well as the region’s chamber of commerce.
Phil Slinkard, a special agent who belongs to the cyber division of the Portland Field Office at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, commented that while this month recognizes the worth of cybersecurity, it remains an issue that companies will have to face all year long.
“There are many steps that can be taken to avoid falling victim to an attack that could be potentially devastating, particularly to a smaller business,” stated Slinkard, who will deliver the keynote presentation at the event.
