Pell Center holding cybercrime forum for businesses

NEWPORT – Small- and medium-size business owners can learn how to protect their companies from cybercrime on Nov. 11 at the Pell Center.
Francesca Spidalieri, the Pell Center’s fellow for cyber leadership, will host the event for the Rhode Island Corporate Cybersecurity Initiative. There will be a networking breakfast from 8:30 to 9 a.m., followed by a seminar, which will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
The seminar – which will focus on how small to medium-size businesses can implement security strategies – will be led by Frank Motta, executive vice president for CAI Managed IT, the managed services division of Computer Associates in Smithfield.
Motta will describe a company-wide strategy to minimize an organization’s exposure to cyber criminals, and will highlight affordable technology solutions available.
Small- and medium-size businesses typically do not have a designated chief information officer or on-staff information technology team and are increasingly targeted by cyber criminals, according to information from the Pell Center about the event.
“Securing a business against the sophistication and frequency of cyber attacks, whether it be a computer virus, a hacked website – even a well-intentioned but careless employee can seem daunting, particularly if the organization is of modest size or the kind of place that doesn’t have a crack team of cybersecurity experts on staff,” Motta said in a statement. “As a provider of managed IT services to businesses across Rhode Island and Southeastern New England, and a company dedicated to helping our clients manage and protect their IT assets, we are pleased to have the opportunity to offer our insights.”