Neal Cybersecurity Center hosts first event focusing on protecting businesses

The main entrance to the Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Celebrating Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October, the Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence will join the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Western Regional Office to present an online workshop titled “Securing your Business: Keeping the Hackers at Bay and Your Security Intact.”

The workshop is the first event to be held at the Neal Cybersecurity of Excellence, which officially opened in September 2024. The public can watch the free event online on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Visit stcc.io/cyberevent to register and find out more information.

“We are excited to host our first event and partner with MASBDC,” said Gene Kingsley, Cyber Range Manager at the Richard E Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence and one of the speakers. “The workshop will focus on helping businesses protect themselves against ever-evolving cybersecurity threats.”

STCC Vice President and Chief Information Officer Mary Kaselouskas added, “This is exactly why the Neal Cybersecurity Center was established – to provide education, resources and support to the community as we work together to safeguard our digital infrastructure.”

The workshop will delve into the critical aspects of protecting a business from cyber threats. Speakers will explore industry-standard frameworks that provide robust guidelines for safeguarding a business owner’s digital assets.

Guest speakers include:

  • Detective Lt. Brian Gavioli, Unit Commander for the Criminal Information Section and overseer of the Commonwealth Fusion Center’s Massachusetts Cybersecurity Program
  • Larry Wilson, a current cybersecurity consultant and instructor and former Chief Information Security Officer of University of Massachusetts, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Sumitomo Pharma Americas
  • Andrew Zawada, owner of Zawada Insurance in Worcester
  • Gene Kingsley, Cyber Range Manager at the Richard E Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence
  • Rob DelMastro, Director of the MASBDC Western Regional Office

Topics include current cyber threats targeting businesses in our area, the benefits of having a cyber insurance policy and practical steps a business owner can take to enhance their business’s cyber security posture.

The goal of the workshop is to equip attendees with the knowledge and tools to better protect their business from cyber threats.

About the Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence

The Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence serves as a regional center for Western Massachusetts and beyond, with programming includes information seminars and mini-conferences, as well as in-service training and simulation for current cyber professionals. The 6,000-square-foot facility includes a Cyber Range, a simulated cyber environment for student training and exercises, and a Security Operations Center (SOC), which provides real time detection and response to local municipalities and businesses. The Center at Springfield Union Station is one of three SOC and/or Cyber Range facilities in Massachusetts currently open and running that were established as part of the state’s Cyber Security Operations Center and Cyber Range Initiative (SOC-Range Initiative).

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu