WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration is partnering with Synergy Solutions to launch a free, new comprehensive series of web-based cybersecurity training for eligible small businesses on steps they can take to protect their company’s assets and intellectual property.
According to SBA New Jersey District Director Al Titone, Synergy Solutions will provide up to 10 web-based training modules to educate small businesses nationwide, under the agency’s 7(j) program. Administered by SBA’s Office of Management and Technical Assistance Program, the 7(j) program is designed to provide high-quality assistance and executive level training to eligible small businesses.
To automatically be eligible to participate in this free 7(j) training program:
- Small businesses must be owned and controlled by economically and socially disadvantaged individuals
- Small businesses located in areas of high unemployment or low income;
- Small businesses owned by low income individuals; and
- Certified 8(a) participants or HUBZone small businesses; or economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses.
“I am impressed by the thoroughness of this cybersecurity training as it provides timely and vital help to all of our SBA small business clients,” said Robb Wong, Associate Administrator for Government Contracting and Business Development. “Ostensibly, it helps businesses with best-practices to reduce digital threats to a company’s data and information which is often central to their business operations.”
Topics covered through this training initiative include but are not limited to:
- Secure passwords
- Malware, privacy
- Data breaches
- Safe computing
- Online scams
- Mobile protection
- Phishing
- Government generated frameworks (NIST) and
- Cybersecurity pertaining to federal contractors.
The entry level training classes cover basic cybersecurity awareness and current cyber risks to federal contractors and small businesses, while the intermediate level training classes include more advanced federal cybersecurity and information assurance requirements and policy compliance and assessment areas.
“This training initiative also offers an assessment tool for use by all eligible participants that they can use to assess their company’s cybersecurity maturity,” said Titone. “Through this training, participants will learn how to most effectively secure information through best cybersecurity practices, identify their risk and the types of cyber threats, and learn best practices for guarding against cyber threats.”
While the classes are free, they are first come, first serve and will accommodate no more than 50 participants at a time. To register, visit: synergysolutions.talentlms.com.
