Page 15 - BusinessWest September 30, 2024

protected from attacks such as webite hacking, security breaches, cyberat- tacks, ransomware, and phishing schemes.
“I’ll talk about what the dark web is, why it was created, what it’s used for, how to avoid it, and, once your informa- tion ends up on the dark web, what to do next,” Hogan told BusinessWest — a relevant concern, especially after the National Public Data breach, reported this summer, exposed some 2.9 billion personal records.
A credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus should be the first step for anyone exposed, he said. “If you’re not buying something like a house or a car, nobody’s running credit on you,
so just freeze them and then unfreeze them if you have to apply for credit somewhere, and then freeze it again.”
This year’s ignite conference is a one-day event following last Novem- ber’s two-day affair at Abandoned Building, which focused on the latest trends and best practices in artificial intelligence and explored the intersec- tion of AI and the human workforce.
More recently, the Chamber of Greater Easthampton and the Black- stone Valley Chamber of Commerce partnered to bring an ignite confer- ence to the latter’s backyard in North Grafton. That two-day conference took place in April and was aimed at professionals who want to improve their emotional intelligence and learn how to interact with co-workers, cus- tomers, or donors more effectively.
Clearly, there’s no shortage of
key topics affecting businesses and entrepreneurs, which bodes well for the prospect of keeping future confer- ences ... well, ignited.
Robust Roster
As noted, Hogan will give attend- ees a crash course in the dangers of the dark web and how to use moni- toring tools and other resources to respond to breaches and stay safe.
“If there’s a breach out there, assume that somebody is working
to get into more accounts, trying to open credit cards,” he said. “When
it becomes identity theft, it’s serious. You can paralyze somebody. You can lock up their bank accounts and ruin their credit for a long time.”
Following Hogan’s presentation, the technology cluster will continue with Michael Lareau, vice president of Solution Engineering for Source- Pass, who will discuss AI governance in the workplace. A recent blog post by Marsh McLennan noted that, while the explosion in AI usage by businesses has driven innovation, efficiency, and profitability, it can also expose businesses to organizational, reputational, and regulatory risks. Lareau will explore how businesses can appropriately govern the use of AI oversight to address risks such as bias, privacy infringement, and mis- use while fostering innovation and
BusinessWest
SEAN HOGAN
“If there’s a breach out there, assume that somebody is working to get into more accounts, trying to open credit cards. When it becomes identity theft, it’s seri- ous. You can paralyze somebody. You can lock up their bank accounts and ruin
their credit for a long time.”
insurance covers a business’ liability for a data breach involving sensitive customer information, such as Social Security numbers, credit card num- bers, health records, and more.
The second cluster of presentations will focus on the changing landscape of marketing. Jeff Uzzel of Uzzel Design Co. will focus on telling a ‘brand story,’ which entails communicating a mis- sion, values, and purpose in a way that that creates an emotional connection between an organization and its cus- tomers. Uzzel will discuss how to suc- cessfully tell a brand story and how it can build an organization’s reputation, customer base, and bottom line.
trust among customers and employees. Pat Brough, head of Sales and Mar-
keting for Finck & Perras Insurance Agency, will review cyber insurance.
According to Cybercrime magazine, 60% of small businesses go out of busi- ness within six months of falling victim to a data breach or cyberattack. Cyber
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