11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Eastern
Government Event
Cybersecurity for Small Businesses is a practical workshop designed to equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools necessary to protect their businesses from cyber threats. The session is divided into three key areas: Prevention, Incident Response, and Tools. First, participants will learn proactive strategies to safeguard their digital assets, including secure networks, employee training, and data protection measures. Next, the workshop delves into Incident Response, covering how to prepare for and effectively respond to a cyberattack, minimizing damage and recovery time. Finally, small business owners will explore essential cybersecurity tools and software that can help streamline protection, automate defenses, and provide continuous monitoring. With actionable insights and expert guidance, this workshop empowers businesses to defend against cyber threats and maintain resilience in the face of an ever-evolving digital landscape.
Speakers:
- Prevention: Kartik Ahluwalia
- Incident Response: Sara Lazarus
- Tools for Small Businesses: Brian Straightiff
Kartik Bio: Owner – Build My Net. With 12 years of experience, Kartik Ahluwalia specializes in delivering affordable, secure IT solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. Kartik has worked extensively in critical areas such as border immigration system implementation, single sign-on, password management, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) for educational institutions—showcasing his expertise in safeguarding digital environments.
His consulting background includes providing growth strategies to entrepreneurs while ensuring their operations are secure and efficient. Kartik’s experience spans industries like supply chain management, banking, and healthcare, where data security is paramount. Certified in SAFE Product Ownership (PO/PM) and as an AWS Cloud Practitioner, he brings cutting-edge expertise in cybersecurity and cloud technologies.
Through his company, Build My Net, Kartik helps businesses protect themselves from online threats, offering tailored cybersecurity services to ensure safe growth in the digital age.
Sara Lazarus: Sara Lazarus is the founder of Faded Jeans Technology LLC, a security services firm that helps companies build and scale their security programs. Before launching Faded Jeans, she spent years in the trenches leading Incident Response and SecOps teams, later building a security program from scratch as the first Head of Security and IT at a high-growth fintech. She’s battled everything from APTs to insider threats, and now brings that experience to organizations of all sizes. Sara has an MBA from The Wharton School, which she leverages to effectively bridge the gap between security and business mission.
Brian Bio: Chief Technology Officer, Periculus
Brian is a collaborative and goal-driven IT executive, he excels in solution building, evident through his track record of successful acquisitions. Embracing iterative design, he’s guided teams from Codeathon to Lloyd’s Lab Accelerator Program, achieving noteworthy Production outcomes. Brian is committed to bringing cyber security awareness to small to medium businesses.
Sterling Community Center
120 Enterprise Street
Sterling, VA 20164
click here for Google Maps
(phone: 571.641.0938)
| 1/14/2025 |    |