By: Mitch Isaacs –
Muncie, IN – LEAP MANAGED IT is providing a free cyber security training for local non-profits on Wednesday February 1st from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. at the Innovation Connector. A light breakfast will be offered.
The session is offered in light of the recent cyber-attack on Little Red Door, Cancer Services of East Central Indiana. “This attack has the attention of the local non-profit community” offered Mitch Isaacs, Executive Director for Shafer Leadership Academy. Shafer Leadership Academy organizes a quarterly meeting of local non-profit executives to discuss current issues. “We asked Aimee Fant, Executive Director for Little Red Door, to speak at our January meeting. After that, it was clear that the local non-profits need more training in this critical area. If these criminals will attack a local cancer non-profit, they will attack anyone.”
Fant believes trainings like these are important for her non-profit colleagues. She offered this advice, “In light of the recent cyberterrorism attack experienced for Cancer Services of East Central Indiana- Little Red Door and the rash of sophisticated ransomware attacks being launched on non-profit, health systems and corporate servers, do not assume you or your organization are protected from such an attack. This assumption can result in devastating data and financial loss. Please talk with your IT provider about staff training and be willing to invest in effective cyber security software to protect your organization before it is too late.”
Isaacs reached out to Gary Thomas, partner at LEAP Managed IT, who agreed to provide the free session. In fact, Thomas has made a point of educating his customers, and other interested organizations, on the topic of cyber security and ransomware. “It’s our role as a community steward to raise the education bar and provide tools for long-term success. I’m glad we are having the conversations and people are taking it seriously, but the problem isn’t going to go away overnight.”
The session, which is free to any local non-profit and includes a light breakfast provided by LEAP IT, will discuss:
- Current threats, myths and facts about cyber security.
- An honest discussion about how to rate your current provider or in house IT department.
- Questions to ask and a checklist of foundational “must haves.”
- Strategies and tools to train your employees.
- Budgets and discounted technology you might be missing out on.
- Cyber insurance and what you need to know and do before you sign up.
- Business continuity planning.
- A little tough love about the wild-wild West of technology and the internet.
While Thomas has information to share, he hopes attendees “come prepared with questions and remembers this is a discussion to learn from each other. LEAP is excited to hear non-profits perspective, wins and concerns.”
Isaacs is excited to have LEAP IT take the lead on this issue. “We are very fortunate to have a business like LEAP IT in our community, and especially business owners like Gary and Michael Thomas, who are willing to generously give their time to help educate the nonprofit community.”
Interested attendees can register at http://www.shaferleadership.com/about-shafer-leadership-academy/non-profit-executives-group/ or email Mitch Isaacs at misaacs@shaferleadership.com
Leap is offering a second session on Thursday, February 9th from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm, for other interested organizations. For more information and to sign up visit www.leapmanagedit.com.
Mitch Isaacs is Executive Director of the Shafer Leadership Academy
