SALT LAKE CITY — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Salt Lake Chamber, today hosted a cybersecurity conference aimed at helping small and mid-size businesses develop, evaluate, and strengthen their cybersecurity programs.
“When networks are secure, businesses have a better chance to succeed. Through awareness, education, and public-private partnerships, we can turn cyber challenges into opportunities to innovate, create jobs, and grow the economy,” said Ann Beauchesne, senior vice president for National Security and Emergency Preparedness at the U.S. Chamber. “The U.S. Chamber will take what we’ve learned from the folks in Salt Lake City and make sure both Congress and the administration hear what businesses around the country need to be more secure and resilient.”
“One of the biggest threats to Utah business that often goes unmentioned: cyberattacks,” said Lane Beattie, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. "No matter the size of the business or organization, cyberattacks hurt. The financial burden, the cost of business disruption, and the loss of consumer trust are bad for any business. That’s why as Utah’s ‘voice of business’ the Salt Lake Chamber is making it a priority to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity for businesses of all types and sizes.”
The event brought together top experts from government, law enforcement, and the private sector to discuss cybersecurity threats to the business community, challenges for small and mid-size businesses, and public-private collaboration on cyber incident response, among other topics.
The event, held at the Salt Lake City Marriott University Park, featured speakers including U.S. Secret Service Assistant to the Special Agent in Charge Ike Barnes, WilmerHale partner and former U.S. Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Ali Mayorkas, FBI Supervisory Special Agent James Lamadrid, and National Institute of Standards and Technology Senior Information Technology Policy Advisor Adam Sedgewick.
The Salt Lake City conference is the first in a series of cybersecurity events the U.S. Chamber will host this year. You can learn more about the event here and the Chamber’s cybersecurity awareness campaign here.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations. The U.S. Chamber’s National Security Task Force is made up of more than 200 member organizations, and the Chamber’s Cyber Working Group is made up of more than 200 companies.
