Impact Washington invests Center dollars to provide manufacturers with no-cost access to the latest cybersecurity information from leading subject matter experts.

Impact Washington is pleased to announce the continuation of the Cybersecurity Forums.

“There is never a shortage of new things to learn about cybersecurity. Cybersecurity continues to be one of the most strategically important issues in manufacturing today. It is also a field in which the professionals are challenged by the fast pace in which technology and scenarios continue to change; it's for this reason we're extending our forums for the upcoming year,” says Deloit R Wolfe, Jr, President, and Center Director, Impact Washington.

The monthly forums will assist all manufacturers and businesses in the Defense Supply Chain or those interested in supplying defense agencies. Participants will hear from cybersecurity experts on various computer-related security matters such as potential attacks and remedies, general cyber hygiene, patch vulnerabilities, detecting threats, responding to breaches faster, cyber insurance, and the latest updates relating to CMMC.

The Forums will take place each month starting at 9:00 am last until 10:30 Pacific Time / Noon -1:30 pm Eastern Time and include time for questions and conversation. The content is for company leaders, managers, and technical staff members working toward cybersecurity compliance.

While registration is free, online pre-registration is required. View upcoming topics and REGISTER HERE. The Cybersecurity Forums are hosted in partnership with Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition (PNDC). You must register for each forum individually; a link will be emailed from PNDC to registrants. 

Upcoming Forums dates and topics are as follows: 

Past Cybersecurity Topics and Experts Include:

July 2021 | Ransomware, Security, and You: Ace Swerling, Director of Security Solutions at CORTAC Group, discusses how to deal with cyber challenges such as CMMC compliance and how to get your organization safe secure so you can win more business. | VIEW FORUM HERE

August 2021 | Creating a Culture of Compliance: John Stephens of Luminant Digital Security discusses what it takes to create a culture of compliance. Other panel members include: Matt Katzer, John Christly, and Ace Swerling | VIEW FORUM HERE

September  2021 | 10 Best Security Practices for Any Company:  Aliahu "Alli" Bey from Haight Bey & Associates LLC and CEO, Totem Technologies, shares the 10 Best Security Practices for Any Company. Additional information was shared from the following cybersecurity experts Raj Sidhu, Tom Cornelius, Adam Austin, and David Driggers. | VIEW FORUM HERE

October 2021 | Cybersecurity Insurance What You Need to Know: Rick Rosenberry from Brownrigg Insurance shares what you need to know about cybersecurity insurance. Additional information and questions are answered from the following cybersecurity experts, including; Tom Cornelius, ComplianceForge, Adam Austin, Totem Tech, and Matt Katzer, KAMIND IT | VIEW FORUM HERE

November 2021 | CMMC 2.0 What You Need to Know: Edward Vasko, Director, Institute for Pervasive Cybersecurity, at Boise State University & TechHelp Idaho, discusses their cyber programs. Additional information and questions from the following cybersecurity experts; Dave Miller of Future Networking (FNI), John Stephens and Jonathan Wolff of Luminant Security, Jerry Leishman of CORTAC, and Matt Katzer of KAMIND Cloud Solutions Advisors | VIEW FORUM HERE

For questions about the Forums, contact Brooke Devol bdevol@impactwashington.org or Kate Kanapeaux kate@pndc.us

About Impact Washington

Impact Washington has mobilized its Manufacturing Network to respond to Washington manufacturers' needs through the COVID-19 pandemic. Impact Washington is a statewide non-profit organization that provides competitive, value-driven services. With access to public and private resources, our goal is to enhance growth, improve productivity, reduce costs, and expand manufacturing capacity in Washington. Our solutions, consulting, and educational opportunities focus on the small and medium-sized manufacturers located throughout the state. We are Washington State's affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Manufacturing Extension Program (NIST MEP). Our nationwide network consists of manufacturing extension partnership centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Since 1997 Impact Washington has delivered impactful solutions to more than 1,500 Washington State manufacturers. www.impactwashington.org

Media Contact: Carol Blayden | cblayden@impactwashington.org | 425.231.5828

About MEP National Network™

The MEP National Network is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing. Focused on helping small and medium-sized manufacturers generate business results and thrive in today's technology-driven economy, the MEP National Network comprises the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP), the 51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, and over 1,300 trusted advisors and experts at more than 400 MEP service locations, providing any U.S. manufacturer with access to resources they need to succeed.

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, the Network interacted with 27,574 manufacturers. According to clients surveyed in FY 2020, the MEP National Network helped manufacturers achieve $13.0 billion in sales, $2.7 billion in cost savings, $4.9 billion in new client investments and helped create and retain 105,748 U.S. manufacturing jobs. View the National Impact Data PDF for more information about NIST MEP, the National Network, and client impacts.

About National Institue of Standards and Technology (NIST)

NIST promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. NIST is a nonregulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. To learn more about NIST, visit www.nist.gov.

About the Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition (PNDC)

The Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition (PNDC) is the Membership Trade Association for Pacific Northwest Defense & Security Industry Businesses. PNDC’s mission includes bringing more defense and security contracts to the Pacific Northwest and supporting a strong and connected supply chain for these industries. By doing this, PNDC helps create, grow, and diversify business development opportunities for a wide range of Pacific Northwest companies. PNDC member companies range from large Fortune 100 companies to small machine shops that support the supply chain in maritime, tactical equipment, aerospace, unmanned systems, advanced manufacturing, information technology, homeland security, space exploration, and more. www.pndc.us.