Small and medium-sized businesses are one mouse-click away from bankruptcy in 2025, reports SecureTheVillage
SecureTheVillage, a leader in cybersecurity advocacy, will host the 5th Annual Reasonable Security Summit on January 30, 2025. This event brings together security leaders, industry experts, and the professional business community to address the threats posed by cybercrime and data breaches along with reasonable practices smaller businesses and nonprofits can take to safeguard their organizations.
“The Reasonable Security Summit focuses on the unique challenges faced by smaller businesses and nonprofits, which are the victims in 75% of cybercrime,” explains Dr. Stan Stahl, who is the Founder and President of SecureTheVillage. “We need to focus the energy of the entire community on alerting our smaller businesses and nonprofits to the risks they face, while also providing the support they need to implement Reasonable Security. Attorneys, bankers, insurance brokers, and management consultants need to spread the word. IT service providers and MSPs have to deliver Reasonable Security while also helping their clients understand why they need it. When it comes to helping our smaller businesses and nonprofits, everyone has a role to play.”
Data highlights the growing severity of cybercrime, capable of devastating small and medium-sized businesses. Reports show large year-over-year increases in cybercrime losses, ransomware payments, and business email compromise incidents. According to IBM’s Data Breach Report, the average cost of a data breach is $5 million, with 70% of businesses reporting significant or very significant disruptions as a result.
“SecureTheVillage has observed cyberattacks like ransomware manifest in various ways, including fraudulent vendor invoices, phishing scams, misconfigured networks, you name it,” says Dr. Stahl. “These incidents have led to financial losses ranging from tens of thousands to millions of dollars. For smaller businesses, these attacks can mean bankruptcy, poverty, job losses, and, in the most severe cases, even the loss of life.”
Given the magnitude, complexity, variation of threats, and resource availability of our businesses it is the mission of SecureTheVillage to promote Reasonable Security. In doing so, it is following the lead being set by California, New York, Ohio and other states, along with national frameworks like the Center for Internet Security Controls and the NIST Cyber Security Framework.
“In today’s environment, forgoing such measures is as unreasonable as driving without a seatbelt or speeding,” adds Dr. Stahl.
The summit will feature keynote addresses from trailblazers in cybersecurity and organizational strategy.
Tony Sager, Senior Vice President at the Center for Internet Security and a Cybersecurity Hall of Fame Inductee, will share his expertise in developing effective, scalable cyber defense practices.
Bill Leider, Managing Partner at Axies Group and Board Strategy Advisor at SecureTheVillage, will provide insights into values-driven leadership and aligning cybersecurity with business goals.
Dr. Stahl, along with other industry leaders, will offer additional expertise throughout the event.
The summit will cover essential topics such as implementing Reasonable Security measures, navigating evolving cybersecurity regulations, and countering the increasing sophistication of cybercriminals. Attendees will gain practical knowledge and actionable measures to create more secure business environments, reduce financial and reputational risks, and ensure compliance with legal standards.
With critical insights for a broad audience, the Reasonable Security Summit welcomes IT service providers, managed security service providers and other security practitioners, attorneys, cyber insurance brokers, bankers, executives, educators, policymakers, government officials, and others who may benefit from reasonable digital safety measures.
The 5th Annual Reasonable Security Summit will take place in Los Angeles at the westdrift Manhattan Beach, with options for virtual attendance.
Registration is now open, offering attendees the opportunity to access the tools, insights, and connections necessary to address modern cybersecurity challenges. Participants will not only learn to protect their businesses and livelihoods but also support SecureTheVillage’s vision to make Los Angeles the cyber-safest metropolitan region in the United States for smaller businesses, nonprofits, families, and individuals.
To learn more about the 5th Annual Reasonable Security Summit and to register, please visit: www.securethevillage.org/events-calendar/5th-annual-reasonable-security-summit
