Veritech IT offers cyber security presentation

Date: 11/26/2014

SPRINGFIELD – Michael’s Stores. Target. Home Depot. United States Postal Service. TJMaxx. What do they have in common?  They all had data breaches in the past year. 

While the major companies grab the headlines, the risk of a data breach is even higher for smaller businesses with less data security resources – companies like wine shops, dentist offices, colleges, gift shops and more.  Even charitable organizations are at risk with Goodwill Industries experiencing its own breach in 20 states outside of Massachusetts as a result of malware being installed.

Experts say most data breaches are caused by insiders not outsiders - from something as simple as someone giving out their password, losing a thumb drive or clicking on a link in a spam e-mail.

Vertitech IT, a Holyoke-based healthcare and business networking and IT consultancy, will present “CyberSecurity – It’s Everyone’s Business” at the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield’s (ACCGS) Lunch ‘n Learn program on Dec. 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Dodge Room of the Flynn Campus Union on the campus of Springfield College, 263 Alden St.

Duane Norton, director technology, and Gerry Gosselin, director of technical operations, will provide simple answers to the complex questions: what is a data breach, how does it happen, and am I at risk? Specific areas of focus will include how data breaches occur, what is the result of a data breach, and what you can do to protect your information.

Norton has been providing complex IT solutions for businesses in the healthcare, financial, legal, and educational industries since 1999. He combines his experience in managing a wide variety of network and server environments with an in-depth knowledge of routing, switching, information security and virtualization technologies.

Gosselin joined VertitechIT in 2013 bringing with him a wide variety of high-level IT experience including systems programming, automated network monitoring and management, network engineering and administration. His expertise in Perl programming often brings a unique approach to problem solving, automation of system functions and data acquisition.

Reservations for the December Lunch ‘n Learn are $25 for members, $35 for general admission.  Registration includes lunch and one-on-one discussions with Norton and Gosselin.  Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Sarah Mazzaferro at mazzaferro@myonlinechamber.com.