Wyoming Business Tips for October

A monthly look at issues facing Wyoming business owners and entrepreneurs from the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, a collection of business assistance programs at the University of Wyoming.

By Maureen Johnson, Wyoming SBDC Network marketing, communication and database manager

The Wyoming SBDC Network at UW is one of six nationwide recipients of a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Cybersecurity for Small Business Pilot Program grant. Awardees are all state entities that will assist small businesses in advancing cybersecurity infrastructure and mitigating cyber threats.

The Wyoming SBDC Network’s deployment of this two-year, $1 million grant includes services that will directly address cybersecurity concerns for its clients and small-business owners in Wyoming. The Wyoming SBDC Network will use CyberWyoming’s Made Safe in Wyoming cybersecurity “train the trainer” program to address cybersecurity topics.

According to a U.S. SBA survey, 88 percent of small-business owners felt their businesses were vulnerable to cyberattacks. Yet, many businesses that can’t afford professional information technology solutions have limited time to devote to cybersecurity or don’t know where to begin.

The Wyoming SBDC Network has begun to address this problem by first ensuring that all of our staff is knowledgeable on cybersecurity issues and ready to help small-business owners navigate cybersecurity concerns. All staff members have attended a cyber readiness course and are now moving forward to a more advanced course to further their knowledge.

As we move through our continuing training, we have some key knowledge points we can share with our readers and clients to start the conversation around cybersecurity. They are:

-- Enable two-factor authentication: This is a simple change you can make without much preparation. Anywhere you can enable two-factor authentication, do it. This simple step can make a huge difference.

-- Verify senders: Always verify the sender of any email or text before opening it or clicking any links or files. This seems like an easy thing to do or remember, but it can be easily overlooked, especially if the sender’s name looks familiar to you. Check the email address, domain or sender number, and be sure it doesn’t look suspicious. Better yet, do a quick search to see if the company name or spelling is correct.

-- Create a cybersecurity plan: Who’s in charge of making sure everyone’s computers and devices are up to date? Do you have a password management plan in place? What about a protocol to follow in case of a security breach?

When you are ready to discuss your cybersecurity issues, reach out to our Wyoming SBDC Network advising staff for a meeting to review your practices and plans. Your regional adviser can help your business get cybersecure.

The Wyoming SBDC Network offers no-cost advising and technical assistance to help Wyoming entrepreneurs think about, launch, grow, reinvent or exit their business. In 2022, the Wyoming SBDC Network helped Wyoming entrepreneurs start 68 new businesses; support 2,411 jobs; and bring a capital impact of $5.3 million to the state. The Wyoming SBDC Network is hosted by UW with state funds from the Wyoming Business Council and funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. SBA.

To ask a question, call 1-800-348-5194, email wsbdc@uwyo.edu, or write Dept. 3922, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071-3922.