When Trust Becomes Your Greatest Vulnerability (Cybersecurity) - *Webinar (Live)* - PW

When Trust Becomes Your Greatest Vulnerability: What Small Business Owners Need to Know About Third-Party Cyber Risk and Business Identity Theft

Today’s cyber threats are no longer limited to direct attacks on your own company’s computer systems. In an interconnected world, your business depends on a web of trusted third parties: your bank, phone and internet providers, cloud services, cybersecurity and IT vendors, accounting and payroll platforms, insurers, social media, customers, and suppliers. Each of these organizations holds pieces of your business identity.

A single security lapse in any one of these relationships can expose enough information for a criminal to impersonate you and your company, access your accounts, change payment details, and move funds before you even realize what has happened. Identity theft is not just a personal risk; it is a serious business risk. Recovery can be difficult, slow, painful, and sometimes incomplete -- especially for small businesses with limited time and resources.

This free, one-hour cybersecurity webinar is designed to help small business owners understand how third-party cyber risks and business identity theft happen, where hidden vulnerabilities may exist, and what you can do to proactively protect yourself.

This webinar is relevant to all small businesses. However, it will be especially valuable for companies handling sensitive or regulated data -- such as Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), financial records, health, or personal information. Strengthening your third-party risk posture is a key part of meeting customer, contractual, and regulatory expectations.

In Just One Hour, You’ll Learn:

• How attackers use information from trusted organizations -- such as banks, telecom providers, cloud platforms, and vendors -- to impersonate you and your business
• Why third-party providers can become your greatest source of exposure
• How spear phishing and identity-based attacks are crafted using real business data
• Why financial recovery may be difficult
• Key questions you should be asking your service providers about their cybersecurity practices
• Ways to reduce risk of business identity theft

You will leave with a clearer understanding of how your extended business ecosystem can put you at risk.

Who Should Attend

• Small business owners and leaders responsible for operations, finance, or risk management
• Organizations handling sensitive or regulated data (such as CUI, financial, health, or personal information)
• Businesses supporting government, defense, or critical supply chains that must demonstrate strong cybersecurity practices

Format & Cost

• Live online webinar (Zoom)
• 60 minutes, including Q&A
• No cost to attend, thanks to support from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and local partners

---

Speakers

Dr. Teresa Piliouras - CEO and Founder, Technical Consulting & Research, Inc.. Dr. Piliouras is an IT and management expert specializing in cybersecurity, risk management, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. She is a consultant, educator, inventor, and author with a PhD from the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. She has worked with organizations across sectors to improve security, resilience, and data-driven decision-making.

Steffi Crasto - Training Specialist, Technical Consulting & Research, Inc.. Ms. Crasto holds an MS in Management of Technology from the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. She has extensive experience in learning and development, information technology, and educational services, and focuses on making complex technical topics understandable and actionable for non-technical audiences.

Zephyr Hao - Human Resources Consultant, Technical Consulting & Research, Inc.. Mr. Hao holds an MA in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the University of Minnesota and a BA in Human Rights from Columbia University. He is experienced in talent acquisition, HR analytics, and AI-enabled workflow optimization, and brings a people-centered perspective to organizational risk and resilience.

---

Sponsor(s) & Partner(s): Prince William County Department of Economic Development and Tourism & Prince William Chamber of Commerce

Cancellation Policy: Kindly email help@masonsbdc.org (preferred) or call 703-261-4105 to notify the team about cancellations.