2022 National Data Privacy Week

2022 National Data Privacy Week 
LARAMIE – January 24-28 is National Data Privacy Week with multiple events occurring nationwide and locally for privacy training and awareness geared towards employers and citizens.  
CyberWyoming is featuring daily blogs with business tips for data privacy on their website at cyberwyoming.org as well as encouraging registration for Wyoming’s Cybersecurity Competition for Small Businesses.  An events page with multiple national webinars is also listed at cyberwyoming.org/events.
Data Privacy Week is organized by the National Cybersecurity Alliance.  According to staysafeonline.org, the week helps spread awareness about online privacy and educates citizens on how to manage their personal information and keep it secure.  It also encourages businesses to respect data and be more transparent about how they collect and use customer data.
“National Data Privacy Week goes well with our annual Cybersecurity Competition for Small Businesses,” said Patrick Wolfinbarger, Co-Founder of CyberWyoming.  The competition focuses on protecting customer and proprietary data through on-the-job, one-on-one human-focused risk management training.
The competition is free to all Wyoming businesses.  It uses the Made Safe in Wyoming® program, a risk and information security program based on national standards, but modified for small businesses in Wyoming.
“That’s what this competition is all about, providing the support to tackle information security and cyber risks,” said Wolfinbarger.  
Registration continues through May 15, but statistically those that enter early have a better chance of winning and can work the project at a more leisurely pace.  Judging reports are due August 15, 2022 and participants are judged on the categories of problem solving/innovation, information security, culture/learning, planning, progress, thoroughness, and presentation.
The most coveted prize is speaking at Wyoming’s Cybersecurity Conference as a top winner.  In 2022, Wyoming’s Cybersecurity Conference will be combined with the University of Wyoming Blockchain Stampede and WyoHackathon in September.  The Stampede touts 800 in person attendees and 5000 worldwide electronically.  “It is going to be a great year to win because of great exposure,” said Wolfinbarger.
The competition is free due to community minded companies and organizations including: Campbell County Health, Capitol Communications, Cheyenne State Bank, DigeTekS, EvnTec, Factory IT, First Federal Bank & Trust, First Interstate Bank, Gannett Peak Technical Services, Hub Insurance, IECA, K2 Technologies, PDS (formerly Ptolemy Data Systems), Sweetwater Technology Services, Team Networks, and Wyoming Manufacturing Works.  A donation from Microsoft, grant funding from the Department of Workforce services, and collaboration with Casper College’s Cybersecurity program also made the competition possible.
To participate in the competition, business owners or managers should contact info@cyberwyoming.org to get a copy of the intent to participate form and make an appointment to discuss how to become cyber secure.  CyberWyoming is responsible for monitoring efforts to meet best practices and helping the business owners document their progress.  The final step is submitting the documentation to the judges, chosen by local economic development agencies.
Information about Wyoming’s Cybersecurity Competition for Small Businesses can be found at www.cyberwyoming.org/competition.