Kalamazoo Times

Western Michigan University is set to host its third annual Cybersecurity Summit on Wednesday, October 23, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the WMU Student Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The event aims to bring together IT experts, educational partners, and security professionals to discuss best practices in cyber defense and increasing security.

Evey Ortiz-Martinez, a cybersecurity student and president of Western's Bronco Cybersecurity Club, emphasized the importance of cybersecurity beyond just large corporations. "Cybersecurity is very important, not just for Western, not just for big corporations, but for everyone as individuals as well," she stated.

The summit will feature a keynote address by Daniel Heidt, vice president of Hybrid Cloud at People Driven Technology, Inc., focusing on responding to security breaches. Attendees can also participate in sessions covering topics such as building strong security programs and risk assessment.

Trevion Thomas, WMU program manager for cybersecurity, highlighted the evolving nature of cyber threats and the need for advanced security solutions. "As technology evolves, so do the tactics of cybercriminals," he noted.

Caden Carr, president of Western's Business Analytics and Information Technology Association and a computer information systems student, expressed enthusiasm about attending the summit. "I'm hoping to meet people...and really just make this a learning opportunity," he said.

Ortiz-Martinez will lead a panel discussion focused on students in cybersecurity alongside Carr. They aim to engage both students interested in entering the field and professionals seeking insights into emerging technologies.

Registration details are available on the event's webpage. The summit welcomes IT professionals, business leaders, educators, students, and anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of cybersecurity.