Business & Economy

Small businesses warned against cyberattacks

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BY CHAO YAN
Capital News Service
LANSING — An unwitting business employee clicks the wrong link and suddenly finds her files have been locked. A message flashes on the screen: You can have your data back, for a price. Small businesses are falling prey to such “ransomware,” a type of cyber attack and one of a variety of networking threats companies now face. “Small business is vulnerable to a wide variety of cyber threats, like web-based attack, scripting, phishing, ransomware…and ransomware is huge in Michigan currently,” said Zara Smith, the strategic programs manager for the Michigan Small Business Development Center. Small business, big threat
More than 40 percent of cyberattacks target small businesses, according to a 2016 report by cybersecurity firm Symantec.

Business & Economy

Statewide training designed to thwart cyber attacks

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By ANJANA SCHROEDER
Capital News Service
LANSING – A state cyber initiative is incorporating the Michigan Cyber Range – a virtual training program – to prepare technical staff, technology professionals and university students for team combat against a cyber-attack, in a real world setting. According to Dan Lohrmann, chief security officer for the state, a cyber range is a variety of tests on security equipment used in training. “Critical areas that will benefit from the Michigan Cyber Range include infrastructure defense, Homeland Security, criminal justice and law enforcement, academic and educational programs, and small and medium businesses,” he said. The training, run through Merit Network, based in Ann Arbor, prepares trainees to identify, prevent, and thwart cyber-attacks on vital infrastructure such as power grids and hospitals or personal identities and finances. Lohrmann said the Range is very advanced technical training for technical and cyber teams on the latest techniques and advanced capabilities to stop aggressive attacks against cyber networks.