A panel discussion focused on developing a company’s cyber security defense plan will take place at the 13^thannual New York Tech Summit. The three-day conference is scheduled for June 7-9 at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona, NY.

“According to a report by Kaspersky, ransomware attacks on businesses increased from once every two minutes to once every 40 seconds in the first nine months of 2016 alone,” said Tim Duffy, Vice President, TERACAI. “Integrating technology awareness into a company’s cyber defense plan can be a challenge for most organizations. We see helping organizations to better understand the breadth of cyber security risks associated with end user behavior and the impact it has on all departments within a company’s organization a critical component to their overall plan.”

Cyber security panel members will address how they have successfully engaged their organizations and clients to join the cyber security culture. Lessons learned and organizational development opportunities, such as “Using Common Sense” for non-IT partners, will also be covered and open for discussion. Learn more here.

The panel discussion will take place from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. on Thursday June, 8 in the Turning Stone Showroom, led by moderator Roger Benn. Panelists include: Mark Ballister, Paychex; Vikas Bhatia, Kalki Consulting; Evan Bloom, Fortress Strategic Communications; Alan M. Winchester, Harris Beach PLLC Attorneys at Law.

Meet the Panelists

Roger Benn is an experienced executive and technology management professional with over 20 years of technology experience. Further, he has extensive experience directing revenue, technology, and operations in: Higher Education, Municipal, Non-Profit, and Healthcare organizations. Currently, Benn works as the director of provider solutions & health system performance at Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Mark J. Ballister is the Security Intelligence and Response Manager at Paychex responsible for Security Cyber Intelligence, Secure Data Transfer, Security Incident Response and Physical Security with over 20 years of real-world experience.  In his role he is responsible for creating the tactical and strategic security plans for the enterprise consisting of nearly 13,000 employees and 500,000 clients worldwide.

Vikas Bhatia is the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Kalki Consulting.  Headquartered in New York, Kalki provides retained Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Cyber SecurITy solutions to small- and medium sized businesses in a range of different industry sectors, including financial services, technology, retail, healthcare, education and manufacturing. 

Evan Bloom is the CEO of Fortress Strategic Communications. For over 20 years he has provided top-level customized public relations for enterprise risk management industries, garnering extensive experience in areas as diverse as IT security, document imaging and management, business continuity and disaster recovery, safety and security, and others.

Alan M. Winchester is Cybersecurity Protection and Response Practice Group and E-Discovery (e-info) Practice Group leader at Harris Beach, Attorneys at Law. In cyber or information security my greatest satisfaction is in helping companies appreciate and assess their risk so they can make informed business decisions. In electronic discovery, my most fulfilling moments are found in applying technology to perform document reviews often resulting in meaningful early case assessment which allow all the stakeholders in the litigation to make an informed decision about how much to invest in the litigation effort and what outcome to expect.

Attendees have two registration options. There is a two-day pass on June 8-9 for $595. There is a new Conference Admission & Workshop Bundle, including 2 pre-conference workshops on June 7 and access to all events on June 8 and 9, for only $695. To register for NY Tech Summit, visit www.nytechsummit.com.

About NY Tech Summit

NY Tech Summit is an educational event for IT and business professionals focused on technologies that drive business value. The event provides classroom sessions with experienced industry speakers, an extensive tradeshow, and several networking opportunities. Topics to be covered include corporate awareness, cloud strategies, IT evolution, and transformational leadership. The 13th annual NY Tech Summit will be held June 7-9, 2017 at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, N.Y. For more information, visit www.nytechsummit.com