Partnering For a More Secure Cloud Webinar Series

The message to small businesses and accounting firms is clear — it's time to get on board with cloud technology, or get left behind. Cloud solutions promise anytime, anywhere availability, easy deployment, increased productivity, and lower costs. But as more businesses make the move to cloud-based services, they are having to take a more active role in ensuring the security of information stored online — normally the responsibility of an IT administrator. There's a lot to think about — choosing the right service provider, setting up access for your employees and your clients, accessing data from your mobile device, encryption tools, and more.

In this interactive series, Brandon Dunlap, Managing Director of Brightfly, and Michael Webb, Chief Technology Officer for SmartVault Corporation, invite you to join the conversation about cloud security and get practical advice, in everyday terms (we promise no geek-speak here!), designed to help you protect and secure your data in the cloud. Join us for any or all of the following sessions, as we partner for a more secure cloud. Have a topic you want to see Mike and Brandon cover? Drop us an email at security@smartvault.com.

• Part V - Client Data Loss: How to Keep it from Happening and What to Do if it Does
• Part IV - Encryption: Ultimate Protection or Data Loss Nightmare?
• Part III - Practicing Safe Security; Responsible Password Behavior
• Part II - Everywhere, All the Time; The Impact of Mobile Devices on Cloud Security
• Part I - Trust is a Two-Way Street; How to Safeguard Your Data

Part V - Client Data Loss: How to Keep it From Happening... And What to Do if it Does

In your firm, working with sensitive client information is a daily affair. Losing or exposing that information could damage your reputation or cause a loss of business. Nine years after California’s passage of SB 1386, in response to growing trends in mismanagement of personably identifiable information and widespread identity theft, 48 states have passed some form of data loss notification law. What measures are you taking to prevent client data from being lost or stolen? Do you have a plan in place in the event of data breach, loss, or theft? In this interactive discussion, we will:

• Explore a multi-layered approach to security
• Identify ways to minimize the chance of data loss
• Help you educate your staff and your clients on how to protect personally identifiable information
• Offer guidance on what actions you can take if you lose sensitive data

Recorded Session Available:

   View Recorded Session

Part IV - Encryption: Ultimate Protection or Data Loss Nightmare for Cloud Storage?

Using an industry accepted encryption algorithm with a strong key can protect data from prying eyes. Done properly, you can encrypt data in such a manner that even government agencies cannot access the information. However, encryption carries an often overlooked challenge—key management. Do you have a plan in place to rotate your key over time? How would you re-key and re-encrypt all of the information you have stored? How would you deal with the loss of data you were locked out of? In this session, we'll discuss:

• The benefits of strong encryption
• Techniques for using strong encryption
• Best practices for sharing the encryption key to grant access to the data
• Key Management challenges — recovery, sharing, rotation

Recorded Session Available:

   View Recorded Session

Part III - Practicing Safe Security; Responsible Password Behavior for Cloud Access

Your password IS your key to your online services — everything from signing in to your online banking site, ordering the latest book, or checking your child's grades online. That key needs to be strong, secure, and tailored to the job. Just like you control who has the keys to your personal possessions, you need to control access to your online 'key' as well. So, how do you balance your risk tolerance with the desire for convenience? In this session, we'll discuss:

• Choosing and maintaining a good password
• Managing security questions
• Tools and techniques to help you keep your data safe
• Disaster recovery and passwords

Recorded Session Available:

   View Recorded Session
   View Presenter Slide Materials

Part II - Everywhere, All the Time; The Impact of Mobile Devices on Cloud Security

Today, your phone is a computer — it's just smaller than what you are used to. Likely, you use the device for both personal and professional tasks. Your phone stores work emails and other correspondence, just like it stores personal text messages and photos from the concert you went to last night. And whether you know it or not, your phone stores a history of all your activity—just like your computer. Find out how you can protect the valuable information on this device - and balance the increase in convenience and productivity that "going mobile" brings with the additional risk that you could be taking on. In this session, we'll discuss:

• Information available on mobile devices
• Blending of personal and professional access
• Practical steps you can take to protect the information on your mobile device
• What to do when your device is lost
• What to do when it is time to retire a device

Recorded Session Available:

   View Recorded Session

Part I - Trust is a Two-Way Street; How to Safeguard Your Data

Today, as more businesses make the move to cloud-based services, the role of securing information is transitioning from IT departments directly to the end user or consumer. So, it’s time for YOU to join this conversation and gain the knowledge and understanding you need when evaluating and using online services. In this session, we'll discuss:

• The role of security in your everyday life
• Steps an online service provider takes to secure your data
• Recent news about security breaches and how it affects you
• Practical guidance on how to better protect your data and other digital assets

Recorded Session Available:

   View Recorded Session

Your Hosts for the Series:

Brandon Dunlap, Managing Director - Brightfly
Brandon has more than 15 years of experience managing business technology risk in large and small organizations. He has served in a variety of roles across heavily regulated industries, successfully leading all aspects of IT security programs, including policy and procedure management, oversight and control, strategy, architecture, development, and training.

Michael Webb, Chief Technology Officer - SmartVault Corporation
SmartVault provides businesses and accounting firms the ability to store and share business documents securely online. As Chief Technology Officer, Michael is responsible for the design and delivery of SmartVault's Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform, managing the R&D group at SmartVault, and ensuring the overall security of SmartVault's platform. In addition, Michael is a founding member of SmartVault.

Want to hear from Brandon and Michael on another topic? Have suggestions for future discussion? Send an email to security@smartvault.com to tell us what you think.