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SMSU Forum Will Help Business Focus on Computer Security-By Jim Tate As technology advances, so, too, does the chance that computer security can be compromised. That's the idea behind a symposium on computer security that will be held March 26 on the campus of Southwest Minnesota State University. The event will bring together computer security experts, a panel of regional business owners and a group of SMSU students to demonstrate, hands-on, security issues that confront business owners in rural southwest Minnesota. Several areas within the university have combined to put on this important symposium. They include the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, the Department of Business and Public Affairs, the Center for Rural and Regional Studies and the Small Business Development Center. The keynote speakers will be Cory Miller, IT senior operations manager at the Schwan Food Co., and Bob Seward, IT innovations manager at the Schwan Food Co. They will provide an overview of the current computer security issues facing businesses today. They will speak at 3:30 p.m. in Charter Hall 217. "We really live in a world economy, and issues that face small businesses in the area regarding computer security are not different than the issues facing big businesses in cities," said Robin Johnson, assistant professor of Business and Public Affairs at SMSU and one of the event organizers. Barb Hawes, lab administrator for the Schwan's IT Learning Center at SMSU, said small businesses in the region tend to be self-reliant. "Businesses have to keep on top of computer security. One of the strengths of a rural area like this is the tradition of self-reliance. We tend to draw together to deal with problems. That's a strength we can and should use." Johnson said there are companies in southwest Minnesota which, for instance, manage their production in China from this part of the world. "Technology issues are important," he said. "Companies have to be connected to their customers, their suppliers, their production facilities. Because of that reliance on technology, that means that others could have access to that network." Hence, the need for solid computer security for businesses to learn to use technology to expand their markets, they open themselves to security breaches. "Technology is a tool to make your business more efficient It allows small businesses to enter into markets that were outside their area in the past, but in doing that, it also exposes them to problems." Miller also said that it's sometimes difficult for small businesses to expend the monetary resources necessary to keep on top of computer security issues. "Viruses that used to take months to be crafted can now take just days or hours to create. That's why it's important to try a broad-ranging defensive strategy." "Computer security is always an issue here, and an important one," said John DeCramer, an SMSU alumnus and the vice president of engineering at BH Electronics. "There's a number of things we do. From a hardware standpoint, we set up our firewall, have secure passwords, do offsite backups. As far as software goes, we run virus scan, spam filters and keep them up to date, that's the big thing. "You have to keep on top of it. When the latest virus came through, we would update our filter software every two hours. It takes a lot of vigilance." DeCramer will be a part of a panel discussion that will talk about the impact of security issues on regional businesses. The discussion will be at 4:30 p.m. in CH 217. Other panelists will include Barb Voecks of Data Works Inc. in Ortonville; and Forrest Fosheim and Josh Sumption of Southwest Telecommunications Co-op in Windom. Following the panel discussion, SMSU computer science and business students will give demonstrations about setting up firewalls; intrusion detection systems; what the responsibilities are for programmers in relationship to the code they write; a code of ethics for businesses and their employees; outsourcing security; and related topics. As businesses in southwest Minnesota use technology to expand and explore other markets, adequate computer security is becoming a priority. To register for the symposium, contact the Small Business Development Center at 507-537-7386 or call 1-800-642-0684, extension 7386. You can also register online at: www.southwestmsu.edu/forms/cssregistration.cfm. Jim Tate is the associate director of university relations at SMSU. His columns appear in every Weekender.
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