Forge Institute Scales Collaboration to Help Improve Cyber Resiliency for Small Businesses
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Forge Institute Scales Collaboration to Help Improve Cyber Resiliency for Small Businesses

Forge Institute announced today that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Forge Institute and the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC), based at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The expanded collaboration endeavors to support Arkansas’ small businesses by helping to improve cyber resilience. The MOU also serves as an addendum to the Collaboration Agreement established between Forge Institute and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock signed in January of last year. 

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Forge Institute launches free Cyber Risk Assessments for Arkansas Small Businesses
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Forge Institute launches free Cyber Risk Assessments for Arkansas Small Businesses

In an effort to harden the state’s defenses against cyberattacks, the Forge Institute Arkansas Cyber Defense Center (ACDC) is offering Cyber Risk Assessments for Arkansas small businesses. The Cyber Risk Assessment is offered at no cost to small businesses, and is part of the U.S. Small Business Administration (US SBA) “Cybersecurity for Small Business Pilot Program, which provided funding for the Arkansas Cyber Defense Center (ACDC). The Program was launched to further build capacity and expand critical cybersecurity services to address the escalating cyber attacks targeting small businesses. 

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Cyber Advisory on TikTok
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Cyber Advisory on TikTok

Cybersecurity Advisory | December 12, 2022

Due to significant concerns from Government and industry, Forge Institute is recommending that individuals remove TikTok from their devices and that organizations ban the application on work devices.

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2022 NWA Tech Summit names Lee Watson of Forge Institute the “Emerging Innovator of the Year”
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2022 NWA Tech Summit names Lee Watson of Forge Institute the “Emerging Innovator of the Year”

“The Emerging Innovator of the Year is presented to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding technical or entrepreneurial talent, contributed positively to Northwest Arkansas, and helped advance the region’s economic ecosystem. We were excited to name Lee Watson of the Forge Institute as this year’s honoree.” –Kristopher Adams, Director of the NWA Technology Summit at the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce.

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Forge Institute’s Annual Cybersecurity Summit Sparks Essential Collaborations 
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Forge Institute’s Annual Cybersecurity Summit Sparks Essential Collaborations 

The Arkansas Cybersecurity Summit, which was held in Central Arkansas, brings industry, critical infrastructure organizations, academia (researchers and students), state and local government, federal agencies and military together to discuss global cyber threat activity, workforce programs/needs, and to raise awareness of opportunities/programs that help Arkansas robust its cyber defenses and increase economic prosperity for our state. This year’s focus was “Developing Arkansas as the Cyber Defense State.”

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Forge Institute Awarded Grant to Help Arkansas Small Businesses Combat Emerging Cyber Threats
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Forge Institute Awarded Grant to Help Arkansas Small Businesses Combat Emerging Cyber Threats

Forge Institute announced today that it has been selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration as one of three (3) awardees of the Cybersecurity for Small Business Pilot Program. The funding allows the Arkansas Cyber Defense Center (ACDC) – which launched last spring – to further build capacity and expand critical cybersecurity services to address the escalating cyber attacks targeting small businesses.

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Forge announces world-renowned speakers for annual Cybersecurity Summit
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Forge announces world-renowned speakers for annual Cybersecurity Summit

Each year, Forge hosts the Arkansas Cyber Summit as a way to bring industry, critical infrastructure organizations, academia (researchers and students), state and local government, federal agencies and military together to discuss global cyber threat activity, workforce programs/needs, and to raise awareness of opportunities/programs that help Arkansas robust its cyber defenses and increase economic prosperity for our state. This year’s focus is on developing Arkansas as the Cyber Defense State. Topics include Securing the Defense Industrial Base to Grow Arkansas Jobs; Engaging State & Local Government in Cyber Defense; Trust Officer vs. CISO - What Do We Need Now; National Security Risks & Opportunities from Emerging Technologies; and so much more. 

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Forge Institute launches the Arkansas Cyber Defense Center 
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Forge Institute launches the Arkansas Cyber Defense Center 

The Arkansas Cyber Defense Center (ACDC) is a dedicated hotline that connects small and mid-sized businesses directly in contact with a Forge Institute volunteer. Small business and startup leaders can call ACDC when they feel their organization is under cyber attack or if they feel their digital infrastructure is inadequately protected.

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