Cyber threats continue to evolve and target small businesses, so Texas and some of its most prominent universities — led by UTSA — are taking steps to help the business community make plans and preparations to counteract these malicious attacks.
The Texas Small Business Cybersecurity Assistance Center (TSBCAC), led by the UTSA Small Business Development Center, will provide accessible and expert cybersecurity services to small businesses across Texas. It was all made possible because of a two-year, $1 million grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration that will enable Texas Small Business Development Centers to further create a secure business community.
Working through an endorsement from the Texas Governor’s Office, Texas SBDCs, which include the Texas South-West SBDC Network, hosted at UTSA, and SBDCs at Dallas College, the University of Houston and Texas Tech University, will support these efforts. This statewide collaboration, building on UTSA’s core capabilities, will enable the sharing of best practices and enhanced service delivery while maximizing TSBCAC’s impact on small businesses throughout Texas.
“Today’s technology changes almost daily, increasing the critical need for small businesses in Texas to implement a cybersecurity strategy and plan as they reach new markets, maintain customers and increase their efficiency of operations,” says Albert Salgado, executive director for the Texas South-West SBDC Network at UTSA. “The Texas Small Business Cybersecurity Assistance Center will be a tremendous resource to assist small businesses to stay ahead of cyber threats.”
The TSBCAC will serve as a central hub for small business cybersecurity resources, featuring a dedicated web page with a live chat service where small businesses can request tailored cybersecurity programs and find valuable resources such as on-demand training. Cybersecurity professionals and trained student interns from across the state will staff the virtual center during business hours, offering expert guidance and hands-on support.
Unique to the TSBCAC is the ability to offer a virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO), an outsourced cybersecurity expert, to small businesses. The combined services allow certified TSBCAC cybersecurity professionals to inform small businesses owners about what needs to be done to protect their companies and to provide them with up to 40 hours of assistance in completing those tasks.
The goal, Salgado says, is to help Texas’ small businesses implement robust cybersecurity measures to protect their operations from evolving cyberthreats.
Troy Richardson, project lead for the Texas Small Business Cybersecurity Assistance Center, agrees.
“With the launch of the TSBCAC, we aim to give Texas small businesses the tools and knowledge they need to navigate the complex world of cybersecurity,” Richardson says. “Our tailored services will make it easier for small businesses, regardless of industry, to access no-cost expert advising and training, reducing the risk of cyber incidents and helping them stay competitive.”
