Category Archives: Events

March 2024 Chapter Meeting

Our next chapter meeting is on Wednesday March 20, 2024 at 5:30PM. Please RSVP if you plan on attending!

Information Security Round Table

This month we’re hosting an information security round table. Speak with your peers about your challenges, successes and learnings in your field. Sample topics to include:

  • Considerations related to NIST v2.0 (new / changed requirements)
  • Implications of AI in InfoSec (pros/cons)
  • Anything else you want to share or learn more about!

Schedule
Presentations begin promptly at 5:30 PM

Location Information (NOTE NEW LOCATION!)

Northpointe Bank
5303 28th St Ct SE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Special note: The building access has good strong security protocols and all access between lobby and conference room is escorted. Therefore, please be prompt at or before 5:30pm in the lobby. Someone will be waiting in the lobby for everyone to arrive.  Text Patti if you are running late @ (616) 340-6119.

February 2024 Chapter Meeting

Our next chapter meeting is on Wednesday February 21, 2024 at 5:30PM. Please RSVP if you plan on attending!

Untangling Quantum Computing – Deciphering the Cryptographic Risk

Abstract:

You may have heard the hype about quantum computing, quantum computers will revolutionize modern-day computation!  Thousands, even millions of times faster than today’s fastest supercomputers, quantum computers have the potential of making certain types of impossibly intractable problems solvable.  Encryption codes like RSA will be quickly cracked, Blockchain technology will be expeditiously crushed.  Richard Feynman, the Nobel Laureate in physics, once famously said: “If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don’t understand quantum mechanics.”  Bill Gates agrees, “I know a lot of physics and a lot of math. But the one place where they put up the slides and it is hieroglyphics, it’s quantum.”

While this may be hopelessly true about understanding the underlying physics, comprehension of the emerging quantum computing technology is within our grasp.  Indeed, let’s journey together into this new frontier as we swallow the red pill to reveal just how deep the rabbit hole goes.  At the conclusion of this talk, the quantum secret sauce will be revealed giving you the insider knowledge to answer the questions:  What in the world is quantum supremacy, what gives quantum computers their power, how long will it be before modern-day encryption algorithms are obliterated, and what should conscientious CISOs be doing to prepare?

Speaker biography: Paul Speulstra, with nearly 3 decades of enterprise IT experience, is an accomplished cybersecurity specialist, software developer, manager, and speaker.  From the early days of the very first boot sector, file, and macro viruses to today’s threats combating APTs, BECs, crypto mining, and ransomware attacks, Paul has an extensive and diversified background in the security sphere.  Prior front-line experience as a cybersecurity specialist and incident responder inside a Fortune 500 global cybersecurity operations center, Paul has firsthand knowledge in the research, prevention, detection, and remediation of cyber threats and malware.  Paul now working for Bayside Solutions, Inc., a cybersecurity VAR based in Saint Petersburg Florida, is the inventor and programmer of Cyrebrium™, the cyber brain that powers BSI’s suspicious email analysis and inspection service known as PhishQueue™.

Schedule
Presentations begin promptly at 5:30 PM

Location Information (NOTE NEW LOCATION!)

Northpointe Bank
5303 28th St Ct SE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Special note: The building access has good strong security protocols and all access between lobby and conference room is escorted. Therefore, please be prompt at or before 5:30pm in the lobby. Someone will be waiting in the lobby for everyone to arrive.  Text Patti if you are running late @ (616) 340-6119.

November 2023 Chapter Meeting

Our November chapter meeting is on Wednesday November 15, 2023 at 5:30PM. Please RSVP if you plan on attending!

Email Security Posture (ESP)

Abstract: Does your email security need a boost?  Let’s explore the 3 pillars of Email Security Posture (ESP):   SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Topics include:

  1. How do SPF, DKIM, DMARC authenticate emails?
  2. What are the risks of not having SPF, DKIM, DMARC?
  3. What does ideal ESP look like?
  4. How can you check your organization’s ESP?
  5. What can you do to improve your organization’s ESP?

Speaker biography: Paul Speulstra, with nearly 3 decades of enterprise IT experience, is an accomplished cybersecurity specialist, software developer, manager, and speaker.  From the early days of the very first boot sector, file, and macro viruses to today’s threats combating APTs, BECs, crypto mining, and ransomware attacks, Paul has an extensive and diversified background in the security sphere.  Prior front-line experience as a cybersecurity specialist and incident responder inside a Fortune 500 global cybersecurity operations center, Paul has firsthand knowledge in the research, prevention, detection, and remediation of cyber threats and malware.  Paul now working for Bayside Solutions, Inc., a cybersecurity VAR based in Saint Petersburg Florida, is the inventor and programmer of Cyrebrium™, the cyber brain that powers BSI’s suspicious email analysis and inspection service known as PhishQueue™.

Schedule
Presentations begin promptly at 5:30 PM

Location Information (NOTE NEW LOCATION!)

Northpointe Bank
5303 28th St Ct SE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Special note: The building access has good strong security protocols and all access between lobby and conference room is escorted. Therefore, please be prompt at or before 5:30pm in the lobby. Someone will be waiting in the lobby for everyone to arrive.  Text Patti if you are running late @ (616) 340-6119.

October 2023 Chapter Meeting

Our October chapter meeting is on Wednesday October 11, 2023 at 5:30PM. Please RSVP if you plan on attending!

Real Life: Cyber Security Awareness Program

Abstract: The NorthPointe Bank Risk Management Team will share details on their Cyber Security Awareness Program, including:

  1. Alignment with Security Frameworks 
  2. Phishing Simulation
  3. Annual Compliance Training
  4. Security Awareness Month Program
  5. Security Bulletins
  6. Quarterly Newsletters and Security Open House (popcorn days)
  7. SANS Security Awareness Community

Schedule
Presentations begin promptly at 5:30 PM

Location Information (NOTE NEW LOCATION!)

Special note: The building access has good strong security protocols and all access between lobby and conference room is escorted. Therefore, please be prompt at or before 5:30pm in the lobby. Someone will be waiting in the lobby for everyone to arrive.  Text Patti if you are running late @ (616) 340-6119.

Northpointe Bank
5303 28th St Ct SE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

September 2023 Chapter Meeting

Our May chapter meeting is on Tuesday September 12, 2023 at 5:30PM. Please RSVP if you plan on attending!

Patch Management Relationship of Patch Management to several cyber security frameworks

Abstract: John Weller, (ISC)2 W. Michigan Chapter President, and other presenters TBD, will present on the importance of patch management to cyber security frameworks

Schedule
Presentations begin promptly at 5:30PM

Location Information (NOTE NEW LOCATION!)

Northpointe Bank
5303 28th St Ct SE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

May 2022 Chapter Meeting

Our May chapter meeting is on Thursday May 5, 2022 at 5:30PM. Please RSVP if you plan on attending!

Infragard Overview and Benefits

Abstract: Kyle Kunnen, ISO for Mercantile Bank will present on Infragard, benefits and values. John Weller, (ISC)2 W. Michigan Chapter President, will also present ISC2 chapter updates and membership details.

Speaker Biography: Kyle Kunnen is the ISO for Mercantil Bank and John Weller is the president of the (ISC)2 W. Michigan Chapter

Schedule
5:30 and 6:30 – Presentations

Location Information

Grand Rapids Community College – Applied Technology Center
Room ATC 258 “The Cyber Lab”
151 Fountain Street NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Update on future meetings

Hello all;

The (ISC)2 West Michigan Chapter board of directors has made the decision to cancel in-person meetings indefinitely until appropriate arrangements can be made to consider the healthy and safety needs of our members and sponsors.

In the meantime please do not hesitate to reach out to anyone on the board for any reason.

Sincerely,
Jon, Dave, Patti, Stormy and Ben

March, 2020 Chapter Meeting

Our March chapter meeting is on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 5:45PM. Please RSVP if you plan on attending!

Open Source SIEM

Abstract: The Gordon Food Server Enterprise Information Security team chose to adopt an open source approach to security monitoring. After analysis, we decided to implement an Elastic Stack environment in preference over a commercial SIEM. This talk will discuss where we started, what we were looking to accomplish, why we chose the Elastic Stack. We will discuss adoption, budget, resource requirements, lessons learned to implement the solution and where we are taking our implementation in the future.

Speaker Biography: Paul Dumbleton is the Enterprise Information Security Team Manager at Gordon Food Service

Schedule
5:45-6:00PM Networking, dinner
6:00-7:15PM Presentation
7:15-7:45PM Q&A

Location Information
Metro Health IT Facility
985 Gezon Parkway (across from Target loading dock)
Wyoming, MI, 49519

Map

February, 2020 Chapter Meeting

Our November chapter meeting is on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at 5:45PM. Please RSVP if you plan on attending!

Is poor cyber hygiene crippling your security program?

Abstract: Don’t expect a whole lot from your expensive new security tools unless you first master the basics. Time and again in 2019, responders and security analysts saw threat actors exploit basic security gaps to circumvent expensive security stacks. Join Marcelle Lee and Allison Wikoff, both Senior Security Researchers from Secureworks’ Counter Threat Unit™ Research team for an overview of the cyber threat landscape. Topics covered will include: Lessons learned from Secureworks incident response practice, eCrime threat landscape, and targeted threat landscape (with a focus on Iran)

The new Secureworks Incident Response Insights Report 2019 shows how organizations are undermining their security programs by leaving gaps in security fundamentals that gift easy opportunities to threat actors. As a result, the adversaries gravitated toward known successful tactics and needed only moderate evolution to achieve success. Use of native tools and other living off the land techniques helped them evade detection. Frustratingly, many of the gaps our team saw can be effectively addressed with measures like multi-factor authentication.

The report examines the methods threat actors used to gain access and provides advice on prioritizing your efforts to protect against present day threats. You’ll also learn the 5 most common misconceptions our incident response team hear from organizations with large blind spots.

Speaker Biography: Marcelle Lee and Allison Wikoff, both Senior Security Researchers from Secureworks’ Counter Threat Unit™ Research team

Schedule
5:45-6:00PM Networking, dinner
6:00-7:15PM Presentation
7:15-7:45PM Q&A

Location Information
Metro Health IT Facility
985 Gezon Parkway (across from Target loading dock)
Wyoming, MI, 49519

Map

December, 2019 Chapter Meeting

Our November chapter meeting is on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at 5:45PM. Please RSVP if you plan on attending!

Preparing For The Future Of Privacy Laws and Consumer Expectations

Abstract: We will discuss privacy law and intellectual property law. Amanda will present some specific ways in which businesses can work to comply with global privacy laws as well as prepare for the future of privacy laws and consumer expectations. She will also talk briefly about Trademarks, Patents, and Copyright and what businesses should do to safeguard intellectual property. Amanda will be available for discussion and questions.

Speaker Biography: Amanda is a Bilingual (Spanish) attorney with experience in Intellectual Property, Privacy, corporate transactional, and civil litigation matters. Amanda’s practice includes counseling clients on trademark, copyright, data privacy and security, contracts, licensing, technology and internet law. Amanda works with clients all over the world and handles sensitive business matters including brand protection, IP infringement, e-commerce matters, Amazon seller disputes, data privacy, data breach response, complicated business contracts, and high dollar Asset Purchase Agreements, etc.

Schedule
5:45-6:00PM Networking, dinner
6:00-7:15PM Presentation
7:15-7:45PM Q&A

Location Information
Metro Health IT Facility
985 Gezon Parkway (across from Target loading dock)
Wyoming, MI, 49519

Map