I.T. Responsive and ThinkAI Host Lunch and Learn for Cybersecurity Awareness Month

(left to right) Manish Bhardia, ThinkAI President; Bryan Willett, FBI Supervisory Special Agent; Darren Somo, I.T. Responsive VP, Solutions

In celebration of October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, I.T. Responsive and partner ThinkAI, an organization that provides software development for thought leaders, decided to host a Cybersecurity Awareness Lunch and Learn on Thursday, October 13th, at South Coast Plaza’s Capital Grille Restaurant in Costa Mesa, CA. We invited the FBI Supervisory Special Agent for FBILA’s OC-based Cyber Squad, Bryan Willett, to speak about cybersecurity insights gained from his 18+ years of experience working for the FBI that are valuable to our invited guests, a small mix of entrepreneurs, small business owners, and C-level executives from small-to-mid-size enterprises (SMEs). More specifically, he discussed the FBI’s role in cybersecurity, significant cyber activity and trends companies face today, the types of threat actors and their motivations behind cyber attacks, and most importantly, how to protect your business and yourself from security incidents.

(Bryan Willett, FBI Supervisory Special Agent, presenting at Capital Grille Restaurant

In a private room for no more than 20 people, guests seemed to have enjoyed themselves with their four-course menu that highlighted the entrée choices of filet mignon, seared salmon, or roasted chicken breast, and the decadent flourless chocolate espresso cake, while having been able to engage and network among themselves and with the guest speaker. Gift bags with everyday useful items and informative materials from the hosts and partners were also provided to guests as a gratitude for their attendance and as something to remember us by.

The event was a great opportunity to educate and remind organizations and individuals about the importance of cybersecurity in a time where cyber crimes are on the continual rise, and it felt refreshing to discuss this matter at a physical site after having been unable to host any in-person events within the past two years due to the pandemic.