Cyber Readiness Institute Launches First Cybersecurity Certification Program for Small and Medium-sized Business Leaders

PRESS RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC, May 25, 2021 – The Cyber Readiness Institute (CRI) today introduced the first comprehensive professional credential program designed to train cyber leaders in small businesses to help secure supply chains and reduce risk of a cyber attack.

CRI’s core mission is to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) build a cyber ready culture by focusing on human behavior and employee training. Employees in a cyber ready organization must know how to prevent cyber attacks and how to respond if one does occur. 

The Cyber Leader Certification Program teaches practical cybersecurity skills and knowledge and how to influence behavior in an organization. The free online program follows three people with very different backgrounds as they become cyber leaders in three very different types of companies.

The Cyber Leader can be anyone within a small business. It could be the owner, the HR manager, the person responsible for finances, or any employee who can effectively provide guidance and take ownership of cyber readiness.

“Great cyber leaders can communicate effectively, encourage positive behavior, ensure policies are practical, build awareness, gain commitment, and help colleagues take action to establish good cyber readiness habits,” said Kiersten Todt, managing director of CRI. “We know that technologies are not enough. An organization must build a foundation of cybersecurity that is grounded in a culture of cyber readiness.”

To receive a Cyber Leader certificate, participants first must lead an organization through the CRI Readiness Program, complete all modules in the new Cyber Leader program, with the associated quizzes and assignments, and pass the final test with a score of 100% (three attempts allowed).

Every certificate holder will gain enough understanding to:

·            Reduce risk by improving cyber habits in four core areas within their company

·            Design and lead effective short-term cyber readiness projects

·            Ask potential IT service providers the right questions and understand their answers 

·            Explain the use and value of cybersecurity technology to the non-technical people

·            Make a practical difference in the cyber readiness of their companies

About The Cyber Readiness Institute

The Cyber Readiness Institute is a non-profit initiative that convenes business leaders from across sectors and geographic regions to share resources and knowledge that inform the development of free cybersecurity tools for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Our mission is to advance the cyber readiness of SMBs to improve the security of global supply chains. CRI was co-founded by the CEOs of The Center for Global Enterprise, Mastercard, Microsoft, PSP Partners. Our members also include ExxonMobil, General Motors, and Principal. CRI’s resources focus on human behavior and emphasize employee education and awareness. Explore the building blocks of good cybersecurity with our Starter Kit or create a cyber readiness culture in your organization with the self-guided, online Cyber Readiness Program. Our Remote Work Resources and Hybrid Workplace Guides offer timely tips for addressing the evolving cyber challenges of today. To find out more, visit www.BeCyberReady.com.