MARCH 2019
Cybersecurity Professionals Hold Informal Meetup
On March 20th, 2019, the (ISC)2 Penn Highlands Chapter hosted a networking event at Marzoni's in Duncansville. Fourteen people attended, including some sponsors and some new faces. Invoices for dues will be sent out shortly for the FY 2019. In addition, a membership appeal will be sent out, as well as descriptions of the Officer positions that will be available. You must be a chapter member and (ISC)2 certified to run for office, per (ISC)2 corporate rules.
DECEMBER 2018
Cybersecurity Professionals Welcome FBI Special Agent Michelle Pirtle
SA Pirtle has been with the FBI for 14 years and is currently based out of the Pittsburgh field office. With a master’s in computer science, her experience has centered on cyber investigations and the cyber threat landscape. SA Pirtle’s investigative experience has included criminal and national security matters, both stateside and internationally. SA Pirtle currently works to secure our nation’s critical infrastructures through collaborative relationships and information sharing. The cyber and physical threats to our nation’s critical infrastructure are the focal points of her outreach with industry, academia, and government. As a Private Sector Coordinator, she is the FBI point of contact for both the InfraGard Pittsburgh Members Alliance and the InfraGard West Virginia Members Alliance.
Membership is also open to all: an individual interested in membership does not need to be a credentialed professional to join the Chapter; only to be an officer. Nathan Beerbower from Sheetz is the Membership Chair for the chapter. Visit the website to remain informed on future events and membership information at www.isc2ph.wildapricot.org.
OCTOBER 2018
Cyber Security Professionals Host Speaker
The October 3rd meeting of the (ISC)2 Penn Highlands Chapter featured Corey Grone, product manager at Expedient data centers speaking about Security and Compliance in the cloud. The meeting was held at the Young Peoples' Community Center in Ebensburg, PA with about 12 in attendance. Chapter meetings are open to all who are interested in cybersecurity. Membership is also open to all: an individual interested in membership does not need to be a credentialed professional to join the Chapter; only to be an officer. Nathan Beerbower from Sheetz is the Membership Chair for the chapter. Visit the website to remain informed on future events and membership information at www.isc2chapter-pennhighlands.com.
Cybersecurity Professionals Form Chapter
On October 3rd, the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)2, Penn Highlands Chapter met at Mt. Aloysius. (ISC)2 is a professional organization for Information Security professionals that provides educational and networking opportunities, says Erika Hough, Chapter President. It provides what is arguably the “gold standard” in cybersecurity certifications.
“I moved back to the area from Pittsburgh and work remotely for UPMC Enterprises as the senior manager of Information Security and Compliance. I was concerned that due to the rural nature of the area, there would be a lack of information security professionals to collaborate with, so I decided to apply to form a chapter.” After being accepted by ISC2 and chartering for several months which included providing documentation and vetting founding members, the Penn Highlands Chapter was officially approved in October of 2017. Much to Hough’s surprise, there were 23 attendees at the first meeting on April 4th.
The April 4th event featured founding member and secretary Matt Becker, IT Security Engineer for George Washington University, speaking about web application security. It included topics such as the top 10 security issues for web developers to avoid when programming and other common technical problems. Future speakers potentially include an FBI cybersecurity expert and a district attorney who deals with cybercrime.
“The Penn Highlands Chapter will provide our members an opportunity to build a local network of peers to share knowledge, exchange resources, and collaborate on projects,” said Brian Shrift, founding member and treasurer of the chapter. Shrift is the president of Precision Business Solutions in Ebensburg. “When I heard a local chapter was being formed, I wanted to get involved. A chapter is a valuable resource for myself, the security professionals in our office, and the local security community.”
The Chapter has also secured several sponsors, including Expedient, PC Works Plus, Precision Business Solutions, and Reclamere. Information about sponsorship opportunities are handled by Ryan McCracken, Vice President, and can be found on the chapter’s website at https://www.isc2chapter-pennhighlands.com/become-a-sponsor/