The U.S. Small Business Administration has launched a series of free online classes to train 7(j) eligible small businesses on how to protect themselves from cybersecurity threats and safeguard intellectual property.

The SBA announced its partnership with Synergy Solutions to offer training, which will contain up to 10 modules. The classes will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Individuals and businesses that are automatically eligible to receive 7(j) training include small businesses that are owned and controlled by economically and socially disadvantaged individuals; small businesses located in areas of high unemployment or low income; small businesses owned by low-income individuals; and certified 8(a) participants or HUBZone small businesses; or economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses.

Among the topics the training will cover are secure passwords, malware and privacy, data breaches, safe computing, online scams, mobile protection, phishing, government generated frameworks (NIST), and cybersecurity that relates to federal contractors.

The entry-level training classes cover basic cybersecurity awareness and current cyber risks to federal contractors and small businesses. The intermediate level training classes include more advanced federal cybersecurity and information assurance requirements and policy compliance and assessment areas. This training also offers an assessment tool that participants can use to assess their company’s cybersecurity maturity.

If you are interested in registering or learning more, visit this website.

Synergy Solutions, Inc. is an SBA-certified 8(a) and economically disadvantaged, woman-owned small business headquartered in Oak Ridge, Tennessee that provides added security services and cybersecurity solutions. The company also provides support services for nuclear facility operations, as well as security, environmental, health and safety services.