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New conference will discuss the profession of security testing

November 18, 2019

Black Hills Information Security (BHIS), is hosting a one-day information security conference, called Awareness Con. The event will take place from 9am – 4pm in Adel, Iowa on Nov. 20, in the Adel Public Library.

The one-day conference will consist of speakers from penetration testing companies, information security professionals from Iowa, and a time for questions and answers with audience members.

The purpose of the conference is to bring awareness to the profession of penetration testing (ethical hacking) and the benefits it provides to computer security programs. Penetration Testers are hired by companies that want to test their security postures to ensure that safeguards put in place are actually effective against criminal attack.

“We are hosting this one-day conference because penetration testers provide a vital and integral part of security programs. Essentially, how do you know something is secure unless you test it,” said, John Strand, owner of Black Hills Information Security. “We’re hoping to help explain what penetration testing is, how rules of engagement are discussed ahead of time and adhered to, and find a way to make sure something like the arrest of people doing what they were hired to do, doesn’t happen again.”

Registration to the event is free but space is limited. This event will stream live online for people unable to attend in person.

Tags: Awareness Con

New conference will discuss the profession of security testing | Clay & Milk

A central Iowa ag-tech accelerator has secured more backers and finally has a name. The Greater Des Moines Partnership first announced the accelerator last year, naming four initial investors. On Monday, the Partnership said the program will be called the "Iowa AgriTech Accelerator" and named three new investors. The new investors include Grinnell Mutual, Kent Corp. and Sukup Manufacturing, all Iowa companies. They join investors Deere & Co., Peoples Co., Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Co. and DuPont Pioneer. Each investor has agreed to put up $100,000 for the first year of the accelerator. Startups entering the program will receive $40,000 in seed funding in exchange for 6 percent equity. Tej Dhawan, an angel investor and local startup mentor, is serving as interim director until the AgriTech Accelerator names a permanent leader. Dhawan held a similar role with the GIA before Brian Hemesath was named as managing director. As interim director, Dhawan said his main job includes hiring the accelerator's executive director, establishing a business structure and initial recruiting for the first cohort. The accelerator will place few filters, such as location and product, on the applicant pool, Dhawan said. "When you’re seeking innovation, innovation can come from every corner of the world so why restrict ourselves," he said. One area the the AgriTech Accelerator won't recruit from is biotech. For its first cohort, the AgriTech Accelerator will work out of the GIA's space in Des Moines' East Village, Dhawan said. A future, permanent home is still to be decided. The accelerator's program will host startups from mid-July through mid-October, ending with an event connected to the annual World Food Prize. The GIA, which the AgriTech Accelerator is based on, also ends with presentations at an industry event. The accelerator has also started lining up a mentor pool. The Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Pork Producers Association have agreed to provide mentors, as has Iowa State University. While the AgriTech Accelerator is loosely based off of the GIA, it will differ in its business structure, Dhawan said. The GIA runs through a for-profit model for both operations and its investment fund. The AgriTech Accelerator will have a nonprofit model for its operations and a for-profit setup for its fund. Dhawan said the nonprofit model is being used so the accelerator can better work with other nonprofit partners, such as trade associations. "These are all organizations that are nonprofits and can be amazing stakeholders without ever having to be investors in the accelerator," he said. "It becomes easier to work with trade associations in their nonprofit role when we are also a nonprofit." When it's up and running, the AgriTech Accelerator would be one of a handful of ag-focused startup development programs in Iowa. Others include the Ag Startup Engine out of Iowa State University and the Rural Ventures Alliance from Iowa MicroLoan. Matthew Patane is the managing editor and co-founder of Clay & Milk. Send him an email at mpatane@clayandmilk.com.

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