What's Happening?
The FBI Honolulu office, in collaboration with the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College, will host a free Zoom webinar on November 18, focusing on digital forensics for Hawaii businesses. The session, titled “FBI Honolulu Computer Analysis Response Team
Overview,” is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. and is open to sole proprietors and registered businesses across Hawaii, including small businesses on Maui. FBI Special Agent J. Lewis will lead the presentation, providing an overview of the FBI Honolulu Division’s Computer Analysis Response Team (CART). This team comprises professional staff and special agents who specialize in imaging, extracting, and preserving digital evidence. The webinar will not be recorded, and no photos or slides from the presentation will be made available to attendees. Registration is required to attend this informative session. UH Maui College Professor Debasis Bhattacharya will facilitate the event, which aims to foster collaboration between the UH Cybersecurity Clinic and the FBI Honolulu office to combat cybercrime and safeguard businesses and the public in Hawaii.
Why It's Important?
This webinar is a critical initiative to bolster cybersecurity defenses for Hawaii's business community, particularly small businesses that are often vulnerable targets for cybercriminals. By providing direct insights from the FBI's Computer Analysis Response Team, businesses can gain a better understanding of how digital evidence is handled and the importance of robust cybersecurity practices. The collaboration between the FBI and the University of Hawaiʻi underscores a concerted effort to address the growing threat of cybercrime at a local level. For businesses, understanding digital forensics can be vital in responding to data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other cyber incidents, potentially minimizing financial losses and reputational damage. This educational outreach helps bridge the knowledge gap for many small business owners who may lack dedicated IT security resources, thereby strengthening the overall cybersecurity posture of the state's economy.
What's Next?
Hawaii businesses, including sole proprietors and registered entities, are encouraged to register online to attend the free webinar on November 18. Participants should prepare to engage with the content in real-time, as the session will not be recorded. This event is the final installment in a series of three webinars funded by a $1 million grant from Google’s Cybersecurity Clinics Fund, which supports the establishment of University of Hawaiʻi Cybersecurity Clinics. The UH clinic is one of 15 new clinics launched nationwide through a collaboration between Google and the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics. Future initiatives may include more training sessions, resources, and direct support for businesses to implement stronger cybersecurity measures, as the partnership between academic institutions and law enforcement continues to evolve in response to cyber threats.
Beyond the Headlines
The FBI Honolulu's outreach through this webinar highlights a broader national strategy to enhance cybersecurity resilience at the local level, recognizing that cyber threats often target smaller entities as entry points into larger networks. This initiative also reflects the increasing role of academic institutions, like the University of Hawaiʻi, in national cybersecurity efforts, serving as hubs for research, training, and community engagement. The funding from Google's Cybersecurity Clinics Fund signifies a growing trend of private sector investment in public cybersecurity infrastructure and education. This collaborative model—involving federal agencies, academia, and private industry—is crucial for developing a comprehensive defense against evolving cyber threats. It also underscores the ethical responsibility of businesses to protect sensitive data and the legal implications of failing to do so, making such educational opportunities invaluable for fostering a more secure digital environment.
