Cybersecurity Speaker · Available to Travel

Real Threats.
Plain Language.
Built for Small Business.

I translate a decade of defense intelligence and university-level cybersecurity into keynotes and workshops your team can actually use — no IT background required.

Professor Michael Galde — Cybersecurity Speaker
Small Biz Built for 1–10 person organizations
5 Ready-to-Deliver Core Topics
Travel In-Person Sessions Nationwide
Virtual Remote Format Available

No IT Department? That's the Point.

Most cybersecurity training is built for enterprise security teams. These sessions are built for everyone else.

Small Business Owners

Solo operators and founders with 1–10 employees who handle their own technology and know security is important but don't know where to start.

Business Associations & Chambers

Chambers of commerce, industry groups, and professional associations looking to add cybersecurity programming for their small business members.

Conferences & Corporate Events

Event organizers who want a credible, engaging cybersecurity session for a non-technical audience — delivered by a professor who knows how to make it stick.

What I Speak About

Five battle-tested sessions on the threats that actually target small businesses — each available as a keynote, workshop, or both.

Password Management & Multi-Factor Authentication

Your team is the first line of defense — and reused passwords are the most common way attackers get in. This session covers password manager basics, MFA setup, and the habits that make credential theft dramatically harder.

Keynote Workshop

Ransomware Response Playbook

Ransomware doesn't just hit big corporations. This session gives small business owners a before-and-after playbook: backups that actually work, what to do in the first 30 minutes after an attack, and how to avoid paying the ransom.

Keynote Workshop

How to Spot a Phishing Email

The majority of cyberattacks start with a single email. This hands-on workshop walks through real phishing examples — suspicious senders, urgency tactics, spoofed domains — until spotting them becomes instinct for everyone on your team.

Workshop

Business Email Compromise

BEC attacks cost small businesses billions each year. A scammer poses as your vendor, your boss, or your bank and requests a wire transfer or gift cards. This session covers how these attacks work and the verification habits that stop them cold.

Keynote

The Malware Threat Landscape

What's actually out there targeting businesses your size? This overview covers ransomware gangs, infostealer malware, and supply chain risks — and explains why small businesses are a more attractive target than most owners think.

Keynote

Need Something Tailored?

Have a specific threat scenario, industry context, or compliance requirement? I can build a custom session around your team's tools, workflow, and real risk profile.

Michael Galde — Cybersecurity Professor and Speaker

A Decade of Real-World Experience on Stage

Michael Galde is an Assistant Professor of Practice in Cybersecurity at the University of Arizona and a U.S. Army veteran who began his career as a Defense Intelligence Analyst — completing multiple combat deployments before transitioning into civilian intelligence work, cybersecurity engineering, and academia.

That path — from Army intelligence to policy analysis at U.S. Strategic Command, threat intelligence at The Buffalo Group, vulnerability research at the Nebraska Applied Research Institute, and now the University of Arizona — gives him the operational depth and real-world credibility that sets his talks apart.

He holds the GICSP and GRID certifications, leads active research in AI-driven network security, and has presented at DEFCON and CACTUSCON. When he speaks to small business audiences, he leaves the jargon at the door — the goal is practical takeaways your team can implement before the week is out.

Tucson, Arizona — willing to travel throughout the U.S.
Virtual format available for remote or hybrid events
DEFCON & CACTUSCON Presenter
University of Arizona, College of Information Science

Session Formats

Keynote 45–60 min An overview of a single threat domain with audience Q&A. Ideal for conferences, chamber luncheons, and association events.
Workshop 90 min Hands-on session with real examples, exercises, and an implementation checklist. Teams leave with concrete next steps.
Half-Day 3–4 hr A deep dive combining two or more topics, with time for Q&A, individual scenarios, and a customized security checklist.

Ready to Bring This to Your Audience?

Whether you're organizing a chamber luncheon, a company training day, or a regional conference, I'd love to talk. Grab 15 minutes on my calendar or reach out directly.