Westlake Cybersecurity Summit 2025: Shields Up for the Digital Future!

By addo Solutions – your Northeast Ohio guardians of the digital realm

Welcome to a recap of one of the most electrifying mornings Westlake, Ohio has seen! On Monday, July 14th, 2025, the elegant halls of the Westlake Community Center pulsed with energy, laughter, and a shared purpose: fortifying our digital frontiers. addo Solutions is delighted to bring you the inside scoop from the Westlake Cybersecurity Summit 2025—a day filled with community, cutting-edge ideas, and more than a few witty punchlines about firewalls and fishing (the cyber kind, not Lake Erie, though both are treacherous).

Early-Bird Energy: A Cyber Start to Remember

The doors swung open at 8:00am sharp, but, in true Westlake fashion, early birds were already networking over Rising Star Coffee (because cybersecurity begins with caffeine). The aroma of freshly baked bagels from Panera intermingled with animated conversations about the latest ransomware threats and last week's Guardians game. Who knew cyber talk could be this tasty?

Opening Remarks: Shields Up and Spirits Higher

Our host and keynote MC, addo Solutions' own CEO, Jamie Prescott, kicked things off with a hearty “Good morning, cybersecurity superheroes!” followed by a standing ovation dedicated to our local IT heroes. Jamie’s message was clear: “In Northeast Ohio, we look out for each other—online and off. Today isn't just about locking down networks; it's about building community.”

With Guardians pennants and plush Lake Erie monsters (courtesy of local artist Leah Martin) on every table, it was clear—this summit was all about Westlake pride.

Session 1: Phishing for Trouble (Without Taking the Bait)

First up, a hands-on workshop led by Maya Lin, Cybersecurity Director at addo Solutions. Maya simulated a live phishing attack (projected onto the big screen like the Cavs in the Finals) and challenged attendees—local businesses, city officials, and teachers from Westlake High—to spot clues. Laughter erupted when a spoofed "Grandma" email offered a year’s supply of Mitchell’s Ice Cream in exchange for passwords. Spoiler: No password is worth that much, not even Cookie Dough.

Key Takeaways:

• Hover over suspicious links—no matter how deliciously tempting.
• If it feels fishy, it probably is. Contact IT before clicking!
• Don’t trust anyone offering endless Mitchell’s unless it’s your birthday.

Panel: "Firewall Fails & Local Legends"

Usually, stories about security breaches are hush-hush. But today? Time to learn, laugh, and nod in recognition. Moderated by Amanda Tran, Network Security Lead at addo Solutions, the panel featured:

• Joe Simone, IT Manager, Westlake City Schools
• Rita Patel, Owner, Little Raspberry Bakery
• Detective Frank Morris, Westlake Police Department

Joe recounted the infamous “WiFi of Doom” incident, where a harmless-looking coffee maker brought half the school’s network to its knees. (Thankfully, the only thing actually compromised was lunchtime hot chocolate.) Rita shared her bakery’s close call—saved by a clever IT policy: MAC address whitelisting, served up with a side of raspberry cookies. Detective Morris wrapped it up with a reminder: “Your digital locks need to be as strong as your front door. And if all else fails, call us—we know how to catch a (ph)isherman!”

Live Demo: Locking Down Your Home Network

addo’s tech wizards took over a local Westlake family's real WiFi setup (with their permission, of course!) and demonstrated common security flaws—like default admin passwords, guest network slip-ups, and the infamous “password123” problem.

Attendees used real-time polling via the addo Summit App to guess which device—a smart doorbell, an old iPad, or the family printer—would get hacked first. The result? Surprise! That old WiFi printer from 2011 was all-too-easy prey, triggering both audible gasps and nervous laughter.

Pro-tips from the Demo:

• Change default device passwords (bonus points for using Guardians trivia as a code!)
• Enable automatic firmware updates.
• Isolate smart devices on a guest network—and keep your main network sacred.

Lunch & Learn: Cybersecurity à la Westlake

Because nothing says Northeast Ohio hospitality like a catered lunch from Melt Bar and Grilled, the midday break hummed with informal chats and cheesy goodness. Between bites of gooey grilled cheese, attendees took part in “Stump the Security Expert”—if your question stumped Maya from addo, you won a Cleveland sports bobblehead (let the record show: Maya remains undefeated).

Workshop: Business Security for the Little Guys

Not every business in Westlake is a big fish. For our smaller teams—boutique shops, local cafés, and home-based hustlers—cybersecurity can feel overwhelming. Enter addo Solutions’ Small Biz Cyber-Clinic. Consultants like Samir Gupta and Beth Nguyen using everyday Westlake references (e.g., “What if hackers tried to cancel your Giant Eagle points?”) made it real, relatable, and far from boring.

Clinic Highlights:

• Password managers save headaches and hair follicles.
• Two-factor authentication: like asking for ID at the bar.
• Backup essentials: “If your computer gets hit by a Lake Erie storm, will your data survive?”

Afternoon Panel: The Human Element—Westlake’s Strongest Firewall

Cybersecurity isn’t just ones and zeroes. It’s about people. addo Solutions’ HR Manager, Kelly Robinson, led this energetic panel with local non-profits and teachers, focusing on:

• Employee cybersecurity training with a sense of humor (kudos to the City of Westlake’s meme-filled emailed reminders!)
• The value of regular, REAL phishing tests
• Supporting mental health in IT: yes, even superheroes need a break

Audience Q&A:

• Q: “What’s the best way to make staff care about strong passwords?”
• A: “Make it a contest—winner gets tickets to Cedar Point. Loser buys lunch at White Oaks.”
• Q: “Are Y2K jokes still funny?”
• A: “Only if you’re referencing your old Dell that’s still running Windows XP!”

Spotlight: Local Cyber Talent and Teen Hackathon Winners

addo Solutions is all about nurturing the next generation. So the afternoon highlight? Awarding Westlake High School’s Tech Club for winning the Northeast Ohio Teen Hackathon! Their project, "LakeSafe," is an AI-powered phishing detector for elderly residents—a round of applause and scholarship checks for everyone!

Senior project lead Maya Chen shared her vision: “We wanted to help our grandparents, and who knows? Maybe next year we can help all of Westlake.”

Keynote: Future-Proofing Westlake, One Byte at a Time

The day’s final keynote, delivered by addo Solutions CTO David Ellison, was both hopeful and practical. Think less Terminator, more “Cybersecurity Avengers.”

David addressed emerging threats (hello, AI deepfakes!) but his message was full of local optimism: “We have what it takes, right here in Westlake. With smart policies, sharp minds, and a little help from addo Solutions, we WILL build a digital future that works for everyone.”

Closing Cheers (and Raffle Results!)

The day wrapped with thunderous applause, prize raffles (congrats to Alex from Crocker Park, winner of the smart home security bundle!), and a promise that Westlake will keep leading the charge against cyber threats—one neighbor at a time.

Why Westlake Wins: Community, Commitment, & Cyber Know-How

What sets the Westlake Cybersecurity Summit apart? It’s the people—neighbors rallying together, local businesses lending support, city leaders and students keeping it fun, all powered by the trusted hands of addo Solutions. Remember: being cyber-safe isn’t just for IT pros; everyone in the 44145 has a part to play.

So whether you’re running the cash register at Heinen’s, teaching math at Westlake High, or simply browsing on your patio, know this: addo Solutions has your back (and your backups!).

Stay Tuned, Stay Safe, Stay Westlake Strong!

Ready to take your Westlake business, school, or home to the next level of security? addo Solutions is just a call away. Because in Northeast Ohio, we’ve got each other’s passwords, and we never, ever share them—not even for free Mitchell’s ice cream.

For more photos, videos, and slides from the Westlake Cybersecurity Summit, visit our website or follow us on social media. Shields up—until next year!