At a glance

As Director of Information Technology for Dopkins & Company, Bill oversees all aspects of information technology for the firm, and provides consulting services to a wide spectrum of Dopkins’ clients. He has extensive experience in implementing and maintaining all aspects of computer hardware and networking environments, and many types of software applications, including accounting, operations, manufacturing, HR and medical billing. His specific interests include creating meaningful, practical management information using computer technologies, and the security of business information and systems. He has taught both accounting and Information Systems courses at Canisius College and the University of Rochester. He joined the Firm in 1987.

Industries Served

• Clinics
• Distribution
• Manufacturing
• Medical practices
• Not-for-profit
• Physicians / physician groups
• Restaurant and hotel management

Principal areas of expertise

• Implementing and maintaining Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems (financial and supply-chain)
• Medical-billing/electronic claim filing systems
• Process flow integration
• IT Risk Assessments
• IT Security Controls
• Cyber Security, including safeguarding the security of business information and systems

Designations

• Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
• Certified in the Governance of Enterprise Information Technology (CGEIT)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
• CMMC-AB RP (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Accreditation Body Registered Practitioner)

Education

• M.B.A. in Computers and Information Systems, William E. Simon Graduate School of Business at the University of Rochester
• B.S. in Accounting, cum laude, Canisius College

News & Articles

• Thought Leaders: Cybersecurity and Data Privacy, Business First of Buffalo virtual Industry Roundtable (July 2022)
• Guest author, Business First: Is your business concentrating on the right cybersecurity “boom” strategy? (February 2022)
• In-depth coverage of Business First of Buffalo’s Panel of Experts: Cybersecurity (October 2021)
• Guest Author, Working from Home? Cybersecurity can be a Risk. Published in the Q4 2020 Issue of NorthEast Dairy Magazine (page 58)
• Read coverage of the Business First Executive Forum on Cybersecurity with Bill Prohn (October 2020)
• Thought Leaders: Cybersecurity and Data Privacy, Business First of Buffalo virtual Industry Roundtable (April 2020)
• Executive Forum: Cyber Security, Business First of Buffalo (October 2019)
• Dotting the “I”s and Crossing the “T”s, Business First of Buffalo Cyber Security Special Report (October 2018)
• Front-line workers key to defense in cyber attacks (January 2018)
• What you don’t know CAN hurt you, Business First of Buffalo Cyber Security Special Report (October 2017)
• Health care sector confronts data breaches Business First of Buffalo (October 2017)
• What keeps local cybersecurity experts up at night? Business First of Buffalo (October 2017)
• You’ve been hacked — now what? Business First of Buffalo (May 2017)
• Protecting Your Financial Information, WGRZ Channel 2 Interview (February 2017)
• How I shared my expertise in Albany, Business First of Buffalo Special Report on Cybersecurity (January 2017)
• Cybersecurity and Door Handles, Business First of Buffalo (August 2016)

Speaking Engagements

• Panelist, Cyber Security Executive Forum, presented by Business First of Buffalo (September 2022)
• Presenter, Attaining Cybersecurity Maturity, a virtual Continuing Professional Education (CPE) conference presented by the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (October 2022)
• Presenter, Unawareness: The current threat landscape for Cybersecurity, a virtual event presented by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership (August 2022)
• Presenter, Cybersecurity: It’s a Question of Governance, presented to Financial Managers Association (FMA) of Rehab Agencies (May 2022)
• Presenter, Working from Home: the New Normal, presented to Financial Managers Association (FMA) of Rehab Agencies (May 2022)
• Presenter, Cybersecurity Assurance: What, Why and How a virtual event presented by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership (December 2021)
• Presenter, Cybersecurity Audits: Why You Need One & How to Prepare for It, an in-person event presented by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership (October 2021)
• Panelist, Cyber Security Executive Forum, a virtual event presented by Business First of Buffalo (September 2020)
• Presenter, Governance: IT and Cyber Risk, National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives (NSAC) Atlantic Chapter Annual Meeting (June 2021)
• Panelist, Non-Profit A&A Update and Cybersecurity Panel Presentation Tech Session Webinar, presented by the New York State Society of CPAs, Buffalo Chapter (May 2021)
• Presenter, Preparing for What’s next: Building a Security Culture, presented by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership (May 2021)
• Presenter, Working in a Remote World…Technology and Tools to Assist You Manage Your Business and Employees, NYSSCPA Business and Industry Conference (October 2020)
• Panelist, Cyber Security Executive Forum, presented by Business First of Buffalo (October 2020)
• Presenter, STARTegy: A Strategy for Getting Started with a Cybersecurity Program (September 2020)
• Presenter, Security Risk Analysis, American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), Buffalo Chapter (August 2020)
• Presenter, National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives (NSAC) Atlantic Chapter Conference, Charleston, SC (June 2020)
• Presenter, Cybersecurity, American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), Buffalo Chapter (April 2020)
• Presenter, Cyber Security, to the New York Leadership Group (School Districts)  (April 2020)
• Presenter, Cloud Accounting with Sage Intacct and Dopkins & Company (March 2020)
  
• Presenter, Cybersecurity issues at the C-Level, Buffalo Niagara Partnership Cyber Security Seminar (March 2020)
• Presenter, BankonBuffalo Advisor Series: Business Fraud & Crime (October 2019)
• Panelist, Cyber Security Executive Forum, presented by Business First of Buffalo (October 2019)
• Presenter, The Need for Cyber Security in Cities and Villages, sponsored by the New York State Conference of Mayors (September 2019)
• Presenter, Ransomware: What it is, How to Reduce your Risk, and How to Recover from an Attack, Buffalo Niagara Partnership Cyber Security Seminar (September 2019)
• Presenter, Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Threats, Vulnerabilities and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), sponsored by the New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal (April 2019)
• Panelist, How to Prepare for and Respond to a Cybersecurity Threat, presented by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership (March 2019)
• Panelist, Is your company hacker proof? Cyber Security Executive Forum, presented by Business First of Buffalo (October 2018)
• Panelist, The Disciplines of Cybersecurity: How to make security a core competency across your organization, presented by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership (September 2018)
• Presenter, Speaker, Trends in Fraud Prevention– Keeping Up in the Digital Age (September 2018)
• Panelist, Buffalo Niagara Partnership Manufacturing Council Cybersecurity Seminar (September 2018)
• Presenter, Staying Safe Online in 2018, Network in Aging of WNY, Inc. (April 2018)
• Panelist, Cybersecurity panel discussion presented by the Upstate New York Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association and the Risk Management Association (March 2018)
• Presenter, Big or small, your company is at risk for a cyber-attack
  Buffalo Niagara Partnership Cyber Security Seminar (Part 2, February 2018)
• Presenter, Cybersecurity: Understanding & Implementing the New NIST Framework,
  Buffalo Niagara Partnership Cyber Security Seminar (Part 1, November 2017)
• Presenter, Cyber Security & Health Care, Erie County Association of Medical Assistants (October 2017)
• Panelist, Cyber Security Executive Forum:  How it impacts you, your business and your customers, presented by Business First of Buffalo (October 2017)
• Presenter, Data and Information Security Best Practices, Citizens Bank Seminar (September 2017)
• Presenter, Cyber Security: Risk and Governance, 2017 Tax, Finance and Accounting Conference for Cooperatives (August 2017)
• Presenter, Best Practices on Fraud Awareness and Prevention, Niagara Frontier Automobile Dealers Association (July 2017 & September 2017)
• Presenter, Protecting Personally Identifiable Information, sponsored by the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County ( (Part 2, May 2017)
• Presenter, Buffalo Niagara Partnership Cyber Security Seminar, Part 2, March 2017)
• Presenter, Protecting Personally Identifiable Information, sponsored by the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County (Part 1, January 2017)
• Presenter, Buffalo Niagara Partnership Cyber Security Seminar, (Part 1, September 2016)
• Mr. Prohn recently testified before the New York State Assembly Standing Committee regarding Cyber security issues impacting business. This hearing sought to explore the cyber security needs of banking institutions as well as to review State laws and regulations designed to protect against cyber threats. Bill’s testimony was recorded and can be viewed at the 1:15:00 mark of the video. To watch, click here.
• Panelist, Business First of Buffalo Cyber Security Executive Forum (2014-2016)

Community Service

• Member, Board of Directors, The Bristol Homes

Videos & Multimedia

• Podcast: William Prohn Discusses Four Things You Can Do Right Now to Improve Your Cybersecurity
• Unawareness: The current threat landscape for Cybersecurity
• Thought Leaders: Focus on fundamentals as cybersecurity evolves, Business First Thought Leaders Virtual Discussion
• Cybersecurity Awareness Month is here: Watch an encore of the Business First Panel Discussion on Data Protection
• Overview of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) for Department of Defense Contractors
• Cybersecurity & Data Privacy at Business First of Buffalo Executive Forum
• STARTegy A Strategy for Getting Started with a Cybersecurity Program (one hour program)
• STARTegy: Managing Cybersecurity Risks at Your Business (intro video)
• Protecting Data: Bill Prohn Discusses Password Protection Best Practices at Network in Aging seminar
• An overview of the NIST Framework: Buffalo Niagara Partnership Cybersecurity Seminar 2017
• Best Practices organizations should do now: Key Takeaways from Business First Cyber Security Executive Forum 10.5.17

Blog Posts

• Cybersecurity governance and the board’s role
• Is your business concentrating on the right cybersecurity “boom” strategy?
• Is Cybersecurity IT? A Special Report in Business First of Buffalo
• Lessons learned: Cybersecurity and the Titanic
• COVID-19 Security TIPS when Working from Home
• Cybersecurity and Vampires: they have more in common than you might think
• Cyber Security: Internal Controls are Your Best Line of Defense
• Why Not Follow Gov. Coumo’s Lead on Information Security Protection?
• A Role You Should Not Ignore– Your Role in Cybersecurity
• One Phish, Two Phish, Spear Phish…Breach!
• Yes You Do Have One– A Role in Cyber Security
• Fraud Awareness & Prevention: Access Control
• The Home Depot Breach: Lessons for Business Owners and Consumers
• Small businesses at high risk for data breach
• Lessons from Target’s Data Breach
• Seeing Both Sides of the Cloud
• Identity Thief – Straight from the Headlines
• Phishing 301: Targeted Phishing Attacks
• Keeping Track of Passwords: Why Use a Password Manager
• Phishing 201: Advanced Phishing Threats
• Phishing 101: What’s a ‘Phish’ Anyway?
• Passwords: Remembering What They Are and Where You Store Them
• Passwords: Why Strength Matters
• Portable Devices: Friend or Foe?
• Who Else is Reading Your E-mail?
• Public Wi-Fi – Seven Tips to Reduce Your Security Risk