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)

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

• Executive Forum: Cyber Security (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

• 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, presented 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, presented by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership Cyber Security Seminar (September 2019)
• Presenter, Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Threats, Vulnerabilities and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), presented 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 (Part 2, May 2017)
• Presenter, Buffalo Niagara Partnership Cyber Security Seminar (Part 2, March 2017)
• Presenter, Protecting Personally Identifiable Information (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

• 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 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