The FINANCIAL — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the North Carolina Chamber, on December 15 hosted the “2015 Cybersecurity Conference,” an event aimed at helping small and mid-size business owners develop, evaluate, and strengthen cybersecurity programs.
“A few years ago, cyberattacks against the government and corporations were on the margins of news stories, but now a day doesn’t go by that we don’t hear about a data breach or cyber-intrusion,” said Ann Beauchesne, senior vice president for National Security and Emergency Preparedness at the U.S. Chamber. “Through this conference and our cybersecurity awareness campaign, the Chamber is urging businesses of all sizes to adopt fundamental Internet security practices to reduce network weaknesses and make the price of successful hacking steep.”
The event brought together top experts from government, law enforcement, and the private sector to discuss how to navigate the cybersecurity framework released by the White House, give business owners tools and tips for strengthening their cybersecurity programs, and explore ways to communicate about cyber with small and mid-sized supply chain partners, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
“In recent years, an increasing number of high-profile cyber security breaches and countless smaller data breaches have impacted both government organizations and private businesses alike. For job creators of all sizes in North Carolina, the increasing frequency of these digital attacks – and the growing dominance of digital technology in our daily operations and our daily lives – have made cyber security an issue we simply can’t afford to ignore,” said Lew Ebert, president and CEO of the North Carolina Chamber.
“Cybersecurity is a priority for Duke Energy and is a key component of ensuring reliable service to our customers,” said A.R. Mullinax, executive vice president of strategic services at Duke Energy. “As our use of technology advances, threats are also escalating. It’s imperative both public and private sectors continue to collaborate to deliver solutions.”
Held at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center, the event featured speakers including Russell C. Deyo, undersecretary for management at the Department of Homeland Security; Adam Sedgewick, senior information technology policy advisor, National Institute of Standards and Technology; Terrell Garren, vice president and chief security officer at Duke Energy; Joe Jarzombek, director of software and supply chain assurance, Office of Cybersecurity and Communications, National Protection and Programs Directorate at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Jessica Nye, supervisory special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Alicia A. Gilleskie, partner at Smith Anderson, among others.
This event is part of the U.S. Chamber’s cybersecurity awareness campaign, Improving Today. Protecting Tomorrow, which aims to advance cybersecurity policies and educate business of all sizes about cyber threats and how to protect against them.
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