August was another busy month for Focal Point's thought leaders. We’ve pulled the highlights from the past few weeks into our monthly media roundup.
Swift banking execs admit to ignoring security before hacks
TechTarget Search Security
CEO Yong-Gon Chon was quoted in an article on TechTarget regarding the series of hacks to the SWIFT banking system earlier this year.
“Yong-Gon Chon, CEO for Cyber Risk Management LLC, a risk management firm based in Tampa, Fla., said executives claiming to see warning signs is common.
‘The reaction of suspecting vulnerabilities existing within client terminals is expected and not surprising. Every time a major incident happens -- from 9/11 or to Target circa 2013 -- experts come out and say they knew there were warning signs,’ Chon said. ‘It's a natural human reaction, because hindsight is almost always 20/20. The reality is that the current landscape of digital criminal activity means that threats are faceless and invisible. An invisible threat takes away the advantage of human instinct to suspect unusual activity. Consequently, it has never been more convenient for criminals to exploit the weakest links in a complex internetworked chain that is our financial messaging system.’”
Read the full article by Michael Heller at searchsecurity.techtarget.com
The stakes are high in the scramble for cyber talent
Tampa Bay Business Journal
CRM Chairman Joel Schleicher and CEO Yong-Gon Chon were featured in a TBBJ article about the massive skills shortage facing the cybersecurity industry, and the challenges that companies face in trying to find qualified professionals.
Joel Schleicher on keeping talent from being lured to the free agent market:
“If I could find 100 qualified people to hire we would,” said Joel Schleicher, chairman. “We’ve done such a good job training them that the client hires them away.”
Yon-Gon Chon on IT workers trying to position themselves as cyber experts:
“In a lot of ways, it’s like playing ‘Where’s Waldo?’ Everyone wants to be in the cyber business. They see the demand and the skyrocketing salaries and modify their resumes.”
Read the full article by Margie Manning at bizjournals.com/tampabay/
#Hacking & #Cybersecurity dominate at #BHUSA
VOA
CEO Yong-Gon Chon was featured in a panel interview of cyber security experts during the annual Black Hat Conference in Las Vegas. Among the topics discussed were the DNC hacks and online safety.
On keeping money and transactions safe:
“There’s a current wave of malicious software out there targeting financial institutions - including ransomware and other software designed to breach banking systems and infrastructure. One of the greatest challenges with the motivation of a coin-operated hacker is that they take advantage of the gullible, non-technical user that has rich data access, and that’s really where the rubber meets the road… the fact that you have users in positions in finance organizations that really represent a target-rich user base because of the data that they access, process and transmit on a regular basis.”
On what kind of cyber risk strategies people should adopt:
“What we believe is the concept of protecting and providing resiliency to data breaches really requires a holistic approach. It’s no longer just the responsibility of a chief security officer or a CIO to protect infrastructure – everyone has a role to play. There is a shared level of responsibility whether you’re using cloud systems or your own systems, and ultimately its about being able to have the right practices, and practice the safe and healthy activities on a day to day basis.”
On what the average person can do to prevent hacks:
“I think that a lot of people need to take a stronger look at who they actually trust and who they don’t. One of the biggest challenges is that, as you’re operating online, you don’t necessarily know whether or not an email is coming from a faceless threat or somebody that might be your co-worker. So, take a holistic approach to make sure that you’re practicing the right things.”
Watch the full interview at voanews.com.
How four companies have tapped the Tampa Hillsborough EDC toolbox
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Sunera was profiled in a Tampa Bay Business Journal article on the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp. and the tax incentives that the state of Florida offers to high-wage, high-growth companies in the area. Focal Point announced plans for significant job growth in 2015.
“Focal Point, a Cyber Risk Management company, qualified for up to $164,000 in QTI incentives in 2015 after the company expanded its downtown Tampa headquarters so it could hire 40 additional workers.
Joel Schleicher, Chairman, talked to representatives from at least three other states, but was influenced by the low-tax, low regulatory environment in Florida. The price of talent was another key: ‘I can hire someone here for $65,000 to $75,000 a year, where in Manhattan it might cost $100,000.’”
Read the full article by Margie Manning at bizjournals.com/tampabay/
