Homeland Security

5 Misconceptions about Emergency Preparedness

America's Small Business Summit
Mar 29, 2013

Brought to you by FedEx and American Red Cross

A recent American Red Cross poll of small businesses sponsored by FedEx shows that fewer than half of small businesses (41%) have a disaster preparedness plan in place. Why so few? The many misconceptions about being better prepared for disasters and other emergencies. Here are five:

1) We will never be prepared for all the possibilities. 

Data Security Breaches Happen. Are You Prepared?

Entrepreneur
Mar 1, 2013
from NY Enterprise Report

Your organization may be sitting on a gold mine—or a land mine. The personal data you collect in the course of doing business is a treasure trove for identity thieves, and that makes you a rich target for criminal attacks. Your mission is to do whatever you can to stop them.

The Key to Cybersecurity Is Public-Private Collaboration

Technology
Feb 25, 2013

Sophisticated cyber attacks are on the rise, most recently targeting federal agencies, media outlets, social networking sites, top corporations, and leading financial institutions. According to the U.S. government, China is by far the most significant perpetrator of state-sponsored cyber espionage, but other governments, such as Russia and Iran, are engaged in similar efforts.

The Smallest Businesses Face the Biggest Cyber Risks

Technology
Feb 22, 2013

While many of us long for the days when people had real-life conversations rather than truncated text chats, the reality is that the Internet is here to stay. And in the Internet Age, data is king.

As a small business owner, you collect customer data every day. And if you’re using the Internet, that data – along with all of your company’s sensitive information – is vulnerable to attacks.

Continuing the Conversation on Cybersecurity

Homeland Security
Jan 31, 2013

Recent media reports about the ongoing debate over how best to address our nation’s cybersecurity have provided an important way to keep the conversation going on this critical issue.  The Chamber appreciates the opportunity to play a role in finding solutions to protecting assets and information online, which will require the input of the nation’s top legislators and business leaders. We respect that not everyone agrees with our position and we value the contributions and ideas of others.

High-Profile Hacks Lead to New Interest in Cybersecurity Bill

Homeland Security
Oct 4, 2012

Recent high-profile cyberattacks have renewed congressional interest in passing a stalled cybersecurity bill supported by the U.S. Chamber and the business community, according to the chair of the House Intelligence Committee.

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) pointed to recent security breaches by China and Iran and threats from Russia. “Now there are new levels of threats, with very real consequences. Because of that, there’s a rekindled interest in getting something done in the lame duck.”

INFOGRAPHIC: No Business is Too Small for Cyberattackers

Homeland Security
Jun 21, 2012

Worms ... Viruses ... Hackers ... Cybercrime in the United States is on the rise at troubling rates. And cyberattacks aren’t just problems for big companies.

According to this new infographic published by Veracode, 50% of small business owners think they were too small to be a target of a cyberattack, and yet 72% of the known hacker breaches that occured in 2011 affected businesses with 100 employees or fewer.

The Zombies Are Coming: Are You Prepared for a Business Disaster?

Homeland Security
Jun 8, 2012

They’re creeping down our streets. They’re dominating the news. They’re the talk at water coolers across the country. No doubt about it -- the zombies are everywhere.

But is your business thinking about the zombie apocalypse?  OK, maybe not, but there is a disaster preparedness lesson for businesses amidst all the zombie hysteria here.

Cybersecurity: More Government Regulation?

Regulations
Jun 1, 2012

One of the side effects of a world interconnected through the Web is the growing prevalence of bad actors who have figured out ways to steal business secrets, raid consumer financial information, and wreak havoc on business networks. With cyber threats on the rise, one of the growing debates in Washington is how to better protect businesses and individuals from them.

Economic Espionage in Cyberspace—A Real and Growing Threat

Infrastructure
Apr 30, 2012

To many, “economic espionage” sounds like a good plot twist in a blockbuster action film or in a best-selling crime novel. But it is a fact—not fiction—that organized criminals, “hacktivists,” and some foreign governments are spying and stealing in cyberspace. Like it or not, along with the commercial benefits of a world interconnected through the Web, bad actors have figured out ways to steal business secrets, raid consumer financial information, and wreak havoc on business networks. And these cyber threats are on the rise.

Senators Offer Positive Framework for Cybersecurity

Homeland Security
Mar 12, 2012

On Friday, the U.S. Chamber sent a letter to the Senate in support of the framework of S. 2151, the “SECURE IT Act of 2012.” The bill—sponsored by Sens. McCain, Hutchison, Chambliss, Grassley, and Murkowski, among others—charts a smart and practical vision for tackling the cybersecurity issue.

The Chamber believes that more robust cybersecurity is achievable if the public and private sectors work together to solve challenges, increase real-time cyber threat information sharing, and foster the development and deployment of innovative cybersecurity technologies.

Staying Army Strong Through Unemployment

Education & Workforce
Mar 1, 2012

When William Jones left the service, he found himself struggling to find any kind of work in Atlanta, Georgia. Though his wife was working, with four children to support, they were struggling to make ends meet.

Jones was running out of options and strongly considered taking a position in Iraq that paid six figures but was also high risk. Though it pained him to turn that job down, it was not something he could put his family through. He preferred to deliver pizza or work in fast food before causing them that strain.

The Long Road Ahead for America's Soldiers

Dec 16, 2011

This year, the PEW Research Center conducted a national survey of veterans and found that 44% of post 9/11 soldiers have faced difficulty in readjusting to civilian life. As most of our troops make their way home from Iraq, we must show our support and understanding as they struggle to assimilate back to civilian life. Part of that struggle is finding a job in what often seems to be an unrelenting job market.

Veteran Unemployment is a National Security Issue

Dec 12, 2011

Many of our veterans are hard-pressed to find job opportunity in this country when they return from their service. Shockingly, the nationwide jobless rate among veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq is 12 percent. Military spouses have it worse still, with a 26 percent jobless rate. Kevin Schmiegel, vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's veterans employment program, recently asserted that these statistics represent "a national security issue." In an effort to correct these unacceptable numbers, the U.S.

U.S. Military Veterans Poised to Succeed in Business

Dec 9, 2011

December marks the return of many of our men and women in uniform. When they return, they will begin a new chapter of their lives and will require the support of their communities, the government and business leaders. Former Navy Petty Officer Ronnie Reum has experienced the support of the American business community first hand.

A Date Which Will Live in Infamy

Dec 7, 2011

On December 7th, 1941 Japan attacked the United States Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. The following day, the U.S. entered World War II. This date, which will live in infamy, reminds us of the importance of our nation’s military and their families. As a new generation of veterans comes home, many this month, the U.S. Chamber is working to say thank you to them and those who served before them through its Hiring Our Heroes program.

Veterans Turned Job Creators

Nov 9, 2011

Many of our country’s great businesses were started by former members of our armed forces. These are truly remarkable individuals who first gave us their service and then proceeded to give us our jobs. Paige Craig is an ex-marine, founder and CEO of a startup called Betterworks. He explains to Business Insider, “The Marine Corps was one of those foundational things for me.

Small Businesses Have New Cybersecurity Tool

Infrastructure
Oct 27, 2011

To arm small business owners against ever-growing cyber threats, the U.S. Chamber has joined up with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to launch a free online toolkit to help businesses develop a cybersecurity strategy.

Homeland Security: A National Mission

Homeland Security
Aug 11, 2011

As the first U.S. secretary of homeland security, Tom Ridge helped guide the country through a period of crisis and change. Now, the former governor of Pennsylvania leads Ridge Global, his own international security and risk management firm, headquartered in Washington, D.C. Ridge, who is chairman of the U.S.

Making the Most of the Border

Jun 14, 2011

The nearly 2,000-mile-long border separating the United States and Mexico is one of the most frequently crossed and perhaps most economically significant international borders in the world. Every day, more than $1 billion worth of goods—much of it produced by U.S. small businesses and farmers—cross the U.S.-Mexico border. Increased trade resulting from NAFTA has added 1.7 million jobs to the U.S. economy.

Chamber: Trade and Security Along Border Are Not Mutually Exclusive

International
Jun 14, 2011

With more than $1 billion worth of goods traded between the U.S. and Mexico every day, a secure and efficient U.S.-Mexico border is a priority for the U.S. Chamber and the American business community.

However, delays and other inefficiencies at the border cost the U.S. and Mexican economies an estimated $7.2 billion in gross economic output and an estimated 62,000 jobs.

Empowering Small Businesses Against Cybercrime

May 16, 2011

This morning beginning at 10:30 AM, I will be joining Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski and leading industry executives and government experts in cybersecurity and IT to discuss ways that our nation’s small business can better protect themselves from online threats to their networks and computers.

How Do You Protect $10 Trillion?

Apr 15, 2011

Today the Chamber hosted the rollout of the administration’s cyber report, formally called the “National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace” (NSTIC).  A cross-section of officials – including Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Jane Lute, Senator Barbara Mikulski, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, NEC Chairman Gene Sperling, and White House’s Cyber Czar Howard Schmidt – spoke about the growing reliance the internet has in driving business and innovation.

Private Sector Helps Police Nab Terrorist Suspect

Feb 25, 2011

According to media reports, yesterday the FBI arrested Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, a 20-year-old Saudi student studying in Texas, and charged him with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.  The arrest highlights the actions of workers at a Con-Way Freight service center in Lubbock, Texas to nab the suspect.  Based on training and experience, Con-Way’s staff triggered the company’s Homeland Security Escalation Plan after they received a shipment that they deemed suspicious.  Con-Way employees flagged the shipment, alerted the company’s corporate security department, which then involved

Online Shopping Requires Vigilance

Dec 7, 2010

By Tom Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
December 7, 2010

On November 29, federal officials announced the seizure of 82 websites dedicated to selling counterfeit goods and/or pirating copyrighted materials. By cracking down on these illegal operations, law enforcement is leading the fight against the online theft of intellectual property (IP), which harms consumers and costs American jobs.

Staying a Step Ahead on Cybersecurity

Nov 1, 2010

An Interview With Presidential Assistant Howard Schmidt

With a career spanning more than 40 years in government, business, and law enforcement, Howard Schmidt brings a unique and deep experience to his role as special assistant to the president and cybersecurity coordinator for the federal government. Schmidt recently sat down with Free Enterprise staff writer Sheryll Poe to discuss the shared responsibility of all citizens to protect against cybercrime.

U.S. Chamber Releases Cybersecurity Guide

Nov 1, 2010

Worms ... Viruses ... Hackers ... Cybercrime in the United States is on the rise at troubling rates. According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center’s (IC3’s) 2009 Internet Crime Report, annual crime complaints reported to IC3 have increased nearly 668% since 2001. The dollar loss from cybercrimes referred to law enforcement in 2009 totaled $559.7 million, a 112% increase from 2008.

Chamber Broadband, Data Protection Tours Roll On

Jul 31, 2008

 
The VoteForBusiness Bandwagons aren't the only tours the U.S. Chamber is taking part in this summer. The Chamber is also participating in separate roadshows to promote broadband and consumer data protection.  

Chamber Member Formalizes Relationship with Army Reserves

Jun 30, 2008

 
U.S. Chamber member Con-way Freight is partnering with the U.S. Army Reserve to recruit, train, and employ reserve soldiers seeking careers in the trucking industry.

As a participant in the Army Reserve Employer Partnership, Con-way Freight will share employees with the Army Reserves.. The agreement provides Army Reserve soldiers opportunities for employment with Con-way Freight once they successfully complete their military occupational training.

Congress Passes Chamber-Backed FACTA Clarification Bill

Apr 30, 2008

 
On Tuesday, May 20, the Senate passed legislation (H.R. 4008) supported by the U.S. Chamber that will amend the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA) to make clear that a company is not in willful violation of the act if it shortens a consumer's credit card number printed on a receipt to four digits but does not remove the expiration date. The House passed the bill a week earlier.

Point of View: Should the U.S. Sign the Law of the Sea Treaty?

Mar 31, 2008

Sovereignty, Commerce, Energy at Stake

Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK)
Vice Chair, Cmte. on Commerce, Science, and Trans.

At a time when the United States seeks to strengthen economic and national security interests, it is unfathomable that we delay participation in the Law of the Sea Convention. President Bush, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the secretaries of Defense, State, Homeland Security, Commerce, and the Interior have asked the Senate to approve this treaty. Having worked on the convention since 1969, I support ratification.

New Border Rule Raises Concern Among Business Groups

Dec 31, 2007

 
The U.S. Chamber and a coalition of businesses and associations are calling on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency to delay a new rule that could slow down business and tourism on both sides of the border. The new rule, which went into place today (Jan. 31), requires U.S. and Canadian citizens to present a passport or two forms of identification to cross the border into the United States.

Chamber Victorious on Tax Relief, Terrorism Insurance Bills

Nov 30, 2007

 
Congress on December 19 cleared a measure to prevent more than 20 million taxpayers from being ensnared by the alternative minimum tax (AMT) this year. At the urging of the Chamber, proposed tax increases to offset the $50 billion cost of AMT relief were eventually dropped from the final bill.

Before breaking for the holidays, Congress also approved an extension of a government insurance backstop to help businesses insure against catastrophic losses suffered as a result of a terrorist attack. The program was set to expire at the end of this year.

District Judge Sides with Chamber, Businesses on 'No-Match'

Sep 30, 2007

 
The National Chamber Litigation Center (NCLC), the Chamber's public policy law firm, scored an important victory last week as a California district court barred the administration from moving forward with new and onerous procedures that would require businesses to enforce the nation's immigration laws or face criminal penalties.

Working to Protect Our Nation

Sep 30, 2007

Public-Private Partnerships Are Essential

by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS)

Protecting our critical infrastructure is vitally important to the nation's security. The private sector is an essential partner in protecting our nation from the threat of terrorism and natural disasters–and helping it restore necessary services in the aftermath of such events.

Chamber Advances IP Initiative

Jul 31, 2007

Unveils Agenda, Launches Tour

The Chamber's Bruce Josten explains the negative economic impact of counterfeit and prirated goods.

The U.S. Chamber is increasing its efforts to protect intellectual property (IP) by educating small businesses on the growing epidemic of counterfeiting and piracy and by calling on Congress and the administration to toughen existing laws.

Hard Drive Encryption

May 31, 2007

Data Security Moves to a New Level

By Ricardo Harvin
E-mail questions for Tech Tools to techtools@uschamber.com.

It's happened to government agencies, major retailers, and an unknown number of other organizations, and it could happen to you-sensitive information gone missing because of theft, fraud, or just plain carelessness.

Planning for Disasters

Mar 31, 2007

Conference Examines Private Sector Role

Small businesses have an important role to play in emergency planning and response, according to practitioners in emergency and disaster management; scholars; and a number of federal, state, and local officials who gathered in Washington, DC, in February for a conference co-sponsored by the U.S. Chamber and hosted by American Military University (AMU).

Achieving Data Security

Sep 30, 2006

Protect Against Electronic and Physical Dangers

By Ricardo Harvin

E-mail questions for Tech Tools to rharvin@uschamber.com.

With October being national Cyber Security Awareness Month, it's a good time to reassess your data security practices. Total data security requires that you rigorously defend against cyber attacks as well as physical loss or damage to your computer due to such things as theft, fire, or malicious insider activity.

Security Does Matter

Dec 31, 2005

Take Steps to Keep the Bad Guys Out

By Ricardo Harvin
E-mail questions for Tech Tools to rharvin@uschamber.com.

Still don't take computer security seriously? Then you're vulnerable to having your systems hijacked, your every keystroke recorded and sent silently to thieves, and all your information stolen or simply destroyed.

Protect Customer Information

Jun 30, 2005

Data Security Should Be Standard

By Ricardo Harvin

On June 1, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a new rule under the existing Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA) that requires businesses—small and large—and individuals to dispose of sensitive information derived from consumer reports. Under the new FACTA Disposal Rule, if you use consumer reports—including customer credit reports, employee background checks, or tenant histories—you are now obligated to dispose of this information using methods that are deemed "reasonable and appropriate."

Watching Your Every Move

Apr 30, 2005

Adware and Spyware Adopt Similar Tactics

By Roger Thompson
Director of Malicious Content Research, Computer Associates

These views are soley the author's.

Fight Phishing: Don't Get Hooked by Fake E-Mail

Feb 28, 2005

 
Online financial transactions are becoming more commonplace every day. Unfortunately, incidents of online fraud are as well. Committing online fraud using forged e-mails has become so rampant that it has spawned its own term-phishing.

Phishing works by using authentic looking but fraudulent, or "spoofed," e-mails that appear to come from legitimate sources. By asking you to reply with details such as your bank account, PIN, or Social Security number, or username and password, to your online accounts, phishers try to get you to reveal sensitive personal information.

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