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John Stroia joins SIA board
Stroia, a sixteen-year veteran at Diebold, now leads the company’s government security sales organization and event monitoring team; SIA, a 300-member strong trade association, represents electronic and physical security product manufacturers, standard specifiers, and service providers
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Two Florida companies see their stock prices increase 35% in 2007
Melbourne, Florida, is home to two security companies: Communication manufacturer Harris and biometrics specialist Authentec; both companies saw the price of their stock increase by more than 35% in 2007
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China attracts $3.18 billion in venture capital in 2007
In first eleven months of 2007, China has attracted $3.18 billion in venture capital, up 78.9 percent from 2006; 428 contracts were signed
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Homeland Security Investors Conference opens tonight
More than 300 middle-market homeland security industry executives, investors, and prime defense contractors who are looking to exploit opportunities afforded by the growth in the homeland security and government services market will attend homeland security investors conference
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Global venture capital investments are up
In 2007, VC investment is expected to top $40 billion at the close of the fourth quarter while the number of deals should reach about 3,884, or similar to levels in 2003.
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U.S. VCs rate Israel highly as target market for investment
Israel leads a group of four countries — the others are Canada, India, and China — as a market for high-quality deals; U.S. VCs said the four countries were by far the most “seductive” markets for investments
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Systems integrator Adesta is making a bigger impression
Adesta is a versatile and innovative systems integrator specializing in the construction and maintenance of stand-alone or integrated communication networks and electronic security systems
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The ISE-CCM Homeland Security Index lists on the NYSE as an ETF
The ISE-CCM Homeland Security Index has been listed on the NYSE as the FocusShares ISE-CCM Homeland Security ETF; Exchange-traded funds (or ETFs) are open-ended investment companies that can be traded at any time throughout the course of the day
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Foreign investment boosts U.S. economy
Last year the United States attracted $180 billion in foreign direct investment; U.S. subsidiaries of foreign companies employ 5.1 million Americans with a payroll of $336 billion; this translates into annual average worker compensation of $66,042 — well above the national average; one analyst argues that we should not allow protectionist sentiments and misplaced security concerns disrupt this contribution to the U.S. economy
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Cernium raises $10 million
Virginia-based video analytic specialist raises $10 million from Chicago investor
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MI5 warns of growing Chinese cyberspace spy threat
Director-general of MI5 sends letter to 300 British companies warning them that their computer systems are under sustained attack from Chinese intelligence services; China engages in a systemic campaign to steal Western industrial secrets — and provide information to Chinese companies about Western companies with which these Chinese companies are doing business
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Imperial Capital to acquire USBX
Imperial Capital has been expanding during the past two years, and now it adds considerable sector-specific depth by acquiring boutique investment firm USBX; USBX’s analysts bring with them considerable knowledge of four sectors: Security (both commercial and homeland), government IT and business services, technology, and consumer; USBX CEO John Mack to head M&A at Imperial Capital
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The long view
U.S. contemplates responses to a cyber-Pearl Harbor attack on critical infrastructure
Cybersecurity experts often contemplate how U.S. security agencies would react to a cyber-9/11 or a digital Pearl Harbor, in which a computer attack would unplug the power grid, disable communications lines, empty bank accounts, and result in loss of life. “Ultimately, it absolutely could happen,” says one expert. “Yeah, that thought keeps me up at night, in terms of what portion of our critical infrastructure could be really brought to its knees.”
To bolster the world’s inadequate cyber governance framework, a “Cyber WHO” is needed
A new report on cyber governance commissioned by Zurich Insurance Group highlights challenges to digital security and identifies new opportunities for business. It calls for the establishment of guiding principles to build resilience and the establishment of supranational governance bodies such as a Cyber Stability Board and a “Cyber WHO.”
More money, different approach offer opportunities to border security tech companies
The number of border agents has reached roughly 21,000, up from 5,000 two decades ago. In fiscal year 2012, spending for border and immigration enforcement totaled almost $18 billion — 24 percent more than the combined budgets of the FBI, the DEA, the Secret Service, the U.S. Marshals, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (total: $14.4 billion). One major trend driving the border security industry is the government’s shift from large-scale border security infrastructure projects to small unit security systems.
Coastal communities can lower flood insurance rates by addressing sea-level rise
City leaders and property developers in Tampa Bay are urging coastal communities to prepare today for sea-level rise and future floods in order to keep flood insurance rates low in the future. FEMA, which administers the National Flood Insurance Program(NFIP), is increasing flood insurance premiums across the country, partly to offset losses from recent disasters such as hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. Cities can reduce insurance premiums for nearly all residents who carry flood coverage by improving storm-water drainage, updating building codes to reflect projected rise in sea-levels, moving homes out of potentially hazardous areas, and effectively informing residents about storm danger and evacuation routes.
Changing human behavior key to tackling California drought: Expert
California is experiencing a drought that has gone far beyond a “dry spell,” and the state has imposed the first water restriction in state history, aiming to cut back on water consumption by 25 percent. One expert says that strict water conservation measures are long overdue, and that “what is happening is a realization that you can’t simply transplant another ecosystem onto a California desert system or arid southwestern system. In a sense, California and much of the U.S. southwest are living beyond their ecological means. Certain lifestyles have been adopted and crops are being grown that are not endemic or sustainable for this particular bioregion.” He adds: “This is a moment for not just cutting off personal water use and turning the tap off when you’re brushing your teeth, as important as that is. This is a moment of reflection, invitation and, I hope, legislation that will cause people to think about water use in the industrial sector too. This is for the long-term prosperity of the state and sustainability of the ecosystem.”