Security in the Boardroom

Security in the Boardroom: The Attack on Business and What Executives Need to Know and Do About it. By Mark S.A. Smith Who needs a book about security? More small businesses are attacked than homes. Seventy percent of corporate break-ins are motivated by money or political reasons. The other 30 percent are random attacks to grab what ever unsecured assets are available and cash in on your hard work. Sadly, more than half of the successful attacks on businesses come from disgruntled employees, fired staff, temporary workers, and opportunists. The rest comes from organized criminals aiming to clean you out. These perpetrators want to pilfer your proprietary property, cheat your customers, hinder your employees, and attack the heart of your business - your information systems and your vital physical assets. The good news is that security technology is more affordable and more reliable then ever. The bad news is that the bad guys are more clever and vicious then ever. This book is about protecting your resources, your infrastructure, and your customers. If you're going to make smart decisions, you need to get answers to these security questions: If you're a CEO, COO, President, or Owner - What are the threats to your organization? What are the risks and the costs of these threats? What would happen if critical business information or assets were compromised? How do you direct the people who will lead your security efforts? If you're a CFO or VP of Finance - What is the impact of security on corporate compliance and your cash flow? What do regulations demand from you? At what cost is it worth it? If you're a CIO, CTO, or IT Manager - What are the risks to your computing infrastructure? How do you evaluate security vendors and solutions? What should you look for in a security vendor? How do you protect yourself and your organization? This book was written with the non-technical manager in mind; it won't dig very deep into the technology. So, even if you're an executive with limited technical background, this book will guide you on the questions to ask and the issues to examine when your technology team considers security for your company. Mark S.A. Smith is an electrical engineer, computer programmer, hardware salesman, software marketer, and author. Mark focuses on how to rapidly create sound business decisions in a fast-paced business world. He delivers innovative business strategies for entrepreneurial thinkers, executives, and sales professionals. Mark's an expert in creating instantly implementable tactics to achieve real business success. Mark authored the critically-acclaimed Linux in the Boardroom: How Linux is Changing Corporate Computing and What Executives Need to Know and Do About It. He co-authored business best-sellers Guerrilla Trade Show Selling, Guerrilla TeleSelling, and Guerrilla Negotiating. Mark regularly appears at top industry events as a speaker, panel moderator, or emcee.