Discover the Real West Virginia Foundation

Discover The Real West Virginia Foundation

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Summer 2011

WEST VIRGINIA Summit & EXPO

Homeland Security Homeland Security begins with Hometown Security

security than cyber attacks and crime,” Senator Jay Rockefeller said to the Summit’s attendees. Highlighting the increasing importance of cyber-security, the Summit brought one of the nation’s foremost experts in cyber-security to the State. Bill Conner, president and CEO of Entrust, a global leader in securing on-line identities and information, spoke about the evolving cyber-security threat landscape and its impact on the nation, as well as the security and stability of our nation’s business community. “It is important to recognize that this threat is not a Y2K type of event, where you spend

“Homeland Security begins with hometown security,” Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said to a crowd of 275 emergency responders, security

to improve homeland security nationally and across the State. During the Summit’s welcome dinner, Napolitano touted the nation’s efforts to make our nation safer, including aviation

Senator Jay Rockefeller

Janet Napolitano, Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Bill Conner, President & CEO, Entrust

experts, business leaders, and federal, state and local officials gathered at Marshall University for the West Virginia Homeland Security Summit & Expo. “It’s a concept that means we begin with our first responders and making sure they are enabled and empowered with equipment and training to respond quickly and effectively when something happens.”

Ensuring our State and its emergency responders have the tools necessary to meet its security challenges is the reason the Foundation, in partnership with the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, has hosted four statewide Summits, including this year’s two-day conference on June 1-2.

It’s been nearly 10 years since the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001.

Since then, a great deal has been done

safeguards, stronger coordination among intelligence agencies, and the death of Osama bin Laden. “We are in many respects, safer than we were prior to 9-11,” Napolitano said. “We have built structures that didn’t exist before. The West Virginia Intelligence Fusion Center is an example of that.” The Center collects and analyzes information to produce and disseminate credible intelligence.

Nevertheless, Napolitano emphasized that there are continuous national security threats against the country that require vigilance. “We understand that there is an ever-evolving set of threats, and we always have to be thinking very proactively to stay ahead of our adversaries,” she said.

Among those ever-evolving threats are cyber attacks. “I don’t think there is any greater threat to our nation’s

once to solve a specific issue and see the threat pass. It is akin to a quality process that must be disciplined, measured and continually improved on a day-in, day-out basis,” Conner said.

Conner explained that we are facing extremely dangerous enemies armed with the most expensive and sophisticated hardware, software and boldness, and provided an example of a real-world threat that hasn’t yet received much attention, but should—it’s called the “man-in-the-browser attacks” which target mid- to small-sized companies. The problem arises when someone in your organization is surfing the Web and accidentally installs software that opens a door for criminals. This malware sits dormant, waiting for someone on the system to log in to your corporate bank account online.

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So what are small and large enterprises and governments to do? Conner explained that the first step is a “basic defense” which includes employees having at least basic training on security practices to protect sensitive business information, communication and transactions; firewalls to protect computers and networks from viruses and spyware not only at the point of connection but on all computers including laptops; and the proper settings must be routinely checked and upgraded for vulnerabilities and attacks. Finally, Conner explained that to truly secure your environment, you need identity-based security. “You need to control physical and logical access to your facilities, computers, networks and any other devices that house important information or have access to your networks.

And, increasingly, you will need to manage the “mobile” access of smart-phones and tablets.”

In addition to highlighting cyber-security, Senator Rockefeller spoke about a problem that came to light in the wake of 9-11, but still has not been adequately addressed. Firefighters, police, emergency technicians, medical services and other responders still are often on different frequencies and communication systems, and cell phones or wireless networks are often overwhelmed in a disaster. That can lead to problems communicating within a county, much less across the country.

Senator Rockefeller is pushing for a better solution with the creation of a dedicated nationwide, interoperable wireless network for first responders.

“We need a forward-thinking public safety policy— for West Virginia and our nation—that promotes smart use of our airwaves and provides public safety officials with the wireless resources they need to communicate and keep us safe,” said Rockefeller. “The Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act will do just that.”

In addition to cyber-security and emergency communications, panel topics such as critical infrastructure and public health preparedness including water and food security, were also discussed. Event sponsors included Marshall University, the MU College of Information Technology and Engineering; Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advancing Manufacturing Technologies; Azimuth Incorporated; Entrust; Verizon; MU Medical Center; Bio-Key International; West Virginia University Research Corporation; Foremost Safety Solutions and Huddleston & Bolen LLP.

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Honorary Chair John D. Rockefeller IV United States Senator

Thank You Sustaining Donors Appalachian Power BB&T West Virginia Foundation Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation Jackson Kelly PLLC JP Morgan Chase Foundation NGK Spark Plugs (USA), Inc. Senator John D. Rockefeller IV United Bank, Inc. West Virginia United Health System Verizon

Continuing Donors Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation Azimuth, Inc. Chesapeake Energy Corporation Diamond Electric Manufacturing Corporation Jackson Gas Company Martin & Seibert, L.C. Dixon Hughes, PLLC Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC Steptoe & Johnson PLLC Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia

Foundation Donors Arch Coal, Inc. AT&T

Upcoming Event West Virginia Biometrics & Forensics Investment Seminar & Expo IV Washington, DC November 1, 2011

Board of Directors Phyllis Huff Arnold BB&T Michael J. Basile, Esq Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC Ellen S. Cappellanti, Esq. Jackson Kelly PLLC Mark Dempsey Appalachian Power Gale Y. Given Verizon Craig Hartzell Azimuth, Inc.

E-Newsletter In addition to our bi-annual mailed publications the Foundation will be sending out an electronic quarterly newsletter. Please send us your email address if you are interested in receiving this information.

Contact Us: Sara Dearing Executive Director 405 Capitol Street, Suite 512 Charleston, West Virginia 25301 Phone: (304) 345-0700 Fax: (304) 345-1779 Email: sdearing@drwvfoundation.org Website: drwvfoundation.org Denise Dodson Project Coordinator Email: ddodson@drwvfoundation.org

Thomas A. Heywood, Esq. Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP Lloyd G. Jackson Jackson Gas Company J. Thomas Jones West Virginia United Health System Clarence E. Martin III, Esq. Martin & Seibert, L.C. Kenneth M. Perdue West Virginia AFL-CIO Mark S. Prince HB&W, Inc. Patrick Robertson C2 GROUP William D. Wilmoth, Esq. Steptoe & Johnson PLLC Emeritus Members Ralph J. Bean Jr., Esq. Steptoe & Johnson PLLC J. Edward Dawson Smith Barney, Inc. A. Michael Perry Heritage Farm Museum & Village Parry Petroplus Petroplus & Associates, Inc. R.W. “Buz” Wilkinson First Century Bank, N.A.

405 Capitol Street, Suite 512 Charleston, West Virginia 25301