Posted by Liz Dean on Wed, May 01, 2013 @ 03:27 PM
Craig Lund, CEO of SecureAuth Corporation in Irvine, California, USA, is the Chair of the Final Judging Committee for the company awards and organization awards categories in The 2013 American Business Awards, the premier business awards program in the USA.
We talked with him about cyber terrorism, career advice, and what inspires him.
U.S. Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper recently identified cyber attacks and cyber espionage as the nation’s biggest threat, surpassing that of terrorism. What would you recommend businesses should do to avert such a threat?
The type of cyber attack companies should be most worried about is a data breach, similar to those that occurred with Facebook, CNN, Apple, and LinkedIn. Data breaches seriously undermine the credibility and viability of a company. According to a 2011 report sponsored by Symantec on the cost of data breaches in the United States, the average breach costs companies $5.5 million, which includes forensic costs, fines, legal fees, etc. Moreover, companies that experience a breach lose customers and experience increased churn in their customer base.
Data breaches aren't just a concern for big companies. They can hit businesses of any size, in any industry. According to Verizon's 2012 Data Breach Investigations Report, small businesses with between 1 and 100 employees reported 612 data breaches last year. The number of reported breaches—especially for small businesses—is usually just the tip of the iceberg.
To avert these types of attacks, businesses need to hold on and secure their own authentication credentials, and implement a multi-factor authentication process that is non-intrusive to their users.
What other item of news recently caught your eye and why?
Bring your own device (BYOD) and mobile security are hot topics right now. Companies are understandably concerned about the corporate apps on employees’ mobile devices. These devices are often used for personal as well as business use, and can leave corporate apps and their content vulnerable.
What is your favorite business app?
Docusign is my favorite. I travel a lot, and being able to review and execute documents from the road is a lifesaver.
What career advice would you give to young people starting out in business?
Begin with your goal in mind and then believe in yourself. Decide what it is you want to do and then do it. Act as if failure is not possible. Positive belief combined with positive action are the most powerful tools you have to achieve your career ambitions.
As someone at the top of your profession, what keeps you inspired or makes you hit the ground running in the morning?
I happen to be a runner, and as any runner will know, it’s a mental game. You need discipline, self-motivation, and endurance to keep striving to exceed your goals. You also need a great support team. In my work, I’m fortunate to have a team of talented and ambitious people that keep me pushing for more.
About Craig Lund:
CEO Craig Lund is a seasoned technology-industry veteran with over 25 years of experience managing high-performing teams in some of the world’s leading technology companies and startups.
Before joining SecureAuth in 2005, Lund worked for IBM where he was a member of the World Wide Security Management division and was responsible for Security Sales Teams for the United States, Canada, and Latin America. He developed and managed the execution of sales strategy for five security product lines that resulted in more than $100 million of annual revenue.
Prior to joining IBM, Lund was the vice president of sales and operations--western region for Netegrity. He has also held sales and sales management positions at Dassault Systèmes, Intelligent Environments, Prime Computer, and Digital Equipment Corporation. Lund holds a B.S. in business administration from Utah State University.
About SecureAuth Corporation:
SecureAuth is a technology leader in universal identity enforcement for mobile devices, cloud applications, and networks that serves hundreds of customers and over 10 million users worldwide. Its SecureAuth IdP products offer Global 5000 companies a uniquely extensible, enterprise-proven method of administering corporate identity governance on cloud-based applications, mobile devices, and networks. These all-in-one solutions provide IT departments with a simplified way of managing and enforcing access, authentication, approval, and assertion based on existing user entitlements. For the latest insight on enterprise identity governance and issues follow the SecureAuth Blog, follow @SecureAuth on Twitter, or visit www.gosecureauth.com for additional information.
Posted by Liz Dean on Fri, Apr 05, 2013 @ 10:49 AM
Dynamics Research Corporation (DRC) of Andover, Massachusetts, won Stevie® Awards in both the IT awards categories and the new product awards categories of The 2012 American Business Awards for their support in building and deploying the cloud-based DCGS-A system. (The final entry deadline for The 2013 (11th Annual) American Business Awards, the top business awards in the United States, is April 24, If you haven't already done so, you can request your entry kit here and it will be emailed to you right away.) Here we look at how DRC is helping the U.S. Army deploy a cloud-based intelligence system.
American servicemen and women face daunting threats in war zones—insurgents, snipers, terrorist bombers—and access to accurate and timely information is a matter of life and death. Putting that information into the hands of these frontline fighters is the mission of the Army’s Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS-A) Cloud.
Imagine a military intelligence brigade that needs to know all of the activities occurring in a village that might indicate unrest—for instance, who has met with the village elders in the past month, or what new projects have been started that are not funded by NATO. The U.S. Army has hundreds of intelligence feeds used to support operations in the field, including ground sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles, and human intelligence.
Too Much Information
As intelligence data-collection grows exponentially, so too does the corresponding complexity of information that end-users have to analyze. The Army’s computing platforms have to meet the increased demand required to extract useful information in support of a mission, whether it involves safely entering a village or capturing an enemy leader.
At the same time, the Army must make this capability available through a streamlined operational infrastructure in the field—the mechanism that allows the troops access to timely information where and when they need it.
Cloud In A Box
In 2011, DRC and its partners worked with the U.S. Army to build and deploy the DCGS-A Secret Internet Protocol Router cloud solution. Also known as DSC, this cloud solution is an Internet-scale ingest, processing, and storage infrastructure for intelligence data. It serves as the foundation for the Army's rapid adoption of next generation intelligence systems. DSC is literally a ‘cloud in a box’ that is deployed by shipping container to sites in the United States and overseas.
During 2011, DRC helped successfully deploy DSC in Afghanistan. This constituted the first cloud-based advanced-intelligence analysis to support the U.S. Army's mission and war fighter operations.
Boots On The Ground
To ensure the success of this cloud solution, DRC deployed one of their own experts, Douglas Grosvenor, to work closely with the Army on the ground in Afghanistan. Because of this, Grosvenor was able to:
- Deploy and implement software across 200+ machines located in the States and overseas;
- Support the operational staff in Afghanistan by diagnosing and fixing problems;
- Integrate custom, as well as third-party software, into the cloud; and
- Ensure a strong relationship with multiple companies to help the program succeed: Grosvenor worked with the Army and six other companies, successfully navigating the logistics and cultures of so many different organizations.
Since Grosvenor’s work on the DCGS-A spanned U.S. and Afghanistan time zones, his working days stretched around the clock. His dedication has led to the development of an innovative technology that better meets the Army's intelligence needs.
Says Grosvenor: “During my six-week deployment in Afghanistan, I was able to work closely with the client and come back with more requirements to ensure the success of the system—putting more powerful and useful computing in the hands of our war fighters.”
Exceptional Security
DRC was one of several contractors who developed the system as subcontractors to Booz Allen Hamilton. DRC had leadership roles in the development, architecture, integration, testing, and in system delivery. DRC’s team was critical in these areas and instrumental in creating the system.
Given the high sensitivity of military data, building exceptional security controls was vital to the cloud deployment. To that end, DRC designed and implemented the backend and interface of DSC, creating a secure cloud that can be accessed on the fly, and providing analysts with a means to share and enrich data.
This cloud solution is now helping the U.S. Army achieve mission goals and deter 21st-century threats.
About Douglas Grosvenor:
Grosvenor joined High Performance Technologies, Inc., a DRC company, in 2009, straight from college and quickly became an expert in his field. In addition to his responsibilities under the DCGS-A contract, Grosvenor is currently working on a Master’s Degree in Computer Science and is active in corporate activities including community service, college recruiting, and developing initiatives to enhance DRC's employee programs. His efforts were recognized with the company’s Employee of the Year Award in 2011.
About Dynamics Research Corporation
Dynamics Research Corporation (DRC) provides technology and management consulting solutions focused on driving performance, process, and results for government clients. DRC offers innovative solutions and delivers rock solid results. DRC has large company capabilities and small company agility. Founded in 1955, DRC is a publicly held corporation (Nasdaq:DRCO) and maintains more than 25 offices nationwide with major offices in Andover, Massachusetts and the Washington, D.C. region.
Posted by Liz Dean on Fri, Dec 28, 2012 @ 09:35 AM
As the final entry deadline for the 2013 Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service, the world's top business awards for contact center, customer service, business development, and sales professionals, approaches on January 15, 2013, we wanted to highlight four IT awards categories that should be of interest. (If you haven't yet done so, you can request an entry kit here and it will be emailed to you right away. The entry kit contains all of the information you need about how to prepare and submit your entries.)
There are several ways to highlight your technology successes in the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Relevant information technology awards categories include:
- Best Use of Technology in Sales,
- Best Use of Technology in Customer Service,
- e-Commerce Customer Service Award, and
- Technology Partner of the Year.
Entries in these categories require the submission of an essay of up to 525 words describing the nominee’s achievements since July 1, 2011; any number of links to any online work samples, reviews, news stories, etc. that support your nomination; and a biography of up to 125 words about the nominee or the leader of the nominated organization.
The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service feature more than 125 sales awards, customer service awards, and call center awards categories honoring sales excellence and best customer service practices for individuals, teams, and departments, plus categories this year for products and service and solution providers. You can see all sales and customer service categories here.
Winners of the 2013 edition will be announced at an awards banquet at Paris Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, on February 25, 2013.
Have questions regarding the 2013 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service? Email us at help@stevieawards.com or call us at + 1 703-547-8389 and we'll get back to you right away.
Posted by Liz Dean on Tue, Nov 06, 2012 @ 12:29 PM
As the first early-bird entry deadline for The 11th Annual American Business Awards, the premier business awards program in the U.S.A., approaches on Friday, November 16, we'd like to help you recognize your organization's achievements by highlighting our IT awards categories. If you haven't already done so, you can request your entry kit here and you will receive it right away.
The 2013 ABA IT award categories are:
Information to be submitted online for entries in these categories include:
- An essay of up to 525 words describing the nominee's accomplishments since January 1 2012,
- A biography of the nominee or the leader of the nominated department or team of up to 125 words, and
- Optional (but highly recommended), a collection of supporting files and web addresses that you may upload to our server to support your entry and provide more background information to the judges.
To help make the most out of your entries, we suggest reviewing the 2012 Gold information technology awards winners:
- Information Technology Department of the Year
Achievers, San Francisco, CA
- Information Technology Team of the Year
Travelport GDS, Atlanta, GA
- Information Technology Executive of the Year
Steve Levy, CEO, Verivo Software, Waltham, MA
- Technical Professional of the Year
Douglas Grosvenor, DRC, Reston, VA
Want more ways to highlight your organization's IT efforts? We have several corporate awards categories that may be of interest including: app awards, live event awards, video awards, and website awards.
Posted by Liz Dean on Wed, Aug 08, 2012 @ 02:45 PM
The entry deadline for the 2012 Stevie® Awards for Women in Business, the world's premier business awards for women executives, entrepreneurs, and the organizations they run, is quickly approaching on August 29. (If you haven't already done so, you can request your entry kit here.)
To help make the most of your IT awards entries, we suggest the following:
- Download our 10 Tips for Winning Technology Awards tipsheet.
Our tipsheet will provide helpful tips and tools for making the most out of your entries.
- Review past winners' entries.
The 8th Annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business were presented in November 2011 in New York City, USA. Click here to view 2011 winning entries for website awards, app awards, video awards, and blog awards.
Winners of the 2012 competition will be celebrated at the ninth annual awards banquet on November 9 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York.
Need help? Contact us at help@stevieawards.com and we'll direct you to categories that are right for your organization.
Posted by Liz Dean on Wed, May 30, 2012 @ 12:54 PM
As the final entry deadline for The 2012 International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards competition, approaches on 27 June, we wanted to provide you with several tips for submitting winning IT awards entries. (If you haven't yet done so, you can request your entry kit here.)
To make the most out of your IT award entries, we suggest the following tips:
1. Review the corporate awards categories.
There are three award categories that are specifically labeled as information technology awards:
- Information Technology Department of the Year
- Information Technology Team of the Year
- Information Technology Executive of the Year
We have several other award categories that may be of interest to IT professionals including our website awards categories, app awards categories, video awards categories, and live event awards categories.
2. Review the entry submission criteria.
Information to be submitted online for these categories include:
- An essay of up to 500 words describing the nominee's accomplishments since January 1 2011
- A biography of the nominee or the leader of the nominated department or team of up to 100 words
- Optional (but highly recommended), a collection of supporting files and web addresses that you may upload to our server to support your entry and provide more background information to the judges
3. Download our 10 Tips for Winning Technology Awards tipsheet.
Our tipsheet will provide helpful tips and tools for making the most out of your entries
4. Review past winners' entries.
The 8th Annual International Business Awards were presented in October 2011 in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. 2011 IT award honorees included Quality Systems, Inc., PetRays, and Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters.
Winners of the competition will be celebrated at the ninth annual awards banquet on Monday, 15 October at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Seoul, South Korea.
Get instant IBA updates; join us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Posted by Liz Dean on Mon, May 07, 2012 @ 08:42 AM
The entry deadline for The 2012 International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards competition is quickly approaching on 16 May. (All individuals and organizations worldwide may submit nominations to The International Business Awards. If you haven't already done so, you can request your entry kit today.) Here we highlight three IT awards categories to help showcase your organization's emerging technology successes.
2012 IBA IT award categories include:
- Information Technology Department of the Year
- Information Technology Team of the Year
- Information Technology Executive of the Year
Information to be submitted online for entries in these categories include:
- An essay of up to 500 words describing the nominee's accomplishments since January 1 2011,
- A biography of the nominee or the leader of the nominated department or team of up to 100 words, and
- Optional (but highly recommended), a collection of supporting files and web addresses that you may upload to our server to support your entry and provide more background information to the judges.
The 8th Annual International Business Awards were presented in October 2011 in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. 2011 information technology awards winners included PetRays, Quality Systems, Inc., and Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters.
Entries submitted after 16 May, through the final entry deadline of 27 June, will be assessed a late fee in addition to any entry fee. 2012 Finalists will be announced late July and 2012 IBA winners will be announced at the Seoul, South Korea awards ceremony on 15 October. Click here to see the complete IBA calendar.
Want more ways to highlight your organization's IT efforts? We have several corporate awards categories that may be of interest including: app awards, live event awards, video awards, and website awards.
Posted by Liz Dean on Fri, Apr 20, 2012 @ 09:46 AM
As the entry deadline for The 2012 (10th Annual) American Business Awards, the premier business awards program in the U.S.A., quickly approaches on Wednesday, April 25, we'd like to help you recognize your organization's achievements by highlighting our IT awards categories. If you haven't already done so, you can request your entry kit here and you will receive it right away.
The 2012 ABA IT award categories are:
Information to be submitted online for entries in these categories include:
- An essay of up to 500 words describing the nominee's accomplishments since January 1 2011,
- A biography of the nominee or the leader of the nominated department or team of up to 100 words, and
- Optional (but highly recommended), a collection of supporting files and web addresses that you may upload to our server to support your entry and provide more background information to the judges.
The following departments, teams, and individuals were honored with information technology awards at the 2011 ABAs:
- Information Technology Department of the Year
Hallmark Services Corporation, Naperville, IL
- Information Technology Executive of the Year
Carbonite, Inc., Boston, MA: David Friend, Co-Founder, CEO & Chairman
- Information Technology Team of the Year
CIGNA Government Services, LLC, Nashville, TN: Rising to the Challenge
- Technical Professional of the Year
High Performance Technologies, Inc., Reston, VA: Tom Simmavath, Team Lead
2012 ABA Finalists will be announced mid-May and the 10th Annual award winners will be announced at our tech awards ceremony in San Francisco on September 17th at the Julia Morgan Ballroom.
Want more ways to highlight your organization's IT efforts? We have several corporate awards categories that may be of interest including: app awards, live event awards, video awards, and website awards.
Posted by Liz Dean on Fri, Apr 13, 2012 @ 08:38 AM
As the entry deadline for The 2012 American Business Awards, the premier business awards program in the U.S.A., approaches on Wednesday, April 25, we wanted to provide you with several tips for submitting winning IT awards entries. (If you haven't already done so, request your entry kit here and you will receive it right away.)
To make the most out of your IT award entries, we suggest the following tips:
1. Review the corporate awards categories.
There are four award categories that are specifically labeled as information technology awards:
- Information Technology Department of the Year
- Information Technology Team of the Year
- Information Technology Executive of the Year
- Technical Professional of the Year (for non-executive technical professionals includes software developers, web developers, technical writers, etc.)
We have several other award categories that may be of interest to IT professionals including our app awards categories, live event awards categories, and website awards categories.
2. Review the entry submission criteria.
Information to be submitted online for these technology awards categories include:
- An essay of up to 500 words describing the nominee's accomplishments since January 1 2011
- A biography of the nominee or the leader of the nominated department or team of up to 100 words
- Optional (but highly recommended), a collection of supporting files and web addresses that you may upload to our server to support your entry and provide more background information to the judges
3. Download our 10 Tips for Winning Technology Awards tipsheet.
Our tipsheet will provide helpful tips and tools for making the most out of your entries
2012 ABA Finalists will be announced mid-May and the 10th Annual award winners will be announced at our tech awards ceremony in San Francisco on September 17th at the Julia Morgan Ballroom.
Receive instant ABA updates; join us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Posted by Liz Dean on Fri, Mar 23, 2012 @ 03:40 PM
Abu Dhabi Police - General Headquarters of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, won a Stevie® Award for IT Team of the Year in the information technology award categories of The 2011 International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards program. (The 2012 IBAs are now open for entries. Request your entry kit here and submit entries by the April 11 early-bird deadline for discounted entry fees.) Here we look at how the IT award winning team transformed the Abu Dhabi Police's (ADP) communications system.
The Problem
Abu Dhabi Police's communication system was no longer keeping up with current security and emerging technology demands, leading to increased security risks. ADP's communication system had limited coverage, a lack of integration across all of Abu Dhabi, and an inadequate information security system, causing information leaks due to eavesdropping on police conversations.
The Project
The IT awards winning team, composed of four members with no less than ten years experience and previous knowledge of the current system, was given the task of updating ADP's system. The four had to research various solutions, select the best system, and monitor all of its development and operations. The new system had to meet technology innovations including:
- Ability of reducing processing time and increasing customer satisfaction,
- Coverage of the Emirate's land and sea (95% coverage was initially targeted), and
- Security for the protection of Police Operations privacy.
The Solution
After several inquiries and significant research, the tech awards winner decided to introduce TErrestrial Trunked RAdio (TETRA) as ADP's new communications system. TETRA's capabilities include:
- Collective voice communications,
- Wireless telephony, and
- Data services.
The Results
Through ADP's introduction of TETRA, the communications system has become the first integrated wireless system in the Arab world. TETRA has contributed to better crime control and safer roads - advancing the UAE to the 11th most reliable police force in the world according to the 2011 World Economic Report. ADP's TETRA system has helped the police force in several ways, including:
- Automatically identifying the location of the police patrols and the person making the call.
- Automatically identifying the location of chased cars and illegal drivers.
- Allowing decisions to be made on site without having to be in the command and control center.
- Enabling coordination between paramedics and victims.
Other benefits include:
- The TETRA communication system is a cost-effective system reducing maintenance costs by 32.9%
- TETRA has contributed to higher customer satisfaction:
o Customer satisfaction with the security levels reached 94.8%
o Satisfaction of businessmen with the security levels reached 97.5%
- Crimes per 1,000 residents was reduced to 0.6 %
- Percentage of solved crimes reached 96.6%
- Current coverage: 98% of Abu Dhabi
- Since its implementation, there have been 0 security violations
- Satisfaction with the clarity of the voice is 100%
- Availability of communication channels when calling: 98.47%
About Abu Dhabi Police
The Abu Dhabi Police - General Headquarters is located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The police department strives to make a safer society by preserving stability, reducing crime and contributing justice to the general public. The force values are integrity, honesty and respect for all human rights. The force serves with responsibility, tact, kindness and promotes teamwork and recognition of the contributions of both individuals and teams on the force.