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Chamber interest: Top Ten Cybersecurity Tips
Chamber interest: Top Ten Cybersecurity Tips
Please read this advisory in order to protect your small business from ransomware. The following tips will also help secure your small business:
- Protect against viruses, spyware, and other malicious code
Make sure each of your business’s computers are equipped with antivirus software and antispyware and update regularly. Such software is readily available online from a variety of vendors. All software vendors regularly provide patches and updates to their products to correct security problems and improve functionality. Configure all software to install updates automatically. - Secure your networks
Safeguard your Internet connection by using a firewall and encrypting information. If you have a Wi-Fi network, make sure it is secure and hidden. To hide your Wi-Fi network, set up your wireless access point or router so it does not broadcast the network name, known as the Service Set Identifier (SSID). Password protect access to the router. - Establish security practices and policies to protect sensitive information
Establish policies on how employees should handle and protect personally identifiable information and other sensitive data. Clearly outline the consequences of violating your business’s cybersecurity policies. - Educate employees about cyberthreats and hold them accountable
Educate your employees about online threats and how to protect your business’s data, including safe use of social networking sites. Depending on the nature of your business, employees might be introducing competitors to sensitive details about your firm’s internal business. Employees should be informed about how to post online in a way that does not reveal any trade secrets to the public or competing businesses. Hold employees accountable to the business’s Internet security policies and procedures. - Require employees to use strong passwords and to change them often
Consider implementing multifactor authentication that requires additional information beyond a password to gain entry. Check with your vendors that handle sensitive data, especially financial institutions, to see if they offer multifactor authentication for your account. - Employ best practices on payment cards
Work with your banks or card processors to ensure the most trusted and validated tools and anti-fraud services are being used. You may also have additional security obligations related to agreements with your bank or processor. Isolate payment systems from other, less secure programs and do not use the same computer to process payments and surf the Internet.
Are you ready for the shift from magnetic-strip payment cards to safer, more secure chip card technology, also known as “EMV”? October 1st is the deadline set by major U.S. credit card issuers to be in compliance. Visit SBA.gov/EMV for more information and resources. - Make backup copies of important business data and information
Regularly backup the data on all computers. Critical data includes word processing documents, electronic spreadsheets, databases, financial files, human resources files, and accounts receivable/payable files. Backup data automatically if possible, or at least weekly, and store the copies either offsite or on the cloud. - Control physical access to computers and network components
Prevent access or use of business computers by unauthorized individuals. Laptops can be particularly easy targets for theft or can be lost, so lock them up when unattended. Make sure a separate user account is created for each employee and require strong passwords. Administrative privileges should only be given to trusted IT staff and key personnel. - Create a mobile device action plan
Mobile devices can create significant security and management challenges, especially if they hold confidential information or can access the corporate network.. Require users to password protect their devices, encrypt their data, and install security apps to prevent criminals from stealing information while the phone is on public networks. Be sure to set reporting procedures for lost or stolen equipment. - Protect all pages on your public-facing websites, not just the checkout and sign-up pages. More information: SBA.GOV
Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce 2017-2018 Community Guide & Membership Directory
The Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce 2017-2018 Community Profile & Membership Directory is available at the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber today! Thanks to Jon Maynard, Pam Swain, Rosie Vassalo and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!
Town Square Publications (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's gloss map, directory, community profile or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.
Foxconn chooses Mount Pleasant for its $10 billion Manufacturing facility
Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn, best known as one of Apple’s major suppliers, is to build a $10 billion manufacturing campus in Mount Pleasant – a village in Racine County, Wisconsin. It had been suspected that the company would choose this location, and officials finally confirmed the news earlier this week.
Back in June, in was reported that Foxconn had narrowed the search for its new display plant to seven states — Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Texas. The company says it will build an industrial campus with around 20 million square feet of office space across 1.56 miles.
Foxconn will manufacture liquid crystal displays at the plant, which will be used in everything from self-driving cars to aircraft, as well as consumer products such as phones and televisions.
The campus will consist of a multibillion-dollar thin-film transistor liquid crystal display plant, a facility to package LCD modules, a skill-intensive facility focused on molding and tool-and-die processes, and an assembly operation to produce end-device units.
County and village officials offered Foxconn a $764 million incentives package to move to Mount Pleasant, on top of up to $3 billion from the state — providing the company can fulfill its jobs promise. Foxconn is expected to hire around 13,000 people on average salaries of $53,000, and the plant could attract around 150 Foxconn suppliers to the area, who will bring additional jobs. Read more: TechSpot.com
Quest for Amazon HQ has Indianapolis, Fishers mayors joining forces
The two cities that have been the most successful at luring technology companies to Indiana are making a combined pitch to win Amazon.com Inc.'s prized second headquarters.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness on Monday announced they are collaborating with other state and regional economic development officials to submit a proposal to Amazon. The mayors said they will emphasize Central Indiana's existing tech ecosystem, its growing business climate and a plethora of available real estate sites in a proposal that is due Oct. 19.
Hogsett reached out to Fadness over the weekend, he said, and the mayors began talking with other area officials about how to join forces on the proposal. Hogsett declined to name sites where Amazon could go — and both mayors were careful not to overemphasize their own cities — but Hogsett said several sites along the White River could be attractive. Read more: Indy Star
Several Chicago suburbs offering sites for Amazon's second headquarters
Suburbs far and wide are interested in getting a piece of the Amazon pie.
The Seattle-based online behemoth last month announced it's looking for a second corporate headquarters and will spend more than $5 billion to house as many as 50,000 employees.
Earlier this week, Aurora threw its hat into the ring to provide a 90-acre site north of I-88 at the Eola Road interchange that also includes 10 acres in Naperville. Mayor Richard Irvin and state Rep. Stefanie Kifowit said a citywide fiber optics network Aurora provides is exactly what a high-tech industry such as Amazon needs.
"Aurora is in a strong position to be able to compete and make it more feasible for Amazon to move to the region," Irvin said.
But in contacting several counties and municipalities Thursday, numerous other sites emerged as potential candidates. Municipalities are expressing their interest to their respective counties, which are in turn passing the details along to the state by an Oct. 16 deadline.
Among the interested communities are Hoffman Estates, Oak Brook, Rutland Township, Schaumburg and West Chicago.
Amazon has asked for only one bid per metro area, and the state has taken responsibility for coordinating it, said Kevin Kramer, economic development director for Hoffman Estates.
"Wherever Amazon ends up in the Chicago area, if they do, it's going to be a win for everyone," he said. "We're all coordinated and working together."
Hoffman Estates officials would not discuss specific sites, but Village Manager Jim Norris noted that Amazon's original headquarters in Seattle is scattered among multiple sites.
Schaumburg Community Development Director Julie Fitzgerald said the village has also participated in the process. But she emphasized it's intended to be confidential, and there's little she can disclose about the details of what Schaumburg sent.
John Carpenter, president and CEO of the Choose DuPage Economic Development Alliance, said the West Chicago site could involve the DuPage Business Center, near DuPage Airport. The McDonald's campus in Oak Brook, which the company is vacating next year, encompasses 100 acres and has tollway visibility for a potential Amazon move.
Jacquelyn Reineke, media relations director for the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, did not return phone calls seeking comment Thursday.
Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico said the city will help with the region's application to land the second Amazon headquarters by offering potential employees amenities such as housing, education, health care and transportation connections.
"As a support role, we do have a lot to offer," Chirico said. "We will be part of that solution." Read more: Daily Herald
Vicksburg wins national award from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Region’s judges/executive say Northern Kentucky is in a good state and collaboration is a big reason
The State of Northern Kentucky was the topic at Tuesday’s Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Eggs ‘N Issues discussion at Receptions in Erlanger.
The top elected officials in their respective counties credited a spirit of cooperation among elected officials and business and community leaders throughout the region for Northern Kentucky’s solid economic outlook.Judges/Executive Gary Moore of Boone County, Steve Pendery of Campbell County and Kris Knochelmann of Kenton County discussed a wide range of topics, including tax reform, the new regional communications system and growth.
Moore, who was first elected in 1998, has witnessed Boone County’s continued transition from a largely rural area to a diverse community with significant growth in population and industry.
Since 2000, Boone County’s population has increased from 86,000 residents to nearly 130,000 in 2017. Improvements in infrastructure including the construction of Aero Parkway and the widening of Mt. Zion Road, which is now in progress. In January, Amazon Prime announced plans for a $1.4 billion hub, to be located on CVG land in the county.
“A quick look at Northern Kentucky would suggest that we are doing well, and we are,” Moore said.
Metrics such as positive job growth, unemployment rates, payroll tax receipts, building permits, home sales and household income levels, Moore said, are all indications that the county, and the region are prospering. Read more: NKY Tribune
The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce is moving to the city's main corridor.
The chamber office is expected to move to the first floor of 134 W. Michigan Ave. this fall, said Mindy Bradish-Orta, chamber president and CEO.
The chamber's current office at 141 S. Jackson St. also houses Experience Jackson and the Anchor Initiative. The chamber moved there in 2006 and purchased the building in 2009, Bradish-Orta said.
Since then, the three organizations have grown to 10 full-time employees combined and space became limited, Brandish-Orta said.
It was important to stay in the city's downtown, Brandish-Orta said.
"It wasn't even an option leaving the downtown," she said. "It gives us the visibility and shows the community we are committed to rebuilding the (downtown)."
David Klein, current co-owner of the building at 134 W. Michigan Ave, will take over the chamber's old building at 141 S. Jackson St., Brandish-Orta said. Read more: M LIVE
Sparta Area Chamber news: Manufacturers Luncheon at Western Technical College, La Crosse
We encourage area manufacturers, educators, and others to attend this event.
Jackson County Chamber of Commerce moving to new spot on W. Michigan Avenue
The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce is moving to the city's main corridor.
The chamber office is expected to move to the first floor of 134 W. Michigan Ave. this fall, said Mindy Bradish-Orta, chamber president and CEO.
The chamber's current office at 141 S. Jackson St. also houses Experience Jackson and the Anchor Initiative. The chamber moved there in 2006 and purchased the building in 2009, Bradish-Orta said.
Since then, the three organizations have grown to 10 full-time employees combined and space became limited, Brandish-Orta said.
It was important to stay in the city's downtown, Brandish-Orta said.
"It wasn't even an option leaving the downtown," she said. "It gives us the visibility and shows the community we are committed to rebuilding the (downtown)."
David Klein, current co-owner of the building at 134 W. Michigan Ave, will take over the chamber's old building at 141 S. Jackson St., Brandish-Orta said. Read more: M LIVE
Sparta Area Chamber news: Manufacturers Luncheon at Western Technical College, La Crosse
Luncheon/Speaking Event
Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM CDT
Event Description:
Western Technical College Business and Industry Services, TUMMA (The Upper Mississippi Manufacturing Alliance), and the Western Wisconsin Workforce Development Board invite you to an appreciation luncheon. We encourage area manufactures, educators, and others to attend this event. We will also be spotlighting best practices within our K-12 districts that partner with manufacturers, available customized trainings to advance skills of your employees, and more!
Keynote Speaker, Dan Conroy
Dan Conroy retired after 26 years with Nexen Group, Inc. in Webster, WI and Vadnais Heights, MN as Vice President of Human Resources. He served as the Operations Manager at the advanced manufacturing facility in Webster for five years. Prior to that, he was Nexen's Human Resources Director, where he was responsible for human resources functions for 19 years. More information: Sparta Area Chamber
Keynote Speaker, Dan Conroy
Dan Conroy retired after 26 years with Nexen Group, Inc. in Webster, WI and Vadnais Heights, MN as Vice President of Human Resources. He served as the Operations Manager at the advanced manufacturing facility in Webster for five years. Prior to that, he was Nexen's Human Resources Director, where he was responsible for human resources functions for 19 years. More information: Sparta Area Chamber
Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.
Town Square Publications, a division of the Daily Herald Media Group, is a national chamber custom publishing group that specializes in developing partnerships by producing high-quality print and digitally integrated publications along with other added value programs dedicated to creating relevancy for local chambers of commerce and other membership focused organizations interested in raising non-dues revenues.
Town Square Publications parent company, Paddock Publications, has over 100 years’ experience of print product development and dedicated customer service in communities throughout the Midwest. Our experience allows Town Square Publications to offer you attractive royalty and non-dues revenue share streams, provide direct distribution of your custom designed printed publications, including digital and mobile integration, and all with the quickest turn-around times available in the industry. Town Square also offers multi-media maps in both print and online formats, both with our No-Cost guarantee. More information: Town Square Publications
Chambers of Commerce and member focused organizations serve as a valuable resource in the local marketplace. The networking opportunities and representation with a wide variety of diverse businesses in your community is the catalyst of a successful organization. For further information about Town Square's publishing partnership with chambers of commerce and our No-Cost guarantee and Earned Revenue Share Program, To request your chamber publication or map proposal, contact Town Square Chamber Proposal
