Developments such as digitization and Big Data and the exponentially growing mountains of data that go hand in hand with them are stirring a desire for more.
Not only for cybercriminals who attack from outside the company but also for malicious employees – insiders who seek information from their employers, customers, partners, and government agencies.
In the past, insider risk consisted of such mundane things as paper files that employees could carry outside the company unnoticed and without permission, as was the case with Pentagon Papers.
Today, the risk is many times higher – digital data, the most valuable asset in any company, fits on a USB stick that can be removed directly from the company.
According to a recent study commissioned by the Ponemon Institute from Proofpoint and IBM on “Insider Threats 2020,” companies worldwide spend more than $11.45 million a year to eliminate insider threats and take, on average, more than two months to clean up such cases.
In many cases, companies are only addressing the problem on the software side.
Intrusion and prevention systems, for example, are designed to help detect and analyze attacks from the inside at an early stage.
In all cases, security begins at the input device.
With the SECURE BOARD 1.0, CHERRY has a solution in its portfolio that effectively eliminates precisely these threats emanating from bad USB devices and hardware keyloggers: With the Secure Mode, proof of authenticity of the device is certificate-based, and the key transfer is encrypted.
This makes it impossible for hardware keyloggers to access sensitive access data and passwords.
By locking the standard keyboard channel, “BadUSB” attacks are also a thing of the past: USB sticks that log on to the system as a keyboard cannot inject uncontrolled entries and malicious codes.
Well-known thin client manufacturers have integrated the tools to use this CHERRY Secure Mode feature.
A corresponding solution for Windows® is now also available.
Authentication and authorization of access
Central and fundamental components of modern security concepts are the authentication of users and the authorization of access.
The common password used alone represents a risk factor here: It is forgotten, changed far too seldom, or accidentally disclosed to third parties due to negligence – all with negative consequences.
Fortunately, there are alternatives.
Greater security is achieved through two-factor authentication using a smart card.
Usually, when using this security concept, another component is required in addition to the smart card, namely the terminal with which the card is read.
Contact/contactless card reader and encrypted key transmission
CHERRY follows the “two-in-one” approach and offers a space-saving alternative with the SECURE BOARD 1.0 as the card reader is integrated into the keyboard.
The new addition to the CHERRY portfolio features a contact and contactless card reader located at the back of the keyboard. This can also read RFID and NFC cards or tags.
This equipment opens up a whole range of applications for the new SECURE BOARD 1.0: the keyboard can be utilized for identification systems for closed user groups and, for example, to read company ID cards conveniently.
(See the SECURE BOARD 1.0, an ergonomic keyboard with an integrated reader for smart cards and cards/tags with an RF/NFC interface. Courtesy of CHERRY and YouTube.)
Secure, convenient, and comfortable
In addition to ease of use, CHERRY has, in its customary manner, placed great emphasis on safety.
The integrated card reader meets the highest security standards and complies with the requirements of FIPS-201, the Federal Information Processing Standard Publication 201 (FIPS 201), Personal Identity Verification (PIV) of Federal Employees and Contractors, a standard of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), that specifies the technical requirements for access control for employees and contractors of the U.S. government.
New Roles to Emphasize Understanding and Reacting to Changing Customer Needs
Additionally, to meet the growing needs of the U.S. market, CHERRY has announced the executive promotions of Brandon Geweke and J.C. Holmes.
Brandon has been promoted to Director of Channel Sales and Operations, and Holmes has been promoted to Director of OEM Sales, both of which positions will be tasked with meeting customer needs as the working environment rapidly changes and evolves.
Brandon joined CHERRY in January 2013 and previously served as both Sales Channel Manager and North America Sales Manager.
In his new position as the Director of Channel Sales & Operations, Brandon’s core responsibilities will include strategizing with the headquarters, on ways to maximize sales and continue to advance the growing U.S. operations.
“I am extremely excited to see the rapid growth CHERRY is experiencing globally within all five of our diversified markets; including office security, retail, industrial, healthcare and the consumer space,” said Brandon.
“With our existing customer portfolio, we have a great opportunity to get further in with customers and adapt to their new needs in this unprecedented environment.”
J.C. began working with CHERRY in 2017 and was previously the East Coast Regional Sales Manager for the organization.
As the new Director of OEM Sales, J.C. will aim to increase the US footprint and solidify the company’s status as a key leader in peripherals. He will also be focused on supporting the talent and skilled professionals that make up the CHERRY US Sales team.
“The best part about working with CHERRY is being around a team of truly passionate and driven people,” said J.C..
“I am so confident in the leadership and team we have in place and feel that we will see the company continue to grow at an accelerated pace.”
In his free time, Brandon enjoys exploring the outdoors with his family, while J.C. is an avid golfer and also loves attending charitable events and spending quality time with his three sons.
To learn more about CHERRY, which was recognized in the 2016 and 2017 ‘ASTORS’ Awards, and their complete line of product offerings, please visit https://cherryamericas.com.
CHERRY Returns to Compete in 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is specifically designed to honor distinguished government and vendor solutions that deliver enhanced value, benefit and intelligence to end users in a variety of government, homeland security and public safety vertical markets.
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.
The 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program surpassed expectations with a record number of nominations received from industry leaders and government agencies, and drew over 200 attendees to the ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Banquet – an exclusive gourmet luncheon and networking opportunity which filled to capacity, before having to turn away late registrants.
The event featured an impassioned and compelling keynote address by William J. Bratton, former police commissioner of the New York Police Department (NYPD) twice, the Boston Police Department (BPD), and former chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), as he walked attendees through 50 years of American policing history, the impacts on the communities, and the evolution of critical communication capabilities in our post 9/11 landscape.
Commissioner Bratton, one of the world’s most respected and trusted experts on risk and security issues and Executive Chairman of Teneo Risk a global advisory firm, was recognized as the ‘2019 ‘ASTORS’ Person of the Year’ for his Lifetime of Dedication and Extraordinary Leadership in Homeland Security and Public Safety.
Why the ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program?
American Security Today’s comprehensive Annual Homeland Security Awards Program is organized to recognize the most distinguished vendors of physical, IT, port security, law enforcement, and first responders, in acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to ‘Keep our Nation Secure, One City at a Time.’
Over 200 distinguished guests representing Federal, State and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms, gathered from across North America, Europe and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields which included:
- The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
- United States Marine Corps
- The Federal Protective Service (FPS)
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
- United States Postal Inspection Service
- DHS S&T
- United States Marshals Service (USMS)
- The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Police (PAPD)
- The Department of Justice (DOJ)
- The New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services (NYS DHSES)
- United States Border Patrol
- AlertMedia, Ameristar Perimeter Security, Attivo Networks, Automatic Systems, Bellevue University, BriefCam, Canon U.S.A., CornellCookson, Drone Aviation, FLIR Systems, Hanwha Techwin, HID Global, IPVideo Corp., Konica Minolta Business Solutions, LenelS2, ManTech, Regroup Mass Notifications, SafeLogic, SolarWinds, Senstar, ShotSpotter, Smiths Detection, TCOM LP, Trackforce, Verint, and More!
From innovative Military Cyber Programs, to Local, State and Federal Public Safety and Emergency Management Initiatives, New Physical and IT Products and Services, and Security Professional, Threat Assessment, Emergency Preparedness, Law Enforcement and Homeland Security Education and Training Opportunities – Join your ‘ASTORS’ Award-Winning Peers and Receive the Recognition You Deserve!
Excellence in Public Safety and Government Security Award Nominations are also encouraged, such as those 2019 Honored Winners which includes the DEA, U.S. Marine Corps, DHS S&T, Federal Protective Service, DHS S&T NUSTL, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Border Patrol, The Port Authority of NY/NJ, and the NYS Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services.
Why American Security Today?
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.
American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State and local levels of government as well as firms allied to government.
American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers eyes throughout the story with cutting edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.
Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications
The AST Digital Publications is distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals in federal, state and local levels.
‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’
AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.
Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.
These experts are from Government at the federal, state and local level as well as from private firms allied to government.
AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.
AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.
Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.
To learn more about the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, please go to the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Championship Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2019 ‘A Year in Review’.
The ‘ASTORS’ Champion Edition is published annually and includes a review of the ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firms products and services, includes video interviews and more.
It is your Go-To source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2019 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.
From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION will have what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitgate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.
It also includes featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.
CHERRY Took Home Platinum in 2017 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program
CHERRY
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Best Cyber Security for ID Mgmt & Access Control
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CHERRY Smart Card Reading Devices and Keyboards
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CHERRY card readers meets the highest security standards and complies with the requirements of FIPS-201, the Federal Information Processing Standard Publication 201 (FIPS 201), Personal Identity Verification (PIV) of Federal Employees and Contractors, a standard of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), that specifies the technical requirements for access control for employees and contractors of the U.S. government.
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Chip card readers used by members of the US Government, must be certified in accordance with the NIST Standard FIPS 201-1. This standard defines the minimum requirements placed on access control systems as specified, e.g. in the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD 12). Approved products are published through GSA (General Services Administration) in the APL (Approved Product List).
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CHERRY was also recognized in the 2016 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.
Based in America’s Heartland, CHERRY is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of computer input devices – focusing on applications for offices, industry, security, and German-engineered switches for mechanical keyboards.
Trust based on experience and reliability. CHERRY offers security in the form of a great many product certifications for all keyboards, mice and peripheral devices.
For information on the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program and about advertising opportunities with American Security Today, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:
- Provides named sources
- Reported by more than one notable outlet
- Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos
