ATLANTA, May 22, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Just
days after history's largest cyber-attack disrupted business
worldwide and a new executive order from President Trump lent
special urgency to the work of protecting the cybersecurity of
federal networks and critical infrastructure, cybersecurity experts
from both the public and private sectors gathered in Atlanta May 22
for the first Cyber-FORUM.
With a program titled Exploring Payments Resiliency in
Transaction Alley, the event was hosted by the American
Transaction Processors Coalition (ATPC) in conjunction with
Members of the United States
Senate Payments Innovation Caucus. Discussions at the
9:00 a.m.-Noon session at the
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (1000 Peachtree St, NE) centered
on safeguarding against cyber-attacks on Transaction Alley,
the swath of Metro Atlanta where more than 70 percent of all
credit, debit, gift and prepaid card transactions in the United States are processed. Over
$7.4 Trillion in transactions are
processed through payments companies either headquartered in or
have operations in Transaction Alley which is arguably where the
world's largest cluster of payments companies reside.
"Transaction Alley is a global center of gravity for FinTech and
the payments industry. Our payments companies and the products and
services they are the life's blood of our economy," said
H. West Richards, ATPC's
Executive Director. "But the ingenuity and determination of those
who would disrupt – and even destroy – that system is boundless. At
Cyber-FORUM, we examined our industry's challenges and
discussed the next critical steps needed from both the public and
private sectors to assure that cyber attackers cannot succeed."
Richards added, "I could not be more impressed by the leadership
of the United States Senate
Payments Innovation Caucus, Georgia's political leaders and state
agencies, our federal partners in both Atlanta and Washington, DC, and that of the payments
industry in supporting the concept of a Cyber-FORUM. This
will provide a forum for cyber experts in government and industry
to routinely meet and collaborate on issues such as detection,
prevention, and disaster recovery. Improving the cyber resiliency
of Transaction Alley clearly is in the national security interest
of not just the United States, but
our partners around the world.
Symbolizing the Atlanta area's
role as a critical link in the electronic payments network, both of
Georgia's U.S. senators – Sen.
Johnny Isakson (R-GA),
Co-Chairman of the United
States Senate Payments Innovation Caucus, and Sen.
David Perdue (R-GA), a member of
that Caucus, attended the inaugural Cyber-FORUM. Sen.
Perdue chaired the industry panel where he listened to inputs and
perspectives on today's cyber challenges with respect to
Transaction Alley. Sen. Isakson chaired the government panel where
he, too, heard the viewpoints of a very esteemed group of
government experts familiar with the threats to Georgia's Transaction Alley.
"At this first Transaction Alley Cyber-FORUM, we are
bringing together the best minds from both government and the
private sectors to address critical security issues facing the
electronic payments industry and to develop effective solutions,"
said Sen. Isakson. "I am grateful for the American Transaction
Processors Coalition for convening such an important forum,
which is in the best interest of our economic, financial and
national security. I am proud to be a part of it."
Sen. Perdue added, "It's fitting Atlanta is the host of this event, given the
enormous role the region plays in electronic transaction
processing. Companies based here in Transaction Alley, along with
local and state officials, work hard to combat cyber security
threats and stay ahead of the curve. Georgia plays a key role in protecting our
nation's consumers and businesses, and I look forward to working
with everyone here today to continue these efforts."
The keynote address was delivered by Tom Fanning, CEO, President, and Chairman,
Southern Company. Fanning also serves as Chairman, Federal
Reserve Bank of Atlanta, co-chairs
the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council and is Chairman of
the Edison Institute.
Cyber-FORUM included two panels, one from the private
sector and one from the public sector, where the Senators heard
perspectives on current cyber threats, past challenges and the
value of an ongoing Cyber-FORUM platform that will provide
help in securing the very important piece of America's consumer
financial grid that resides in Transaction Alley.
Representatives participating in the industry panel included:
Dr. Rob Martin, Vice
President of Security Solutions, IngenicoGroup North America;
Doug Sandberg, Chief Legal
Officer, WorldpayUS; and Jeff
Schlauder, Chief Security Officer, InComm.
A separate panel on government cybersecurity (at both the state
and federal levels) featured: Chris
Carr, Attorney General, State
of Georgia; Ricardo
Grave-de-Peralta, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, FBI
Atlanta office; John Horn,
United States Attorney, Northern
District of Georgia, U.S.
Department of Justice; Calvin
Rhodes, Executive Director, Georgia Technology
Authority; and Klint Walker,
Cyber Security Advisor for Region IV, Department of Homeland
Security.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cyber-forum-assesses-threats-to-electronic-payments-system-in-transaction-alley-300461505.html
SOURCE American Transaction Processors Coalition (ATPC)