U.S. Chamber of Commerce Joins Champion Network to Help Protect Businesses from Cyber Threats

WASHINGTON, DC — The Cyber Readiness Institute (CRI) today welcomed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (U.S. Chamber) as the newest member of its Cyber Readiness Champion Network. A leader in the effort to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) protect their enterprises from digital threats, CRI is excited to partner with the world’s largest business organization to provide SMBs with free, practical cybersecurity tools and resources.

The U.S. Chamber has hosted cybersecurity events tailored for small and medium-sized business leaders around the nation. Now, the U.S. Chamber’s discussions can fully utilize CRI-developed resources, which include everything from training materials and policy guidance to other materials that help remind employees to be vigilant.

“By connecting with business owners at conferences around America and providing thought leadership to its members on the importance of cybersecurity for SMBs, the U.S. Chamber has taken a leading role in making small and midsized organizations more secure,” said CRI’s Managing Director Kiersten Todt. “I have been fortunate to collaborate with experts from the U.S. Chamber on cybersecurity in various capacities over the years and I look forward to speaking at one of their workshops for SMBs later this month in Houston. The Cyber Readiness Institute is pleased to be collaborating with the U.S. Chamber and sharing our resources and tools for SMBs to help inform their work in this space. “

The U.S. Chamber is the 38th organization to join CRI’s Champion Network. Champions work with CRI to help raise awareness of the importance of cybersecurity for SMBs and to distribute the CRI Cyber Readiness Program. The Program is free and available online. It is fully customizable and takes organizations through a step-by-step process to improve cybersecurity, regardless of industry sector, size, or maturity.

“We know cyber threat actors are targeting small business employees and customers. These actors assume, sometimes rightly, that small businesses don’t have the resources to protect themselves, as well as larger, more heavily resourced organizations” said Christopher D. Roberti, senior vice president for cyber, intelligence, and security policy at the U.S. Chamber. “CRI’s tools help small business owners foster a company culture that promotes the value of cyber hygiene that is critical to company and customer success.”

CRI leadership will take part in the U.S. Chamber’s Cybersecurity Series in Houstonon May 29. This forum will focus on recent developments in cyber insurance. For more information, contact the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at cybersecurity@uschamber.com.

About the Cyber Readiness Institute

The Cyber Readiness Institute (CRI) convenes senior leaders of global companies—including Mastercard, Microsoft, ExxonMobil, Maersk, General Motors and others from around the world—to share best practices and resources to improve the cyber readiness of small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Institute’s co-chairs are Samuel J. Palmisano, retired president and CEO, IBM and current chairman, The Center for Global Enterprise; Ajay Banga, president and CEO, Mastercard; Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft; and Penny Pritzker, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce and current chairman, PSP Partners. The managing director of CRI is Kiersten Todt, former executive director of the Presidential Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity.

About the US Chamber of Commerce

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.