The nature of providing health care services is changing, particularly as the focus shifts from hospital-based care to providing care in more cost-effective settings. The introduction of the Affordable Care Act and other key drivers are making it increasing important for health care providers, and their supply companies, to reduce costs for customers and patients, says Greg Halvacs, the Chief Security Officer and Senior Vice President for Global Security, Flight Operations and Global Real Estate at Cardinal Health, a health care services company based in Dublin, Ohio.

 In August, Ryder System Inc. received recognition as a “2014 Great Supply Chain Partner” for the 12th consecutive year. The 12th Annual List was  the result of a six-month online poll in which supply chain professionals were asked to nominate vendors and service providers whose solutions have made a significant impact on their company’s efficiency, customer service and overall supply chain performance.  

Acccording to the 2014 U.S. State of Cybercrime Survey, most U.S. organizations' cybersecurity capabilities do not rival the persistence and technological skills of their cyber adversaries.

Nearly half (45%) of the executives surveyed noted that overseas risks pose a greater threat to their company than domestic ones, while one-third (33%) reported that overseas risks are an equal threat. In addition, nearly half (48%) of the companies had experienced at least one loss related to conducting business overseas over the last three years.

CEOs are focused on growth and performance, and successful security leaders need to focus on supporting and enabling organizational goals. Security needs to be involved in overall organizational performance and avoid being viewed as a narrow, technical function.

Monitoring emerging trends, customer likes and dislikes, and understanding unmet customer needs can determine how rapid a rate of incline or decline your business experiences. Companies spend millions of dollars conducting surveys of customers, potential customers, industry experts and key opinion leaders to determine if their products or services effectively meet, exceed or miss market expectations.

Kroll's annual Cyber Security Forecast highlights seven trends identified by Kroll and suggests that a changing tide in cyber standards, both social and legal, will require organizations to take stronger actions and safeguards to protect against reputational, financial and legal risks in 2014.

France will allow private security forces to protect its shipping fleet against the threat of piracy, according to Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

The Defense Department may now officials exclude contractors or subcontractors from receiving information technology contracts based on the risk their supply chain poses to national security systems, Fierce Government reports.