CoC Imlay Dean and Distinguished Professor of Computing Rich DeMillo participated in a panel discussion held at the Coca-Cola Headquarters on May 14. The panelists discussed how the nation's heightened level of security is impacting global business by creating new threats, challenges, and opportunities that have never been experienced by today's society. The program, presented by the Georgia Tech Business Network and the Georgia Tech Coca-Cola Alumni Club, addressed domestic and international security issues including terrorism, privacy & product security. Panelists analyzed the impact each of these issues has across multiple industries.

Pictured from left to right are moderator Chip White (ISyE Chair of Transportation and Logistics), Rich DeMilllo, Chris Klaus (Founder and CTO of Internet Security Systems and Georgia Tech alumnus), and Doug Lewis (CIO of Six Continents Hotels).

In his keynote address, DeMillo said that today's security threats are asymmetric in that there is not one common perimeter of defense to consider but multiple points of entry that could be targeted indirectly and from the inside.

Klaus agreed and added that more investment in information technology is needed in terms of people, education and training. He also recommended that companies build security into their plan rather than after, and that they set common standards for pushing security throughout an organization.

Lewis noted that information technology discussion is increasingly moving into the board room due to security's impact on a company's revenue, accountability and brand.

Created and sponsored by the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Georgia Tech Business Network holds quarterly meetings on a wide variety of topics. For more information, visit www.gtbn.org.