PRESS RELEASE

WASHINGTON, March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tom Ridge, the first U.S. secretary of Homeland Security, and Howard A. Schmidt, former Cybersecurity Advisor to President Barack Obama and President George W. Bush, today announced that they are forming Ridge Schmidt Cyber LLC, a consultancy that provides strategic and advisory services that help leaders in business and government navigate the increasing demands of cybersecurity.

Organizations of all types today face a daily and growing assault from nation sates, lone actors and organized crime. The assailants target everything from trade secrets to proprietary information to reputation damage to critical infrastructure and financial systems.

"Many corporate leaders want to be better prepared for the challenges of cyberspace," said Ridge, who along with Schmidt will serve as partner of Ridge Schmidt Cyber. "Cyber attacks and cyber crime have a real – not virtual – impact on operations and the bottom line. The effects are as far reaching, disruptive and consequential as physical attacks, and can make or break organizations that are not sufficiently prepared."

Schmidt noted that the organizations that have shown the most progress in securing their networks likewise have C-suite executives who view cybersecurity as a core business function.

"CEOs who are engaged on matters of cybersecurity put their companies at a competitive advantage," said Schmidt. "Our goal is to help leaders improve their cyber resiliency, so attacks don't impact their systems or their market positions."

Ridge Schmidt Cyber will offer services in design of cybersecurity strategy and architecture, development of policies and procedures, third-party strategic cyber reviews as well as provide access to some of the world's top technical experts from civilian government, military and private sector.

Ridge and Schmidt bring substantial credentials to this new endeavor, including proven expertise from both the public and private sector. Ridge, the first secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 43rd governor of Pennsylvania and current president and CEO of Ridge Global, has more than 30-plus years of experience in all areas of security and economic development. Schmidt brings deep expertise in a four-decades career spanning varied facets of information technology and cybersecurity, including service as Cybersecurity Advisor to Presidents Obama and Bush as well positions as CISO and CSO at Microsoft and CISO at eBay.

About Ridge Schmidt Cyber

Based in Washington, DC, Ridge Schmidt Cyber provides strategic and advisory services that help leaders in business and government navigate the increasing demands of cybersecurity. For further information, please visitwww.ridgeschmidtcyber.com.