Keeping Tabs

This issue dives into a topic that continues to make national headlines cyber security Major security breaches continue to occur with disturbing frequency, affecting national entities that we would assume have top-notch security systems in place to protect against hack attacks. Hackers and those who protect against them are in a constant game of cat-and-mouse, and the threat is real for all businesses, including financial institutions Earlier this year, a Fargo technology company Sycorr deployed a service its leaders created with the intent of learning more about its target customer, banks and credit unions, but it soon uncovered some unexpected findings with regards to industr y members’ website security At the risk of offending its potential customers, the firm released its findings in order to alert them to the potential for damage. Read “Securing the Bank” to learn about the study, the risk and how to fix it.

For those looking to finance new projects, attracting major investors to rural America can be a challenge despite the region’s strong economies and potential for returns With that in mind, the federal government announced a $10 billion loan fund earlier this summer geared toward giving promising projects in -rural America the financial shot in the arm they need Contributing writer Rob Swenson looks at the details of the fund and whether local investors think it will have the intended impact in his feature article, “A New Approach.”

Also this month, we turn our attention to the skies to examine some of the wind projects under way in the region Oil and gas have dominated the energy conversation in the northern Plains for some time, and rightly so, but a growing number of wind farms are being approved and moving ahead as the region works to satisfy not only its own growing appetite for energy, but also the ever-increasing renewable energy standards in other states Read “Realizing Potential” to learn more about a project in southeastern South Dakota that could become one of the largest wind farms ever built in the U S , and a wind farm under construction along the North Dakota-Canada border that marks the entry of an international renewable energy developer to our area

Finally, it’s once again time to recognize the young professionals in our region that are continuing to drive the northern Plains to excellence. We’re accepting nominations for this year ’ s top 40 under 40 through Oct 17 I encourage you to take a moment to nominate the go-getters in your profession and community who deserve to be included on the list To nominate, visit prairiebizmag com, and look for the results in our December issue

KORRIE WENZEL, Publisher

RONA JOHNSON, Executive Editor

KRIS BEVILL, Editor

BETH BOHLMAN, Circulation Manager

KRIS WOLFF, Layout Design, Ad Design

Sales Director:

JOHN FETSCH

701 212 1026 jfetsch@prairiebizmag com

Sales:

BRAD BOYD - western ND/western SD 800 641 0683 bboyd@prairiebizmag com

SHELLY LARSON - eastern ND/western MN 701.866.3628 slarson@prairiebizmag.com

Editor:

KRIS BEVILL

701.306.8561 kbevill@prairiebizmag.com

Editorial Advisors:

Dwaine Chapel, Executive Director, Research Park at South Dakota State University; Bruce Gjovig, Director, Center for Innovation; Lisa Gulland-Nelson, Vice President, Marketing and PR , Greater Fargo Moorhead EDC; Tonya Joe (T.J.) Hansen, Assistant Professor of Economics, Minnesota State University Moorhead; Dusty Johnson, Chief of Staff for South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s office; Brekka Kramer, General Manager of Odney; Matthew Mohr, President/CEO, Dacotah Paper Company; Nancy Straw, President, West Central Initiative

Prairie Business magazine is published monthly by the Grand Forks Herald and Forum Communications Company with offices at 375 2nd Avenue North, Grand Forks, ND 58203 Qualifying subscriptions are available free of charge Back issue quantities are limited and subject to availability ($2/copy prepaid) The opinions of writers featured in Prairie Business are their own Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, artwork are encouraged but will not be returned without a self-addressed, stamped envelope

Subscriptions Free subscriptions are available online to qualified requestors at www prairiebizmag com

Address corrections

Prairie Business magazine PO Box 6008

Grand Forks, ND 58206-6008

Beth Bohlman: bbohlman@prairiebizmag com

Online www.prairiebizmag.com

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