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Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
BeyondTrust Launches Local Hosting of Identity Security Insights™ in the UK and Canada
ATLANTA, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BeyondTrust , the global leader in identity security protecting Paths to Privilege™, today announced the local hosting availability of its Identity Security Insights solution in the United Kingdom and Canada. This strategic expansion meets growing global demand for advanced identity security and enables organizations in these regions to align with local data residency preferences while gaining enhanced protection from identity-based threats. This expansion ensures that UK and Canadian organizations can now benefit from Identity Security Insights' unique ability to provide a unified, cloud-native view of their entire identity landscape. The solution utilizes AI/ML to correlate accounts (human and service) into unified identities and helps uncover hidden paths to privilege and misconfigurations in customers' environments across identity providers and cloud platforms (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS). It also offers contextually rich, threat-aware, and prescriptive recommendations and detections, along with out-of-the-box reporting and visualizations, empowering organizations to proactively identify and address critical identity vulnerabilities. 'Expanding local hosting of Identity Security Insights to the UK and Canada marks a critical step in our mission to help organizations worldwide strengthen their identity security posture,' said Sam Elliott, SVP of Products at BeyondTrust. 'The increasing complexity of cyber threats necessitates robust and adaptable identity security measures. By making Identity Security Insights hosting available in these key regions, we empower more organizations to proactively defend against sophisticated attacks, uncover hidden vulnerabilities, streamline compliance efforts, and ultimately protect their most critical assets with greater precision and confidence.' 'Our customers in Canada increasingly require cybersecurity solutions that respect local data residency laws without sacrificing advanced functionality,' said Chris Kelly, Partner – Chief Operating Officer at Arancia, a BeyondTrust partner. 'With Identity Security Insights now locally available, we can deliver enhanced protection and actionable intelligence that aligns with our clients' compliance needs. This is a win for both security operations teams and end users who rely on seamless, secure access.' BeyondTrust Identity Security Insights has garnered industry recognition, including recognition as a Tech Innovator by CRN® and contributing to a leadership position in the KuppingerCole Leadership Compass for Identity Threat Detection and Response. Its expanding customer base underscores the increasing global market need for comprehensive identity security. Organizations can learn more about BeyondTrust Identity Security Insights and access a complimentary assessment here . About BeyondTrust BeyondTrust is the global identity security leader protecting Paths to Privilege™. Our identity-centric approach goes beyond securing privileges and access, empowering organizations with the most effective solution to manage the entire identity attack surface and neutralize threats, whether from external attacks or insiders. BeyondTrust is leading the charge in transforming identity security to prevent breaches and limit the blast radius of attacks, while creating a superior customer experience and operational efficiencies. We are trusted by 20,000 customers, including 75 of the Fortune 100, and our global ecosystem of partners. Learn more at . Follow BeyondTrust: X: Blog: https:// LinkedIn: Facebook: For BeyondTrust: Mike Bradshaw Connect Marketing for BeyondTrust P: (801) 373-7888 E: mikeb@
Washington Post
25-06-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Inside Nippon Steel's bruising efforts that paved the way to buying U.S. Steel
Nippon Steel's announcement in December 2023 that it would take over U.S. Steel seemed doomed from the start: a deal, cut by a foreign company, involving workers in an iconic American manufacturing industry, in the swing state of Pennsylvania, in a presidential election year. The Japanese steelmaker's executives appeared to underestimate the political ramifications in those early days, a miscalculation they would spend the next 18 months rectifying through an unusually hands-on campaign to secure the deal, according to three people familiar with the company's outreach who like others in this story spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. Nippon Steel declined to comment for this story. In the months before President Joe Biden blocked the sale in January, citing national security concerns, the company's executives held meetings in the Pittsburgh-memorabilia-filled garage office of Mayor Chris Kelly in West Mifflin, home to a U.S. Steel plant; held town halls; cheered on the Steelers; and won over local and state officials whose appeals, Nippon Steel said, to President Donald Trump were key to the eventual acquisition, finalized this month. The whiplash ordeal revealed how investing in America could come with a significant risk even for a staunch U.S. security ally like Japan and that doing business in an increasingly protectionist and politicized environment could be fraught regardless of which party is in the White House, Japanese analysts said. 'Washington is now using national security as pretext for a lot of things, but, actually, many of those things are not [a threat],' said Taro Kono, a Japanese lawmaker and former foreign minister. 'Nippon Steel could have invested years ago, and it took so long. … Politics intervened. And that is not a good sign.' The December 2023 announcement of the takeover from Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel came as a surprise to key Japanese ministries, many Pennsylvania steelworkers and several U.S.-Japan experts who had been following the developments. Nippon Steel had minimal formal lobbying effort in the United States at the time, leaving it vulnerable to the immediate political backlash, the people familiar said. Nippon Steel's early hands-off approach reflected a longstanding Japanese corporate mindset that politics and business should be kept separate, analysts said, which proved impossible in this case. In November, Japan's prime minister wrote a letter to Biden asking him to approve the deal, breaking with Tokyo's stance at that point of not having the country's leader merge politics with business. 'This isn't just about economics anymore; it's about strategic interest,' said a senior Japanese business official unrelated to the deal, speaking anonymously because that person was not authorized to speak publicly. 'One of the most striking takeaways from this Nippon Steel-U.S. Steel deal was how directly government policies can influence business outcomes now.' To many in the Japanese business community, it seemed like a no-brainer deal. Nippon Steel would bring fresh investment and cutting-edge technology, grow American steelmaking and create jobs, the company assured. Both steel companies had already agreed to the merger, after all. It was just a matter of getting Americans to see it that way. Nippon Steel quickly switched to an all-hands-on-deck offensive strategy, hiring Washington powerhouse lobbying firm Akin Gump — which it has paid more than $5 million since 2024, disclosures compiled by OpenSecrets show — to convince decision-makers on Capitol Hill, in the White House and on the National Security Council. As the presidential campaign unfolded, the company also hired lobbying firm Ballard Partners, which has deep ties to Trump's orbit, and brought on Mike Pompeo, Trump's former secretary of state, as an adviser to help with its outreach in Washington. Meanwhile, company executives, led by veteran negotiator Takahiro Mori, embedded in local communities in Pennsylvania. It was a personal approach to lobbying that few Japanese companies had employed until then, analysts said. Through each appearance on local talk radio, trade publications and town halls, Mori's message remained consistent: The deal would be good for America and would protect U.S. jobs. Privately, Mori made the case to Pennsylvania leaders that there was not a better alternative for the state's workers and the future of the American steel industry — and that Nippon Steel would make sure the deal is advantageous to the American side, one of the people familiar with Nippon Steel's efforts said. Company executives also took meetings regardless of party with leaders at all levels, such as union representatives, county commissioners and state lawmakers. Among those lawmakers was Pennsylvania state Sen. Kim Ward (R), who regularly met with Nippon Steel executives in 2024 through the finalization of the deal, her office said. Ward wrote letters to Biden and Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) encouraging them to accept the deal and, during the Trump administration, met with White House staffers and related government agencies to relay the importance of the project, the office said. 'Over the past 18 months, we made numerous trips, investing time and effort in dialogue with political, economic and community leaders,' Mori said in a news conference last week. 'That helped them understand the true value of the deal, which I believe ultimately persuaded Trump.' The grassroots campaign showed the importance of building relationships with stakeholders outside Washington, which the Japanese business community has been increasingly doing, said Jun Sawada, chairman of the Tokyo-based Japan-U.S. Business Council and chairman of Japanese telecommunications company NTT. 'Our strategy is going to change,' Sawada said. '... We have to respect the local side and delegate a lot of the decision to the local side.' To boot, Nippon Steel had a particularly hard-charging chief executive, Eiji Hashimoto, who wouldn't take no for an answer, even when the deal all but seemed to fall apart by the end of the Biden administration. Hashimoto 'really committed to a 100 percent acquisition,' said Yuichi Kori, government affairs expert at Edelman Japan. '... I've never seen a Japanese CEO continue with this strong mind until the completion of the deal. To me, that was amazing.' Trump opposed the purchase during the presidential campaign, but his election presented a new opportunity for the Japanese company. In Biden's final month in office, Nippon Steel sued the administration over its efforts to block the deal, but executives were able to approach the Trump administration with a clean slate. In February, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met with Trump in Washington. Japanese government officials had been facilitating meetings between Nippon Steel and administration officials, and they met with Nippon Steel as they prepared to brief Ishiba ahead of his visit, said a Japanese government official. At a joint news conference after the two leaders' meeting, Trump declared that Nippon Steel's acquisition would be 'an investment, rather than a purchase' — signaling an openness to working out an arrangement. The talking point echoed what Ishiba and Trump discussed, said two other Japanese officials. 'I think, frankly, that was inspired. And that opened the door to a larger conversation about how it would work,' said William Chou, deputy director of the Hudson Institute's Japan Chair. Ishiba's involvement also reflected a broader acknowledgement among Japanese officials and businesses that there was a lot on the line in U.S.-Japan relations if the deal fell through, said Joshua Walker, president of Japan Society: 'They understood that if this deal got killed, it would put a pretty serious cloud over all deals in the U.S.' The moment was a turning point that showed Trump — who has called for foreign companies to invest in America and wanted to revive the U.S. manufacturing industry — would be negotiable, analysts said. Nippon Steel sweetened the deal with $11 billion in investments by 2028 on top of the acquisition. And the company doubled down on terms that it had agreed to previously: a corporate board made up of a majority of U.S. citizens and an American chief executive. Ultimately, the negotiations ended in an extraordinary move to grant the U.S. government a 'golden share,' which would allow it to retain oversight and veto power on certain corporate functions, including transferring jobs outside the United States. Nippon Steel and the U.S. government also signed a national security agreement. The deal has now prompted concerns over whether Japanese companies would need to forge a golden share-like agreement in future U.S. deals, Sawada said. With the ongoing tariff negotiations with the U.S., Japanese companies are grappling with an increasingly protectionist America, Sawada said. 'We need to recognize that the world order has already changed from a globalism to ... country-first and trade-issue [focused] models, back to 100 years [ago],' Sawada said. Last month, Trump held a rally in West Mifflin to greenlight the agreement. Even until the rally, company executives weren't sure where the U.S. president would land, Hashimoto said during a news conference in Tokyo last week. 'The employees, including union members, asked him to approve the deal and cheered his speech,' Hashimoto said. 'That's when I thought: We're going to make it.' On June 13, Trump signed an executive order enabling the acquisition. Nippon Steel and the U.S. government reached their agreement past midnight. 'When we walked out after midnight, that's when I finally believed it was real,' Mori said. Chie Tanaka contributed to this report.
Business Wire
19-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
United States Postal Service Recognizes Zebra Technologies with Supplier Performance Award
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Zebra Technologies Corporation, a global leader in digitizing and automating frontline workflows, today announced the United States Postal Service (USPS) presented the company with a Supplier Performance Award for being critical to the success of Postal Service operations and services. 'Zebra is honored to be recognized by the USPS for our innovative solutions that connect their frontline workers, both out on routes and across their sorting and delivery centers across the country,' said Chris Kelly, SVP and GM, NA, Zebra Technologies. Share The award presented at the 2025 National Postal Forum (NPF) recognized Zebra for its support of a new USPS custodial initiative called 'Eagle Clean,' which is focused on the modernization of scheduling, tracking, approving, and reviewing custodial work. USPS frontline workers now have access to the Eagle Clean mobile application through Zebra TC77 touch computers at each facility, allowing them to enter their time clock rings and receive their routine, periodic, and supplemental work assignments at each facility. Zebra is one of the leading providers of technology solutions empowering postal and courier operators around the world with innovative solutions to digitize and automate their operations and address the evolving needs of their customers. During the formal NPF Awards Ceremony, the USPS noted Zebra plays an instrumental role in supporting the technological needs for Sorting and Delivery Center activations and provides excellent customer support for the Eagle Clean initiative, ensuring on-time implementation and delivery to all 50 districts nationwide. Zebra worked collaboratively with numerous groups across the Postal Service to ensure the timely and seamless delivery of equipment and the ongoing maintenance of its devices. Today, Zebra's TC77 devices provide the USPS with critical near real-time data, including safety alerts for frontline supervisors and carriers. 'Zebra is honored to be recognized by the USPS for our innovative solutions that connect their frontline workers, both out on routes and across their sorting and delivery centers across the country,' said Chris Kelly, Senior Vice President and General Manager, North America, Zebra Technologies. 'The USPS' award highlights Zebra's role as a trusted supplier to leading postal and courier operators across the world as they respond to the challenges of today and adapt to the changing needs of their customers tomorrow.' The Postal Service's Supplier Performance Awards program celebrates the efforts of suppliers involved in its supply chain management who make outstanding contributions to its success. Zebra is a long-standing supplier to the USPS and was also recognized in 2022 with a Supplier Performance Award for outstanding service and delivery. KEY TAKEAWAYS Zebra received a 2025 USPS Supplier Performance Award for its contributions to the success of Postal Service operations and services. In 2024, Zebra supported a new USPS initiative called 'Eagle Clean,' which modernized scheduling, tracking, approving, and reviewing custodial work with the Zebra TC77 touch computer. Zebra is committed to continuing to deliver innovative solutions for the USPS, empowering its frontline workers to drive efficiency, meet the evolving needs of the American public, and help ensure sustainable growth for the future. ABOUT ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES Zebra (NASDAQ: ZBRA) provides the solutions to help businesses grow through increased asset visibility, connected frontline workers, and intelligent automation. The company operates in more than 100 countries, and our customers include over 80% of the Fortune 500. Designed for the frontline, Zebra's award-winning portfolio includes hardware, software, and services, all backed by our 50+ years of innovation and global partner ecosystem. Follow Zebra on our blog and LinkedIn, visit our newsroom and learn more at
CBS News
18-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Mon Valley mayors applaud U.S. Steel-Nippon Steel deal
The deal is done. U.S. Steel and Nippon say they've finalized their partnership. The promise is to keep their headquarters in Pittsburgh along with thousands of jobs. While some of the details are still limited, according to municipal leaders in the Mon Valley, plants should get investments, making them better for the environment and community development. Mon Valley mayors: "This is a great day" A U.S. Steel spokesperson said under the deal, there will be no decreases to steel production at the Mon Valley Works for at least 10 years and no job losses as a result of the transaction. "Everything I can see, it's a great move for the country and the community," West Mifflin Mayor Chris Kelly said. The companies say Nippon will make about $11 billion in new investments in U.S. Steel by 2028, including an initial investment in a greenfield project. A majority of the board of directors will be U.S. citizens, as well as key management personnel, including the CEO. The companies also say U.S. Steel "will maintain capacity to produce and supply steel from its U.S. production locations to meet market demand" in the U.S., and that Nippon won't interfere with U.S. Steel's ability to pursue trade action under U.S. law. According to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, U.S. Steel will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Steel. "This is a great day for all of us," North Braddock Mayor Cletus Lee said. The deal also comes with a "golden share" to the U.S., giving the government the right to appoint an independent director and giving the president consent rights on certain issues like reducing the committed capital investments under the National Security Agency and transferring production jobs outside of the United States. "I think this is going to give everybody a peace of mind to say, 'You know what, U.S. Steel and Nippon's going to be here.' This mill is going to be an asset to the community," said Clairton Mayor Richard Lattanzi. The Coke Works make up 30% of Clairton's tax base. United Steelworkers union vows to hold Nippon to its commitments In a statement, the United Steelworkers union said they feel their concerns have been continually downplayed but they are determined to hold Nippon to its commitments. The union's current agreement expires in September 2026. "Rest assured, if our job security, pensions, retiree health care or other hard-earned benefits are threatened, we are ready to respond with the full strength and solidarity of our membership," the union said.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
West Mifflin mayor reacts to President Trump's executive order promoting investment into U.S. Steel
President Trump signed an executive order Friday night that removes the block Former President Joe Biden had placed on the U.S. Steel-Nippon Steel deal in January. The 14.9 billion dollar buyout of U.S. Steel by Nippon can now proceed after a national security agreement was signed, reportedly resolving 'credible evidence' that the Japanese company 'might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States.' President Trump wrote in the executive order that, based on recommendations of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, the threat can be adequately mitigated. But the order does not provide details on the perceived threat. President Trump and other politicians involved in negotiations have suggested that the US would be given a 'golden share' in the Nippon owned US. Steel that would allow the government to veto certain business decisions. We spoke with West Mifflin's Mayor who says the news is thrilling for all of the Mon Valley. Mayor Chris Kelly said, 'It's big news all the way around. So U.S. Steel and Nippon is going to mine it here, ship it here, build it here with American workers is great news! It's not only going to save jobs, but it's going to create jobs. This has the potential of saving 10-thousand, 11-thousand jobs right off the bat but when they do the modifications to the steel plants and put new rolling mills in that's going to create 5 to 6-thousand jobs right off the bat to construct those.' In response to Friday's news, both companies thanked President Trump and his administration saying: 'This partnership will bring a massive investment that will support our communities and families for generations to come. We look forward to putting our commitments into action to make American steelmaking and manufacturing great again.' Details of the merger and the national security agreement have not been made public. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
