NEW YORK, Jan. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 100
Resilient Cities – Pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation (100RC)
today announced a new partnership with Microsoft Corporation to
help cities build cyber security strategies and combat online
threats. Microsoft is joining 100RC's "Platform Partners" – a
group of organizations from the public, private, and nonprofit
sectors that provide critical tools to help cities around the world
become more resilient to the shocks and stresses that are a growing
part of the 21st century.
"As governments become increasingly reliant on digital
communications and commerce, cyber security has emerged as a top
priority for our cities," said Michael
Berkowitz. "By partnering with an industry leader such
as Microsoft, we are helping our cities build resilience so they
can serve their citizens better in both good times and bad, and
more ably address the challenges they face in a 21st
century world."
Microsoft empowers cities to embrace the increasingly digital
landscape through Microsoft CityNext – an initiative aimed at
helping cities increase productivity and efficiency by implementing
social, mobile, cloud and data technology solutions.
"Security, resiliency and technology are all intertwined in
today's cities," said Rob Bernard,
chief environmental and cities strategist for Microsoft. "With
Microsoft CityNext, we are working with city leaders to help them
identify and address cyber, physical and resource vulnerabilities.
With proper planning and tools, it is possible for resilient cities
to be more prepared for not only the stresses and shocks that may
occur, but also to provide a better and more vibrant city through
the use of information and technology. We are proud to partner with
100RC to allow cities to better leverage technology to meet their
growing needs."
By working closely with a global partner network of specialized
smart city solution partners and company cybersecurity experts
Microsoft will provide the following to select 100RC member
cities:
- Best practices and resources for cities to develop a
cybersecurity strategy as part of their resilience program
- Cybersecurity experts who will lead workshops to help cities
prioritize their cyber needs.
- Facilitation of cybersecurity knowledge exchanges at
100RC-organized city workshops.
These tools will be made available to select members of 100RC's
Network, and will be used to help design and implement the cities'
long term resilience strategies. Platform partners are a
vital component of 100RC's efforts, both helping provide cities
with tools they need to build resilience, and also influencing the
market as other resilience tools are developed. Platform
partners are from the private sector, public sector, NGO, and
academic community.
Platform partners are dedicated to providing 100RC Network
cities with solutions that integrate Big Data, Analytics,
Technology, resilience land use planning, infrastructure design,
and new financing and insuring products. Other 100RC platform
partners include Swiss Re, Palantir, the World Bank, Architecture
for Humanity the American Institute of Architects, and Sandia
National Laboratories.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
"MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services, devices and
solutions that help people and businesses realize their full
potential.
About 100 Resilient Cities—Pioneered by The Rockefeller
Foundation
100 Resilient Cities - Pioneered by the Rockefeller
Foundation (100RC) is dedicated to helping cities around the
world become more resilient to the physical, social and economic
challenges that are a growing part of the 21st century.
100RC supports the adoption and incorporation of a view
of resilience that includes not just the shocks – earthquakes,
fires, floods, etc. – but also the stresses that weaken the
fabric of a city on a day to day or cyclical basis. Examples
of these stresses include high unemployment; an overtaxed or
inefficient public transportation system; endemic violence; or
chronic food and water shortages. By addressing both the
shocks and the stresses, a city becomes more able to respond to
adverse events, and is overall better able to deliver basic
functions in both good times and bad, to all populations.
Cities in the 100RC network are provided with the resources
along four main pathways: 1) Financial and logistical guidance for
establishing an innovative new position in city government, a Chief
Resilience Officer, who will lead the city's resilience efforts; 2)
Expert support for development of a robust resilience building
strategy; 3) Access to solutions, service providers, and partners
from the private, public and NGO sectors who can help them develop
and implement their resilience strategies; and 4) Membership in a
global network of member cities who can learn from and help each
other. Through these offerings, 100RC aims not only help individual
cities become more resilient, but to facilitate the creation of a
global practice of resilience building.
100 Resilient Cities—Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation is
financially supported by The Rockefeller Foundation and managed as
a sponsored project by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA), an
independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides
governance and operational infrastructure to its sponsored
projects.
Learn more about RPA at www.rockpa.org
the Rockefeller Foundation
at www.rockefellerfoundation.org/about-us
and the Microsoft Global and Security Strategy and Diplomacy
team at
http://www.microsoft.com/security/cybersecurity/
CONTACT:
100RC:
Maxwell Young
MYoung@100RC.org
+1-646-612-7142
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