That same study found that the number one feature that consumers look for when developing a trusting relationship with a business or governmental entity is substantial security practices.

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Investigators see it as part of a long-running pattern by a foreign entity to compromise the security of major U.S. companies, people familiar with the matter said.

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Upon close, HP will run Fortify initially as a standalone entity to ensure continuity while targeting the security market.

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The Department of Homeland Security was created and all intelligence was put under one entity, headed by the director of national intelligence.

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The NIC is a government entity that incorporates information from a range of national security agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and several others.

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Second, the Security Council, a diplomatic version of an executive committee, was created to guide this large entity.

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For example, it will be tough to provide the security guarantees that American lawmakers will demand so long as the French and German governments retain influence over the combined entity.

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Traders will be watching to make sure a combined entity doesn't use its influence to drive up fees, said Joseph Cangemi, chairman of the Security Traders Association.

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