Peter Guerrero, Director of Physical Infrastructure Inquires at the General Accounting Office in 2003 stated that it would costs billions of dollars to properly secure the 3.9 million miles of roads, 600,000 bridges, 361 ports, and 5,000 public use airports in the United States.

Most hackers are able to breech an organizations network security systems due to an inside component.

There are nine varieties of cyber crime that are considered: theft of services; communications in furtherance of criminal conspiracies; information piracy and forgery; the dissemination of offensive materials (including extortion threats); electronic money laundering; electronic vandalism and terrorism; telemarketing fraud; illegal interception; and electronic funds transfer fraud.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that counterfeit and pirated products account for 5 percent to 7 percent of the global economy, and results in the loss of more than 750,000 jobs and approximately $250 billion in sales to the United States alone.

Economic espionage or intellectual property theft conducted by insiders, competitors or combinations of the two are the most tangible, most common and most destructive threats. Such an attack can take many forms, like an employee, a member of the management team, a corporate board member, a third-party contract manufacturer or a collaborative partner in a joint venture.

"Companies must understand that they are at risk from terrorists, kidnappers, pirates, and spies and that these threats can substantially affect their earnings and their reputation. In addition, they are responsible for their employees' continued safety. For businesses the bottom line is the bottom line and terrorism, kidnapping, piracy, and economic espionage cost them money."

Testimony of Frank J. Cilluffo, Senior Policy Analyst, Center of Strategic and Planning Studies before the Committee of National Security, Veterans Affairs, and International Relations U.S. House Committee on Government Reform 4/3/2001.

U.S. corporations, physical assets and employees are attractive targets as businesses are seen as symbols of American power and authority abroad. Furthermore, they are considered more of a “soft” target as compared with governmental organizations and facilities.

Whether driven by political or economic motivations, independent operators, foreign nations, and terrorist groups have a vested interest in attempting to gather proprietary information or disruption of services from U.S. corporations.

Over 70% of kidnaps are resolved by ransom payment. In contrast, less than 10% of victims are rescued.

Some of the highest ransoms paid since 1990 range from US$ 19.5 million to US$ 77.5 million. There is a potentially catastrophic impact on the business, the reputation of the company and the morale of the employees.