Cyber security likely will be the focus of information technology executives in 2010, a panel of experts said during a RichTech discussion yesterday. And those technology threats can be small and come from within, but they also can escalate into a new version of war. “Cyber threats used to be issues of fraud,“ said Michael E. Ruiz, chief technology officer for network-enabled operation support at Deloitte Consulting LLP, which does federal contracting. “It’s really an issue of sovereign states fighting sovereign states.“

If you think gathering connections on LinkedIn is harmless, think again. Say you’re an executive whose connections consist mostly of clients. If a client or colleague recommends someone and you accept them into your network, you could unintentionally grant a competitor access to an unofficial client list, said Terry Gudaitis, vice president of cyber intelligence with the Arlington firm Cyveillance Inc.

Every month, Mark Gulling, president of global business services and chief information officer at MeadWestvaco, holds a “straight talk” meeting with employees. It’s a chance for staff members to ask questions about whatever is on their minds. The discussions can be difficult, and some have revolved around layoffs or other cuts. “The formula I have is really simple—it’s one of honesty,“ Gulling said.