Information security breaches cost the corporate community a great deal of money. As Internet becomes available on each employee's PC, and the sensitive data available on the company's Intra-net is also growing, Chief Information Officers require installation of security on the system to protect their privacy. The Israeli market is very receptive to U.S. Information Technology products in general, and to data security products in particular. Local manufacturers are considered global leaders in this sector, and put up fierce competition. Israeli users are known to be on the lookout for the cutting edge technological solutions.
Opportunities are available also through joint-ventures with Israeli technological companies.
Israeli firms look to the U.S. for technological cooperation both in development and manufacture, as well as in marketing and investment. Joint-ventures are widely used, as the similarity in the working methods and the lack of language barriers make cooperation an almost natural solution for both parties involved. Financing Israel has an open exchange system and a well developed and modern system which provides the full range of banking and credit services. Eighty-five percent of total banking assets in Israel are held by Bank Leumi, Bank Hapoalim, Israel Discount Bank and the Mizrahi Bank. These leaders, as well as the First International Bank of Israel, maintain correspondent relationships with U.S. banks, and also have their own subsidiaries in major U.S. cities.