Keeping Security in Shape

Terrorism vs Security = Offensive vs. Defense

I see the terrorism/global crime vs. protective authorities in terms of offense versus defense. Those on offense are the ones that are always "thinking outside the box" finding new ways to penetrate defenses and accomplish their mission. The US Homeland Security apparatus is not equipped to "think outside the box" and is stuck in static defensive mode. I have not encountered one single TSA agent that demonstrated initiative or creativity in executing his or her job. The activities and decision making processes of customs, border patrol, and many other protective service agents are bound by policies and procedures that were developed in response to past terrorist or criminal actions not in anticipation of how best a bad guy may accomplish his objective. What is kind of comical is that when there is "actionable intelligence" the DHS sends out press releases of their stepped up security practices - talk about tipping your hand.
When security/military forces are on offense -  disrupting and targeting criminal/terrorist organizations or cells, then you see the "thinking outside the box" phenomenon in play.

Special Event Security Planning

Planning security arrangements overseas or domestically for one time special events is no easy task. Though there are lots of tools in the tool box to plan for events, often the minor things are overlooked when it comes to security. Here are 5 areas which sometimes get lost in the sauce of security planning:

1. Accessibility - open to the public events are great, but a thorough registration process can not only help develop business intelligence but can also provide an obstacle for those with ulterior motives. Limiting entrances to your event will also help in reducing manpower costs provided there will be no additonal risks to anyone's safety or security.

2. Calendar Conflicts - Make sure that your event does not upset others due to a date's significance or timing. Planning a 3-day event in September is fine, but what if one of the dates is September 11th, do you think that attendees will be focused on the subject matter particular to your organization or discussing the fact that it has been 10 years since the attacks? Though you can't please everyone, be aware of major religious holidays for several faiths and look out for the possibility of any competition for parking or hotels if a major sporting or political event is occurring in town.

3. Proximity - Your organization or the venue may be innocuous but perhaps a facility across the street has an elevated threat profile. In many cases less than savory nightclubs are located near convention centers, alerting your attendees to avoid dark alleys or certain cross streets is a step in the right direction. If your venue is adjacent to property or offices belonging to controversial organizations, investigate if there are any planned demonstrations against such groups during the time frame of your event. Though demonstrations are sometimes initiated overnight versus a year plus of planning a special event, it is important to plan for such an contigency.

4. The Hotel Lobby and Activity Board- Lobbies are open 24/7 in most instances and are designed for people to feel welcome. If your event requires an elevated level of security, use an alternative name when registering the event with the hotel or banquet manager. The last thing you want as a security manager is for the name and nature of your event to be advertised in the hotel lobby if only a selected number of people are invited to attend. The invited attendees will know why they are there, no one else has to know.

 5. Low Level Contract Security - The security company (if not in -house) you hire for an event is a reflection of your organization. To satisfy insurance requirements of hotels or other venues, the hosting organization must be responsible for security. Just by having security officers standing outside in an access control capacity is not enough; how do the officers dress, communicate, do they look capable of handling crowd control duties? If celebrities or dignitaries are expected at your event; it will be quite embarassing if a security officer can't recognize a celebrity or know how to coordinate with the detail leaders of other security teams.

Must Haves for a Security Agent

A Close Protection Agent has countless tasks that he or she must tend to in order to ensure that the VIP/principal remains secure. Surprisingly, a fair number of agents (mostly independent contractors) operate with minimal to no health insurance coverage nor disability coverage. For the agent that gets injured on the job, hopefully his or employer's Workman's Compensation coverage will foot the necessary medical bills and living stipends until the agent recovers. Unfortunately getting injured away from the job can also lead to several financial and health pitfalls. 

Must Have #1 Health Insurance - Even if one rarely gets sick, is in the spring of life, feels invincible, all it takes is one rep on the power rack to wrong, a car accident, burning ones hand on ones own stove, medical aid will be required and this costs lots of money out of pocket with no medical plan.

Must Have # 2 Disability Insurance- Think of medical care as simply a band aid to remedy an ailment. Based on the medical plan one has, a portion of the costs of the procedures will be paid for by insurance. What if one's injuries will sideline him or her for 4- 6 months or longer, how does one get paid? Medical insurance won't cover it, auto insurance might, but even in a best case scenario one can't expect payment until at least a year or so after the fact.

Disability insurance exists for the purpose of having a source of income in case the individual is harmed and is not fit for duty. Though premiums can be high based on the amount of coverage desired, one has to look at their long term earning potential and evaluate the dangers of being sidelined indefinitely. 

Must Have # 3 For the sole proprietor, having general liability insurance is key in case one should ever be found negligent in execution of ones services. Refer to an attorney or accountant in regards to how best one should structure their firm.

So to the protective agents  - before you protect your clients; protect yourselves first.

 

 

 

 

 

Aviation Security

Apparently people are being rubbed the wrong way when confronted with airport security. The TSA is turning into such a behemoth of under trained government employees, we might have better luck with the Keystone Cops. Unfortunately the chances that a government operated aviation security entity will execute their mission with the highest degree of competence is slim and none. Though much as been talked about the possibility of replicating Israel's success, it will be impossible to implement in the US. Here's three short reasons why:

1. Selection process for screeners: Serve in the military or a police unit, pass a background test, pass a psychometric test, pass multiple interviews, speak multiple languages, demonstrate a capability to identify suspcious behaviors, and the training process and probationary period. Imagine if the TSA screeners had to meet such criteria.

2. Armed security - must previously have served in a field combat/police unit, command experience in military or police unit, background test, interview process, psychometric test, fitness test, plus depending on the particular security unit, an intensive training and weapons course and probationary period. Though US police and federal authorities are the only armed security at US Airports, their mission is reactive not pro-active.

3. For the TSA to hire such individuals that possess the intelligence, social, cultural, and physical skill sets required for either of the jobs, they will have to pay such high salaries so that potential candidates won't apply their skills in other careers.

Israel has the advantage of getting veterans of the IDF at 21 or 22 years of age. Your general security screener or protective agent, will work for a few years while pursuing a college degree. Then focus on a career of their choosing, few continue on within the security administration. There are always fresh highly trained candidates available.

Since hiring thousands of individuals with the ability to identify suspicious behaviors will be too expensive, the TSA instructs its minions to look for explosives only. The TSA selection process leaves a lot to be desired.

Defensive Tactics Instructor Course

Open publication - Free publishing - More le

US State Department's Office of the Coordinator for Counter Terrorism

A lot goes on at the US State Department from consular operations to terrorism investigations. The Office of the Coordinator of Counter Terrorism aggregates all sorts of data on top of forging diplomatic relations with US allies in the fight against terrorism. From their website:

Led by Ambassador-at-Large Daniel Benjamin, the primary mission of the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism (S/CT) is to forge partnerships with non-state actors, multilateral organizations, and foreign governments to advance the counterterrorism objectives and national security of the United States.  Working with our U.S. Government counterterrorism team, S/CT takes a leading role in developing coordinated strategies to defeat terrorists abroad and in securing the cooperation of international partners.

Like with any government agency, there are always agendas of politicians that can skew a true assessment of the threat of terrorism.

Special message for my Technorati friends.:
RQK3MHHSB5MA

Murdered Spy, was someone sending a message?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/7963441/Murdered-British-spy-found-stuffed-into-sports-bag-in-bath-of-London-flat.html

A Lot of Spooking Going Around

Espionage or rather those who partake in it do so for 4 major reasons:

1. Money (I would also include sex, drugs, or some mood alerting activity in this category)

2. Ideology

3. Coercion/Compromise

4. Ego

The recent Russian spies deported to Russia in a spy exchange appear to have committed espionage for love of Mother Russia - ideology.

It is too early to determine why the US Army Analyst, Bradley Manning, who is allegedly responsible for leaking 90,000 classified documents to Wikileaks.org, perpetrated such an act. Did he do so for the challenge of it (ego), did his allegiance to his country change (ideology) or was he pressured to collect and leak the documents (coercion/compromise). Only time will tell what investigators discover as to the origins of Manning's actions.

Wikileaks.org owner Julian Assange did not commit espionage in the classical sense he just disseminated the raw intelligence allegedly provided him by Manning. Assange's website's sole purpose is to be a destination for people to expose secrets. Assange's website can definitely be considered a tool to be used in a number of espionage operations such as propaganda and disinformation campaigns or to undermine the integrity of ongoing private or government initiatives.

A Day Late and a Dollar Short

Detection is one of the first steps in prevention of an impending terrorist or other criminal attack. 17 years after the first attack on the World Trade Center, a new government security initiative is taking shape. better late than never.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/06/30/parking.lot.security/index.html?hpt=C2