Time: 18:41 ~ In this second installment of PRS Radio, Joe Zaccaria, Managing Director of Consulting interviews Daniel Nietzel of Fighting Chance Solutions, makers of The Sleeve and Rampart. In the event of an active shooter incident, The Sleeve and Rampart work with two different door types to prevent a shooter from entering a room.
This article could easily be titled, “The Things People Do”. When it comes to assessing business continuity and resumption (BCR), I think I have seen it all until the next assignment. Here are some gems to get you thinking about your environment and things to keep your eyes on.
I once worked in a very secure environment that required security clearances for everyone, including the custodians. It was a critical operation that had to function with 99.999 reliability. On my first day I inspected the building and grounds from top to bottom with the Facility Manager. My role was Security and Business Continuity Manager. I had us commence the tour in the subbasement “bunker” of the building. We entered an electrical vault and I could not believe my eyes. Despite massive amounts of money spent on a post-disaster structure, the architect created a nightmare from a business continuity perspective. In this same room that was only about 8′ x 12′, he designed it to house the main electrical panel for the entire building. What’s wrong with that you ask? Well, also inside the room with this panel was the primary electrical transformer. Does it get worse? YES. Also housed in this room was the backup transformer hanging disconnected on a pipe and suspended off the ground, ready to be placed into action, if needed. Well conceivably if the primary transformer blew up, wouldn’t it damage the backup sitting across from it and possibly the main electrical panel sitting next to it? The estimate to correct this was over $400,000. The Things People Do.
Today’s tech companies use Virtual Private Networks (VPN’s) as a standard way to facility work from home and secure connectivity for employees. One client has a sit that at the time had a headcount of 140 FTE’s. However, that was expected to rise exponentially in the next few months. Everyone in this operation has a laptop. Everyone has a cell phone. Laptops and cell phones are all that is required for this client to get it’s work done. Simple? The biggest challenge here for BCR was that the VPN requires licenses and with pending headcount soaring in several cities, there would be a shortage of VPN licenses and possibly no budget to purchase more. It’s great that all employees have the tools and infrastructure required to get the job done and looking at the layout of the city, even internet connectivity has been great during past natural disasters. However, this client’s operations could be severely restricted due to a simple thing…VPN licenses. We have now seen this problem several times in our consulting practice at numerous client sites. What about yours?
These are just a couple of examples of the many things you may encounter as you chip away at your Business Continuity and Resumption Planning. The Business Continuity Institute (BCI) has courses and guides that may also assist you. Thanks to my good friend, Clive Lunn for reminding me after my last post!
Behavioral threat assessment is an essential tool for reducing risk in places of employment. While the workplace is traditionally thought of as a place to go to focus on projects relative to one’s employment and interact with your peers for collaboration & innovation, there are external as well as internal threats that security & risk managers must deal with on a regular daily basis. Domestic violence seeps into the workplace often times creating an uncomfortable environment for the threatened individual and perhaps their colleagues, rendering an unproductive work environment for all. Workplace violence incidents have become fairly mainstream in recent years with semi-regular reminders in the news that those who wish to do us harm are out there and often times do present precursors to others who may not consider reporting odd or irregular behaviors to management.
Whether it be domestic issues spilling into the workplace, or internal threats of employee on employer violence, both need to be taken very seriously. The Risk Management Team for the organization should review each event together to agree upon next steps towards resolution. These next steps may include the need for bringing in an outside consultant who is experienced in dealing with such behaviors on a regular basis. It could also include additional support services for surveillance on the person creating the threatening situation or perhaps protective agents to be put into place for the person being threatened; in select cases it may require both. However, every robust and holistic risk management program should have a Behavioral Psychologist who specializes in Workplace Incidents to have them conduct and facilitate the Behavioral Threat Assessment of the individual creating the problem in or for the workplace. The Behavioral Threat Assessment will help establish the baseline needs in the next steps in resolving the problem.
Here at PRS, we offer a packed service with having Dr. Michael Corcoran on retainer with us to help provide you with peace of mind in the Behavioral Threat Assessment process. We believe in a “menu” approach to provide comfort and reduce fear. Depending upon the severity of each individual circumstance, PRS can further provide the surveillance operatives to monitor the activities of the person posing the threat to gain additional intelligence on the person’s whereabouts, activities, demeanor, etc and/or deploy our protective services agents to create a much more comfortable environment for the person(s) being threatened so you can sleep well at night. PRS management takes great strides in our execution of operations to ensure your organizational brand and integrity are represented in the most professional manner possible! Please contact us to find out how we can help you in this area.
Do you have an effective convention center event security plan? Unfortunately, organizations put themselves at risk when the answer to that question is “no.” Corporate marketing teams provide a bevy of convention center events each year that organizations must consider their risk profile for. From “Gold Club” events that allow top tier performers to relax in a highly desirable destination setting, to “All-Hands” events that bring all staff members of an organization together (along with perhaps key vendors and customers), the environment of such activities held off-site from the corporate offices does bring a different risk profile to attendees and the organization. Threats and vulnerabilities will change when venues change.
Organizations have a Duty of Care for their staff while they are on business travel. In as much the venues where such convention center events are held by an organization’s marketing and sales teams are viewed as an extension of the workplace and much have proper safety and security in place for it as well.
The PRS Senior Leadership team will be in attendance and also presenting during the 2016 ASIS International 62nd Annual Seminar & Exhibits in Orlando, FL from September 11-15, 2016. We look forward to reconnecting with clients, colleagues and friends and making some new ones along the way! Be sure to catch our presentation on FSMA Legislation Impact on the Food Supply on Monday September 12th from 10am-11am at Poster Sessions Booth 147 on the Exhibit Hall Floor. Please be sure to reach out to schedule a time to meet and connect!
Time: 13:38 ~
In this installment of PRS Radio, Joe Zaccaria interviews Steven Rosenbloom of MOBOTIX. The show centered around a couple of product features that clients might find very useful. Namely, two-way audio with video and decibel level monitoring.
There is a brief discussion regarding movement detection vs. motion detection. The program uncovers the available of free robust video management software licensing, along with free upgrades.
Lots of companies — and even the White House — use a conference calling system that could possibly be tapped by hackers, according to new research.
On Thursday, cybersecurity experts at SEC Consult revealed a secret doorway that’s built into a popular conference calling product built by a company called AMX.
AMX makes tablet panels used to control conference calls for businesses, government agencies, and universities.
The company hard-coded backdoor access into its system. AMX created a “secret account” with a permanent username and password, which means a hacker who already sneaked into a computer network could tap into actual meetings if the hacker knew the backdoor access code.
It’s a glaring security hole.