Security Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Security Magazine logo
  • NEWS
    • Security Newswire
    • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Leadership Management
    • Enterprise Services
    • Security Education & Training
    • Logical Security
    • Security & Business Resilience
    • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
    • Access Management
    • Fire & Life Safety
    • Identity Management
    • Physical Security
    • Video Surveillance
    • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
    • Cybersecurity News
    • More
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
    • Cyber Tactics
    • Leadership & Management
    • Security Talk
    • Career Intelligence
    • Leader to Leader
    • Cybersecurity Education & Training
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Annual Guarding Report
    • Most Influential People in Security
    • The Security Benchmark Report
    • The Security Leadership Issue
    • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
    • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
    • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
    • Banking/Finance/Insurance
    • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
    • Education: K-12
    • Education: University
    • Government: Federal, State and Local
    • Hospitality & Casinos
    • Hospitals & Medical Centers
    • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
    • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
    • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
    • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Solutions by Sector
    • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
      • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
      • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
    • Podcasts
    • Polls
    • Photo Galleries
  • MORE
    • Call for Entries
    • Classifieds & Job Listings
    • Continuing Education
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • This Month's Content
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Security NewswireThe Security Benchmark ReportSecurity Leadership and Management

Jack Faer: Securing Data Worldwide

By Sarah Ludwig
Jack Faer: Securing Data Worldwide
November 1, 2016

With a global presence of more than 1,400 locations in 45 countries and around 25,000 employees, the security team at Iron Mountain Incorporated, the global leader in storage and information management services, is instrumental to the company’s success. Headed up by Senior VP and Chief Risk and Security Officer Jack Faer, the team is responsible for physical security, information security, investigations, business continuity, enterprise risk management, insurance risk management, safety and customer assurance and compliance.

“The big difference for us is, as a third-party provider to many of the FORTUNE 1000 companies, the collective safety and security-risk management services are really part of our brand,” says Faer. “We sell it to our customers; we practice it internally. It puts us in a unique position to incorporate what we’re doing behind the scenes, but also to disclose it with our customers on a very regular basis.”

Adding value to the organization and the bottom line by helping the business manage its biggest risks is the security team’s main mission. “Integrating the different security functions – the physical security, the cybersecurity, the investigations and people security – converges those functions so as to help manage the risks and some of the processes that cut across the organization,” Faer says. “It’s incumbent upon us to work close together so as to provide that integrated view to the business of how to manage risk and which risks are most important to mitigate.”

The best part about working at his company is the frequent interactions with customers. “We’re part of the sales effort and the marketing effort, so much so that we actually have groups within our organization to address some of those needs,” says Faer. “That’s the part that attracted me to the role: the chance to be part of actually adding to the bottom line, as well as maintaining a leadership position within our sector.”

Though cyber risk is not unique to any sector, it’s definitely one of the biggest challenges for Faer’s team due to the nature of the company. “The challenge for us is that at the business model, we may or may not know what information is contained in their records,” Faer says. “We also do not, as a course of business, know whether or not the records that we hold for customers is the only place where that information is contained. Developing the proper amount of layered security within a facility or the proper layered approach within the logical security to protect that information makes it all the more challenging.”

A couple years ago, Iron Mountain decided to form a risk and safety committee that oversees Faer’s area of responsibility. Instead of reporting to an audit committee, “I now have a board-level committee that’s only overseeing what we do, which is a much greater level of focus,” says Faer. “The approach that I’ve taken is to implement an enterprise risk management framework in how we deliver security. It’s a notion of looking at your broader risks, assessing what the relative impact of those risks is, and then ensuring that you have the right level of resources allocated to those risks.”

The C-suite at Iron Mountain clearly has a strong perception of the security brand. “It’s a board-level priority,” Faer says. “It’s something that’s integral to our business, and it’s a core value for our employees. I think if you polled our external customers in other states, they would probably tell you that security is what we’re known for.”

Peers within the company likewise recognize the value the security team contributes to the bottom line. “They understand where and why we’re making investments,” says Faer. “There’s probably a greater level of familiarity within the Iron Mountain company of what security is focused on than perhaps in some other companies where some of those efforts might be a little more behind the scenes.”

The two most difficult parts of Faer’s job are “continuing the trend of converging the separate functions into an integrated safety and security approach and delivering the appropriate level of service while understanding that we have a contractual obligation to our customers, not a fiduciary responsibility,” he says.

In his spare time, Faer is an avid biker. For the past 16 years, he has ridden in the Pan Mass Challenge, which has donated $500 million to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute since 1980. He has also sat on the board of the Alzheimer’s Association for the past six years.

 


Security Scorecard

Annual Revenue:  $3.0 billion

Security Budget:   $10 million

 


Critical Issues

  • Cybersecurity

  • Physical Security (Fire)

  • Terrorism

KEYWORDS: security budget security convergence security leadership security services security thought leaders security value adds

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security magazine's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024 award...
    Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    By: Security Staff
  • cyber brain

    The intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable cybersecurity...
    Security Enterprise Services
    By: Pam Nigro
  • artificial intelligence AI graphic

    Assessing the pros and cons of AI for cybersecurity

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has significant implications...
    Technologies & Solutions
    By: Charles Denyer
Subscribe For Free!
  • Security eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Mobile App
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Security audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Security or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Crisis Response Team
    Sponsored byEverbridge

    Automate or Fall Behind – Crisis Response at the Speed of Risk

  • Perimeter security
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Why Property Security is the New Competitive Advantage

  • Duty of Care
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Integrating Technology and Physical Security to Advance Duty of Care

Popular Stories

Pills spilled

More than 20,000 sensitive medical records exposed

Laptop in darkness

Verizon 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report shows rise in cyberattacks

Coding on screen

Research reveals mass scanning and exploitation campaigns

White post office truck

Department of Labor Sues USPS Over Texas Whistleblower Termination

Computer with binary code hovering nearby

Cyberattacks Targeting US Increased by 136%

2025 Security Benchmark banner

Events

May 22, 2025

Proactive Crisis Communication

Crisis doesn't wait for the right time - it strikes when least expected. Is your team prepared to communicate clearly and effectively when it matters most?

September 29, 2025

Global Security Exchange (GSX)

 

View All Submit An Event

Products

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

See More Products

Related Articles

  • Rich Davis: Keeping Airline Passengers Safe Worldwide

    Rich Davis: Keeping Airline Passengers Safe Worldwide

    See More
  • SEC0219-data-Feat-slide1_900px

    Securing a World-Class Data Center

    See More
  • Jay Beighley

    Jay Beighley: Securing What Matters

    See More
×

Sign-up to receive top management & result-driven techniques in the industry.

Join over 20,000+ industry leaders who receive our premium content.

SIGN UP TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing