Next month will mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and plans abound to memorialize or capitalize on the tragedy, including the re-release of the 1997 movie Titanic in 3D, the production of a commemorative coin, and – believe it or not – a series of Titanic memorial cruises. Some members of the security community recently chose to remember the event in a more constructive way.
In last month’s column, we argued that the next generation of security leaders will be challenged more than previous leaders to run their function as a business; they will be expected to align with the organization and build value through security. As they work toward these goals, they will also be faced with new risks, some of which have the potential to escalate at a stunning pace.
As we approach the tenth anniversary of 9/11, the pervasiveness of terrorism globally, including the United States, continues to threaten government, industry, and society worldwide. Often overlooked is the non-ideological fuel feeding this threat; namely, terror financing. Unlike terror incidents, the characteristics of terror financing are often silent or subdued. Purposefully, terror financiers do not try to attract attention to their activities.
Outside of the classrooms and general sessions, the ASIS 2011 exhibit floor will be abuzz with activity around some of the most innovative security products and services the industry has to offer. The challenge for many will be in navigating the more than 700 exhibits across 230,000+ square feet to find the best solutions.
Since the Security Executive Council launched six years ago, it and its research arm, the Security Leadership Research Institute (SLRI), have studied the shifting shape of the security profession and its drivers. Through in-depth, ongoing research, development of the Collective Knowledge™ process, and trend tracking, we have learned much about the changes that have affected security, as well as the personal and external factors that help determine leadership success.
IP video surveillance systems are now in 50 percent of large enterprises in the US as defined by systems with more than 32 cameras. And analog is far and away the king with more than 80 percent of the less than 16 camera installations.
When protests began in Egypt in January, local and multi-national organizations were faced with complex decisions on how to handle operations and security under the potential of escalating violence and political change.
Facial recognition and video based biometrics continue to be a hot topic with security professionals. While shows like CSI, Law & Order and 24 make it seem that technologies exist that can pick a terrorist out of a crowd in Times Square or spot a criminal the moment he steps foot on the street, the reality is that we're not quite there...yet.
“The tragic events of today cannot be remedied with words. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. You may be certain that although no one can predict tragedy, we have invested heavily to prevent or mitigate its consequences.”
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