Mark McCourt

Why Cyber is a Business Risk Issue

April 1, 2013

The cyber crisis impacting U.S.-based enterprises is often swept under the IT rug as a technology issue to be delegated to and resolved by information technology experts who have little to no view on the overall organization’s business or risk issues. At the recent RSA Security Conference, session after session and meeting after meeting, researchers, CSOs and consultancies voiced the same issues: It’s a business problem, not a technology problem, because you're not securing IT – you need to secure the business.

Top Lessons Learned from the Security 500 Conference

Mark McCourt

March 1, 2013

From the highest technology solutions against cyber crime, to the low-technology sandbags that saved $4 billion of Goldman Sachs’ New York City and Jersey City buildings against Superstorm Sandy, to the far-reaching and thought-provoking keynote presentation by Roland Cloutier, Vice President & Chief Security Officer of ADP, the Security 500 Conference gathered security’s thought leaders for a day of provoking and valuable networking.

Evaluating the Role of Security Officers Today

Mark McCourt

February 1, 2013

The role and value of private security officers has always been clear to those in the security business. But “guard jokes,” from cartoons to movies are taking a back seat to reality as Newtown and other (now routine) mass shootings awakened the general public’s consciousness to the value and need for trained, professional security officers.

Push Ahead of Cyber Security Legislation

Mark McCourt

January 2, 2013

The rise in global security incidents, diminished budgets and downsized security programs have left organizations to deal with security risks that are neither well-understood nor consistently addressed. Executives around the world feel confident that they’re winning the high-stakes game of information security despite the growing number of obstacles, according to The Global State of Information Security® Survey2013 by PwC U.S. in conjunction with CIO and CSO magazines.

Predicting Security’s Next Moves in 2013

Mark McCourt

December 1, 2012

As we enter 2013, it’s time for a few predictions. Here are my eight contributions to the New Year’s security forecast:

2012 Security 500 Report: Earning Your Stripes

While many enterprises still have the risk tiger by the tail, Security 500 leaders are earning their stripes by taking risk head on and proactively taming it. In short, they are moving risk to their organization’s top line.

Mark McCourt

November 1, 2012

The business-minded leaders in this year’s Security 500 survey have spoken: they are going beyond their enterprises’ boundaries and redefining security’s traditional role to assess and manage risk, contribute to organizational goals and to ensure resilience. But with the events of 9/11 far in the rear view mirror, many security leaders also work to battle complacency across their organizations and engage stakeholders to participate in their own security, as well as protect the physical and logical assets of their organizations.

Security 500 Trends: Thanks for Nothing

Mark McCourt

November 1, 2012

Really, Security 500 Members, when we add up all of the leadership, subject matter expertise and business acumen you bring to your enterprises, what happens? Absolutely Nothing. Well, it is my turn, with the publication of the Security 500, to say to each of the 500 who have been ranked on this year’s prestigious list: “Thanks for Nothing.”

Preparing Proactive Sports Security

Mark McCourt

July 1, 2012

“Sport reflects both good and bad aspects of our broader society, whether economic or political issues are in play. The fan that buys a ticket may feel with or against the team, entitled or angry; often as a result of the broader societal environment,” explains Dr. Lou Marciani, Director of the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security. The work at NCS⁴ primarily benefits its members, professional leagues and division one universities, individual teams and venues. Ultimately, NCS⁴ serves the fans by providing safety for the enjoyment of spectator events.

Catching Up With the Clery Act

Mark McCourt

June 1, 2012

Alison Kiss is the Executive Director at Security on Campus, the organization co-founded in 1987 by Connie and Howard Clery, following the rape and murder of their daughter Jeanne at Lehigh University. The result of their effort is The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, which requires institutions of higher education to release campus crime statistics and security policies to their current and prospective students and employees.

The ‘IZING’ of Security

Mark McCourt

May 1, 2012

The fast changing technology world is impacting everything in our business and personal lives, and while security is a late bloomer, it is not immune to change. The big three: 9/11, Katrina and Sarbanes Oxley created a new world of terror, resilience and compliance, and turned security into a big dollar business, which drove innovation and is now changing the game by “IZING” the market.