Mass shootings in the U.S. have increased despite  widespread closures of schools, businesses, and many public places due to the coronavirus pandemic. There were 615 mass shootings in 2020 resulting in 521 deaths and 2,541 injuries. Compared to the previous year, there were 181 more incidents. The stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, job loses, unemployment, and the economic crisis is a potential for a disaster which could lead to an increase of violence at the workplace. The recent spike in gun incidences and stolen weapons across the United States is alarming. Businesses need to take heed and increase security measures to protect their employees and staff.

While businesses face myriad challenges during this protracted pandemic period, the enterprises that are managing to stay on course, and even thrive, are those that had already established and tested plans, processes and tools across key functions, to better anticipate and mitigate emerging risks. Now is the time to take a closer look at your crisis response plans and learn from these best practices.

Ensuring the safety of workers is the top priority for human resources (HR), whether that’s adhering to proper social distancing measures or following emergency response protocols. In today's divisive environment, how can HR departments leverage in-office security guards to keep employees safe? Here, we talk to Matt Voska about the importance of in-office security guards and why security management technology is critical in helping HR leaders ensure workforce safety. 

The National Cyber Security Centre – a part of GCHQ – has announced that Lindy Cameron will become its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Her role will include overseeing the organization’s response to hundreds of cyber incidents each year, improving the cyber resilience of the UK’s critical national infrastructure, identifying the risks and opportunities for the UK in emerging technologies and leading the NCSC’s ongoing response to the coronavirus pandemic.

A new study conducted by researchers from Xavier University, Northern Kentucky University and Seattle University has found that for students in 4th-12th grade, active assailant training provided more feelings of safety than fear, worry, or concern. 

The Pepperdine School of Public Policy will form an academic enterprise with the Los Angeles Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) focused on disaster preparedness, crisis management, and resiliency through engaging the public, private, and civic sectors.