Security Magazine

Security 500 members are enabling enterprise missions through proactive risk and resilience programs built on strong customer service cultures. Transforming security into a service organization requires flexible strategy and brilliant execution in an ever turbulent and global Risk-Nado.

The 2013 ASIS International Exhibition in Chicago was abuzz with new and renewed security solutions and technology. Hungry for the highlights? Check out Security magazine’s editors’ picks for some of the best products of the show.

 Among the worst things to hear: “I can’t find the master key.” Whether lost or stolen, that situation triggers a long and expensive process of rekeying. Perhaps this is the last straw pushing your enterprise toward an electronic access control solution. 

 More cameras, storage, sharing of security video and more uses…all of which leads to an expanding array of storage choices: digital video recorders (DVRs), hybrid DVRs and hybrid network video recorders (NVRs), pure NVRs, virtual storage, storage in the cloud and, for some, especially retail, storage to analytics by a specializing third party. 

Where does your enterprise stand? Compare security rankings sector-by-sector in this benchmarking tool to determine who the frontrunners and thought-leaders are in your enterprise’s field. 

What are security’s top critical issues? What department does security report to? How are budgets changing? What responsibilities do security leaders shoulder within their organization? Compare your enterprise’s focuses to those of your peers in the Security 500’s sector-specific analysis.

The Security 500 tracks 17 vertical markets and collects unique data where appropriate (such as patients in healthcare) and applies this data to key metrics.

“When did Iget programmed? I’d have to say my mom was a huge contributor to molding my altruistic mindset growing up. My Mom never drove by someone or something in need. We’d always say, ‘Oh mom, don’t stop. Not again!’ But she always did.” And with that Bertsch has been an enthusiastic volunteer and then ‘CSO’ to make communities and events better through solid risk management and resilience.

“Managers care for the body of the organization. But leaders care for the spirit. And great leaders care about both. That is not my saying, but it is how I view leadership in any successful business,” says Tim Caddigan, Director, Corporate Security & Facilities for Altria Client Services.

“When I had the opportunity to move from parking and transportation at the University to leading the strategic security and safety effort on campus, we made a very strategic and important decision to build the structure to be broader than law enforcement. We incorporated all aspects of campus safety and security,” says Dr. Bob Harkins of the University of Texas, Austin. “That decision speaks volumes about the leadership at the University. It was a decision to make this department an enabler for the business of protecting and educating students, faculty and staff. That was a very strategic decision encompassing law enforcement, campus safety and security, business continuity and risk management as core missions.”

“Leadership is about understanding yourself first, recognizing strengths and weaknesses, and targeting continuous improvement,” says Mike Howard, Chief Security Officer at Microsoft. “It is an attitude and mindset to focus on the team and organizational goals first. Leaders are able to change focus from subject matter expertise to a focus on their team by setting strategic goals, letting go of the details and steering the team through execution.”

No one better defines the adage “Find what you love to do and then figure out how to make a living at it” better than Bijan. While he held a successful career in financial services, he also volunteered as a member of the Marin (California) County search and rescue team. Following the events of 9/11, more government funding became available to help local jurisdictions prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.

“Leadership is best done by leading by example and through respect for others,” says Patrick Murphy, Senior Director, Global Safety and Security Services for Marriott International Inc. The black belt martial arts professional turned CSO has set the example for leadership during his outstanding career. “After martial arts, I asked myself, ‘Now what?’ I saw an advertisement for an executive protection academy. One thing led to another, and before I knew it I was a bodyguard for the Chairman and President of what was at first a small, fast-growing company.”

“We treat everyone, from kindergarten on up, with respect,” says Joseph Perchetti, Supervisor of Security for the Radnor, Penn., Public School District. “They are our customers, and their taxes pay our salaries. We go the extra mile to make sure they are secure and to ensure that they can focus on education.”

Dan Ryan’s story is classic, happy and all-American that those entering the profession can learn from and hope to emulate. “I guess you could say I started at the bottom and worked my way up.” Yes, you could say that Dan, but that would be understatement – Dan’s expertise and perfection have helped him rise through the ranks at a meteoric pace.

“Leadership isabout making the team better than the sum of its parts. Leaders look for people who will bring out the best from others and make the whole team better. Great leaders are force multipliers,” shares Stephen Scharf, the leader at Experian entrusted with protecting the business’ brand and customer information from ever changing and expanding threats.

“There is no longer a time in any field that you can be a good leader and be deficient in any area of managerial core competency. Leaders have to be comfortable being uncomfortable,” says Gordon Snow, chief of protective services for The Cleveland Clinic. “The environment is increasing in complexity. Education and training can provide you with many of the tools you need to make better decisions, but there isn’t always a formula to help you make the right decision.

“Security is about enabling a mission. Business leaders are able to take our tools and apply them to a variety of settings to create success. Our job is to create an environment of success for the enterprise. It is not what we do, rather, it is how we enable the enterprise to achieve its goals,” shares Frank Taylor, Vice President and Chief Security Officer for The General Electric Company. It is important to note that as you read this, one of America’s (not just security’s) greatest leaders and thinkers will have retired, again.

In the wake of recent high-profile shootings and incidents, access control, video surveillance and armed guards have become the discussion of the day to deter future attacks. But what can enterprise security leaders do about threats that cannot be prevented? How can you plan for the golden minutes following an incident?

 A fire in 2013 that began in the attic of a Colorado sorority house burned for hours before anyone detected it, resulting in a million-dollar loss. Why? The three-story, wood-frame house had no fire detection system, and a sprinkler system covered the living spaces but not the attic. 

Frederick Chang recently joined Southern Methodist University to develop a multidisciplinary program to tackle the most pressing cyber challenges facing the world today.

Leveraging metrics and statistics can lead to a stronger security program, just as they led to a better baseball team for the Oakland Athletics in “Moneyball.” So how can these metrics protect your enterprise from a Risk-Nado?

Ever since the days of Jesse James, banks have always been a target of those after fast cash, but now, cybercrime is becoming the new Wild West of quiet, quick theft. Find out what the enterprise can do to mitigate cyber risks to its financial assets.

 Judging by today’s headlines, it is only a matter of time until every company – yours included – is going to experience a computer intrusion, or perhaps another computer intrusion. When that happens, you may find yourself working with law enforcement. Sometimes, they will be the ones calling you.  

Nation-states with political agendas and their standing militaries are no longer the primary participants in conflicts. Threat actors can come from anywhere.

Globally, the Siemens brand plays in many spaces. In security, Siemens is known for its integrated approach to security, with product applications demonstrating how different system configurations can be utilized in a given environment. Its success has given it a number two position on sister publication SDM’s 2013 Top Integrator Report.

The security industry is chock full of acronyms, especially in the field of video recording, and determining the correct choice for your enterprise can be confusing. These five areas of comparison can help security leaders ask the right questions about their potential purchases.

 Terrorism has emerged in the last decade as one of the most critical issues with which governments must contend, topping most Western nations’ agendas in terms of resource allocation. For example, some reports indicate the United States has spent more than one trillion dollars waging the “War on Terror” – money and resources that may have been allocated very differently in the absence of such threats.