This month, Security magazine brings you the Security 500 Report, Rankings and Thought Leader Profiles. How does your enterprise compare to others? Which security programs are leading the way? Also this month, we highlight how to plan, prepare for and build resilience to protests and other unplanned events, video surveillance tools for SMBs and more.
Despite the ongoing threat of coronavirus, 2020 has been a year of protest. From Minnesota to Belarus, growing social, economic and political change has driven protesters to the streets. However, according to research from the Center of Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), this is no new phenomenom but part of a growing trend. Since 2009, CSIS data shows the number of global mass protests has increased annually by an average of 11.5%.
Over the last six months, COVID-19 has fueled online shopping. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, online (e-commerce) sales grew more than 31% from Q1 to Q2 2020.
In the energy sector, the stakes are high when it comes to cybersecurity. Unlike other fields where malware could cause havoc and delay services, attacks within the energy sector could potentially cut off electricity to millions of customers in the United States and around the world. Leo Simonovich, VP and Global Head of Industrial Cyber and Digital Security at Siemens Energy, is focused on ensuring that doesn’t happen.
Small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have a number of unique considerations when it comes to video surveillance. For starters, with SMBs, managing security and risk often falls to a manager, store owner, or hourly security professional. Therefore, the convenience of being able to view multiple sites at once whether remotely or onsite is paramount.
Kevin Wilkes never thought that he would work in enterprise security. But thanks to a want ad that called for police officers, Wilkes is enjoying his role as CSO for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, a non-profit arts organization that works to make the city of Pittsburgh a place where the arts can flourish.
In late August, the Orlando City Soccer Club played its first game since its games and operations shut down in the spring due to COVID-19. It was a great evening, says Robert Schnettler, who is Senior Director of Security and Guest Services for the club and Exploria Stadium.
Christopher Schleder — who had completed six years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force and was unsure about his next career move — knew about the facility before he applied for a Director of Security Services role because his dad had been a patient for several years.
Treyler Ray began his career in law enforcement with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics as an undercover narcotics agent. He soon moved into the special operations division where he conducted surveillance and Title III wiretaps on major drug traffickers. F
Working in healthcare was never on my radar,” says Luke Manuel, Security Director for Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care Center in Mount Vernon, Ky. He spent 8 ½ years in the U.S. Marine Corps, before earning his bachelor’s degree in Assets Protection and Security with a focus on critical infrastructure.
After serving our country for 10 years in the Marine Corps, Joey Hunter was ready to be a prison guard. The career path appealed to him and the job interview was set.
“The same risks that apply to any organization apply to a school system as well,” says John Clark, Director of Safety and Security for Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS). “The difference is we’re dealing with kids. So, we must make our training age appropriate. We have to understand the audience at all times, but we still want the same outcome at the end of the day, which is a safe and secure environment.”
What are the critical issues and trends in your sector this year, and how does your enterprise compare to your peers? These 17 Security 500 Sector Reports provide benchmarking data about budget changes, security leadership responsibilities, reporting structure and more.
The Security 500 tracks 17 vertical markets and collects unique data where appropriate (such as number of unique facilities in healthcare) and applies this data to key metrics.
Last month, in this column, we advanced a discussion of the hermeneutics involved in the interpretations we make daily and of our growing propensity to commit Group Attribution Error.
With the fall season underway and winter looming, states across the U.S. are opening up their grants for applications. There are a number of different programs and types of security grants that organizations can qualify for.
A couple of months ago, I described in this column how security professionals could unify a divided country. I chose a mask as a symbol of that cohesiveness. But that thin piece of fabric worn around the mouth and nose can also be a gag — a barrier that distances leaders and stifles communication.
In past articles, I have written about behaviors and style characteristics that tend not to be valued by organizations and that have proven often to be the underpinnings of why some security leaders fail in their roles. The counterbalance to that are leadership attributes and behaviors that are essential for success.