Security Blog

The Thin Purple Line initiative approved by the ASIS Global Board of Directors

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 00:00:00 -0400

I was very pleased to learn the ASIS Global Board of Directors unanimously approved the “Thin Purple Line” initiative at their June 22, 2020 board meeting.

Why every CIO should retire their VPNs

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Now is the time every CIO should retire their virtual private network (VPN) technology.

What Identity Governance is (Not)

Mon, 18 May 2020 00:00:00 -0400

I often catch articles in my newsfeed that are supposedly about identity governance but upon reading the fine print, they invariably wind up being about access management.

Can the National Guard Protect America?

Sat, 18 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0400

As COVID-19 continued to spread, some US states were swift to mobilize the United States National Guard. Will it become the savior America needs, even if it is not the one she wants?

Working with Government to Help Secure Our Elections

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0400

You don’t have to be a news junkie to notice one of the bigger stories the media is focusing on these days. Whether it’s local, state or national races, election security has become a serious issue.

The Rise of the Chief Cybercrime Officer

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0400

The TalkTalk data breach in 2015 was monumental for the cybersecurity industry. At the time, data breaches were hardly new, but this particular breach resulted in the government recommending that an officer should be appointed with day-to-day responsibility for protecting computer systems from a cyber attack.

Coronavirus: Keeping Business Moving While Supporting Staff on the Road

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 00:00:00 -0400

The COVID-19 virus may have started in China, but its effects are spreading across the globe – in various forms beyond the virus itself. In addition to the tragic loss of life it has already claimed, the virus’ impact on the business world has been far-reaching.

What Security Leaders Can Learn From the Coronavirus Threat

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 00:00:00 -0500

A key role in corporate security leadership is in understanding global vulnerabilities as part of a shift that goes beyond traditional security concerns, in order to anticipate new risks to your organization.

Are Your Security Systems Interoperable?

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Twenty-three years ago, when I worked with the Federal Protective Service policing federal facilities where security contract oversight was key, the General Services Administration and U.S. Justice Department designed systems that complimented each other to provide concentric layers of protection against unlawful entry and other threats.

The Value of Integrity, and What it Means for Security

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 00:00:00 -0400

The word ‘integrity’ comes from the Latin ‘integer,’ meaning complete, or whole (the same source as the mathematical term for a whole number). A person with integrity, then, is someone who has a fully developed moral character.

Physical Security Sector’s Mission to Hire Veterans

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 00:00:00 -0400

As CEO of Allied Universal, I believe that veterans, service members and reservists are unsung heroes who serve, secure and care for the people and communities in every corner of our world.

What the Government Can (and Cannot) Do About Mass Shootings

Sun, 08 Sep 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Mass shootings, like the one that occurred at the Walmart Supercenter on the east side of El Paso, Texas on August 3, 2019, are sadly becoming more common.

Cluster-in-Chief

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Mass violence, primarily shootings, is growing and can only continue to do so, and we have a professional obligation to analyze where the failures are and to take corrective action.

Family Affiliated Terrorism: Fathers and Sons

dc-alexander@wiu.edu (Dean C. Alexander) — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Patriarchs have a strong influence on the level of radicalization and recruitment of family members.

Now That You Have a Plan, Are You Testing It?

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 00:00:00 -0400

As someone who has been engaged by consulting clients and full-time employers to conduct threat assessments and write security and emergency preparedness plans, I am often left puzzled by how many organizations go to great lengths to assess their vulnerabilities and create plans to address them, but almost never test their ongoing effectiveness.

Family Bonds: For Love and Terrorism

dc-alexander@wiu.edu (Dean C. Alexander) — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500

Last week President Donald Trump called on European countries to take 800 ISIS members that are in U.S. custody in Syria or “we will be forced to release them.”

Reducing False Alarms with Audio as a Secondary Verification Source

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500

We must progressively act towards capturing sound, viewing audio as an equally essential component as video.

Best Practices for Security Professionals at Home and at Work

Wed, 13 Jun 2018 00:00:00 -0400

Security professionals in modern America spend virtually every working moment developing, fine tuning and implementing strategies that will offset, prevent and mitigate the possibilities of violence.

Active Shooter at Stoneman Douglas– A Survivor’s Experience and Potential Implications to School Safety

Thu, 08 Mar 2018 12:00:00 -0500

I just came out of a meeting addressing campus lockdowns and mass notification when my phone started buzzing. The Broward County Sheriff Department’s Alertify message stared me in the face – Active Shooter at my daughter’s school.

Is Your School Vulnerable to an Attack?

Wed, 07 Mar 2018 00:00:00 -0500

With the unfortunate shooting attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, it was South Florida’s turn to witness the horrors of such an attack.