We are delighted to announce our keynote speaker for the Orlando lineup of events – Patrick V. Fiel!

Join Patrick V. Fiel, Founder at PVF Security Consulting LLC,  as he’s discussing risk assessments of the workplace, the shooter’s behavior, innovative security solutions and preparedness, aimed at mitigating this risk.

 “Before, During and After the Active Shooter Event – Are You Prepared?” seminar  is to be presented by Patrick  on December 3^rd&4^th 
at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, FL

 

Patrick V. Fiel, Sr. has over thirty years of experience managing security and law enforcement organizations, and is a nationally recognized expert in campus security for both K-12 and higher education clients.

Patrick will present current information that will help organizations prepare for a potential crisis situation involving an active shooter. Patrick will speak on risk assessments of facilities, innovative security technologies, and the shooter behavior. The presentation will present ideas and solutions that will help organizations mitigate the risk of an active shooter event. The ideas presented will address what an organization can do to prevent such an event from occurring as well as what steps can be taken before, during and after a crisis situation such as an active shooter.

What will the attendees learn from the program?

1. Ways to prevent a crisis situation from occurring: Attendees will learn how a risk assessment can identify potential short falls in their organization’s security as well        as what innovative security technologies and other solutions are available to address these short falls.

2. Ways to deal with an active shooter prior to police arrival: Attendees will learn what steps can be taken to handle an active shooter situation as it is occurring and prior to police arrival.

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Join Patrick V. Fiel as he’s discussing assessments, preparedness, and innovative security solutions aimed at mitigating campus risks.

We’re pleased to announce a newly confirmed seminar for the Education Facilities Forum/Healthcare and Education Security Forum/Healthcare Facilities Forum.

“Planning for a Campus Emergency” workshop is to be presented by Patrick V. Fiel on October 28th & 29th
at The Hyatt Regency in  Austin, Texas. 

Patrick V. Fiel, Sr. has over thirty years of experience managing security and law enforcement organizations, and is a nationally recognized expert in campus security for both K-12 and higher education clients.

The senseless attack at Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary School showed again how it takes tragic events such as this for school administrators, public officials and the general public to focus on campus security. We’ve seen it before with tragic events that seared the names of other campuses into our minds — Columbine, West Nickel Mines Amish School, and Virginia Tech. Patrick will be discussing ways to help you protect your campuses. The main ingredients to an emergency plan are prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.

The combination of well-planned security procedures, risk assessments, crisis preparedness planning, security technology, and training can help to reduce incidents on and around campuses.

Friday Funny! In the world dying common sense, signs of this kind will soon be necessary! Have a safe weekend everyone.

Seeking balanced and affordable security re-designs in schools

With last year’s  Sandy Hook school massacre and other high-profile incidents, e the demand for new security solutions in schools became undeniable. The real question is how to achieve safer schools without turning them into fortresses and how to satisfy the burning need for security improvements with limited assets.  Some of the initial reactions after Sandy Hook included an immediate increase in security personnel, hiring consultants to assess security plans,

and discussed bills proposing arming teachers, shoring up the security of school buildings, and adding guards or police officers.

Financially,it’s impossible to do it all, but there are many changes that can be implemented as a “one time investments’ in a cost effective manner.

And with the summer vacation

 

approaching, now is the best time to address these issues and start the new school year with a plan in place.

Here’s what’s worth considering

1. Equipping all classrooms with doors that can be locked from the inside by the classroom teacher.
2. Adding doors that connect classrooms – this solution can make it easier for teachers to work as teams, and in a dangerous situation, makes it easier for them to move students to safer areas.
3. Equipping exterior doors with hardware capable of a full-perimeter lockdown.
4. Designing glassed hallways would not only allow teachers and other adults in the schools to see an intruder but also to combat problems such as bullying.
5.  Developing cooperation between schools and architects to establish ongoing construction programs that address security improvements.
6.  Making safety updates mandatory – schools security should be treated similarly to fire safety: established standards, codes, regularly conducted drills, and practiced responses.
7. Enhancing security cameras and working radios  to help administrators and teachers communicate during crucial moments when an intruder penetrates school grounds. 

Other simple and practical measures for safer schools can be found on the ‘Safe and Sound’ website – an initiative started by Sandy Hook parents to help communities improve their school security plans. Visit to find  tools, resources, food for thought, and a forum for discussion.

*This post is based on a CNN’s article, ‘Six months after Sandy Hook shootings, schools seek secure redesigns.

Announcing new workshops for the Total Security Summit in Chicago. Presented by Brian Marshall, Terry Gold, and Steve Surfaro.

1. Security Entrances – Getting the most control out of your Access Control

This workshop will focus on the following:

•             Security concerns in the workplace

•             Identifying your entrance needs

•             Available types of security entrances

•             Factors to consider when choosing a solution – S.T.A.R.T.T.S.

Moderated by: Brian Marshall, Territory Sales Manager – Midwest, Boon Edam

2. Secure Identity & Credentialing

The learning objectives for this workshop include the following:

–          How to determine your credential security requirements

–          Types, variations, compatibility, and strength.

–          Best practice for long term success

–          Applies to Internal users, visitors.

Moderated by: Terry Gold, Founder of independent research firm IDanalyst.

3. Title: Securing Cities and the top ten Physical and Cyber Security technologies

Abstract

According to IMS Research, it is expected that North American video deployments in City Surveillance will double in market size by 2016 (based on 2011 research).  Advanced surveillance, security and cyber infrastructure is well in progress in cities in North America, South America, China, Europe and South Africa.

Safety and security is a critical requirement to maintain economic growth, defend against advanced, varying threats and respond to critical events in real time.

License plate capture with “back office” systems integrated to the National Crime Information Center are improving both pro-active approaches and forensic investigations by cities.

Abnormal behavior detection is helping cities be ahead of the threat.

Video synopsis in shortening forensic video investigations in some cases as much as 80%.

Robotics and tactical solutions continue to scale and be an invaluable tool for first responders.

We’ll introduce Homeland Security’s six disciplines of first responders and describe how public/private partnerships will protect soft and hard targets.  HAZMAT, fire, EMS, law enforcement, search & rescue and explosives are the disciplines we’ll include.

Building an Integrated Cyber-Infrastructure permits the ability of securing critical information assets by implementing recommended measures against known exploits.

We will examine several case studies, spanning security and surveillance to preparation, education and policy for Cyber and Infrastructure assurance. Strategies will be presented and trends in physical, cyber, commercial and even consumer technologies illustrated in this entertaining session.  We¹ll conclude with how IT network and communications technologies help facility managers build tactical, corporate infrastructures, and support their strategic goals.

Moderated by: Steve Surfaro, Vice Chair, ASIS Physical Security Council Industry Liason, Axis Communications

Start thinking about the unthinkable – workplace violence prevention and intervention.

Cybercrime Awareness: $388 Billion cybercime related losses in one year… Should we hire the hackers?

It is said  that the month of Cybercrime Awareness  reminds  people  how profoundly their everyday life relies on the Internet and therefore, how very alert they should be about hacking. Above all else, however,   the Cybercrime Awareness month rubs in our face one simple fact – despite the billion dollar investments in cybersecurity, we’re  vulnerable to hacker attacks  like never before! It’s enough to take a look at the data from “Norton Cybercrime Report 2012″, indicating that cybercrime is bigger than          ” (…) the global black market in marijuana, cocaine and heroin combined ($288bn) and approaching the value of all global drug trafficking ($411bn)” and that “At $388bn, cybercrime is more than 100 times the annual expenditure of UNICEF ($3.65 billion)”.

Days when advanced hacking was used exclusively against government agencies are way gone. At present, every business is on the menu… if not already consumed.   The problem becomes even more  serious, as Madiant’s CEO informed us last Tuesday, due to the fact that most companies don’t even realize that they’ve been hacked until informed by law enforcement agencies. British global crime investigator, Misha Glenny,  goes one step further by saying that “There are only two types of companies in the world, those that know that they’ve been hacked and those that don’t.”

The bottom line here  is that successful breaches spotting  has been progressively decreasing throughout  the past couple of years.  Why?

We are fairly aware of the three root causes of this predicament:

1. Hackers expertise in compromising legitimate networks, detecting gaps, and routing around known security defenses;

2.  Security Technology errors and omissions;

3. Finally, human weaknesses such as inattention, incompetence, and carelessness.

Yet,  when thinking about solutions, we only consider two of the three factors – technology and human vulnerability – and tend to omit the real source of our problems – the Hacker.

It seems that the traditional solutions –  investing in improved security systems and training ourselves  to get ride of damaging habits – are insufficient.

Hence, Misha Glenn proposes  quite an unconventional alternative in his TED talk  – hire the hackers!

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Marta Gierczyk