network safety across the enterprise – prevent gap Measures to help you protect Your network

modern day business networks consist of severa faraway get right of entry to connections from employees and outsourcing companies. Too often, the inherent security risks arising from those connections outdoor the network are neglected. continuous upgrades had been made that can beautify safety in present day community infrastructure; taking unique focus on the users gaining access to the network externally and tracking get right of entry to end- points are critical for businesses to protect their digital belongings.putting in the best software program for the precise wishes of your IT infrastructure is critical to having the great security protection viable. Many corporations deploy “off the shelf” security software program and assume they’re blanketed. regrettably, that isn’t always the case because of the character of modern-day community threats. Threats are diverse in nature, such as the usual spam, spyware, viruses, trojans, worms, and the occasional opportunity that a hacker has focused your servers.The proper security solution in your organisation will neutralize truely all of these threats in your community. Too regularly, with best a software program package mounted, network administrators spend a variety of their time at the perimeter of the community defending its integrity by using manually avoiding assaults and then manually patching the security breach.Paying community administrators to shield the integrity of your community is an high-priced proposition – plenty greater so than putting in the proper protection solution that your community requires. network administrators have many other responsibilities that need their attention. part of their job is to make your business function more successfully – they can not focus in this if they must manually protect the community infrastructure all the time.every other hazard that must be considered is the risk taking place from inside the perimeter, in different phrases, an worker. touchy proprietary statistics is most customarily stolen through someone at the payroll. A right network protection answer have to protect against these types of attacks additionally. community administrators honestly have their role in this area through developing protection policies and strictly enforcing them.A smart approach to give your community the protection it desires against the diverse protection threats is a layered protection method. Layered security is a custom designed approach for your network’s specific necessities using each hardware and software program solutions. once the hardware and software is running simultaneously to guard your corporation, both are capable of instantaneously replace their abilties to deal with the modern day in security threats.protection software may be configured to replace multiple times a day if the need be; hardware updates typically encompass firmware upgrades and an update wizard much like that present within the software utility.All-in-one protection Suites A multi-pronged method need to be carried out to fight the a couple of sources of safety threats in cutting-edge corporate networks. Too often, the sources of these threats are overlapping with Trojans arriving in unsolicited mail or spyware hidden within a software set up. combating these threats requires the use of firewalls, anti-spyware, malware and anti-unsolicited mail protection.lately, the fashion within the software program industry has been to mix those formerly separate safety programs into an all-encompassing protection suite. safety packages standard on company networks are integrating into safety suites that target a common intention. these security suites contain antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-junk mail, and firewall protection all packaged together in one software. looking for the pleasant stand-by myself applications in every safety danger class is still an option, however now not a need.The all-in-one protection suite will shop a organisation cash in reduced software program buying fees and time with the convenience of integrated management of the diverse threat sources.trusted Platform Module (TPM) A TPM is a fashionable advanced with the aid of the relied on Computing institution defining hardware specs that generate encryption keys. TPM chips not best shield in opposition to intrusion tries and software attacks but also physical robbery of the tool containing the chip. TPM chips paintings as a praise to person authentication to enhance the authentication system.Authentication describes all approaches involved in determining whether or not a consumer granted get entry to to the corporate network is, in truth, who that person claims to be. Authentication is most usually granted via use of a password, however different techniques contain biometrics that uniquely become aware of a consumer through identifying a unique trait no different person has together with a fingerprint or characteristics of the eye cornea.these days, TPM chips are frequently integrated into trendy desktop and laptop motherboards. Intel started integrating TPM chips into its motherboards in 2003, as did different motherboard manufactures. whether or not or not a motherboard has this chip could be contained inside the specifications of that motherboard.those chips encrypt statistics at the neighborhood stage, providing enhanced protection at a far off location including the WiFi hotspot complete of harmless searching computer-users who may be bored hackers with malicious rationale. Microsoft’s remaining and organization versions of the Vista running machine make use of this era in the BitLocker pressure Encryption characteristic.even as Vista does provide aid for TPM era, the chips are not established upon any platform to feature.TPM has the equal functionality on Linux because it does in the windows operating machine. There are even specs from depended on Computing institution for cell devices together with PDAs and mobile telephones.to apply TPM better protection, network users simplest want to download the safety coverage to their computing device system and run a setup wizard in an effort to create a hard and fast of encryption keys for that pc. Following those simple steps drastically improves security for the far flung laptop user.Admission based totally on consumer identification establishing a person’s identity depends upon efficiently passing the authentication tactics. As previously referred to consumer authentication can involve a great deal more than a person call and password. besides the emerging biometrics technology for consumer authentication, smart playing cards and protection tokens are every other method that enhances the user name/password authentication system.the use of smart cards or safety tokens adds a hardware layer requirement to the authentication procedure. This creates a two-tier security requirement, one a secret password and the other a hardware requirement that the at ease machine must recognize earlier than granting access.Tokens and smart playing cards operate in essentially the equal fashion however have a special appearance. Tokens tackle the appearance of a flash power and connection through a USB port even as clever playing cards require special hardware, a clever card reader, that connects to the computing device or laptop laptop. smart playing cards often take on the appearance of an identity badge and might contain a picture of the worker.but authentication is demonstrated, as soon as this occurs a consumer should be granted get entry to thru a comfy digital network (VLAN) connection. A VLAN establishes connections to the far off person as though that person become part of the internal community and allows for all VLAN customers to be grouped together inside wonderful security guidelines.far flung users connecting via a VLAN need to only have get entry to to critical community assets and the way the ones sources can be copied or changed have to be cautiously monitored.specs installed with the aid of the Institute of electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) have led to what is referred to as the cozy VLAN (S-VLAN) structure. also typically known as tag-based VLAN, the standard is referred to as 802.1q. It enhances VLAN security via including an extra tag within media get right of entry to control (MAC) addresses that pick out community adapter hardware inside a network. This technique will prevent unidentified MAC addresses from having access to the community.network Segmentation This concept, working hand-in-hand with VLAN connections, determines what resources a user can get entry to remotely the usage of policy enforcement points (PEPs) to enforce the safety coverage at some stage in the network segments. furthermore, the VLAN, or S-VLAN, may be handled as a separate section with its very own PEP requirements.PEP works with a person’s authentication to enforce the network safety coverage. All users connecting to the community must be guaranteed with the aid of the PEP that they meet the safety coverage necessities contained in the PEP. The PEP determines what network assets a consumer can get entry to, and how those resources may be modified.The PEP for VLAN connections ought to be more suitable from what the identical user can do with the sources internally. this may be performed via community segmentation without a doubt be defining the VLAN connections as a separate phase and implementing a uniform protection policy throughout that section. Defining a coverage on this way also can define what inner network segments the customer can get admission to from a far off location.retaining VLAN connections as a separate section additionally isolates protection breaches to that phase if one were to arise. This maintains the safety breach from spreading throughout the company community. improving community protection even similarly, a VLAN phase may be dealt with by it is own virtualized surroundings, for that reason isolating all far flung connections inside the corporate network.Centralized safety coverage management technology hardware and software focused on the exceptional sides of safety threats create multiple software program structures that each one ought to be one by one managed. If carried out incorrectly, this could create a frightening venture for network management and can boom staffing expenses because of the improved time necessities to manipulate the technology (whether or not they be hardware and/or software).incorporated security software program suites centralize the security policy by way of combining all protection danger assaults into one utility, as a result requiring handiest one control console for management purposes.depending at the form of enterprise you’re in a security policy have to be used company-extensive this is all-encompassing for the entire community. directors and control can define the security coverage one after the other, however one overriding definition of the policy desires to be maintained in order that it’s far uniform across the company network. This guarantees there aren’t any different safety procedures working against the centralized policy and restricting what the policy become described to put into effect.not simplest does a centralized safety policy emerge as less complicated to manipulate, however it additionally reduces strain on community sources. a couple of safety rules described by using distinct packages focusing on one protection danger can aggregately hog a good deal more bandwidth than a centralized security coverage contained within an all-encompassing security suite. With all of the threats coming from the web, ease of control and alertness is important to maintaining any company security policy.regularly requested Questions:1. I consider my personnel. Why should I enhance community safety?Even the most relied on personnel can pose a chance of a network safety breach. it is important that personnel comply with installed corporation security standards. improving protection will defend towards lapsing employees and the occasional disgruntled worker seeking to cause harm to the network.2. Do these improvements clearly create a secure surroundings for far flung get right of entry to?yes they do. those upgrades not most effective greatly beautify a relaxed VLAN connection but additionally they use widely universal requirements which are frequently included into not unusual hardware and software program. it’s there, your agency simplest needs to begin using the era.three. My agency is glad with the usage of separate software program, that way every utility can focus on a separate safety danger. Why must I don’t forget an all-in-one protection suite?the various famous software program packages generally utilized by corporations have accelerated their cognizance to perceive all protection threats. This consists of solutions from each software and hardware appliance era producers. a lot of those firms noticed the want to consolidate safety early on and bought smaller software program firms to advantage that expertise their company was lacking. A security suite at the application stage, will make control lots less difficult and your IT staff will thanks for it.4. Do I need to feature a hardware requirement to the authentication method?Requiring the usage of protection tokens or clever playing cards should be considered for personnel getting access to the business enterprise community from a far flung web page. especially if that employee needs to access sensitive employer records at the same time as on the street, a simple flash drive at ease token prevents a thief from accessing that touchy statistics on a stolen laptop.five. With all this situation about WiFi hotspots need to personnel be required not to use those locations to connect with the organisation community?WiFi hotspots have sprung up nationwide and gift the easiest method to your faraway personnel to get entry to the internet. unluckily, hotspots can also be full of bored, unemployed hackers who have not anything better to do than find a manner to intercept a hectic worker’s transmissions at the next table. it is now not to mention employees on the road ought to avoid hotspots. that would seriously limit them from accessing the community at all. With technology like S-VLAN and cozy authentication in area, a commercial enterprise can enforce technology to lessen threats both now and in the future.implementing the cutting-edge network safety technology is a excessive precedence for IT control. In ultra-modern community environment with many users accessing your virtual assets remotely, it is crucial to get your network protection accurate at some stage in the planning phase of the combination procedure.obviously, it ought to be referred to that most massive agencies have more than one running structures walking (windows, Mac O/S, etc) and that for lots of these businesses all-in-one security suites face positive demanding situations in a mixed working machine environment.that is why I strain which you remember having layered protection (each hardware and software program) and don’t certainly rely on software program programs to defend your virtual assets. As technology changes so do the opportunities for protection breaches.As these safety threats emerge as more sophisticated, hardware and software program builders will hold to innovate and it is important companies preserve up with, and enforce these technologies.

whole shipment security solutions: Merging bodily safety gadgets With generation

shipment robbery has impacted nearly every industry, from paper merchandise to televisions. specialists estimate that shipment and system theft expenses 30 to 50 billion yearly international. security is a necessity today; with the nation on heightened security alert, the transportation industry should be organized. through its very nature, the transportation enterprise places goods in a greater inclined surroundings than whilst they may be at a shipper’s or receiver’s facility. it is now not like having your goods in a warehouse; you can not post a safety protect, installation lighting fixtures or a closed circuit tv or build a fence around your freight. pricey freight is moved along highways and with the aid of sea ordinary and physical safety gadgets and new monitoring gadgets are becoming greater of a necessity for trucking and container corporations. New safety methods and growing insurance charges also are using agencies to comfy their fleet. earlier than September 11 businesses would lock and seal only some hundreds that had been deemed high price, and everyday robbery as a price of doing business. these days many protection aware organizations have taken steps to fight robbery in their equipment and products. these security techniques range from “low tech” bodily protection devices to “high tech” tracking gadgets. those devices have become extra less costly, allowing companies to develop protection packages incorporating one or each of these protection devices, and drastically reducing the variety of thefts amongst their enterprise.physical security SolutionsHigh safety locks and seals are not a luxury object for transportation agencies anymore. bodily security has emerge as an effective tool in preventing shipment theft inside the transportation industries protection packages. corporations the use of high great padlocks, king pin locks, air cuff locks and seal guard locks have successfully averted cargo thefts.whilst deciding on a physical safety tool, a organization should think about their: fleet, system and employees. high protection locks have to be of excessive excellent and be flexible to the companies desires. The bodily protection company’s products and reputation need to additionally be dependable to ensure compatibility and service of these locks within the future. these steps together with a solid company policy will ensure a continuing safety software.Trailer SecurityHigh security padlocks need to be proof against bodily assault and being picked. those locks also need to be capable of resist the cruel environments that boxes and trailers are uncovered to. these padlocks also need to be consumer friendly, allowing the business enterprise to set up a machine that is bendy, yet presents the maximum protection for his or her system. characteristics of an awesome high security lock allow for master keying systems and limited keyways, restricting the opportunity for unauthorized duplication of keys.similarly to securing rear trailer doors, companies ought to examine their need to cozy unattended drop trailers and terminal trailers. there are numerous alternatives such as imparting a cozy drop yard for loaded trailers, which minimizes robbery occurrence. high protection king pin locks may be used to prevent unauthorized fifth wheel hook u.s.a.to trailers. effective king pin locks ought to be capable of be keyed right into a agency’s grasp keying gadget, making an allowance for introduced protection. high safety king pin locks have to be built of heavy responsibility metal and be proof against physical assault and be select resistant.shipping safety, Inc. substances each trailer and tractor excessive protection locks that meet the security demands of the transportation industries.The ENFORCER Adjustable Lock for instance, is a portable heavy obligation lock that includes 10 gauge chrome plated spring metal body and the locking factor is surrounded with solid iron, stopping tampering. This tool lets in for a tight match on truely all packing containers and trailers and is secured with an ABLOY lock that gives superior performance in climate and is surprisingly immune to physical attack.Tractor SecurityThieves are not handiest stealing loaded trailers, however also taking the tractors. those tractors in some cases are then used to steal trailers. nicely securing those steeply-priced tractors begins with driver education and responsibility. Drivers need to always lock doors, flip off the truck and at ease the tractor brakes with a excessive safety air cuff lock, stopping the release of truck and trailer brakes. robbery of a truck can manifest inside a few seconds of a driving force leaving his truck unattended at a truck forestall. Air brake locks must be consumer pleasant, allowing the driver to without difficulty connect the tool to his brake nozzles inside seconds. well securing a tractor can help prevent thieves from without difficulty driving away with not handiest a loaded trailer, but an high priced tractor.The Air Cuff™Lock is an instance of a brake lock that is a part lock made of high effect resistant material and secured with an ABLOY lock cylinder. The lock is person friendly and is established on the brakes within seconds, completely locking out the tractor and trailer brakes.stopping seal integrity has turn out to be extra of an problem seeing that nine /11, particularly with shipments of food and chemical compounds. Shippers have refused loads that display evidence of seal tampering, costing organizations heaps of dollars. we’ve come to the factor that we need to defend the seals themselves. Seal shield locks provide a barrier box that stops unauthorized removal of cargo seals. those gadgets are made of a excessive electricity thieve and resist bodily attack. those units can be used in tandem with trailer locks to protect the shipment seals’ integrity.With heightened security for the transportation enterprise, physical security has merged with excessive tech tracking gadgets. these tracking gadgets permit a transportation organisation to appropriately locate their belongings in transit. There are an plentiful quantity of tracking gadgets in the marketplace nowadays, each having their personal advantages and drawbacks relying for your businesses desires. three of the most famous forms of tracking gadgets encompass GPS, A-GPS (Assisted GPS and CDMA (cell). With any tracking technology your business enterprise chooses, researching the product and the provider may be very vital, given this could be an steeply-priced investment. businesses should compare technologies and run particular checks with their gadget and body of workers, making sure the technology is well suited with their company.monitoring TechnologyBasic GPS gadgets were round for years with fantastic achievement. these devices collect and shop information such as time, range and longitude from GPS satellite even as the unit is in use. as soon as the unit returns, the statistics on wherein the unit has been may be downloaded onto a laptop into smooth to examine maps. those gadgets are correctly able to show stops and starts, place, pace and different essential data. GPS gadgets have a tendency to be bulky in nature and require outside antennas installed on trailers and containers and must be able to “see the sky” so as for the unit to paintings efficaciously. this limits the use of gadgets in underground parking garages and warehouses, where thieves are much more likely to transport stolen cargo and device. these units also have a tendency to be “electricity hungry”, limiting their battery and strength life. those units are very effective for the ones corporations who require a fleet management tool for finding their fleets and for time control of deliveries.A-GPS is a fairly new type of GPS device that has all of the functions of basic GPS, but is more effective in areas in which GPS is not. A-GPS is capable of be very covert and does no longer need to “see the sky”, with an internal antenna in a few cases. lots of these gadgets may be the scale of a mobile smartphone or smaller. Many gadgets have self contained batteries, making it completely portable permitting them to be hid in freight. This allows less hazard of a thief coming across and disengaging the unit. A-GPS permits for real time monitoring of an asset that could without problems be seen on a pc or pc, in real time from time to time reporting locations within seconds of “calling” the unit. With the compatibility of these gadgets and complete person manage, allows security employees to have an exact location of their asset at their fingertips. another function A-GPS offers is “geofencing”, which allows safety personnel to outline a place they need their asset to live interior of, (ex. Terminal or certain direction) and are notified via e mail or cell cellphone when their asset leaves the defined “geofence”. correct places of belongings with this era are made less complicated, with mapping era that suggests exact road names and most important landmarks. these devices are also less “electricity hungry”, consequently permitting a longer battery lifestyles, in some case so long as a month. This makes those devices extra effective for longer shipments alongside the supply chain. some of these more recent gadgets use CDMA generation, which permits the unit to incorporate the cellular towers and technology for more accurate locations. Combining all of these features permits A-GPS/CDMA gadgets to provide a whole range of anti-theft and supply chain control monitoring applications.ConclusionTechnology is evolving every day, with greater state-of-the-art monitoring gadgets and physical protection alternatives for the stop user. agencies looking to at ease their whole fleet at the moment are combining the “tried and proper” physical protection products with the brand new technology of the tracking gadgets, permitting for a complete safety application. in the long run saving the corporation cash and reducing the chance in their cargo being stolen. security packages ought to be thought out and properly planned so as for the chain to be powerful.

Travel Security Expert – Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed

I’ve spent over 20 years keeping business owners, executives & VIP’s alive in 42 countries. Every threat expert knows the security risks of business owners being kidnapped; mugged & murdered overseas are increasing.

Kidnap for ransom is also a growth business sector, as is kidnap for ransom insurance or K&R Insurance. The following travel security expert tips will help raise your security awareness & minimise your personal security risks.

Travel Security Expert – Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed #1 Under Estimating The Security Risks.

The world of business travel has changed dramatically for business owners in the aftermath of September 11th and the subsequent global war on terror. Security experts all suggest you should heighten your security awareness.

If you are a western business owner, director, executive or senior manager who travels overseas for business, then any professional security experts compiling your travel security threat assessment would designate the security risks as medium to high risk.

Contemporary professional terrorists and organised criminals understand the politics of kidnap for ransom and K&R Insurance.

Even western middle managers on an average western salary are considered lucrative kidnap for ransom targets because kidnappers know if the person is working for a large company then they are likely to pay out on the kidnap for ransom insurance policy.

Every threat expert knows the security risks for business travellers are out there, they are very real, and you should never underestimate these security risks.

Travel Security Expert – Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed #2 Familiararity & Assumptions.

Two security awareness phrases spring to mind. Familiarity breeds contempt, and a familiar sight provokes no attention. Security experts advise that terrorist groups and organised criminals utilise these two phrases to ensure the success of their kidnap for ransom insurance business.

During several of my business protective service operations I have witnessed sane, rational and intelligent business owners lose all three of these sub conscious defensive functions the moment their aircraft lands in a foreign country.

You might think it’s a familiar sight to see an empty coke can under a nearby car in Mexico City. However to the trained eye of a threat expert the security risks indicate it could be a remote controlled improvised explosive device.

Many business owners have been killed because criminals and mafia groups brought them into familiar surroundings in which their subconscious automatically made incorrect assumptions about it being a safe environment. Soviet Bloc Mafia groups are particularly skilled in facilitating this environment.

Travel Security Expert – Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed #3 Arrogance And Showing Off.

During my 20 plus years providing security experts and threat expert close protection for business owners and directors. I have witnessed many security risks breaches instigated by the business owner-director under my protection.

Several of these security awareness breaches were directly attributable to these business owners showing off, or being unnecessarily arrogant.

Many successful business owners have not achieved success by being a meek little wall flower. They are vocal, occasionally loud, sometimes rude and for some strange reason when in an overseas destination, occasionally downright obnoxious.

Most of these security risks problems manifest because many business owners have an enormous ego to stroke, and because many business owners talk far too much.

Organised terrorists and organised criminals involved in the kidnap for ransom insurance business have low level foot soldiers mounting target intelligence and gathering intelligence on loud mouthed, arrogant business travellers who are showing off.

Showing off and being overtly arrogant is a sure fire recipe for catching any prospective kidnappers attention.

Travel Security Expert – Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed #4 Habitual Behaviour

All security experts and every individual threat expert will inform you that most business owners are most likely to be attacked or kidnapped when they are entering or leaving a building, or vehicle. One of the main reasons why, is because this is generally when every VIP is most vulnerable.

When working overseas your security risks increase and so your security awareness needs to increase accordingly. Make sure you alter your routes and any other habitual behaviour that terrorist and criminal surveillance operatives may pick up on.

i.e. if you are working in unfamiliar overseas location and you walk or drive to the same hotel bar every evening, then kidnappers seeking K&R Insurance finance will utilise your habitual behaviour against you.

Travel Security Expert – Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed #5 Lack of Security Awareness & Poor Observation Skills.

Security experts and every threat expert call this lack of security awareness ‘Condition White.’ In its basic format this means the person is completely oblivious to perceived or actual security risks, threats and problems.

For people going through their day to day existence in ‘Condition White,’ their observation skills are generally poor and they are unable to recognise increased security risks and threats.

All good security awareness and counter measures should begin before you book your overseas trip. As an overseas business traveller your life is at risk and although the concept of 100% security is non-existent, there are simple security risks countermeasures which you can implement to ensure you are not presenting as a ‘Soft Target’ to criminals and kidnappers while overseas.

Travel Security Expert – Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed #6 Overt Corporate Lifestyle.

To minimise the security risks to your personal safety while overseas it is wise not to adopt an overt corporate lifestyle.

Remember professional terrorists, organised criminals and professional kidnappers seeking a K&R Insurance payout, pay for surveillance operatives to surveil high priced, up-market western style hotels to identify travelling western business owners, especially those operating in ‘Condition White.’

For example, security awareness dictates you should never carry a business briefcase. Dress down when travelling, don’t use corporate luggage tags and stay away from the high class American and UK hotels whenever possible.

And always avoid using a sign written corporate motor pool vehicle belonging to a western business, because adopting an overt corporate lifestyle overseas is a recipe for disaster.

Travel Security Expert – Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed #7 No Security Back Up Plan B.

All security experts or a professional threat expert organises a security awareness back up plan when mapping out the threat assessment for any VIP under their protection.

In the security risks industry this is generally referred to as ‘Plan B.’ It is not uncommon for security experts to have multiple alternative back up plans because no matter how good your security awareness plan is, Murphy’s Law always materialises to screw things up. Murphy’s Law can be summed up by the following; ‘what can go wrong will go wrong.’

Travel Security Expert – Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed #8 Complacency.

Security experts know that complacency kills. It’s as simple, harsh and as brutal as that. Terrorists, criminals and kidnappers often strive to lull prospective targets into a false sense of security awareness, because complacency quickly follows and the victim becomes easy prey.

To really understand complacency, think about the immediate aftermath of September 11th citizens initially accepted increased and unprecedented security awareness measures at airports, marine terminals and all borders.

However in a relatively short time, complacency set in as citizens complained bitterly about being inconvienced at airport check in.

When complacency sets in, security awareness levels drop and security risks increase.

Travel Security Expert – Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed #9 Not Trusting Your Gut Reaction

Security experts say we are all blessed with our own sub conscious defence mechanism. Civilians call it trusting your gut reaction. Security experts call it the ‘Fight or Flight Syndrome.’ Without getting too technical, we are pre-programmed for fight or flight, and it happens in the blink of an eye.

I’ve heard many a threat expert explain to security risks students that if something doesn’t quite feel right, then you should always go with your gut reaction. I agree, because despite the very best security awareness planning I’ve often had to change tack because my gut was telling me something wasn’t quite right.

Travel Security Expert – Avoid 10 Things That Get Business Owners Kidnapped Or Killed #10 No Kidnap For Ransom K&R Insurance

If ever the phrase a ‘No Brainer’ had a place in security, then it is when any business owner or traveller visits any overseas location without having a kidnap for ransom insurance policy or K&R Insurance.

K&R Insurance is no longer reserved for multi millionaires. It is an affordable business expense which should be utilised by every business owner traveller visiting any destination overseas to conduct business.

It’s not necessarily going to prevent your kidnapping, although some policies come with caveats that you must attend a security risks awareness training programme. But having K&R insurance might mean you are r

Personal Security and Terrorism

Considering the Alternatives: Even though terrorism is a world-wide criminological issues, some researchers consider there is one aspect that is common to most acts of terrorism: the United States is the victim of choice. As such, it is probably safe to suggest that anything American, both domestic as well as international, is fair game for the terrorist. American citizens call fall prey to terrorist targets at home or abroad. In spite of growing expenditures for security technology, terrorist incidents will continue to increase. As the protective rings of security tighten around corporate offices, airline terminals, nuclear power plants, military installations and government facilities, terrorists are likely to become bolder. In the process, they are also likely to be less selective in their attacks. Therefore, the issue of personal security, especially when traveling abroad, becomes a critical issue of travel. Personal security means taking those steps necessary to ensure survival and safety from injury. This requires that a person plan ahead and develop a strategy of defensive countermeasures. Reducing personal exposure to danger is the goal of such tactics. This is not a static process, but a dynamic on-going planning effort. It should be kept in mind there is no system of one hundred percent foolproof protection. Yet, there are basic precautions which can reduce the opportunity for victimization. As many security practitioners point out, a major requisite for personal security is the development of a good plan of action. This plan must be supported by knowledge, training and practice of security techniques. In the process, every effort must be made to upgrade security when necessary. This means to adapt, improves and overcome obstacles whenever they arise.

Planning a defensive posture in response to terrorism is hampered by the inability to predict when and where terrorists will strike. The security conscious person will need to evaluate his or her individual risks. Such exposure depends upon one’s lifestyle, business activities, and other related interpersonal associations. In addition, other issues such as mode of travel, routes of travel, level of exposure, locations, residences, etc, are additional considerations. A preventive action plan involves paying attention to the environment. It requires constant high level vigilance. Precursors to an incident must be detected early. So, a personal early warning system must be implemented. This is primarily a mental process, or a tactical mindset. One must conscious focus and utilize his or her sensory abilities to maximum advantage. Making the effort to evaluate potential risks can be time consuming. Such efforts depend on how secure a person wants to be. Plus, a person must decide in advance the kind of response to make when a confrontation occurs. Each of us should always evaluate alternatives, given the situation at hand, and then act accordingly. Personal safety dictates doing whatever is necessary to ensure survival. Criminals are capable of being extremely dangerous. They are capable of committing acts of assault, rape, extortion, kidnapping, murder, as well as other crimes. Make no mistake, terrorism, transnational organized crime, and state sponsored criminal enterprises threaten the national security and safety of the United States.

Implement a Personal Security Strategy: Over the past few years, acts of terrorism have shown increased levels of activity. The annual growth rate seems to surpass previous years. Increased incidents show a range of global movement. According to one researcher, the targets over the past few years have included an array of locations and individual situations. Thus, persons associated with certain professions, geographic areas, target symbols, certain means of transportation, etc., have become targets for potential terrorist attack. In particular, the frequent traveler abroad to the high risk locations, or areas of known or suspected terrorist activity, is a high risk candidate. Such targets or symbols include, but are not in any way limited to, the following: perceived enemies such as the United States, and representatives of the United States government, embassies, airlines and airline terminals, trains and other means of public transportation, utilities and communication systems, hotels, schools, businesses and their corporate representatives, and many other types persons, places and things. We’re all potential targets.

Regardless of whether or not the threat potential comes from the political terrorist or the criminal terrorist, the possibility of violence and disruption always exists. In the planning process, it would be appropriate to begin by making an assessment of one’s risk potential, and decide if there is a high risk possibility of becoming involved in a terrorist incident. This effort involves anticipation of the criminal act, to the extent that a person understands that a terrorist act is possible, given the right set of circumstances. Initially, one might make a list of the personal lifestyle, associations and social status in order to ascertain the individual risk category. For example, a personal risk analysis list might include items such as: individual social status and public profile, previous history of exposure to threats or personal loss, the type of neighborhood, symbols of perceived enemies (e.g. representative of a large multi-national corporate entity), extent of travel and means of travel, personal lifestyle and the perceptions of others regarding personal wealth, family and home vulnerability, etc. Once a determination has been made as to risk potential, the individual begins to appraise those things necessary to enhance the personal security profile. Recognizing that certain actions will be needed to reduce personal exposure, not only for the individual, but also for members of the family, coworkers, etc., the action plan evolves into the implementation of steps required to foster protection and survival. Again, planning a personal security strategy is an ongoing process, which includes the evaluation, assessment, analysis and upgrading of one’s individual security profile. Along with such strategies, develop a tactical mind-set of personal security.

Implementing A Personal Security Plan: Individual residences, surrounding neighborhoods and nearby areas are good places to start implementing personal security strategies. A complete security analysis should be conducted of the residence, with attention given to location, environment, construction, history of crime in the neighborhood, police response times and patrols, security hardware on doors and on windows, use of security alarm systems, and so on. All exterior doors, for example, should be of solid core design, preferably of metal construction, with maximum security hardware. Likewise, windows should be well-designed, with effective high quality locking devices, and reinforced where needed to be as intrusion resistant as possible. Where possible to do so, without a violation of codes or ordinances, bars, grillwork or steel mesh should be installed to further protect external openings.

After conducting a thorough analysis of the security measures that are required for the residence, an effective security alarm system should be an additional component of the overall action plan. The alarm system should include provisions for both heat and smoke detection. While an alarm system does not offer physical protection, its use is for the purposes of detection, notification and deterrence of the intruders. The alarm system is a means by which early warning is made to the occupants and others, such as the police, in order that follow-up countermeasures can be activated. The selection of a reliable, cost-effective and efficient alarm system is very critical to the security planning process. Reliable and qualified security alarm services should be consulted. Their credentials should be fully investigated. Do it yourself defense systems are also available. Early warning is crucial to protecting yourself and others.

Fencing and barrier controls should be utilized where necessary to act in conjunction with other security measures. Walls fences and other types of barriers should be used to deny access to the property, and provide protection from surveillance, as well as serve as a psychological warning to a potential intruder. The use of barriers to define the property and deter intrusion should be done in a manner that creates the first line of defense as a primary obstacle. Fences should be erected so that climbing is not encouraged, or made easy for the intruder. Certain types of materials can be used on the tops of fences and gates to make climbing less desirable, any points of possible concealment for an intruder, along the fence line perimeter, should be eliminated. Likewise, landscaping can be utilized in a cooperative effort with fencing and barrier protection. There should be no places an intruder can hide, or escape surveillance by the occupants, or by police patrols. Every effort should be made to blend security with landscape and fencing aesthetics. Proper levels of illumination can be used to further the security profile of the residence. Exterior lighting should be deployed in such a way that ample protection is provided for all entrance points and approaches to the residence. Maximum visibility should be afforded by the lighting system during all hours of darkness. Sodium vapor and quartz lighting are an effective means to provide security lighting, since they have a high intensity output. Control mechanisms and wiring should be designed so that if a lamp is disabled, other lamps will be operable. Switches should be located inside the residence, and lights should operate on automatic timers, when it is possible to do so. Inspect every possibility you can think of.

An in-depth security survey of the home, whether a single family type residence, apartment or town house, is the first step in the development of a comprehensive personal security plan. Both the residence and the type of lifestyle should be analyzed, with particular attention given to any possible security problems that may be detected. By careful observation of the setting, the neighborhood, design of the residence, landscape, lighting and other related factors, an effective plan of countermeasures can be developed to enhance personal security. Care should be taken in the selection of residences, even if only for a limited period of time. All security precautions that are taken should remain a matter that is confidential and restricted to members of the family. Within the corporate organization, public service or governmental setting, precautions similar home security should be implemented.

Buildings and offices should be secured to the maximum extent possible. Think about possible threat potentials within the surrounding environment. Critical security assessments should be made of the location, neighborhood, construction and layout, parking areas, etc. Government and business offices can become the targets for a variety of criminal acts, including: theft, forced occupation, kidnapping, sabotage and bombings, hostage taking, etc. Effective security barriers and strict access controls can work to reduce the threat potential at the perimeter of the facility. The use of security hardware, alarm system countermeasures and anti-intrusion techniques, effective policies and procedures of good planning, will reduce the opportunity for incidents. An evaluation should be made as to the potential and suspected nature of the security threat, and what property or persons might be targets. Executive personnel should be sensitive to the need for a good security plan, and act responsibly to ensure that all issues are completely addressed. Someone within the organizational structure (e.g. the security department if one exists, or local law enforcement) should be assigned to fully evaluate the security profile of the operations, research the threat potential, and conduct a comprehensive physical security survey. Security policies and procedures should be established in written form, including an appropriate crisis management response in the event of an incident. This would also include an emergency plan to deal with bomb threats, fires, disasters, communications and power failures, etc.

Finally, where security deficiencies are present, effective coordination of follow-up action, in addressing the problems that arise, should be conducted in a timely manner. Reducing opportunities for risks and threats is critical to the planning process. Leaving the protective surroundings of the home or office, the security-minded individual will need to utilize additional safeguards. Keeping a low profile, avoiding notoriety and maintaining a sense of anonymity is one aspect of this process. By trying to avoid problem areas and staying clear of trouble, personal security can be enhanced. It is important to avoid if possible anything that makes a person stick out, and, instead, try to blend with the surroundings. Calling attention to one’s social, financial, political or professional status could create additional security problems. At some point, it may mean that a person will need to scale down, or reduce to some degree, his or her lifestyle. It may not be possible to avoid a problem or a risk situation when traveling. But, the person who anticipates, plans, prepares and takes precautions, will be better prepared to deal with a situation by reducing levels of vulnerability. Reducing vulnerability is something that applies to just about every aspect of living. Thus, contingency plans must be developed for each means of possible exposure. This is particularly important when traveling by air, train, ship, bus, as well as any other means of public transportation.

Confidentiality should be applied to travel plans, in addition to the itinerary once the destination is reached. Any important documents, papers or records, that may be perceived as controversial or identify affiliation with a government or business entity, should be secured in a safe place for all phases of the trip. A trusted member of the family at home and at the office should be briefed on the traveler’s plans, and should have special instructions to follow in the event of an emergency situation.

Safeguard Travel Plans: Again, the traveler should remain alert at all times, especially at terminals, hotels, restaurants, etc. Self-preservation is the priority in surviving a threat incident. The aspect of blending, or becoming invisible in a sense, is an important component, not only during pre-planning and travel phases of the trip, but also in the event of an actual situation. An effort should be made to protect means of identification. For example, it is advisable that two sets of identification be carried. Some type of civilian identification can be carried for day to day needs, while official identification is placed in a secure location. The idea is to protect identity, keep a low profile, and not draw unnecessary attention.

A traveler should remain alert to the possibility of surveillance, and any suspicious persons that seem to be out of place, or hanging around during any aspect of the trip. Care should be taken in the choice of hotel or lodgings. All personal property and luggage should be safeguarded at all times. The use of identification on luggage should be avoided, and good locking devices should be used. Portable security devices can be purchased for use in hotel rooms, in addition to those utilized to protect property & other valuables. Cash, credit cards and travelers checks should be safeguarded at all times. Any losses should be reported immediately.

When confronted by an actual situation, the traveler should pay attention to the instructions of the captors, and avoid being confrontational or arrogant. Every effort should be made to remain calm, preserve strength & be ready to take actions necessary to survive. Sudden movements, or action that might antagonize or panic the captors, should be avoided. There are no absolute rules or perfect guidelines for dealing with a terrorist situation in terms of responding, once it has taken place. Much depends on the group that has initiated the incident, and the objectives being sought. The traveler must use any available time to his or her advantage, to think, remain calm, observe what is going on without being overt, and be prepared to react instantly if a rescue is attempted. The importance of planning good personal security, making sound decisions and translating the information into decisive action are important aspects of an individual security plan. The use of security countermeasures should be applied to all aspects of the lifestyle: home, family, office, recreation, travel, etc. Personal security applies to the particular means of transportation as well, including lodgings, sightseeing tours, shopping and destinations. Security planning should be utilized to the maximum extent to ensure the desired level of personal security and safety. The security-conscious person should practice mentally what he or she might do if actually confronted by an incident. It is likely that most people will never become involved in a terrorist situation. But, if a person suddenly becomes confronted by such an incident, his or her ability to act in a rational manner, due to prior planning and preparation, certainly will ensure a better chance for survival. Remember, proper planning prevents poor performance. There are always warning signs!

Bio-Sketch – Randy Gonzalez

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