Results
Our insights - Blogs
Can Workplace Violence Be Anticipated?
Workplace violence is typically defined as an act or threat of physical violence, intimidation, or other threatening behavior that takes place in the nexus of a work environment. It can take many forms – from overt acts of violence to more “hidden” incidents like bullying or sexual harassment – but companies that take steps to understand how and why these incidents occur may begin to identify their vulnerabilities and develop comprehensive mitigation plans. These plans can help to reduce both the risk and the impact to employees, customers, and assets.
Our insights - Blogs
What Does Situational Awareness Mean?
For people living or visiting the Austin, Texas region in 2018, the news was terrifying. Five apparently home-made bombs were detonated at seemingly random locations, killing two and injuring five others. Finally authorities identified a suspect and were close to capture before he took his own life with a bomb. While that may have ended this ordeal, police and other officials urged people to practice keen “situational awareness” as more undetonated bombs might still be at large. So, that begs the question…what is situational awareness and how does one engage in it.
Our insights - Blogs
Why the South Korea Winter Olympics Will Be Business as Usual
If you are hosting a party, the last thing you want is a neighbor intruding and launching things over the fence, threatening to disrupt the festivities. And while that threat is certainly looming for South Korea as they prepare to host the 2018 Winter Olympics in February near the border with North Korea, Pinkerton Director David Rotger says that South Korea’s security will be the highest quality and the upcoming Games should be business as usual.
Our insights - Blogs
Why Embedded Security Provides A Different Level of Protection
Some companies have the time and resources to create extremely competent security teams that understand their company, the mounting threats being presented in our increasingly connected world and methods to mitigate these risks. But many companies simply don’t have the necessary amount of time or resources. Despite their best efforts, building an international, national or even regional security team is no easy task. But with the use of embedded security, companies can achieve a different level of protection almost overnight. In 2012, Pinkerton introduced the Pinkerton Dedicated Professional (PDP) service to address this very problem. And as our Vice President James McClain explains, the demand for the PDP service has been growing rapidly ever since.
Our insights - Blogs
How to Layer Security for Large-Scale Events
For Pinkerton Director Eric Rose, layered security for large events has been on his mind for several years. “People haven’t been taking security at events like sporting contests or concerts seriously enough,” he explains. “I’ve felt for a while now that it was only a matter of time before something bad happened.” And sadly, it did. While we were working on this post, a topic Rose suggested months ago, tragedy struck in Manchester, England. A bomber killed more than 20 people at an Ariana Grande concert. And for Rose, it cast a spotlight on an industry that needs to dramatically alter how it considers security at events like these. “Event security just can’t be a budget line item or a box that gets checked,” says Rose. “Security must be at the forefront of any event planner’s mind as a critical element to the event’s success.”
Our insights - Blogs
Modern Challenges for Executive Protection
When many people think about executive protection details, they picture large, imposing men wearing dark suits, sunglasses, a concealed weapon or two, and a communication earpiece. It wasn’t too long ago that this stereotype often matched with reality. But today, this bodyguard-type image of executive protection has evolved dramatically, as Pinkerton’s Kevin Cox, Managing Director, East Region & Canada, and a Director, can attest. Today’s executive protection professionals require a working knowledge of technology tools, an understanding of international cultures, politics and current events, and increased situational awareness skills in a dynamic world presenting constant threat.
Our insights - Blogs
Tech Companies Rally Behind Apple In Encryption Debate
More than a dozen U.S. based tech firms filed legal briefs in support of Apple’s case against the U.S. Government over device security. Apple has been resisting demands from the Federal Bureau of Investigation to unlock the iPhone of San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook. The amicus brief received by U.S. District Judge Sheri Pym in Riverside, California, argued that the 1789 All Writs Act cannot be used to force companies to create new technology. Additionally, the tech companies argue that Congress passed laws that govern what companies are compelled to do in support of government investigation, and the FBI orders are an “end run” around those laws. Families of the victims of the December 2015 terrorist attack filed their own amicus brief opposing the case made by the companies. The tech community that is expressing support for Apple’s stance against the US Government includes some of the biggest corporate rivals. While at first there was some hesitancy to become involved – or perhaps a desire to view the initial trajectory of the confrontation - Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Ebay, Twitter, Airbnb, & Reddit are among the group that has now become proactive. In the amicus briefs filed, the language is crystal clear and harshly criticizes the intent and actions of the FBI. These giant corporations are no longer concerned about any negative public perception. On the contrary, their alignment together will create a positive solidarity in the tech industry, and one which is likely to capture the attention of the public with a strong display of a line in the sand against government action that compromises confidentiality and privacy of the end user.
Our insights - Blogs
Guard Force Management - Focus & Responsibilities
Protecting the security of an organization is a crucial element in the functionality and sustainability of a business. Typically, that responsibility falls to a company’s contracted guard force. Critical to their success is having a central command leader who can oversee the operation and manage resources when threats arise. Who to put in that position is a question CSOs and others grapple with often. Many companies employ a third-party Guard Force Manager for this role and there are several benefits to doing so.
Our insights - Blogs
The Various Categories of Missing Persons Cases
Missing persons. Far too many to be featured in a weekly TV series. There are always interesting, unique, and unresolved cases. Thousands of individuals are reported as missing in the USA each year. According to the FBI statistics, a very large percentage of them are under the age of 21 years old. The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) is an electronic clearinghouse of crime data that can be tapped into by virtually every criminal justice agency nationwide. Law enforcement agencies use it to document and track missing persons files. When the police pull you over for a traffic violation, they can run your ID through the NCIC to view your current status. In this article, we will elaborate on the following circumstances to give a more comprehensive overview of the range of missing persons cases.
Our insights - Blogs
GPS Tracking of Individuals
GPS (Global Positioning System) tracking of individuals is best incorporated within a comprehensive security strategy which includes standard protective elements. An intelligence unit can generate a threat brief for the area of operation, monitor news, social media and other indicators, compile all information and data into a dashboard, and couple this with a GPS indicator. As a result, operations will know where threats AND people are. This is the information age and information is extremely powerful, having the ability to quickly disrupt social, cultural, and political states. The level of ability to harness this information makes you either more effective or more vulnerable. For personnel tracking, there are security services that offer protective info based on projected destinations following initially generated travel itineraries and other identifiers, but adding GPS takes out the ‘guess work’, and provides definitive knowledge and targeted alerts based on where the person actually is at any given moment.
Our insights - Blogs
Protection for Race Horses, Expensive Pets, and Prized Possessions
The protection of individuals, companies and all their physical and intellectual properties are central to the offerings of professional protective service organizations. From there, one can drill down deeper. Possessions today can have extremely large monetary values, and are often irreplaceable. Animals in particular are unique in their worldly presence and emotional connection to their owners. Unfortunately, thoroughbred race horses and expensive pets can also - in some circumstances - become targets for theft and tampering. This is an area in which many security services do not offer comprehensive protection, and thus finding the right solution for these particular needs can be difficult.
Our insights - Blogs
Hong Kong Government Talks With Protesters
Starting September 26, protests carried out by a large number of pro-democracy activists led by the Occupy Central Movement (OCM) and the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS) took place in Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China. These protests have resulted in the blockade of roads, disruption of bus and tram services, and closure of government offices and schools.
Our insights - Blogs
Getting the Most from Your Security Agency
“Why should I consider bringing an outside security team into my organization?” We get this question a lot. Most companies we talk with know that they have a skilled security team that handles issues with great professionalism. However, there are issues companies and organizations face to which, though they recognize them, they are ill-prepared to respond. Beyond that, there are unknown issues that can present a major problem for the future. It is within these two areas that partnering with an external agency can provide added value, perspective and expertise.
Our insights - Blogs
Getting to Know Your Bodyguard or Protection Agency
Clarence Darrow once said, “You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man’s freedom.” Bodyguards and other protection agencies identify with this line of thought since it is their very essence for existing: they spend their lives protecting others from serious bodily threats and extreme harm from unknown sources. If you have taken the first step in protecting your liberties and freedom by employing a bodyguard, it is very common to have moments of awkwardness and uncertainty when it comes to knowing how to communicate, act and go about your daily duties. Just like any first encounter, you have to establish an effective working relationship with your protective agent. Communication and asking questions are both mandatory parts of the process to better understand someone’s mannerisms, facial expressions and overall demeanor.
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With the risk landscape constantly changing, organizations worldwide choose Pinkerton to provide reliable security and protection.