Top 5 Security Expert Tips For Business Executives
Whether we choose to admit it or not, the world we now live in is definitely not a safer place than it was 20 years ago. An online posting today from the British American Security Expert predicts the involvement of British troops in Afghanistan may be required for another 40 years. I’ll put politics to one side and focus on the ripple effect that statement causes across the world.
If true we can realistically look forward to a further 40 years of increased terrorist attacks and global kidnappings of business executives. International security experts from various security consultancy agencies predict future terrorist attacks will become much more sophisticated due to the rapid advances in security technology. Sadly as security experts design new security products to defeat terrorism it is only a short time frame before the terrorists and criminals get their hands on these products and adapt them for their use.
During the lunch break at a recent risk management security consultancy meeting I had coffee with a risk expert, a threat expert and a privacy expert and all three expressed grave concerns about the increased security risk from personal computer and internet online data theft. It appears maritime pirates off the costs of Yemen and Somalia are employing sophisticated computer geeks to identify maritime vessels for hijacking, and also individual business executives for kidnap for ransom.
To put this in its true context, organised crime gangs and terrorist organisations are identifying business executives who they intend to kidnap for ransom, and they are doing this from a back room in a shanty town thousands of miles away. The only way this can happen is because the business executives or whoever it is that books their travel itinerary fail to implement basic security risk reduction factors favoured by International security experts.
Now as startling it this may be, you don’t need to be an IT expert or a password expert to prevent your valuable data being picked up by Kidnappers-R- Us. You just need security answers to some simple security questions. For example the first rule of security is there are no rules. The second rule of security is there is no such concept as 100% security, the very best I ever seen achieved is about 95% and that was achieved by security experts from government security services and a couple of the corporate blue chip risk management security agencies.
To offer a further example the President of the United States has historically been one of the most high profile global targets for kidnap and/or assassination. The American Secret Service is staffed by some of the most highly trained close protection officers in the world. Their security support infrastructure is monstrous, their budget virtually unlimited and their security technology well in advance of anything else available. They retain the services of the finest international security experts to advise them on all aspects of management security, close protection and security from top down and bottom up.
These security experts provide a wealth of close protection security consultancy to help minimise the security risk to the US President. When one considers that every professional protection bodyguard who has ever graduated from any of the specialised close protection courses delivered by security experts understand that there are two main priorities to consider when providing close protection security.
1: To keep your client free from danger.
2: To keep your client free from embarrassment.
Given the combined security resources of the US Secret Service one would assume the current, and past Presidents would be as safe as safe can be. Not so!
Several of the previous Presidents have been shot. Several have survived assassination attempts and even more recently President Bush was severely embarrassed in Iraq when one of the Iraqi journalists threw his shoe at the President. This was broadcast globally which caused the President and his administration severe embarrassment. It also no doubt boosted recruitment for various terrorist organisations who probably watched this televised incident with the same critical eye as international security experts.
You might think that throwing a shoe is no big security problem. However we are talking about the President of the United States of America. If someone can get through access control and be placed close enough to the President to throw a shoe, what if the shoe had been prepared by one of the terrorist bomb makers to incorporate a hidden improvised explosive device. Now I know that every security expert worth his or her salt will assume that everyone in attendance at this event had to clear metal detectors and rigorous searches which probably included firearms and explosive searches. It doesn’t matter, the real security risk was that the President’s combined close protection agencies failed to stop an attack.
To bring this closer to home for business executives, although every one of us is at risk, there are simple security countermeasures which we can all incorporate into our daily lives to help reduce our security risk. It is with this in mind that I decided to offer the Top 5 Security Expert Tips for Business Executives from the security expert. As follows…
Top 5 Security Expert Tips #1 Speak With Your Mouth Shut
Every security expert will agree that most people talk too much. People give away so much information and data without even realising it. This stems from the fact that the highest percentage of people living on this planet exist in a full time state of what security experts call, ‘Condition White.’ This means they go through life in blissful ignorance of potential security and risk problems. Test this tip for yourself next time you are eating in a restaurant, or whenever you are in close enough proximity to hear other people’s conversations. You will be amazed at how much valuable information and intelligence they give out.
Imagine for one moment you are an organised criminal or a terrorist, and then you will understand how valuable that intelligence is.
Speak with your mouth shut is a professional bodyguard phrase coined by Dr. Mark D. British American Security Expert. In simple terms, it means to be very careful about how you talk, who you talk to, and who else can hear your conversation. The security expert advises all business executives that this top 5 security expert tip should also be maintained when conversing on the telephone, text, e-mail, social network sites and online blogs.
Top 5 Security Expert Tips #2 Access Control
When considering Top 5 Security Expert Tips for Business Executives from the security expert, every security expert knows that implementing great access control systems can significantly reduce your security risk. Quite simply if you make it difficult enough for someone to get close to you then chances are they will look elsewhere for a softer target. Access control is not confined to physical security products like barriers and Paxton door entry systems. It also relates to your personal communications.
Many people have been unwittingly lulled into a false sense of security in relationship to the internet explosion of social media web sites like face book, Twitter and You Tube etc. For some strange reason normally sane people are posting valuable intelligence about themselves for the entire world to read.
Imagine Sara Jones from 12 Any Road, Anywhere, Any City etc posts a Blog on Twitter; “Oh my gosh! My entire family are stuck in Madrid airport and we’ve just been informed we can’t fly home until tomorrow.” Seems innocent enough doesn’t it? In fact it’s an organised criminal’s dream. Any IT Savvy Criminal can quickly establish where she lives; he can even print out a map to her house from Google maps. Hey ho, he knows they are all out of the country for a further day, so he can take his time to burgle her property.
Access control equals controlling your security risk.
Top 5 Security Expert Tips #3 Photocopy Everything in your Purse or Wallet
One of the first things promoted on security training courses by security experts is that you should take the time to photocopy every item of documentation in your purse or wallet as soon as you can get access to a photocopy machine. Completing this simple security expert tip will pay significant security dividends if ever your purse or wallet is stolen.
Take it as a given that every credit card, driving licence, store card, pin number, safe number, passport details, bank debit card in your purse or wallet offers significant value to a thief or fraudster. If you are targeted by pickpockets or opportunistic thieves then you need all the relevant data and information in an easy accessible place, (not your purse or wallet) so that you can call and put a stop on everything as soon as possible.You will obviously need to secure these photocopies and it is wise not to let more than one other person know where this information is stored. The old saying of, “if more than two people know a secret, then it’s no longer a secret,” applies here.
Top 5 Security Expert Tips #4 Never Agree to Handle Anything for Someone You Don’t Personally Know
Business Executives are frequently targeted by professional smugglers belonging to organised crime gangs and terrorist organisations. The approach is very much the same as that used when targeting security naive young travellers overseas. Their initial approach is one of friendship and kindness, he or she will make a real fuss of you. They will maybe spoil you with free drinks, free excursions etc. The idea is to establish a friendship in the early stages of your business trip.
Towards the end of your business trip they will adhere to one of the following tactics.
1: He or she will ask you to deliver a package to one of their family members or friends back in your home country. You will be given some kind of hardship story to sway your opinion of transporting the package. Of course they inform you that the package is completely legal. Younger business executives are most likely to fall for this approach.
2: While you are distracted one of their accomplices will hide a package in your luggage case. You will be unaware of this until you are caught and arrested or until you clear customs in your home country. Their accomplices will target you after you leave the airport. Every business executive and overseas traveller can fall victim to this approach.
If you think these two security breach scenarios are unlikely to happen, then think again. Every International security expert is aware of cases like this.
Simple solution to this is twofold. Don’t be taken in by new found friends, and always check your luggage prior to handing it in at the airport or shipping dock. If you have any suspicions inform law enforcement or customs immediately.
Top 5 Security Expert Tips #5 Trust Your Gut Reaction
Top 5 Security Expert Tips for Business Executives from the security expert finishes with trust your gut reaction. This may seem like a strange security tip but it is something which should not be overlooked. Security experts are aware of a phrase called the fight or flight syndrome. Quite simply this is your body’s natural defence mechanism which automatically kicks in every time we face some form of security danger or uncertainty. We don’t control this it is a sub conscious reaction which happens in a millisecond.
For example: When you are confronted by an aggressive person your body prepares you to fight or gets you ready for flight. Your breathing alters, your heart rate increases, blood is diverted to your extremities, their hairs on the back of your neck stand up on end. Your vision reverts to tunnel vision, you experience auditory exclusion. Your entire focus is on the immediate threat before you. Most people fail to recognise that this fight or flight syndrome is our own built in security system, many think it is fear. Whereas international security experts understand this whatever decision you make is down to your gut reaction.
I’ve listened to many security experts from various global agencies listing the fight or flight syndrome and gut reaction as two of the most powerful security secrets in their armoury.
I hope you found my Top 5 Security Expert Tips for Business Executives from the security expert useful. Implement them into your daily routine and you will reduce your security risk.