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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you help our company even if we don’t have a formal security program, safety officer or CSO?
Yes. We have an offering specifically designed for organizations who are not big enough to have a formal security program, safety officer or CSO (Chief Security Officer), or do not wish to hire one. We call this offering “Virtual CSO”, and here is how it works: we first lead your executive staff through a thorough assessment of your environment and quickly customize a program that fits your needs. We then assign the right small team with a single point of contact to be your Virtual CSO. You get the best of both worlds in that you are able to access the subject matter expertise of multiple people with authoritative experience in their fields, interact with only one person as your single point of contact, and do so for less than the cost of hiring an in-house CSO, let alone an entire security team. After the program is in place, we remain engaged to conduct the next phases of the plan, regular security audits, updates and training, and are on-call for incident response.
Do you provide bodyguards or close protection?
The emphasis of our services is to develop security programs that provide ironclad protective security without the need for bodyguards mirroring your every move. However, intelligence, events, travel and life circumstances may dictate the assignment of security personnel to provide close protection for specific periods of time. Our intention remains providing you, your organization and family with a protective plan that keeps you safe while allowing you to move freely without bodyguards most – if not all – of the time. If the need arises, we first consider counter-surveillance by specialist personnel who are with you but not seen – to respond to unforeseen events. If our counter-surveillance does not alleviate our concerns for your safety, we will provide seasoned close protection specialists (CPSs) to shadow your movements. The CPSs we provide are categorically superior to traditional bodyguards and well known with both national and global specializations. They are also carefully selected for the right fit with your personality, lifestyle and organization in order for optimal security that seamlessly blends with your life – even for a temporary assignment.
I am involved in an elevated threat phase involving divorce, litigation, business/personal/property dispute or stalking and have security concerns given what’s at stake and/or the other side’s behavior. What can you do to help me?
Our expertise is heavily weighted in threat management. In this context, you can think of threat management as a blend of behavioral science (predicting human behavior through applied psychology), specialized expertise in conflict resolution, and corporate risk management. The primary goals in all of our protective programs are to (a) assess your situation until scientific predictions are possible, (b) develop and help you execute a well-thought-out strategy, and, (c) prevent attacks and conflict escalation. Whatever the case, after an immediate assessment and interviews of relevant parties, you will receive advice as well as a plan of action for implementation from subject matter experts who have for the past 30 years advised presidents, world leaders, important decision makers, first-tier celebrities and key federal government witnesses through severe, unrelenting conflict and credible threats.
From the interpersonal to the international, the nature of conflict and threat remain the same. Whether you’re a country in a global hotspot trying to negotiate a treaty, a company trying to settle litigation, or a private individual trying to navigate through a divorce, if you’re facing a hostile party, the same rules apply. And what you need are specialists in “safe passage” procedures in event-driven threat phases such as divorce, restraining orders, litigation, armed conflict, property disputes and stalking. Beyond the strategy development and regular assessments, our involvement will include monitoring and day-by-day adjustment of our suggested security measures. If engaged to work with you in a continuous threat environment, we will actively monitor all “systems” in your personal life, business environment as well as that of your competitors and/or the hostile party you’re facing. We can work seamlessly with other advisors such as attorneys and accountants to develop a cohesive strategy, and function as liaison to law enforcement. In addition to the examples given, our expertise in threat management extends to schools, college campuses, corporate workplace violence and other sectors of our society.
There seems to be a dizzying array of security-related companies throwing the same terms around. What makes you different?
Our services are based on best practices of best-in-the-world agencies such as the US Secret Service. We specialize in designing security programs that are unique to the culture and environment of both your personal life and your business world. This stands in sharp contrast to the “I have a hammer and everything looks like a nail” approach to security, which is often what happens when all is said and done. Bodyguards, expensive electronics and ex-law enforcement officers are not resources you can throw at a problem to achieve security. What differentiates us is the quality of our strategic thinking, the authority of our experience, and the personalized nature of all our services.
Our programs emphasize detailed advance planning, specialized expertise in stability and continuity, and strong networks of resources worldwide that can be accessed at a moment’s notice. We also rely on focused training that is regularly updated to ensure that our clients, their employees and their families are fully prepared to deal with events that may jeopardize their security, and are ready to react both mentally and physically. In short, we radically reduce the scientific probability of escalation, attack and disaster, and dramatically lessen your exposure – so that the added security does not complicate your life, but simplifies it. And that is where the true value in security can be found.
Can you tell me more about your team?
Our team is made up of best-in-class former law enforcement personnel and present-day private security specialists who are relentlessly passionate about their work, yet down-to-earth and very easy to work with. Unlike many other providers, the expertise of our team is not heavily slanted towards either law enforcement or private security. Acknowledging that both government and the business world offer critical training grounds, we bring to our clients the most widely experienced team with outstanding credentials in both the private and public sectors.
Our team members include former US Secret Service agents who bring authoritative expertise in executive security as well as the security of buildings, major events and continuous protection of critical infrastructure; former FBI agents responsible for complex corporate and criminal investigations, experience with public security, protection against mass destruction and unconventional weapons as well as workplace security; private security personnel with careers ranging from hospital security, specialization in JHACO requirements and emergency medical security protocols to physical security integration and corporate risk management; IT security specialists in threat assessment, security design, target hardening, forensics, intrusion prevention, continuous information protection, privacy, business continuity and disaster recovery with experience ranging from Fortune 500 and aggressively targeted organizations to small businesses; former military officers with experience in emergency practices in remote locations including crisis evacuation from foreign countries; military paramedics responsible for US foreign medical intelligence assessments; former IRS agents with career experience in investigating fraud and corporate wrong-doing, Sarbanes Oxley and other legal compliance and identity theft protection; and locally-based former state and local law enforcement officers experienced in counter-surveillance operations and family security.
I see the need to mitigate risks for my family and business by having better security, but I want to maintain my current lifestyle and not hire permanent security staff. What are my options?
We understand that the clear majority of executives, VIPs, celebrities, high net-worth individuals, small business owners, firm administrators, directors of operation, and others feel the same way. To solve this common problem is one of the reasons for our existence, and one of the most compelling reasons for working with us. A whole host of companies, executives, their employees and individuals with assets – people who carry risk or are under a credible threat – understand the need to address personal, family and business security, but simply do not want to employ permanent staff. Staff becomes a large line item in budgets and often an unwelcome guest in a protected person’s life. We will address your security as if we were your permanent security director. From physical security assessments to business operations, staff training to executive protection, our people will become your people. We will represent your business in front of vendors, clients, in negotiations and at business events, as well as serving as your Chief Security Officer in other roles with convincing institutional knowledge of your company, your operations and your people.
The most basic version of this process works as follows, in down-to-earth terms: you tell us what you worry about, we tell you what you should worry about, and we come to an agreement on priorities. We then deliver the security in a way that represents the most practical and best-value translation of your business requirements into real-world protection. It is our specialty to deliver these results without requiring permanent security staff or a major disruption in your lifestyle or business, and we succeed in doing so in the vast majority of cases.
We have reason to believe that our organization is being targeted or we’ve already been victimized by cyber attacks, fraud, industrial espionage or burglary. What can you do to help us?
We deliver the industry-leading ability to conduct a cross-disciplinary audit of all your resources. This audit will prevent disjointed and silo efforts that create blind spots in decision making, and includes audits of physical premises, information and systems security, operational security, and key human resource security. The results will give you a top-down and realistic view of what you have to contend with, and likely uncover any incidents that may have already happened. We can then assist in the development of information and asset protection programs as well as business continuity planning that will protect your business and executive staff from all threats ranging from corporate espionage to loss of business value. Having a holistic understanding of all threats – from Internet-born to physical, directed towards persons vs. operations, random vs. targeted, internal vs. external, etc. – and how they relate to and interact with each other is the only position from which you can make truly informed business decisions.
Our services extend beyond the identification, verification and management of ongoing threats. As part of an overall program, we also provide event-triggered security on an on-demand and as-needed basis. Examples include incident response to a cyber attack, technical security countermeasures to protect your sensitive communications during sensitive meetings and off-site events, and enhanced security during litigation, disputes or other elevated threat phases.
Can you help us with physical security / surveillance / commercial access control?
Yes. We design security systems that include CCTV surveillance, multi-layer access controls, communications and safe rooms to protect your physical plant, residence and/or other premises. Most physical security systems are put in place without proper assessment and strategy, losing the forest for the trees. If you’re starting to discuss camera features and recording times, but you have not been helped through to a lucid understanding of your business requirements in a focused security model, you are in danger of sunk costs and the illusion of protection, since you can easily spend a small fortune on electronics without any real gains in security. We will architect your system based on top-down threat assessment models that fit your budget. We will then develop the specifications for a vendor bid that will result in the most cost-efficient and practical system installation that protects your business from ineffective security, inflated costs and limited warranties. We will retain our objectivity throughout the process, ensuring freedom from conflict of interest, and deliver both the right solution and the best value.
In what parts of the world can you help our company or VIP with intelligence, relocations, overseas assignments, logistical support and beyond?
We can assist you in just about any part of the world. There may be places we would suggest you not go, but in the end, we will provide you the support you need to travel or relocate to any country or region. Our network is spread around the world. We can build a complete travel, temporary assignment or relocation package that takes care of the logistics and security every step of the way. We will work with your staff to select the right hotels, vetted car services and other transportation modes, hospital identification and emergency medical precautions, and provide invaluable intelligence information on the countries and regions you’re traveling to – down to the street level. If needed, we will travel overseas to conduct security assessments on locations where you may be thinking of establishing permanent operations or relocating executives. Our assessment will also address business continuity planning at these locations as well as a process risk assessment and management after the business is in operation. If you need physical bodyguard protection or security drivers for any length of time, we will arrange to find the preferred trustworthy provider with a track record of excellent service, confidentiality and security in that country or region.
If you wish to be traveling with an executive assistant who can also function as your personal security representative for a trip, we will provide specialists to travel with you from the United States to anywhere in the world. Their experience in providing on-the-ground and in-the-moment security advice around the globe will keep you safe while in unfamiliar environments. Finally, if matters deteriorate beyond your control while in another part of the world, we can arrange for logistical support to evacuate you from your location. |
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