The Most Sought After Skill in Protection

Protecting your client from a threat as it becomes known or as it occurs is a reactive approach and puts you on the back foot. Not only that, but it exposes the client to some level of risk. By taking a more proactive approach through protective intelligence, you reduce the risk to the client and yourself. The ability to demonstrate this to a prospective client is going to dramatically improve your chances of winning the contract and retaining the client.

This week we’re going to share why the skill of protective intelligence (i.e. identifying threats before they happen) is the one skill, based on industry trends, that protectors should be focusing on to establish themselves as a trusted advisor.

So, let’s get into it!

The Circuit Magazine Podcast

Often the group that tries to be all things to all people is going to fail. So, is the managed Security Service of the future going to be more about subcontracting and strategic partnerships?

On this week’s show, we’re joined by Mark Ledlow and Patrick Kane to look at the way in which physical security/EP fits squarely in the managed security service of tomorrow. As we dig into this, we’ll be asking:

  • How has corporate security modernized over the last two years? What new offerings are we seeing?

  • Are we starting to see a greater appetite at a corporate level for protective intelligence over an executive protection program?

  • In an integrated solution with cyber colleagues, could physical security become the eyes and ears on the ground for a joint Intel group?

  • What vital skills are security managers searching for that protectors are missing from their resumes?

If you enjoy listening to the Circuit Podcast and can spare a minute, please rate/review us. Your rating will help us to rank higher making it easier for others to find the podcast.

The Need to Know

An armed man clad in body armour was killed after he tried to "breach" an FBI building in Ohio, officials say. The suspect fled the scene in Cincinnati and was shot by police after an hours-long standoff in a rural area.

Russia reportedly said the MiG-31 aircraft are now based at a Kaliningrad airfield "as part of the implementation of additional strategic deterrence measures."

Sister of Kim Jong-un insults South Korean president and says it is his ‘great dream’ to get the North to trade away its nuclear weapons

No matter how lavish the accommodation laid on for him by his clients, Viktor Bout preferred to bed down at night with his helicopter crew as close as possible to a chopper, ready to fly in minutes.

Whether DJI likes it or not, Russia loves its drone for their military capabilities. The problem for DJI and China is Russia deciding to advertise the fact it loves these drones.

The first woman, A., was made head of the Mossad Intelligence Department. The second woman, K., was appointed to head the Iran Department.

This is the horrifying moment two men dipping their toes in the water off the coast of Odesa, Ukraine were reportedly killed when a landmine exploded underneath them.

For more timely global updates like this, get the Circuit Daily Briefing delivered to your inbox... daily! Get on the list >

From the Pages of the Circuit Magazine

The primary objective of protective intelligence surveillance is collecting information helpful in determining if an individual demonstrates the intent and extent (capability) to formulate and execute a violent plan of action.

“Studies of incidents have revealed that when proactive measures were not taken to protect a client, the reactive measures taken by the bodyguards failed almost every time.” – The New Executive Protection Bible, M.J. Braunig 2000

With global security issues like workplace violence, celebrity stalking and assassinations being a growing concern, the need for protective intelligence is increasing as well. In this detailed article Joseph M. LaSorsa explains how you cannot mitigate a risk that you have not anticipated, therefore the most dangerous risk may be the one you did not foresee.

Maintaining a preventative and proactive methodology for these incidents proves itself to be a more beneficial and cost-effective approach than a reactive one.

If you enjoyed this article and want more great content from across the industry then subscribe to the Circuit Magazine >

Latest Issue of the Circuit Magazine

Issue 62 - Intelligence Gathering

"Very informative publication covering all aspects of the Security Industry. If you're not a subscriber-what are you waiting for? Utterly fantastic."

- Dave Warren

Geopolitical Analysis by RANE

Argentina’s perennial cycles of economic turbulence are particularly baffling if we consider that, from a geopolitical perspective, the country has a lot going for it.

In fact, Argentina shares many geographic and strategic commonalities with much more prosperous and stable countries like the United States and Australia, including a vast and resource-rich territory, protection from external aggression, and access to a large network of rivers and oceans that facilitate trade, along with a growing, educated and multicultural population.

And yet, Argentina went from being one of the ten largest economies in the world at the beginning of the 20th century to barely making it to the top 30 at the beginning of the 21st century.

An Advantageous Geography

Argentina is one of the world’s ten largest countries by territory and faces no significant threats of foreign aggression. With three of its four borders secured (The Andes protect its Western border, the Atlantic to the East and the South Ocean has the Southern border covered), the only real threats to Argentina’s territorial integrity come from the north.

In addition to protection from external aggression, Argentina’s large territory offers significant natural resources that make it self-sufficient in two crucial areas: food and energy.

A Weak Rule of Law

The absence of an independent and transparent judiciary that ensures everyone plays by the same rules has created an environment where property rights and contracts are selectively enforced.

Similarly, corruption prevents the laws of the economy from working freely and fosters an uneven distribution of wealth by concentrating economic resources in the hands of corrupt business elites and the public officials who back them.

The Perils of Populism

But while Argentina’s weak rule of law and uncertain policy environment certainly haven’t helped, the expansion of populism is perhaps most to blame for the country’s enduring economic malaise.

Populism has built a time bomb at the heart of the Argentine economy that is virtually impossible to dismantle, which will likely perpetuate (and perhaps worsen) the country’s vicious cycle of political instability and economic volatility, regardless of a geopolitical context that should ensure prosperity.

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From the Community

A former bodyguard of Princess Diana, Lee Sansum, writes a book and says he believes she would still be alive if he had been on duty the night she died in Paris.

Lee has written a book, 'The Bodyguard' about his time in the industry. Naturally, his experiences working with the Royals feature prominently, and the fresh perspectives have excited the tabloids, who must feel they'd squeezed all the juice they could get out of Ken Wharfe.

He said: 'It could have been me in that car. We drew straws to see who would be accompanying Trevor [Rees-Jones] that weekend. When I learned they were not wearing seatbelts in the crash I understood why they didn't survive. I always insisted on it.'

Important and relevant commentary or just industry gossip? How do you feel about the procession of ex-protectors selling their inside knowledge of clients personal lives to the press?

Ask questions, get advice, and find industry resources from an active and thriving community of professional, working operators:

🇺🇸 NABA Protector >

🇬🇧 BBA Connect >

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In Numbers

With ransomware demands reaching an average of $1.2 million in 2021, payments may exceed the average cyber insurance coverage limits.

Many businesses reported cybersecurity coverages that are poorly tailored to their current situation. Of the 450 businesses that were surveyed...

  • 19% have ransomware coverage limits above $600,000

  • 59% hoped the government would cover damages when future attacks are linked to other nation-states.

  • 37% aren’t currently covered for any ransomware payment demands

  • 43% aren’t covered for auxiliary costs such as court fees or employee downtime.

  • 34% have been denied coverage due to not meeting specific endpoint detection and response (EDR) software requirements.

For additional cyber insurance report findings, click here.

Meanwhile...

After becoming the hero of the lockdown for many of us in the security industry, some people had started to wonder whether Phelim Rowe was real. So much so that after meeting him in person at the the recent Physical Cyber Convergence Forum in Phoenix, Carlos Francisco, the Corporate Security Translator, took to LinkedIn to proclaim that he does in fact exist!

Elsewhere on the Circuit

Brittney Griner’s arrest and conviction in Russia for possession of medical cannabis oil is a critical lesson for all international travelers to learn. “The laws of your home country don’t travel with you” said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue.

Several unusual things are legal in the U.S. but illegal in other parts of the world, like camouflage attire in the Caribbean or swearing in public in the U.A.E. All are banned in the aforementioned countries,and some violations are punishable with jail time.

At best, international travellers may receive a stern warning or the item could be confiscated. At worst, officials can fine you, arrest you, expel you and even jail you, as is the case for WNBA star Griner.

As security professionals, it's our job to remain up-to-date on local laws and to advise our clients accordingly.

The U.S. Department of State’s travel information web page for overseas travel advice explains you are subject to local laws while abroad. Whether it’s satellite phones in India, Walkie-Talkies in Japan, prescription drugs like Ambien in Singapore, or over-the-counter medications like Sudafed in Greece – they are all illegal. You are bound by those laws. You can’t just say ‘Oops, I didn’t know.’ Ignorance is not an excuse.

Celebrating Our Wins

I was determined there would be no incursions on my watch at the opening and closing ceremonies at The Commonwealth Games (Birmingham 2022).

We managed to keep the events protest-free and also thwarted three attempts at breaching our security.

  1. The first was a deliberate and undisclosed penetration test. A male and female were identified undertaking ‘hostile reconnaissance’ and attempting to gain entry to the site under false pretences. Caught and handed to the police.

  2. The second was a male who was bragging on social media that he was accessing games venues without the correct accreditation. He was spotted by a non-security colleague (great piece of work!), a call was made to me and we identified him through CCTV. He had a form of accreditation that ultimately led to his arrest.

  3. Finally, the third individual decided he was going to celebrate with all the athletes on the field of play at the closing ceremony. He was quickly identified by my covert operatives on the ground and escorted off-site.

Three great results produced by good intelligence, a collaborative security approach, good use of CCTV and some good old-fashioned detective work.

- Well done Scott, great job!

Until next week...

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