Preventing Workplace Violence: Early Identification and Intervention Go a Long Way
This article was originally featured on Campus Safety Magazine As workplaces are emerging from pandemic restrictions and returning to near-normal operations, corporate security and human resources professionals are facing some complex challenges. Many studies have shown workplaces are facing an increased volume of threats, including threats from those internal or otherwise known to the organization…
Read MoreMailroom Security — The Unfortunate Impact of Overlooking Screening Protocols
The corporate mailroom is often pushed down on the priority list for security concerns, with eyes on visitor management, events, and other high-traffic areas. However, the hard truth is that the logistics of mail screening, or failure to do so, impacts almost every aspect of the business — from business continuity to insider threats to…
Read MoreDeveloping a “Corporate Foreign Policy”: The Urgent Need for Boardroom Geopolitics Strategies
An era of pervasive geopolitical tumult means that companies, and the executives who run them, must begin formulating and following coherent strategies for global engagement. In the first piece of a series on the intersectionality of geopolitics and global business, Colin Reed explores this growing need, and poses early recommendations for companies seeking to develop…
Read MoreWhat it Takes to Modernize Your Threat Management Approach
The field of threat intelligence has evolved far from the days of interviews and observation around a predator or risk. The uptick in social media activity combined with the post-traumatic stress after COVID-19 has drastically changed the way security professionals approach a threat and prioritize information, and it’s critical to stay current on the discussion.…
Read MoreFred Burton’s 2022 Holiday Reading List
This holiday season all of the books on my list focus on espionage, cops, crime, and disasters. Would you expect any less? As usual, I’ve included a few of my favorite classics, some books that are new to the bookshelves this year, and two soon-to-be released books to fill your holiday list. Do you have…
Read MoreBalancing Data, Leading By Experience
This article was originally featured in Security Magazine Just over a decade ago, I got my first glimpse into how digital technology would significantly change the security industry. I was working with a Fortune 500 company as an embedded contractor, and my job was to build its protective intelligence program. A seemingly innocuous comment on…
Read MoreBritish Intelligence Expert Shares the Greatest Threat Facing Public Figures
In this episode In this episode, Fred Burton speaks with Philip Grindell, founder of Defuse Global and a former Scotland Yard Detective, about the complex intersection of physical safety and psychological security. Philip shares how his experience protecting British royalty and government leaders shaped his approach to helping high-profile individuals feel safe in a world…
Read MoreHow to Stop a School Shooting: Using Pre-Incident Indicators to Know When to Act and What to Do
Ten years ago today, 20 children – all ages six and seven – and 6 adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Like the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary and so many other school shootings before and since, the Oxford High School shooting didn’t have to happen. But if you think this post is…
Read More4 Ways Corporate Security Teams Can Better Respond to Rising Crime Rates
Fred shares how corporate security teams can enhance their response to escalating crime rates, emphasizing proactive measures and collaboration with law enforcement. Since 2019, the world has experienced a lot of unexpected and unprecedented changes. For corporate security professionals, shifting trends in criminal activity are becoming a persistent and ongoing concern. This is especially top…
Read MoreA Unique Approach to Corporate Security in Biotech: A Q&A with Exact Sciences
We recently sat down with Scott Brinkman, the Associate Director of Global Security at Exact Sciences Corporation, to discuss the approach his team takes to protective intelligence, threat assessment, and how his corporate security program differs within a fast-moving biotech company. Exact Sciences Corporation is an international molecular diagnostics company specializing in the detection of…
Read MoreForging Her Own Path: Creating a Threat Intelligence Company from Scratch
Identifying who could be posing a threat to an organization is far from a one-person job. It takes the right training and a team that represents multiple viewpoints and areas of expertise beyond security. Janet Lawless had a vision to create a company to provide that training and help organizations to build a threat intelligence…
Read MoreWhere to Start When Building a School Safety Plan
If it’s not front of mind, time and time again security measures get pushed aside until an unfortunate event surfaces. What surprises many is that the infrastructure is there for measured risk mitigation practices to occur. It comes down to the small group that all eyes are watching — the leadership team. Creating this unified…
Read MoreUsing The Indications and Warning (I&W) Analysis to Manage Organizational Risk
The Center for Connected Intelligence partnered with Scott McHugh who works for the Institute for Homeland Security at Sam Houston State University to develop this piece. One of the key reasons we created the Ontic Center for Connected Intelligence (CCI) was to share industry tools, best practices and lessons learned to help those who protect…
Read MoreRunning Towards Fire — How to Mitigate Threats for Journalists in High-Risk Areas
Security professionals have increasingly demanding responsibilities in keeping people and assets safe as new threats arise and old ones loom in the periphery. When you’re charged with protecting nearly 1,000 individuals running towards action – oftentimes high-risk and in remote locations – it takes a certain type of individual to mitigate risk. Matt Bohatch is…
Read MoreThe Evolution of Addressing Targeted Violence Since the 1996 Centennial Olympic Park Bombing
Receiving a call to be notified that there has been violent activity in the middle of the night is every security professional’s worst nightmare. However, when that activity is a bomb in the middle of Centennial Olympic Park, it takes on much broader implications. Dave Benson speaks of his experience as a Special Agent for…
Read MoreReining in an Epidemic of Workplace Violence in Healthcare
Fred Burton offers strategies and solutions for navigating the surge in workplace violence incidents within the healthcare industry. This article was originally featured in MedCity News The murders of four healthcare workers earlier this year, including two physicians, by a patient at a medical center in Tulsa was a grave reminder of an ever-growing epidemic:…
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