Posts by Fred Burton
Revealing the Most Prevalent Physical Security Threats at U.S. Companies
For many executives leading major companies, the threat of violence in the workplace is distant. They don’t think it could ever happen to them, and few want to openly discuss the threats they do receive. Security professionals don’t have that option. They swim in a fast-moving river of threats made by strangers, activists, co-workers and…
Read MoreThe Protective Intelligence Summer Reading List
When you write books, people always ask you what you like to read. I put together a list of books focused on protective intelligence last year — a mix of predictable and unpredictable choices. As background, I’ve always been a reader of non-fiction and thrillers as I know many are within the protection and intelligence…
Read MoreA Driving Legend — Tony Scotti, Protective Intelligence Pioneer
The following is a personal message from the Executive Director, Fred Burton, regarding Tony Scotti’s nomination as a Pioneer in the Protective Intelligence Honors Program: In protection, regardless of the mission or assignment, your vehicle serves many purposes and driving is critical to the success of any protection officer. The driving track is also fun!…
Read MoreConsiderations for Personal Safety and Small Office Protection
Not all organizations have large security teams observing and protecting employees and their customers during their day-to-day operations. Small office environments who lack the resources for security staff are often left scrambling when something doesn’t feel right, or, conversely, overreact when presented with an unwanted situation. However, employees and business owners working at organizations of…
Read MoreSupporting Mental Health in a Time Where Corporate Security Teams Need it Most
There are times in my career when there are simply no words and silence is the best option. The never-ending chaos of terrorism certainly affected me, particularly when I was a young special agent. When I close my eyes, I can still see the devastation from many crime scenes, such as hijackings and plane crashes.…
Read MoreProtective Intelligence Lessons From the U.S. Capitol Riot For Companies
This article was originally featured in Security Magazine. After a lifetime in the protection business, the one constant in Washington that I’ve learned is that it takes tragedy to force change. The January 6 Capitol riot is not an enigma. This was a clear protective intelligence failure. The key finding of Retired Army LTG. Russel…
Read MoreAs Athletes Play, Bad Actors Can Prey: Why Protective Intelligence is Needed in Sports
This article was originally published in Athletic Business. Last year, Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana was at home with his family when he discovered an intruder trying to kidnap his granddaughter from her playpen. Fortunately, Montana and his wife were able to wrestle the 9-month old out of the woman’s arms before any serious…
Read MoreScott Stewart’s Lasting Impact on Protective Intelligence
The following is a personal message from the Executive Director, Fred Burton, regarding Scott Stewart’s nomination as a Pioneer in the Protective Intelligence Honors Program: One cold and rainy Thanksgiving Day many years ago in Washington, D.C., our command center notified us about a domestic threat from a person of interest against the Secretary of…
Read MoreA Tribute to Clint Hill, Protective Intelligence Honors Pioneer
The following is a personal message from the Executive Director, Fred Burton, regarding Clint Hill’s nomination as a Pioneer in the Protective Intelligence Honors Program: When we first started thinking about the Protective Intelligence Honors program, Clint Hill was the first person that came to mind. Some may not recognize the name, but anybody who…
Read MorePhysical Threats Are Rising: Key Compliance, Legal Issues for GCs
This article was originally featured on Bloomberg Law. It is co-authored by Fred Burton, Executive Director of the Ontic Center for Protective Intelligence, and Scott Shepherd, Chief Legal Counsel. General counsel and chief legal officers are multidimensional leaders who touch every part of an organization, guardians guiding legal and regulatory matters for the business, navigating…
Read MoreBefore the IPO: When to Think About Security
Most CEOs of companies undergoing an IPO don’t know what they need. Understand the holistic threat before buying security software and systems. When it comes to physical security systems and programs, many get sold a Cadillac when all they need is a Chevrolet, so work with a trusted vendor. Over the years, I’ve been asked…
Read MoreGetting Proactive with Protective Intelligence
This article was originally featured on ASIS International. The deadly riots at the U.S. Capitol on 6 January 2021 reinforced the concept that chief security officers’ modern day physical security programs must prioritize protective intelligence to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate harmful threats. As the FBI and law enforcement officials comb through hundreds of thousands…
Read MoreTop Seven Corporate Security Lessons from the Capitol Riot
As a former police officer and special agent in the Washington D.C. area, I am no stranger to large-scale demonstrations. But I could never have imagined mob violence overrunning the U.S. Capitol. The events on January 6 were a clear example of what happens when there is a lack of protective intelligence and contingency planning,…
Read MoreWhy Enterprises Must Rethink Employee Safety in a Remote Work Environment
This article was originally featured on Forbes Technology Council. “Staying safe” in today’s workplace usually means taking precautions to protect yourself from Covid-19, but even with millions of people across the globe working remotely, corporate security and HR teams still need to consider the issue of workplace violence. A virtual workforce has pushed potential threats…
Read MoreChallenges Facing Security Industry and Historical Inflection Points
This article is based off of my 2020 OSAC Annual Briefing presentation “Historical Inflection Points for the Security Industry” Looking back, history has not been kind to the safety and security industry. As a former agent hired after the devastating embassy bombings in Beirut and Kuwait in ‘84 and ‘85, tragedy has forced lots of changes, mostly…
Read MoreA Call for Change in Physical Security
Fred Burton’s article was originally featured in Dark Reading. We’re at an inflection point. The threats we face are dynamic, emerging, and global. Are you ready? Despite dedicating the majority of my life to protective intelligence in the private and public sectors, I still find it hard to believe when I see companies that have…
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