Supply Chain Logistics Requires a Multi-Faceted Security Approach

Supply Chain Logistics Requires a Multi-Faceted Security Approach

Frank Costa, President Nexgen Protection Services – 

Supply chain theft has become a global issue and is estimated to cost billions of dollars in losses annually. Retailers are facing numerous challenges in ensuring the safe transport of high value items from manufacturing facilities to their stores as the level of cargo theft increases rapidly.

Protecting valuable cargo in logistics requires a multi-faceted approach that encompasses risk assessment, secure packaging, advanced tracking systems, route planning, and well-trained personnel.

 

SOURCE: 

Wolfe, C., WHITEPAPER: Protecting Precious Cargo Throughout the Supply Chain, Loss Prevention Magazine, 04/22/2024.

#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats



Organizations-are-Increasing-Spending-on-Proactive-Security.

Organizations are Increasing Spending on Proactive Security

Frank Costa, President Nexgen Protection Services – 

Organizations are increasing spending on proactive security solutions. These solutions include attack surface management and risk-based vulnerability management.

A proactive defense strategy, when combined with reactive security, creates a high level of security to mitigate the overall risk to the organization.

 

SOURCE: 

More than 70% of companies increased spending on proactive security, Security Magazine, 06/25/2024.

#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats



Information Disinformation Makes it Difficult to Discern What’s Credible

Information Disinformation Makes it Difficult to Discern What’s Credible

Frank Costa, President Nexgen Protection Services – 

Seventy-five percent of U.S. respondents believe misinformation has made election results inherently less trustworthy. Eighty-one percent of Americans fear that misinformation from deep-fakes and voice clones is negatively affecting the integrity of their elections. 

Information warfare, disinformation, and misinformation have been around for decades. Artificial intelligence creates very credible fake personas, sophisticated false messages, making it difficult for all of us to discern what’s credible and what’s false. 

 

SOURCE: 

87% of consumers say brands are responsible for privacy protections, Security Magazine, 06/25/2024.

#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats



Security Risk Assessment: Considerations for Public Venues

Security Risk Assessment: Considerations for Public Venues

Frank Costa, President Nexgen Protection Services – 

Negative fan behavior. Weather issues. Cyberattacks. Rogue drones. Security incidents at sporting events are impacting athletes, fans, and stadium staff, as well as making headlines in the media.

Other incidents, such as a crowd crush at a white-out game at Penn State and sustained injuries from a lightning strike at a UCF game, are also concerning. National news of active shooters, along with the constant threat of terrorism, accentuate the importance of preparedness.

Any public venue must consider event specific risk assessments to identify threats and vulnerabilities. Outcomes from this process will inform planning efforts, including the development of policies and procedures.

SOURCE: 

Allen, B., Hall, S., The Security Scorecard: Considerations for Sport Venue and Event Managers, Security Management, 06/01/2024.

#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats



Leveraging Generative AI to Mitigate Fraud, Disinformation, and Exploitation

Leveraging Generative AI to Mitigate Fraud, Disinformation, and Exploitation

Frank Costa, President Nexgen Protection Services – 

Fake news, manipulated media, deep-fakes—disinformation continues to evolve online, fueled by increasingly sophisticated generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) tools. Deepfakes in particular have been used to imitate individuals—whether in video or audio form—to achieve a number of criminal aims.

While intentional reputational damage toward organizations is certainly possible with deep-fakes, malicious actors more frequently aim to score more tangible and immediate profits or inflict damage on an individual.

Don’t trust the voice on the other end of the line. Scammers ask you to pay or send money in ways that make it hard to get your money back. If the caller says to wire money, send cryptocurrency, or buy gift cards and give them the card numbers and PINs, those could be signs of a scam.

 

SOURCE: 

Meyer, C., Putting Generative AI to Use for Crime: Fraud, Disinformation, Exploitation, and More, Security Management, 06/17/2024.

 

#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats



Corpus-Christi-public-libraries-will-now-have-armed-security-guards

Corpus Christi public libraries will now have armed security guards.

Frank Costa, President Nexgen Protection Services – 

Effective immediately, all Corpus Christi public libraries will now have armed security guards inside. Previously, only the La Retama location had armed security guards.

The school’s staff feel they don’t have to worry if some crazy person wants to come in with a gun or rifle. At least there is some security, we feel that having them armed would be a deterrent.

The reasoning isn’t linked to one specific incident but rather several incidents libraries have seen over the years.

 

SOURCE: 

Jaramillo, T., All Corpus Christi libraries to have armed security guards effective immediately, KRIS 6 NEWS, 03/27/2024.

#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats



Do-Armed-Guards-Prevent-School-Shootings

Do Armed Guards Prevent School Shootings?

Frank Costa, President Nexgen Protection Services – 

In 2022, there were 51 active shootings that caused injury or death — excluding suicides — in K-12 schools or on school buses. There are roughly 100,000 public schools in the United States, meaning that these incidents are quite rare. Still, widespread worry fuels an active national debate about how to curb these shootings. 

Have guns stopped mass shootings at schools?

There are only a handful of documented cases in which an armed security guard or stationed police officer has stopped a school shooting.

A 2013 study conducted by the FBI analyzed 160 active shooter incidents found that most attacks are carried out in “a matter of minutes,” making it difficult for armed guards to be in the right place at the right time. 

Even when law enforcement was present or able to respond within minutes, civilians often had to make life and death decisions, and, therefore, should be engaged in training and discussions on decisions they may face.

For mass shootings more broadly, there’s evidence that unarmed bystanders have stopped more attacks in these early minutes than armed people. 

 

SOURCE: 

Esposito, L., Yablon, A., Do Armed Guards Prevent School Shootings?, The Trace, 08/14/2023.

#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats

 

Steps-to-Mitigate-Crime-Risks-at-Houses-of-Worship

Steps to Mitigate Crime Risks at Houses of Worship

Frank Costa, President Nexgen Protection Services – 

Every place of worship is different in physical size and design. Some places of worship may be a single building with just a few attendees, open one day a week. Other places of worship may contain numerous buildings and entrances with hundreds of people attending every day. Some are in peaceful areas, while others are in hostile regions.

When considering how to secure a place of worship, it is very similar to the approaches used to secure any property and the concepts of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) are applicable. The strategic placing of lights, cameras, fences, gates, landscaping, etc. can create an environment that is less appealing for criminal activity.

 

SOURCE: 

Ratliff, P., 4 Steps to Mitigate Crime Risks at Houses of Worship, Security Management, 03/20/2023.

#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats

 

40-M-Contract-for-Armed-Unarmed-Security-at-County-Facilities

$40 M Contract for Armed / Unarmed Security at County Facilities

Frank Costa, President Nexgen Protection Services – 

 

Multnomah County officials recently signed a 5-year, $40 million contract for armed and unarmed security at county facilities. The security details were deemed necessary due to the increased drug use and mental health outbursts have become more acute in public spaces, like the county’s libraries.

 

SOURCE: 

 

Peel, S., Multnomah County Signs $40 Million Contract for Armed and Unarmed Security at County Facilities, Including Public Libraries, Willamette Week, 05/16/2024.

#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats



Library-Workers-Call-On-City-Officials-to-Place-Security-Guards-in-System.

Library Workers Call On City Officials to Place Security Guards in System

Frank Costa, President Nexgen Protection Services – 

In a dramatic plea for safety, San Francisco librarians are now demanding the city deploy security guards at all library branches, echoing the broader concerns of a community grappling with the city’s rampant drug crisis. 

Business owners and librarians alike report a surge in dangerous incidents, ranging from vandalism to aggressive behavior by individuals under the influence, complicating the narrative of an improving cityscape. This situation has put a spotlight on the urgent need for security measures in public libraries, challenging the efficacy of San Francisco’s current strategies in addressing drug-related issues and public safety. 

The librarians’ call to action underscores a critical juncture in the city’s fight against crime and substance abuse, marking a pivotal moment for local governance and community safety initiatives.

 

SOURCE: 

Angst, M., Scared to deal: Library Staff Security Concerns, San Francisco Chronicle, 04/09/2024.

#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats