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The Rise of Physical Security De-escalation Tactics

The Rise of Physical Security De-escalation Tactics

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Frank Costa, President, Nexgen Protection Services

In recent years, one of the most pressing issues at the center of national conversations has been the use of excessive and unnecessary police force. This topic will continue to be a focal point, and one major shift in the security industry will be the increased emphasis on de-escalation tactics and training for safety officers, with a focus on making this a first resort.

De-escalation training equips security personnel with the tools they need to resolve emergencies without the use of force. It empowers officers to slow down, assess situations more effectively, and communicate clearly with both the individual involved and their team. Just as importantly, it helps mitigate the risk of liability and reduce the potential for injuries to security personnel.

While having a physical security or human guarding team on-site is crucial and can prevent further escalation, hybrid security strategies that incorporate technology are becoming increasingly important. The remote work revolution is well underway, and many companies have adopted a hybrid office model, allowing employees to spend time both on- and off-site.

SOURCE: 

Weingot, D. Guard trends to watch in 2022. Security InforWatch, 02/14/2022.
#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats

 

Supply Chain Attacks: Exploiting Third-Party Vulnerabilities

Supply Chain Attacks: Exploiting Third-Party Vulnerabilities

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Frank Costa, President, Nexgen Protection Services

The cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. With the rise of sophisticated attack methods, the integration of new technologies, and increasing connectivity across sectors, businesses are facing more complex cybersecurity threats than ever before. Staying informed and prepared is critical to protecting data, maintaining trust, and ensuring business continuity.

Supply Chain Attacks

As businesses increasingly rely on external vendors and partners, supply chain attacks have become a significant cybersecurity concern. In these attacks, threat actors infiltrate a company’s system by compromising a third-party provider, gaining access to multiple organizations through a single vulnerability.

How to Prepare:

  • Vendor Risk Assessments: Conduct thorough security assessments for all vendors and partners to identify potential vulnerabilities.
  • Contractual Security Requirements: Include cybersecurity clauses in vendor contracts to ensure security standards are upheld.
  • Network Segmentation: Isolate critical systems from external partners to prevent attackers from moving freely within your network.
  • Continuous Monitoring: Use real-time monitoring to track vendor activity and detect any unusual behavior early.

 

SOURCE: 

Top Cybersecurity Threats to Watch in 2025: How Businesses Can Prepare, Boston Institute of Analytics, 11/14/2024.
#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats

 

The Importance of Parking Lot Security During the Holiday Season

The Importance of Parking Lot Security During the Holiday Season

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Frank Costa, President, Nexgen Protection Services

The holiday season brings increased activity to shopping centers, office complexes, and other public spaces, making parking lots prime targets for various security threats. Understanding these risks and implementing effective countermeasures can help reduce threats to both individuals and property.

With large crowds and busy lots, personal safety risks such as assaults, robberies, and carjackings become more prevalent. Criminals often target individuals carrying cash, credit cards, or valuable items. To counteract these threats, mobile security cameras equipped with motion sensors and two-way communication can provide an added layer of safety. These cameras enable security personnel to monitor isolated areas more closely. The ability to relocate cameras based on real-time data and activity trends ensures that security coverage can adapt to shifting risks, providing a more comprehensive safety strategy.

To mitigate these security threats, parking lot owners should invest in enhanced lighting, permanent and mobile surveillance systems, increased security patrols, and emergency call stations. Mobile security cameras, in particular, offer a versatile and dynamic solution for monitoring parking lots. These cameras can be repositioned as needed, provide real-time surveillance, and serve both as a deterrent and a responsive tool for addressing security issues.

Additionally, patrons should practice personal safety measures, such as parking in well-lit areas, staying vigilant, and securing their belongings. By combining strategic security technologies like mobile cameras with proactive safety practices, property owners, managers, and patrons can work together to create a safer and more secure environment during the busy holiday season.

 

SOURCE: 

Survey: Parking lot safety influences holiday shopping habits, Security Magazine, 2024.
#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats

 

Retailers Must Leverage Technology That Goes Beyond Thwarting Theft to Predicting It

Retailers Must Leverage Technology That Goes Beyond Thwarting Theft to Predicting It

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Frank Costa, President, Nexgen Protection Services

Violence remains a major concern for the retail industry. Retailers and solution providers must collaborate to develop and implement technology that goes beyond simply thwarting theft. Efforts must focus on predicting and preventing theft. By doing so will proactively reduce the risk of violence and mitigate crime.

Retailers have reported an increase in both the average number of shoplifting incidents and the amount of dollars lost due to shoplifting over the past year (National Retail Federation, The Impact of Retail Theft & Violence 2024).

Protecting store associates and customers, while reducing today’s levels of violence and retail crime, requires a whole-community approach and collaboration across all stakeholders.

SOURCE: 

Wolfe, C. New Study Shows Shoplifting Is Up 93% Since Before the COVID-19 Pandemic, Loss Prevention Magazine, 12/19/2024.
#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats

 

Creating a Loss Prevention Culture: A Thoughtful, Strategic Approach

Creating a Loss Prevention Culture: A Thoughtful, Strategic Approach

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Frank Costa, President, Nexgen Protection Services

Set Up a Loss Prevention/Asset Protection Team

Creating a loss prevention culture requires a thoughtful, strategic approach. Here are four key steps to establish a cohesive and proactive loss prevention framework:

1. Define Your Mission and Scope

The first step in fostering an effective loss prevention culture is to clarify its focus, goals, and priorities. This involves defining the specific areas your company’s loss prevention efforts will address, such as waste management, operational inefficiencies, and workplace safety.

Equally important is determining how the success of your loss prevention culture will be measured. Beyond traditional metrics like shrink reduction, consider tracking waste, gross margin, accident frequency rate (AFR), safety compliance, and other indicators that align with your business objectives.

Establishing these foundational elements helps shape the structure of your loss prevention efforts, guiding leadership, field management, and store-level teams.

2. Assemble a Dynamic Team

A successful loss prevention culture thrives on a team with diverse skill sets. You need a mix of traditional loss prevention expertise and operational knowledge to effectively combat evolving tactics in organized retail crime and other complex loss events. This means having team members skilled in investigations as well as those with deep knowledge of business operations.

Building a robust loss prevention culture is about more than preventing theft; it’s about understanding how every facet of your business contributes to loss. A diverse team ensures you’re prepared to tackle challenges from multiple angles.

3. Foster a Unified Loss Prevention Environment

Building a true loss prevention culture requires teamwork and collaboration. Strong interdepartmental relationships and clear policies are essential for effective decision-making and risk mitigation. These policies provide employees with a framework to minimize errors, ensure proper data handling, and enforce compliance.

By collaborating with sales, operations, and other departments, loss prevention becomes seamlessly integrated into the business culture.

4. Leverage Technology for Scalable Growth

Investing in technology can significantly strengthen your loss prevention culture. While the initial costs may seem high, tools like incident management software and audit platforms with workflow automation can handle increased workloads without proportional increases in costs, making them ideal for scalable growth.

SOURCE: 

Wolfe, C. Why Human Resources and Loss Prevention Should Train Together, Loss Prevention Magazine, 12/20/2024.
#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats

 

Improve Morale with Easy-to-Use Security Access Control for Employee Well Being

Improve Morale with Easy-to-Use Security Access Control for Employee Well Being

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Frank Costa, President, Nexgen Protection Services

Employee wellbeing extends beyond the four glass walls of the office. To support employee well being, offices need security access control solutions that are easy to use, flexible, and integrate smart technologies.

From hassle-free access to effortless key overrides, when it comes to employee wellbeing, the less friction and the more flexibility, the better. Simplifying security systems and giving employees the freedom to choose how they interact with them can lead to improved morale and, ultimately, increased productivity.

 

SOURCE: 

Welty, M. The Key to Wellbeing in the Office, Security Today, 11/12/2024.
#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats

Do’s and Don’ts of GenAI for Security Metrics

Do’s and Don’ts of GenAI for Security Metrics

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Frank Costa, President, Nexgen Protection Services

 

Security teams must get it right—there’s no room for error.

Do you use ChatGPT or other AI generators for your business security? Regardless of how you implement GenAI, what truly matters is what you do—and don’t do.

There’s no doubt that GenAI models are powerful tools. When adopted responsibly, they can help streamline security protocols, optimize time, and more. However, it’s crucial to remain fully aware of the limitations of GenAI models.

For starters, never underestimate the importance of keeping the human touch in your work. As smart as AI might seem, it cannot capture the intangibles that come from human intuition.

AI lacks a sense of bias and is unaware of what constitutes correct or incorrect facts. Therefore, it is vital to proofread any AI-generated content and verify all facts before acting on the data.

GenAI models are trained on vast amounts of data from multiple sources, meaning there is always a risk that AI-generated content could contain plagiarized text.

 

SOURCE: 

Shelmire, A. Liars in the wires: Getting the most from GenAI without getting duped, Security Magazine, 09/19/2024.
#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats

 

Building a Diverse, Resilient Team to Enhance Effectiveness

Building a Diverse, Resilient Team to Enhance Effectiveness

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Frank Costa, President, Nexgen Protection Services

 

Resilient teams possess four key traits that contribute to their success: collaboration, diverse skill sets, camaraderie, and positivity.

In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing business landscape, resilience is essential. It is the ability to respond to events or crises in a coordinated manner, minimizing damage and enabling a sustainable path forward. And it all starts with building resilient teams.

These teams are prepared to navigate disruptive events—or a series of events—with cohesion and precision. As a result, when they emerge on the other side, the need for damage control is minimal, and resuming operations and returning to business as usual is both straightforward and sustainable. That’s the goal.

Don’t avoid conflict—tackle it head-on. Even if it’s as subtle as a silent expression in a meeting, leave no stone unturned when it comes to gauging your team’s sentiments and perspectives. Build a culture of transparency and honesty, and make sure to listen to your people.

 

SOURCE: 

Horton, M. Building organizational resilience for sustainable success, Security Magazine, 10/03/2024.
#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats

 

Aligning your metrics to key security processes within the organization is what’s really important. The challenge is to measure the right things.

Understand What Security Processes Are Essential For The Business To Succeed

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Frank Costa, President Nexgen Protection Services – 

Aligning your metrics to key security processes within the organization is what’s really important.  The challenge is to measure the right things.

Security managers need to speak to senior leaders in familiar business language, offering measurable results that correlate with investment. Without compelling metrics, security managers and their budgets rely largely on the intuition of company leadership.

Experts agree, saying what’s important isn’t just about the numbers used but how those measures highlight that business story while solving problems to further business goals.

 

SOURCE: 

Randolph, C. Metrics that matter: How security professionals can show value, Security Magazine, 11/05/2024.
#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats

 

Organizations Must Be Ready to Assess Potential Security Risks to Protect Everyone

Organizations Must Be Ready to Assess Potential Security Risks to Protect Everyone

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Frank Costa, President Nexgen Protection Services – 

Security leaders across environments — spanning retail stores, corporate businesses, residential communities and cities — should prepare for threats that will require fast and informed action. We all have experienced major cultural moments, including the 2020 election, COVID-19 pandemic, and nationwide protests. 

It is critical for organizations to put in place security protocols to preserve employee and public safety while respecting the rights of citizens.  Creating a plan and protocols to address these incidents will help you ensure a coordinated response.

  • Establish communication protocols. Create clear communication protocols that explain how information will flow to key parties, such as store or business leadership, employees, customers, neighboring businesses and law enforcement.

  • Assess physical defense measures. How can you protect your building from damage or control the flow of traffic and people?

  • Promote de-escalation tactics. Reinforce your communication protocols during this training. Ensure that the safety of every employee and customer is the number one priority, reminding them to not get involved if physical violence occurs.

  • Implement safety technology. Cameras, alarms, motion detectors, and motion-triggered lights can all bring visibility to situations, add necessary deterrence if you make the decision to close a location, and gather evidence to help law enforcement pursue bad actors. Revisit your existing security investments to assess their capabilities, and consider whether you need new solutions to cover your gaps.   

 

SOURCE: 

Kelley, M. 3 potential security risks to stay ahead of post-election, Security Magazine, 11/20/2024.
#protectionservices #securitystandards #publicsaftey  #mobilesecurity #securitythreats