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The Yemen-based al Qaeda affiliate, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), released its 12th edition of the English-language magazine Inspire. This issue is titled, “Shattered, A Story About Change,” with the cover story focusing on how America’s role as a superpower has essentially been “shattered” in the post-9/11 world. Most of the past editions have included an “Open Source Jihad” section that provides detailed tactical information and instructions for jihadists to use for training purposes.

Safety is a serious topic that is common among many industries, but perhaps even more so at manufacturing and industrial sites where workplace injuries are a leading cause of lost work time. Having safety protocols in place is one way to prevent accidents, but they are only as effective as the people who know and use them. 
 

Colleges and universities need to ensure their campuses are as safe as possible. But while the mission may be simple, developing the right approach is not. Institutions facing budget challenges are increasingly asking “how much risk is present and how much can we afford to pay to mitigate threats?” 

To enjoy a long-standing, trusted partnership with your security provider, it is important to initiate a transparent relationship right from the beginning. A well-planned RFP can help build this foundation. By soliciting the appropriate information and level of detail during the RFP process, you will create an apples-to-apples comparison of each provider, so there are no surprises once services begin.

In emergency situations, a quality security program is a vital resource. Weather-related emergencies have been frequent and treacherous this season, even in parts of the country where winter storms are rare. It is important to have contingency plans, regardless of location, to ensure the safety of employees, the continuation of operations and a consistent security presence. 

President Obama’s State of the Union address focused on a critical issue facing our nation – long term unemployment. This issue is of concern to business leaders and individuals alike. And, regardless of political beliefs, the support for this topic is resonating across America. I was honored to participate in President Obama’s forum for CEOs on long-term unemployment last week. 
 

Before the advent of smartphones, planting covert listening devices was the most popular way to illegally record content from a private meeting. Today, with an estimated 130 million smartphones in use in the United States, every user has the potential to be a covert meeting operative with their own Wi-Fi receiver, camera, audio recorder, keyboard and computer at their disposal. 

We know we’re all way too busy, but every executive protection agent has at least some downtime, some time. This includes in-house and outsourced FTEs, and folks working both executive protection and residential details.

For the first time in history we have four different generations working side-by-side. As we evolve to meet the nuances of this multi-generational workforce, it is important to recognize how this has shifted workplace demographics, recruitment and retention programs, and corporate culture. 
 

The security services industry has evolved tremendously over the last few decades. We have witnessed the important transition from security guard to security officer; an increased emphasis on safety and customer service; advancements in training and career development, and the introduction of technology as part of the total security solution.