Security Management articles from August 2006

Security Management archives from August 2006

Lady luck vs. the terrorists.(security measures)(Editorial)
August 1, 2006... My dad always says that it is better to be lucky than smart, although, of course, it's best to be both. I was reminded of this truism when listening to a discussion of arrests of suspected terrorists since 9-11. I'm not talking about the ones...

Biased stereotype.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... I was shocked to receive my recent issue of Security Management (June) and see the photo of an alleged "security guard" on the cover with the headline "The High Cost of Cheap Guards." Your photo is exactly the type of biased stereotype that our...

Wealth of knowledge.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... I have to thank you for your editorial ("Editor's Note," May) and extend an appreciation for Security Management's perspective on security issues. New to the security industry and just beginning to absorb the trades, I find your editorials...

Security checks.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... Thank you for an excellent editorial ("Editor's Note," June). I remember reading the article at the time and thinking exactly the same thing: What kind of security do you have if a tiny pin exempts you from complying with requirements? I...

Correction.(Correction notice)
August 1, 2006... The July Article "A Chip Off the Old Block" should have said that the DHS report on RFID use for human identification defined automatic identification technology to include RFID, biometrics, magnetic stripes, and smart cards. It should also...

Private sector finds it hard to regain airport screening business: airports were given the right to hire private security contractors for baggage and personnel screening nearly two years ago. Only a handful have chosen to do so.(Intelligence)
August 1, 2006... U.S. AIRPORTS became eligible to switch their personnel and baggage screener programs back to the private sector nearly two years ago under the Screening Partnership Program (SPP). Those workers had been federalized in the wake of 9-11. As of...

Focus on CCTV's value.(Intelligence)(closed circuit television for public safety)
August 1, 2006... IF THERE WERE a security equivalent to the age-old philosophical question "If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there, does it make a sound," it might be, "If CCTV is there and no crime occurs, did the camera deter it?" ...

Plants find right security chemistry.(Intelligence)
August 1, 2006... WHEN CHEMICAL manufacturer PVS Technologies stopped having chlorine gas delivered by rail car, instead building a direct pipeline from a nearby chlorine producer, it protected 300,000 residents of Augusta, Georgia, from the dangers of filling,...

Homeland security sales: patently unfair?(Intelligence)(28 U.S.C. Section 1498)
August 1, 2006... A DECISION in federal court could put homeland security technology companies at risk of having competitors steal their patents with impunity, but other safeguards may limit its reach. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The culprit is the...

Hourly wages for security personnel.(Security Market Trends)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Hourly Wages for Security Personnel Proprietary Security Officers Low High Unarmed $11.00 $16.00 Armed $14.00 $21.50 Console Operators $12.50 $15.00...

Evacuation plans evaluated.(Intelligence)(Department of Homeland Security and Department of Transportation)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The amount of rain and wind delivered by Katrina and Rita last year was nothing compared to the criticism that poured down on the federal government, Louisiana, and New Orleans for shoddy hurricane preparation and response. In the aftermath,...

11.(NUMBERS)(Security Management readers about business continuity plans)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... 11 Percentage of Security Management readers who have had business continuity planning added to their list of responsibilities in the last 12 months. Other new fields of responsibility cited in the survey were disaster preparedness and...

Benchmarks in bench security.(Intelligence)(courts security measures)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The deadly incident in Atlanta last year, in which a defendant killed a judge, a deputy, and a court reporter, helped to highlight the need for guidelines that courts could follow when they wanted to implement security at their facilities. A...

Use of synthetic drugs.(Did You Know That?)(White House)(Synthetic Drug Control Strategy)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Use of synthetic drugs--such as methamphetamine, prescription medications, and Ecstasy--has become such a concern that the White House has released a specific national strategy to control synthetic drugs. It represents the first time that a...

What's behind country risk ratings? Various companies provide country risk ratings to clients, but firms vary widely in how they reach their conclusions.(Homeland Security)
August 1, 2006... COUNTRY RISK RATINGS have been heavily used by international companies for years. In the era of globalization, the ratings are used as the basis for travel policies, insurance premiums, calculation of hardship allowances, or simply to gain...

Worldwide terrorism by region.(Homeland Security)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Worldwide Terrorism by Region Incidents Fatalities Full Year January-May Full Year 2005 2005 2006 2005 Africa ...

20.(NUMBERS)(State Homeland Security Directors Survey about intelligence service)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... 20 The percentage of state homeland security directors who declared themselves satisfied with the actionable quality of the intelligence they receive from the federal government. Source: National Governors Association Center for Best...

Sharing critical info with DHS gets easier.(Department of Homeland Security)(Protected Critical Infrastructure Information)
August 1, 2006... TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS after its conception, the Protected Critical Infrastructure Information (PCII) Program has increased submissions tenfold to number in the thousands, giving the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) more leeway to shield...

State perspective.(Homeland Security)(James W. McMahon of New York Office of Homeland Security )(Interview)
August 1, 2006... As the third director of New York's Office of Homeland Security (OHS), James W. McMahon's chief mission is to prevent terrorism on the same turf that has become forever linked with the air attacks that triggered America's war against...

Creating an integrated approach: for its new headquarters, MacDill Federal Credit Union wanted a security system that went beyond basic regulatory requirements.(SMART SOLUTIONS TO SECURITY PROBLEMS)
August 1, 2006... WHEN DESIGNING their new corporate headquarters, security personnel at MacDill Federal Credit Union (MFCU) had specific requirements in mind. One of the nation's leading credit unions with more than $1.6 billion in assets and 173,000 members,...

Using words to defuse violence: good communication skills can help soothe angry patrons, elicit cooperation from a frustrated public, and prevent altercations from escalating into violence.(Managing)
August 1, 2006... I WAS AN OFFICER with the New York City Police Department when I was assigned to keep watch over Mafia boss John Gotti. I was sitting in the passenger's seat of my partner's private car when Gotti emerged from his house in a huff. His hands...

To encrypt or not to encrypt? That is the question.(Technofile)(Guin v. Brazos Higher Education Service)(Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999)
August 1, 2006... TWO RECENT COURT CASES have led to speculation that the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLB) does not require financial services companies to encrypt customer data. But legal experts warn not to read too much into these decisions. [ILLUSTRATION...

Data rivers overflowing.(Technofile)
August 1, 2006... With the hurricane season underway--and with memories of last year's catastrophes still fresh in mind--businesses in areas that are likely to be affected by summer storms are doing whatever they can to secure their premises from damage or...

Worth a look: Computer on a Stick.(Technofile)(Product/service evaluation)
August 1, 2006... TAKE A LOOK sometime at the pictures of the UNIVAC computer first introduced in the 1950s. Its size (enormous) and memory (pitifully small) are in inverse proportion to computers of today. Case in point: FingerGear's new Computer-on-a-Stick...

Cybersecurity checklist for business managers.(Technofile)(United States Cyber Consequences Unit's checklist of internet security)
August 1, 2006... EXECUTIVES are increasingly expected to know and take responsibility for their companies' IT security, particularly if there is a data breach of customer or sensitive financial information. A new checklist being drafted by the United States...

A site to see.(Technofile)(Remote-exploit.org)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... IF YOU ARE A WIRELESS USER, you need to know just how many tools are available to compromise wireless networks. Remote-exploit.org highlights tools such as Hotspotter, which acts like a wireless hotspot so that anyone trying to connect to a...

Reported problems with outbound e-mail.(Chart)
August 1, 2006... Reported Problems with Outbound E-Mail Intellectual property compromised 15% Customer information compromised 21% Employee e-mail taken by court or regulatory agency 25% Most organizations now...

ID theft basics.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... ID theft basics. While technological advances may someday make it impossible to steal somebody's identity, there is much that individuals can do in the meantime to protect themselves. The first step is to understand how identity theft occurs,...

The metrics system.(QUICK BYTES)(National Institute of Standards and Technology)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The metrics system. Collecting information security metrics is no simple task, but it is one that is required of federal agencies. Any organization that is looking for an overview of how to develop and implement metrics for an information...

Cybersecurity framework.(QUICK BYTES)(plan of National Science and Technology Council)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Cybersecurity framework. The National Science and Technology Council has released the Federal Plan for Cyber Security and Information Assurance Research and Development. The plan provides "baseline information and a technical framework for...

767.(credit unions)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... 767 Number of daily cyberattacks launched against credit unions from February 2005 to March 2006, according to Secure-Works, a provider of IT security services to financial-services institutions.

Spying trouble: culture clashes among the FBI, CIA, and the military intelligence agencies are some of the problems cited in the intelligence community. This report looks at whether progress is being made.(Terrorism Threat Integration Center)(Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation)
August 1, 2006... SINCE 9-11, there have been numerous attempts to "fix" the U.S. intelligence apparatus. First, President Bush established the Terrorism Threat Integration Center (TTIC), which was supposed to help coordinate analysis among the intelligence...

On the money.(ASIS Salary Survey of security officials)(American Society for Industrial Security)
August 1, 2006... In 2005, the average salary of security professionals in the United States rose to $90,000 from $85,600 in 2004. The median salary rose 5 percent to $79,000 from $75,000--besting inflation for that period by more than 2 percent. These findings...

Gangs, kidnappers, and other threats.(Special Preview)(ASIS International meeting)
August 1, 2006... IN FEBRUARY, ARMED ROBBERS kidnapped the manager of a security depot in England along with his wife and son. The robbers threatened to kill them if the manager didn't cooperate. They forced him to give them access to the high-security building...

Recipe for food safety.(Food Services)(to avoid food poisoning )
August 1, 2006... DEBATE, AND PERHAPS SKULLDUGGERY, are the predominant tactics used during political campaigns, but years ago members of an Oregon religious commune came up with a more nefarious strategy to influence an election: food poisoning. Commune members...

Malicious prosecution.(U.S. JUDICIAL DECISIONS)(Kroger Co. vs. Theresa Suberu)
August 1, 2006... MALICIOUS PROSECUTION. The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that a grocery store cannot be held liable for malicious prosecution of a patron because the employees who accused the patron of theft were acting honestly and reasonably based on their...

Negligence.(U.S. JUDICIAL DECISIONS)
August 1, 2006... NEGLIGENCE. A California appellate court has ruled that a contract security guard company can be held liable for failing to fulfill its contract. The court ruled that a client's employee would not have been injured in a shoplifting incident had...

Nuclear facilities.(U.S. REGULATORY ISSUES)(Nuclear Regulatory Commission' rules for risk assessment)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... NUCLEAR FACILITIES. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has announced its plan to formulate a new rule to guide risk assessments at nuclear power facilities. The risk assessments, which will be performance-based and technology-neutral, will...

Worker ID.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... WORKER ID. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued a proposed rule relating to the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). Under this program all people who have unescorted access to secure areas of ports and...

Port security.(U.S. CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION)
August 1, 2006... PORT SECURITY. A port security bill (H.R. 4954) has been approved by the House of Representatives. The Senate has placed the measure on its calendar, meaning that it will consider the bill. The bill, which will cost $7.4 billion, was...

Counterfeiting.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... COUNTERFEITING. A bill (formerly H.R. 32) that would prohibit trafficking in labels or similar packaging, with knowledge that a counterfeit mark has been applied to them, has been signed into law (P.L. 109-181). Under the new law, the...

Document fraud.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... DOCUMENT FRAUD. A bill (S. 2631) introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer (DNY) would prohibit the production, transfer, possession, and use of false travel documents. The bill has no cosponsors and has been referred to the Senate Judiciary...

Aviation security.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... AVIATION SECURITY. A bill (H.R. 4439) that would overhaul the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to increase aviation security has been approved by the House Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Economic Security,...

Helicopter safety.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... HELICOPTER SAFETY. A bill (H.R. 4765) introduced by Rep. Anthony D. Weiner (D-NY) would require the government to designate an area at high risk for a terrorist attack as a high-threat helicopter-flight area. The government would screen all...

Missouri.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... DRUG TESTING. A bill (H.B. 1205) introduced in the Missouri House of Representatives would make it illegal to alter or falsify drug or alcohol test results. The bill would also create the crime of transporting a biological sample or adulterant...

West Virginia.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... IMMUNITY. A bill (S.B. 186) currently under consideration in the West Virginia Legislature would provide employers immunity in disclosing information about former employees. Immunity would be waived, however, in cases where the former employer...

Current legal highlights.(Report)
August 1, 2006... Current Legal Highlights SOURCE OF LAW BILL/CASE VENUE STATUS Federal Legislation Counterfeiting* P.L. 109-181 Executive Branch Signed by ...

ADA.(Americans with Disabilities Act)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... ADA. A federal appeals court has ruled that, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, a person need only request accommodation to trigger an employer's requirement to identify appropriate accommodation. The court remanded the case after a...

Harassment.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Harassment. The California Supreme Court has ruled that vulgar language used in the workplace is sometimes acceptable. The court dismissed a case by a former assistant on the Friends television show. The assistant claimed that she was the...

Sexual Assault.(Alarm One Inc.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Sexual Assault. A California jury has awarded a woman $1.7 million after she was paddled by coworkers as part of a team-building exercise. Her employer, Alarm One., Inc., a home security firm, encouraged employees to paddle coworkers with yard...

Bombs and Bombings: A Handbook to Protection, Security, Detection, Disposal and Investigation for Industry, Police and Fire Departments, Third Edition.(Book review)
August 1, 2006... ****# Bombs and Bombings: A Handbook to Protection, Security, Detection, Disposal and Investigation for Industry, Police and Fire Departments, Third Edition. By Thomas G. Brodie; published by Charles C. Thomas, www.ccthomas.com (Web); 328...

Computer Evidence: Collection & Preservation.(Book review)
August 1, 2006... ***** Computer Evidence: Collection & Preservation. By Christopher L.T. Brown; published by Charles River Media, www.charlesriver.com (Web); 416 pages; $49.95. Unfortunately, no one book makes a security generalist into a computer...

Crime Opportunity Profiling of Streets (COPS): A Quick Crime Analysis--Rapid Implementation Approach.(Book review)
August 1, 2006... **### Crime Opportunity Profiling of Streets (COPS): A Quick Crime Analysis--Rapid Implementation Approach. By J. Oxley, P. Reijn-houdt, P. van Soomeren, C. Beckford, A. Jongejan, and J. Jager; published by BRE Trust, www.bretrust.org.uk (Web);...

Homeland Security Assessment Manual: A Comprehensive Organizational Assessment Based on Baldrige Criteria.(Book review)
August 1, 2006... ****# Homeland Security Assessment Manual: A Comprehensive Organizational Assessment Based on Baldrige Criteria. By Donald C. Fisher, Ph.D; published by ASQ Quality Press, www.qualitypress.asq.org (Web); 223 pages; $40. It was only a...

Mapping Security: The Corporate Security Sourcebook for Today's Global Economy.(Book review)
August 1, 2006... ****# Mapping Security: The Corporate Security Sourcebook for Today's Global Economy. By Tom Patterson and Scott Gleeson Blue; published by Addison-Wesley Professional and Symantec Press, www.awprofessional.com (Web); 432 pages; $34.99. In...

Protect Your Windows Network: From Perimeter to Data.(Book review)
August 1, 2006... ***** Protect Your Windows Network: From Perimeter to Data. By Jesper Johansson and Steve Riley; published by Addison-Wesley Professional, www.awprofessional.com (Web); 550 pages; $49.99. The problem with some computer security books is...

Security Education, Awareness and Training: SEAT from Theory to Practice.(Security Education, Awareness and Training: SEAT from Theory to Practice)(Book review)
August 1, 2006... ****# Security Education, Awareness and Training: SEAT from Theory to Practice. By Carl Roper, Joseph A. Grau, and Lynn Fischer; published by Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann; available from ASIS International, Item #1646, 703/519-6200 (phone),...

2006 ASIS International professional development programs: experience, dedication, and leadership in security education.
August 1, 2006... New advancements. New technologies. New challenges. So much to stay on top of. One thing is certain, professional development in the security industry is a must. Rely on the experienced, dedicated leader in security...

Seminar preview and advance registration: only an event this dynamic can lead an industry this powerful.
August 1, 2006... Security solutions converge at ASIS 2006--Four days full of ideas, innovations, and inspiration. ASIS INTERNATIONAL 2006 52nd Annual Seminar and Exhibits SEPTEMBER 25-28, 2006 * SAN DIEGO, CA www.asisonline.org/asis2006 ...

Oversized-card printer.(HOT NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES)
August 1, 2006... Fargo Electronics, Inc., of Minneapolis, Minnesota, has introduced a new desktop printer that can print full images over the edges of CR-100 cards (3.88" x 2.63"). The larger card size and over-the-edge printing allow for bigger photos for...

Fiber optic transmission.(HOT NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES)
August 1, 2006... Pelco of Clovis, California, has introduced new video transmitters for improved optical budget and greater adaptability. The FT8301A Miniature Fiber Transmitter can transmit one composite video channel over one optical fiber. Designed...

Internet-connected cameras.(HOT NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES)
August 1, 2006... Bosch Security Systems of Fairport, New York, has equipped its Dinion IP cameras with Internet connectivity for easier installation and virtually unlimited network reach. The cameras' power-over-Ethernet capability makes installation less...

Cross-domain connectivity.(HOT NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES)
August 1, 2006... Tenix America of McLean, Virginia, has introduced the Interactive Link Suite, a cross-domain connectivity solution that eliminates the need for multiple PCs when accessing disparate networks. It is ideal for government agencies with strict...

Cable connections.(HOT NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES)
August 1, 2006... Pelco of Clovis, California, has added new products to its line of unshielded twisted pair (UTP) products, which can be used as an alternative to coaxial cable in video security systems. The products can connect cameras to DVRs, matrix...

Projector alarm.(HOT NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES)
August 1, 2006... Secure-It of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, has introduced the Sonic Shock, a powerful alarm system designed to protect LCD projectors from theft. The alarm's siren is triggered by cutting or unplugging a 10-foot electronically monitored...

Slide gate controls.(HOT NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES)
August 1, 2006... DoorKing, Inc., of Ingle-wood, California, now offers a speed control option on its 9210 series of industrial slide gate operators. The solid-state speed controller allows the user to set the gate speed for specific applications. The operator...

Video codec.(HOT NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES)
August 1, 2006... Optelecom-NKF of Gouda, The Netherlands, has introduced the C-40 encoder and decoder. Offering low-bandwidth, DVD-quality video, wide operating temperature range, and reliability, the MPEG-4 codec is based on an architecture that combines DSP...

Surveillance cameras.(HOT NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES)
August 1, 2006... Mace Security International, Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has introduced three new surveillance cameras to its Mace Pro line. The MSP-CAM97 and MSP-CAM98 are corner-mountable, vandalproof cameras with a built-in three-axis bracket...

Internet alarm programming.(HOT NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES)
August 1, 2006... Bosch Security Systems of Fairport, New York, has introduced a Web programming tool that automates the configuration of the company's Conettix C900V2 Dialer Capture IP Module, which enables Internet communications for virtually any conventional...

Outdoor cameras.(HOT NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES)
August 1, 2006... A new generation of all-weather outdoor cameras is now available from CBC (America) Corporation of Commack, New York. Camera models include black and white, color, and high-resolution color with integrated 2.8-10 mm lenses. A new...

Smart biometric reader.(HOT NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES)
August 1, 2006... Saflink Corporation of Bellevue, Washington, has introduced an all-weather smart card and biometric reader designed to meet the requirements of the NIST Federal Information Processing Standard 201, also known as Personal Identity Verification,...

Vehicle barrier.(HOT NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES)
August 1, 2006... The Arrestor is an antiterrorism vehicle barrier from PRO Barrier Engineering of Hummelstown, Pennsylvania. When lowered for vehicle passage, the barrier is flush with the road surface, so there is no speed-bump effect to impede traffic. The...

Intelligent video.(HOT NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES)
August 1, 2006... Arteco Vision Systems, Inc., of St. Louis, Missouri, has launched its Intelligent Video Solution in the United States. It is composed of intelligent surveillance products that work together to create a proactive security solution for businesses...

How do executives know whether security programs are effective?(BUSINESS NEWS)(Frost & Sullivan's survey)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... How do executives know whether security programs are effective? How can security professionals communicate this information? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Security metrics and their usefulness to business decision-makers were the focuses of a...

Absolute Software and Fujitsu Computer Systems.(PARTNERSHIPS AND DEALS)
August 1, 2006... Absolute Software and Fujitsu Computer Systems are protecting Fujitsu's notebook computers with Absolute's Computrace theft recovery and asset tracking software.

ACTi Corporation.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... ACTi Corporation's video server and transcoder have enabled Bari Soccer Stadium in Italy to implement an IP-based CCTV system, including DVRs and monitoring systems from EL.MO. S.p.A. and integration of different CCTV systems.

ADT.(PARTNERSHIPS AND DEALS)
August 1, 2006... ADT has signed an agreement with Natural Optics to provide antitheft systems for its chain of eyewear stores located in Spain.

Amano.(PARTNERSHIPS AND DEALS)
August 1, 2006... Amano has selected Bioscrypt technology for its new time-and-attendance modules.

Spiritech.(PARTNERSHIPS AND DEALS)
August 1, 2006... Spiritech designed and installed network video products from Axis Communications in 210 outlets of a midwestern retailer.

Blue Coat Systems.(PARTNERSHIPS AND DEALS)(its security software is used by LG Card Company Ltd. and Exempla Healthcare)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Blue Coat Systems announced that LG Card of South Korea has deployed its appliances to protect the company's network from spyware and virus attacks. Blue Coat is also protecting medical data for Exempla Healthcare.

Lemmi Fashion.(PARTNERSHIPS AND DEALS)
August 1, 2006... German manufacturer Lemmi Fashion has selected RFID hangtags from Checkpoint Systems, Inc., for inventory control throughout the supply chain.

Polaroid Commercial ID Systems.(PARTNERSHIPS AND DEALS)
August 1, 2006... Polaroid Commercial ID Systems has launched a new ID card system that uses software, camera interface, printers, and other supplies from Datacard Group.

Digital Resolve.(PARTNERSHIPS AND DEALS)
August 1, 2006... An authentication platform from Digital Resolve will help expedite and secure online account opening for Andera.

DVTel Inc.(PARTNERSHIPS AND DEALS)
August 1, 2006... DVTel Inc. is helping Intercontinental Terminals upgrade video security for its chemical terminals. The improvements were financed in part by a Transportation Security Administration grant.