Security Management articles from February 2003

Security Management archives from February 2003

Guardsmark.
February 1, 2003... Guardsmark is not like any other security services firm. TIME magazine says we are the company that "many security experts consider the best national firm in the business." In Liberation Management (Alfred A Knopf, Inc.), Tom Peters describes...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2003... Cause for Arson In "Shoplifters Blazing a Trail" ("News and Trends," November), you report the use of arson as a shoplifting diversion technique. As the former vice president/director of security for Macy's West, let me suggest another...

Survey assesses sports facility security. (News and Trends).
February 1, 2003... All but one of 47 U.S. and Canadian sports facilities responding to a new Security Management survey have tightened restrictions on bags, coolers, and other items since 9-11, and 96 percent now inspect patrons more intensively at the gate....

Eight years into its community policing program, Chicago has seen its police rise in public esteem. (Did You Know That?).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Eight years into its community policing program, Chicago has seen its police rise in public esteem; most city dwellers now rate police positively for demeanor, responsiveness, and performance. While the perceptions of whites, blacks, and...

The public has a 6-day comment period for discrete interim rules. (Did You Know That?).(toxins and biological agents )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Effective February 7, the public has a 60-day comment period for discrete interim rules created by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services that specify security requirements for possessing select biological agents and...

New regulations in the pipeline. (News and Trends).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The 2.2 million miles of gas, oil, and hazardous-materials pipelines that snake across the United States have long been regulated by one set of minimum standards, regardless of the unique risks to any pipeline. For example, pipelines in the...

Loss prevention execs profiled. (News and Trends).
February 1, 2003... If actual job duties were used as criteria, today's retail loss prevention managers would more aptly be called "loss response" managers. According to a survey conducted by retail security expert Read Hayes, senior loss prevention managers said...

Home on the page. (News and Trends).(national security )
February 1, 2003... www.securitymanagement.com With the creation of the new U.S. Department of Homeland Security, security developments are proceeding apace, in both the public and private sectors. Check out SM Online's constantly updated cache of reports,...

Inconveniencing troublemakers. (Working Wise).
February 1, 2003... When 21St Century Oil opened its doors six years ago, it operated four gas station franchises for Chevron Corporation. Now, the company operates 17 convenience store/gas station franchises for several companies, including ARCO and British...

Disclosure of security breaches required in California. (Tech Talk).
February 1, 2003... Beginning in July, companies that do business in California will be required to publicly disclose any security breaches where "unencrypted personal information was, or is reasonably believed to have been, acquired by an unauthorized person."...

Digital tools from NIST. (Tech Talk).(National Institute of Standards and Technology)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The high-tech wizards at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have been hard at work creating new tools that allow companies to work safer and smarter. Two new developments address authenticating digital documents and...

Federal information security still lacking. (Tech Talk).
February 1, 2003... Computer security in federal agencies has crept up a notch from utterly abysmal to merely sub par, according to recent government reports. Late last year, Representative Stephen Horn (R-CA), chairman of the House Committee on Government...

Cyberthreats to satellite security. (Tech Talk).
February 1, 2003... The image of an attack against a satellite brings to mind an action-packed scene from a James Bond thriller. But one of the greatest threats to the operation of satellites comes from right here on Earth: computer attacks against ground stations...

Risk management. (Quick Bytes).(from FBI )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The National Infrastructure Protection Center, an FBI-led initiative to protect the government from attacks against its critical infrastructure, has issued a new paper to help organizations effectively counter threats, both physical and cyber,...

Wireless worries. (Quick Bytes).(security )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Security, not cost, scalability, or quality of service, is the biggest issue worrying IT professionals about wireless LANs. The 935 respondents to an online survey by Reef Edge, a creator of wireless network infrastructure products, were three...

PACS Americana. (Quick Bytes).(Patriot Act Communication System allows for e-filing )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Financial institutions can quickly and securely file Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) reports over the Internet to the Department of Treasury with a newly launched system called the Patriot Act Communication System (PACS). After more than two months of...

How 9-11 affected the internet. (Tech Talk).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, caused tremendous damage to the communications infrastructure located in and around the lower Manhattan area. But despite the destruction, there was relatively little impact on the infrastructure of...

South America grows cyberattackers. (Tech Talk).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Ah, Brazil. Home to festive Carnaval, hedonistic Ipanema Beach.. .and pervasive cybercrime. According to a study by digital risk management company mi2g, the top ten most active hacking groups at the end of 2002 were all Brazilian, as were the...

Linking physical and computer security strategies. (Tech Talk).(national security )
February 1, 2003... Despite the importance of protecting computer systems that he at the heart of most critical services today, little has been done at the national level to coordinate a cohesive cyber security policy, according to the fourth annual Advisory Panel...

Only Guardsmark offers health insurance to 100% of its security officers.
February 1, 2003... As one of the largest private security services firms in the world, we employ about 18,000 security officers in more than 145 offices serving 400 cities across North America, with revenues of $450,000,000. We protect shareholder assets and...

The first link in the food chain: the agricultural community is working with academia and government to find ways to prevent, detect, and contain bioterror attacks on livestock. (Agroterrorism).
February 1, 2003... Business was moving briskly at one of the sale barns in rural Kansas where farmers market their cattle. Then the on-site veterinarian noticed some cattle with lesions on their tongues--a symptom of foot-and-mouth disease. Although the vet...

A judicious integration project: Integrating security systems requires careful planning and testing. One project taught a number of valuable lessons about avoiding system integration mistakes. (System Integration).
February 1, 2003... WHO'S IN CHARGE. A system integration project is a complex undertaking that requires considerable coordination in both the planning and execution stages. To ensure that all the parties work together, the organization should form a committee...

Don't make a federal case out of it: to avoid lawsuits, companies must be familiar with legal issues that pertain to internal investigations. The devil is in the details. (Legal Issues).
February 1, 2003... Many cornpanies undertake internal investigations when they suspect employee theft or misconduct, and courts have acknowledged that companies have a right to do so. But courts have also laid down a series of markers in case rulings, setting out...

Get the most from your guard force: eliciting peak performance from a contract guard force requires that security managers take a progressive stance that focuses on interrelated issues. (Management).
February 1, 2003... Many organizations use contract agencies to fill their security personnel needs in an effort to lower employee head-counts and reduce employment headaches. Security managers must, therefore, know how to get peak performance out of a contract...

Can you hack it? Penetration testing gives companies a way to find their vulnerabilities before hackers use them to break in and cause harm. (Computer Security).
February 1, 2003... Although it may be true that crime doesn't pay, it pays to think like a criminal--if you want to avoid being victimized. That's the approach taken by cyberexperts hired to break into company networks to expose vulnerabilities. Known as ethical...

U.S. judicial decisions. (Legal Reporter).(Dartmouth College security officers can search without warrant )
February 1, 2003... Campus security. In a recent decision, the New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled that Dartmouth College security officers are not considered agents of the state and may conduct searches of student housing without first obtaining a warrant. ...

Negligent hiring. (Elsewhere in the Courts).(insurance company must defend the employer in lawsuit addressing negligent hiring)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... In a recent case, the Supreme Court of Texas has ruled that an employer's alleged negligent hiring of an employee, which resulted in the assault of a third party, constitutes an "occurrence" under a commercial liability insurance policy. The...

Wrongful termination. (Elsewhere in the Courts).(Karen DeMichele and Select Appointments North America )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A Suffolk Superior Court has awarded an employee $2.2 million in compensatory and punitive damages after she was fired for making a sexual harassment complaint. The employee, Karen DeMichele, testified that her supervisors at Select...

Noncompete agreements. (Elsewhere in the Courts).(Pitney Bowes)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Supreme Court of Alabama has ruled that a covenant not to compete is void in the state f it is signed before the employment relationship begins. The plaintiff in the case had signed a noncompete agreement with Pitney Bowes before he began...

U.S. regulatory issues. (Legal Reporter).(U.S. Customs and cargo security)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Cargo security. U.S. Customs has issued a final rule requiring that all sea carriers provide cargo manifests 24 hours prior to the loading of cargo at foreign ports for shipment to the United States. Upon receiving the information, U.S. Customs...

U.S. congressional legislation. (Legal Reporter).(for infrastructure, transportation security and privacy )
February 1, 2003... The balance of power shifted in Washington as the Republicans took control of the Senate last month. This shift will affect the legislative agenda that is set for the next two years. As lawmakers look forward, several issues relevant to the...

U.S. state legislation. (Legal Reporter).(emergency planning for high rise buildings )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Illinois Evacuation plans. A recently enacted law (formerly S.B. 1537) in Illinois requires that all municipalities with populations of more than one million people adopt an ordinance mandating emergency procedures for high-rise buildings...

Global Pirates: Fraud in the Offshore Insurance Industry. (Reviews).(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... Global Pirates: Fraud in the Offshore Insurance Industry. By Robert Tillman; published by Northeastern University Press; 617/373-5480 (phone), 617/373-5483 (fax); 174 pages; $20. One of the major challenges facing insurance-fraud fighters...

Policing and Crime Prevention. (Reviews).(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... Policing and Crime Prevention. Edited by Deborah Mitchell Robinson; published by Prentice Hall, 800/282-0693 (phone), 800/835-5327 (fax); 172 pages; $27.18. In an era in which fear of terrorism is the zeitgeist, the public is likely to...

Ready for Anything: Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, Preparedness. (Reviews).(Audiovisual Review)
February 1, 2003... Ready for Anything: Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, Preparedness. Produced by Commonwealth Films, 617/262-5634 (phone), 617/262-6948 (fax); 21-minute videotape $695. Commonwealth Films has created an exceptionally useful video on...

Before Conflict: Preventing Aggressive Behavior. (Reviews).(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... Before Conflict: Preventing Aggressive Behavior. By Dr. John D. Byrnes; published by Scarecrow Press, 800/462-6420 (phone), 800/338-4550 (fax); 240 pages; $24.95. In Julius Caesar, Shakespeare famously wrote, "The fault, dear Brutus, is...

Breakdown: How America's Intelligence Failures Led to September 11. (Reviews).(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... Breakdown: How America's Intelligence Failures Led to September 11. By Bill Gertz; published by Regnery Publishing, www.regnery.com (Web); pages; $19.95. Almost immediately after the 9-11 attacks and continuing to this very day, questions...

Honeypots: Tracking Hackers. (Reviews).(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... Honeypots: Tracking Hackers. By Lance Spitzner; published by Addison-Wesley, 800/282-0693 (phone), 515/284-2607 (fax); 480 pages; $4049. Sting operations can have monumental consequences. Who can forget the FBI agent dressing up as a sheik...

Bioterrorism and Public Health: An Internet Resource Guide. (Reviews).(Book Review)
February 1, 2003... Bioterrorism and Public Health: An Interne Resource Guide. Edited by John 0. Bartlett, MD., et al; published by Thomson Medical Economics, 800/232-7379 (phone); 305 pages; $29.95. The publishers of the redoubtable Physician's Desk...

Cockpit Access Keypad. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... The new Cockpit Door Access Control Keypad from Baran/Tec, Inc., of Clifton, New Jersey. has been certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration for flight-deck doors. Its totally sealed, all-metal construction with a solid-state piezo...

Weather risk management. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... SkyGuard from WeatherData, Inc., of Wichita, Kansas, helps companies manage risks associated with extreme weather. Its scalable design assists virtually any company in protecting corporate assets and preventing business disruption. Using the...

Document verification. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... The QDX-4300 fraud detector from ACO Electronics Limited of the United Kingdom provides high-integrity document verification at airports and border crossings. The unit checks all types of documents for alterations, additions, and deletions and...

Backup alarm systems. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... Telular Corporation of Lithia Springs, Georgia, has received General Services Administration Contract Listing approval for its Telguard cellular alarm communications and Fixed Wireless Terminal product lines. Telguard products interface with...

Door exit device. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... Lockmasters, Inc., of Nicholasville, Kentucky, has gained approval from the General Services Administration for its LKM7000 life safety exit device, which complies with the requirements for qualification under Federal Specification FF-L-2890...

Exit Controls. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... The 5215-SPB Series Push Button Exit Controls from Dortronics Systems, Inc., of Sag Harbor, New York, feature a large, illuminated square EXIT button to provide high visibility in any lighting condition. The controls can also be custom lettered...

Healthcare communications. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... Two new patient and staff communication systems have been introduced by Edwards Systems Technology of Sarasota, Florida. The StaffCallPro patient/staff communication system is a networkable platform engineered to provide audio and visual...

Thermal imaging cameras. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... A new line of thermal imaging cameras has been introduced by FLIR Systems, Inc., of Portland, Oregon. The ThermoVision Security camera uses infrared technology to provide an economical solution to commercial and industrial security...

Camera/door sensor. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... StanVision from Stanley Access Technologies of Farmington, Connecticut, uses digital video camera technology to work as both a door sensor and a security camera. Designed to fit any automatic door and to integrate into existing CCTV systems,...

Video surveillance system. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... Mace Security International, Inc., of Mount Laurel, New Jersey, has introduced a professional-grade color quad video surveillance system, consisting of a 14-inch high-resolution color dual-page quad monitor; four indoor/outdoor cameras with...

Covert CCTV system. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... The Snoop is a self-contained covert CCTV surveillance system that includes a black-and-white CCD camera, video motion detector activation, and recording onto a memory card the size of a postage stamp. Made by Carol Products of Ocean, New...

Mobile CCTV system. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... Quadrox NV of Herent, Belgium, has introduced the WebCCTV Outpost, a mobile CCTV system that can be used for temporary video surveillance. Built on a trailer, the system is protected by an alarm system and offers temperature control for extreme...

Digital multiplex recorder. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... Dedicated Micros of Chantilly, Virginia, has released a digital video multiplex recorder with more storage capacity. The BX2 contains four hard drives with a total 640 GB to provide two months of recording at standard record rates. The...

Mail inspection system. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... Glenbrook Technologies Inc. of Randolph, New Jersey, has introduced a system for detecting dangerous substances in mail. The MXRA Mail X-ray Analyzer detects elusive, low-density materials such as plastics and granules, as well as...

Explosives detection. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... The VIS108 Level 1 explosive detection system from New York-based L-3 Communications, Security and Detection Systems division, is a high-speed, in-line automated detection system specifically designed for multilevel checked-baggage screening....

Digital keypad system. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... Securitron Magnalock Corporation of Sparks, Nevada, has introduced the DK-26 series keypad system for medium- to high-security locations. The upgraded central processor unit features 10-digit keypad operation with a nonvolatile EEPROM memory....

Access control software. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... Version 3.0 of its access control administration software is now available from Brivo Systems of Arlington, Virginia. The new software works with the Brivo Access Control System, a Web-hosted service for facility access control, to deliver...

Building security services. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... ESSEX Industries of New Haven, Connecticut, has introduced a nationwide program that provides a single source for commercial security equipment, consulting, and services. Building Security is a comprehensive initiative that builds on the...

Network surveillance cameras. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... Panasonic Security Systems of Secaucus, New Jersey, has introduced a series of IP-addressable network cameras designed to be integrated into conventional video surveillance systems or applied in Ethernet system configurations. The WV-NM100...

Night Vision Camera. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... The Ultra Long Range Thermal Security Night Vision Camera, ThermalRanger 2000, from Cantronic Systems of Coquitiam, British Columbia, Canada, is designed for security surveillance in total darkness. It can detect humans as far as 1.6 kilometers...

Indoor camera housings. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... A new line of 10-inch indoor fixed-dome camera housings is available from ADEMCO Video, part of Honeywell's Automation and Control Solutions, of Syosset, New York. The AD10FCH for fixed ceiling tile applications includes a 10-inch bronze...

Fiber-Optic Phone Link. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... American Fibertek, Inc., of Somerset, New Jersey, has introduced the 86 Series Fiber Optic Phone Link, which includes several different configurations designed to interface with leading intercom and emergency phone systems. The series features...

Fiber-optic transmission. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... The 8000 Series Multichannel Bi-Directional Fiber Optic Transceivers from American Fibertek, Inc., of Somerset, New Jersey, deliver up to eight channels of FM-modulated video and one or two channels of bidirectional data over a single fiber....

Flexible video interface. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... The MADE (multi-application data exchange) Interface from Image Vault of New Albany, Indiana, allows users to connect video recorders with a variety of devices, including access control systems, alarm panels, ATMs, electronic safes, and...

Biometric identification. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... Bavarian company TST Touchless Sensor Technology AG has introduced the BiRD lli, which captures the biometric characteristics of a person without any direct bodily contact. The unit identifies people from their fingerprints using reflected...

Motion-detection system. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... Vision Fire & Security of Hingham, Massachusetts, has introduced an outdoor motion detection system connected to remote video transmission designed especially for gas, electric, and water utilities. The system provides immediate alert of...

Replacement door system. (Marketplace).
February 1, 2003... The READYMOUNT replacement door system is pre-assembled and ready to install in existing metal or wood frames. Introduced by Ingersoll Rand Security & Safety of Carmel, Indiana, the system incorporates Schlage locksets, Steelcraft doors and...

ASIS Industry Events. (Industry focus).(American Society for Industrial Security)(Calendar)
February 1, 2003... ASIS EVENTS FEBRUARY 2-4 U.S. Customs and TSA Initiatives, Washington. DC 3-5 Disaster Management: The Incident Response Plan, New York, NY 7-8 CPP Review Program, Chicago, IL 17-21 Physical Security: Introductory...

Business news. (Industry focus).(industry briefs)
February 1, 2003... ASTM International (a not-for-profit organization that helps develop voluntary standards) is inviting security-industry architects, manufacturers, product designers, and other security professionals to develop standards to support homeland...

Can security help with civil defense? Private security professionals should be part of a "Homeland Defense Force" that would supplement government efforts to stop terrorism. (Viewpoint).
February 1, 2003... With 9-11 a year and a half behind us, the threat of terrorism remains no less severe. Indeed, there is great concern on the part of several government agencies that groups of terrorists might now be in our country, living among us and waiting,...

ASIS Board of Directors. (Industry focus).(American Society for Industrial Security)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... PRESIDENT Daniel H. Kropp, CPP CAP Index, Inc. Exton, Pennsylvania VICE PRESIDENT Shirley A. Pierini, CPP SAKO & Associates, Inc. Brea, California SECRETARY Jeffrey M. Spivey, CPP Security Risk...

Legacy of the 107th Congress. (Legal Reporter).
February 1, 2003... THE 107TH CONGRESS approved a number of important security bills during its two-year term. In addition to the Homeland Security Act, terrorism insurance, and port security laws summarized last month, new laws have been put on the books to...

Private Security, Public Responsibility: Why Guardsmark Is 100 percent Drug Free.
February 1, 2003... We're one of the largest private security services firms in the world, with about 18,000 employees in more than 145 offices serving 400 cities across North America. We protect company assets and employees in a wide range of industries and...