TIPS FOR ENSURING PERSONAL SAFETY
• Always be aware of your surroundings, especially at night.
• When parking, walking or returning to your car, travel in well-lit and populated areas.
• Wear sneakers or shoes that allow for added mobility.
• Be watchful and aware. Keep your head up. Make quick eye contact with those around you and be observant of passing vehicles. Don’t become distracted by talking on a cell phone or listening to an iPod/similar device.
• Avoid walking alone late at night. Walk with friends and people you know.
• Keep a whistle within reach. If threatened, use the whistle to signal residents for help. Yelling “Fire!” “Help!” or “Rape!” are ways of drawing attention and alerting people of your situation.
• Hold your car keys in your hand to use as a weapon against an attacker.
• Carry a cell phone and call ahead to your destination to alert them that you’re on the way. Make sure you’re expected at a certain time, so in the event you fail to show up, those expecting you will know enough to begin looking for you.
• Walk with confidence. Don’t let anyone violate your space. Trust your instincts. Anyone at anytime can be a victim of crime so never assume, “IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN TO ME.”
• If an unarmed attacker confronts you, believe in your ability to defend, distract, or even incapacitate the attacker enough to escape.
• If you think that someone is following you, switch direction or cross the street. Walk towards an open store, restaurant or residence.
TIPS TO PREVENT MOTOR VEHICLE BREAK-INS
• DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN YOUR CAR WHERE OTHERS CAN SEE THEM. Valuable items, such as your laptop, iPod, etc. should never be left in the front or back seat of your vehicle. Always take your valuables with you, or move them into the trunk.Lock your doors and windows.
• Even if your window is only slightly open, it makes your car an easier target for thieves. A thief will insert a wire into a slightly open window to pop up the door lock.
• Replace your standard door lock buttons with tapered ones. Tapered door lock buttons make it more difficult for a thief to hook a wire or device onto the door lock button to pop it open.
• Invest in an anti-theft device. When you buy a new or used car, checking to see if it has an anti-theft device is as important as checking the engine. If there isn’t one, you should have one installed.
• If you observe any unusual activity or observe a car theft or a break-in, call 911. Learn more at Millennium Group Access Control
From large complex security system design to smaller installations or service for your existing CCTV, Access Control, Emergency Communication & Intercom, IP and Wireless Systems, Video Storage, and Intrusion Detection & Monitoring products – we handle it all. Call us today at 800.438.2874
Friday, June 8, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Cyber Criminals Are Winning in a Losing Economy
Amid the global downturn in the economy, cybercrminals appear to be winning in the war against law enforcement according to a recently released McAfee report.
"We saw the cybercriminals take advantage of economic messaging very, very quickly," said Dave Marcus, director of security research and communications for McAfee Avert Labs. He said cybercriminals are cashing in on consumer anxiety, particularly around the holidays and noted that as more and more people go online looking for better deals, criminals are preying on their inexperience in order to lure them to bogus sites and old-fashioned "get rich quick" scams.
One scam involves online job seekers responding to ads for "international sales representatives" or "shipping managers" being recruited as "cybermules" to launder the cybercriminal profits. "It's not a 'mule' in the traditional drug sense, where they're carrying drugs across the country or across a border," Marcus said, "but they are ultimately lured into what they think is like an Internet sales marketer or an Internet sales manager position." In reality they are laundering funds, putting it through additional hands, so that law enforcement has a few more obstacles in their path toward finding the thieves themselves.
Unfortunately, Internet users are on their own, he said. As governments begin to focus on internal economic hardships, the fight against cybercrime slips further in funding and support. McAfee predicts that in the fourth quarter of 2008 cybercrime will continue to escalate in severity.
According to CNET, McAfee found that there is a shortage of computer specialists in law enforcement. And those who are specially trained are often hired away to high-salaried jobs at private companies. Of the remaining law enforcement, they're often bound to national borders, said Marcus, with international jurisdictional disputes further slowing online investigations.
The McAfee report said Russia and China remain the largest safe havens for cybercriminals, while Brazil and Moldova have become the fastest-growing countries to be most often blamed for cybercrime. Learn how to protect yourself at www.teamavs.com
"We saw the cybercriminals take advantage of economic messaging very, very quickly," said Dave Marcus, director of security research and communications for McAfee Avert Labs. He said cybercriminals are cashing in on consumer anxiety, particularly around the holidays and noted that as more and more people go online looking for better deals, criminals are preying on their inexperience in order to lure them to bogus sites and old-fashioned "get rich quick" scams.
One scam involves online job seekers responding to ads for "international sales representatives" or "shipping managers" being recruited as "cybermules" to launder the cybercriminal profits. "It's not a 'mule' in the traditional drug sense, where they're carrying drugs across the country or across a border," Marcus said, "but they are ultimately lured into what they think is like an Internet sales marketer or an Internet sales manager position." In reality they are laundering funds, putting it through additional hands, so that law enforcement has a few more obstacles in their path toward finding the thieves themselves.
Unfortunately, Internet users are on their own, he said. As governments begin to focus on internal economic hardships, the fight against cybercrime slips further in funding and support. McAfee predicts that in the fourth quarter of 2008 cybercrime will continue to escalate in severity.
According to CNET, McAfee found that there is a shortage of computer specialists in law enforcement. And those who are specially trained are often hired away to high-salaried jobs at private companies. Of the remaining law enforcement, they're often bound to national borders, said Marcus, with international jurisdictional disputes further slowing online investigations.
The McAfee report said Russia and China remain the largest safe havens for cybercriminals, while Brazil and Moldova have become the fastest-growing countries to be most often blamed for cybercrime. Learn how to protect yourself at www.teamavs.com
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Targeting the Consumer
The biggest technology shift in access control and video security in the last 10 years has not been the move to IP/IT devices, which was and still is a necessity. The real change impacting every new product is customer-centric design.
Long gone are the days when manufacturers ventured into the night to provide a service that few people understood and even fewer knew they needed. Today the products that gain the greatest amount of usability are not just because of the technology deployed. Dare I say, they are developed around what the customer is asking for.
Security devices are now just another part of the corporate culture, and the value proposition for access control is now deeply ingrained into both the building administrator and system users. Building administrators know why they want access control and how they want it used, but they aren't ready to take on the task of putting it in themselves. This is, after all, a big investment.
Manufacturers are now starting to realize that the customer drives the business. Long gone are organizations where the primary driving force is a “cool new technology”developed in someone's garage that now needs a market. Today's security market is mature, and manufacturers understand the growing trend to be market-driven. So the question for manufacturers now is, “How do I get closer to what my customer needs?” Some of those answers fall into the IP/IT space.
Consumers are forced daily to learn new technologies in the IP/IT market space. Whether it be a new VoIP phone system, a new wireless system in a campus infrastructure or even just new ways to control information flow on the corporate network, every computer now has a window open to the Internet. The IP/IT market is one of great technological advancements, and there is growing commoditization. The savvy security manufacturer understands that serving the market involves embracing standards and understanding that the end-user can and should know how a security system works.
Once one has come to that realization, development can begin on products that not only gain consumer acceptance by using base technologies already being adopted, but also expands the consumer's options for choosing installation companies. This widens the range of personnel who can administer the system. And the security manufacturers gain by having a much larger resource and talent pool of engineers, marketers and sales personnel to bring the “next big thing” to market.
Is IT/IP a trend? Yes. Are IT/IP devices and policies the number one trend in the market? Not any longer. They are currently just part of the mandatory feature list.
So what is the“next big thing?”
It's the consumer. You are driving the business now. And it's about time.
Learn more at www.teamavs.com
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
10 Tips for School Security
Recent tragedies have magnified the threat of school violence in the minds of students, parents, and educators. Unfortunately, the reactionary response is to purchase trendy equipment in an attempt to upgrade security. Before spending valuable school funds, however, it is crucial to take a more thorough approach. In fact, since the primary purpose of schools is to teach, why not make educated decisions? Here are 10 areas to consider in effectively reducing the risk to school security.
1. Management
Schools today are very good at managing "safety" programs. For emergencies, like fire and natural disasters, schools have well-developed plans. These plans include actions to be taken by students and staff. The actions include clearly defined roles and procedures that are both documented in formal written plans and practiced regularly.
Unfortunately, many schools lack this same level of preparation when it comes to the security. The cornerstone of a good security program is a comprehensive security plan. This plan should be a living document detailing current assets, threats, hardware, procedures, etc. Teachers, staff, and administrators should be familiar with the contents and understand their specific roles and responsibilities. Finally, management of the plan should be well-defined. Those in responsibility must be held accountable for its effectiveness.
2. Assets
All security programs are developed for the same purpose: the protection of assets. Not all programs, though, are protecting the same assets. Those developing a security plan must ask and answer the question: "What is the program going to protect?" Assets can take many forms, ranging from people to facilities to information. Assets should be identified and prioritized. When drafting and prioritizing the asset list, it is important to get the input of everyone affected by and involved in the security program.
3. Threats
Just as assets are listed and prioritized, threats to those assets must also be. Threats are defined as the people that the security program must protect against. Additionally, threats can be either internal or external. Examples of school threats include students, staff, disgruntled family members and community offenders.
Once identified, threats must be accurately described. Such a description should include the number of people acting together to commit the act, the behaviors and characteristics of the people, and the degree of the threat. Schools can use many different sources of information to develop threat descriptions. Demographic data can predict threat levels. School incident logs provide historical data and patterns. Police registrations can identify potential community threats. The information from these and other sources should be collected and used to build the threat list.
4. Deterrence
Deterrence is one of the most basic elements of a security program. The goal of the deterrence is to keep a security incident from being attempted. The key to deterrence is high visibility. Signs can draw attention to security features and policies. Effective lighting can eliminate dark areas and shadows that serve as hiding places. Well-marked guards and escorts can make people on the school grounds more difficult and/or less attractive targets. In short, if your school makes aspects of its security program very visible, certain threats will choose to go elsewhere.
5. Detection
Detection is the first of three components of a security system. Delay and response are the other two components, but are dependent on detection occurring first. Successful detection requires two steps. First, a sensor must signal that a security incident has occurred and send an alarm. Second, someone must identify and assess the cause of the alarm. For example, a door sensor will send an alarm when a door is opened.
Assessment may be achieved by an on-site respondent or remotely via CCTV. In some cases, sensing and assessment may be performed by the same element. For example, a staff member may observe a trespasser (sensing) and use a two-way radio to report the incident (assessment).
Security systems are designed to operate in two modes. Generally, the first mode is during daytime when facilities are open, and the second mode is during nighttime when facilities are closed. Even though the security system uses different methods in different modes, the system must maintain a balanced profile.
6. Delay
Delay in a school is not simply about locks and doors, but about the door itself and other surfaces adjacent to the door. Doors include hinges, glazing, and the basic construction. For interior doors, a basic need is to list all of the doors in the school by room number. Next, determine the use for the room. Finally, list room function. Obviously, the computer lab is a more attractive target for theft than the typical classroom. For daytime use, a simple door bolt on the door will allow the teacher to quickly secure the room from the inside to prevent a series of violent acts from progressing unimpeded from room to room.
7. Response
Response is based on a security person arriving at an incident on campus in a timely manner. As a general rule, the first responder must act within two minutes or fewer from the time an alarm is reported. The local law enforcement agency is typically 15 minutes away from responding. Obviously, the campus security has to be ready to respond quickly. Important questions that involve policy, procedures and training include: What are the security persons trained and equipped to do? Do they use physical force to restrain or interrupt altercations? Are they armed and can they use deadly force to protect themselves, students and faculty? Liaison on a regular basis is important so that police know of the current status of facilities, enrollment and incidents.
8. Mitigation
Mitigation involves actions after an incident has occurred or during an incident of long duration, such as a hostage situation. The long duration incident usually makes use of either an improvised or fixed emergency management center. Those in charge must have familiarity with the facility and surrounding area. Current facility maps and floor plans depicting doors, windows, etc. should be on hand. Other important information that should be noted includes stairwells, lighting panels, telephones (including their numbers), fire panels, HVAC controls, gas lines, etc. A simple, "walk through" videotape recording hallways, doors and office information should also be available to provide cognitive orientation. This information should be readily accessible at an alternate location.
9. Briefings and Drills
Regular awareness training, briefings and drills for students, staff and PTL help correct problems before an incident occurs. Security awareness should be as much a part of contemporary school life as are "D.A.R.E" programs. Signage in school hallways should serve as action reminders when strangers, unlocked doors, etc. are found. Prompt notification of trained security personnel will address issues and may deter or prevent a more serious incident. Practicing security drills is as important as practicing fire drills - both are emergencies. Staff and students should know the difference in their roles.
10. Risk Prioritization
Schools are bound by budgets. Funds must, therefore, be wisely used to "balance" security and, thus, risk. Risk is directly proportional to the threat. A school without risk is unobtainable and unaffordable. As risk is balanced across school facilities, it must also be balanced across a district or geographical area. Additionally, it should be taken into account that demographics and situations change regularly.
Risk is reduced not just with gadgets and guards but with a disciplined program of management-deterrence-detection-delay-response-mitigation that is measured, tested and drilled. Funding should be prioritized and allocated so that the individual school or district improves uniformly from poor to fair to good to excellent - just like a remedial program for a student that has "fallen behind."
A thoughtful consideration of the 10 areas described above is foundational in addressing school security. There is no way to overestimate the value of providing children with a safe learning environment. Detecting, correcting and protecting is, indeed, an important assignment. Learn more at http://www.teamavs.com
1. Management
Schools today are very good at managing "safety" programs. For emergencies, like fire and natural disasters, schools have well-developed plans. These plans include actions to be taken by students and staff. The actions include clearly defined roles and procedures that are both documented in formal written plans and practiced regularly.
Unfortunately, many schools lack this same level of preparation when it comes to the security. The cornerstone of a good security program is a comprehensive security plan. This plan should be a living document detailing current assets, threats, hardware, procedures, etc. Teachers, staff, and administrators should be familiar with the contents and understand their specific roles and responsibilities. Finally, management of the plan should be well-defined. Those in responsibility must be held accountable for its effectiveness.
2. Assets
All security programs are developed for the same purpose: the protection of assets. Not all programs, though, are protecting the same assets. Those developing a security plan must ask and answer the question: "What is the program going to protect?" Assets can take many forms, ranging from people to facilities to information. Assets should be identified and prioritized. When drafting and prioritizing the asset list, it is important to get the input of everyone affected by and involved in the security program.
3. Threats
Just as assets are listed and prioritized, threats to those assets must also be. Threats are defined as the people that the security program must protect against. Additionally, threats can be either internal or external. Examples of school threats include students, staff, disgruntled family members and community offenders.
Once identified, threats must be accurately described. Such a description should include the number of people acting together to commit the act, the behaviors and characteristics of the people, and the degree of the threat. Schools can use many different sources of information to develop threat descriptions. Demographic data can predict threat levels. School incident logs provide historical data and patterns. Police registrations can identify potential community threats. The information from these and other sources should be collected and used to build the threat list.
4. Deterrence
Deterrence is one of the most basic elements of a security program. The goal of the deterrence is to keep a security incident from being attempted. The key to deterrence is high visibility. Signs can draw attention to security features and policies. Effective lighting can eliminate dark areas and shadows that serve as hiding places. Well-marked guards and escorts can make people on the school grounds more difficult and/or less attractive targets. In short, if your school makes aspects of its security program very visible, certain threats will choose to go elsewhere.
5. Detection
Detection is the first of three components of a security system. Delay and response are the other two components, but are dependent on detection occurring first. Successful detection requires two steps. First, a sensor must signal that a security incident has occurred and send an alarm. Second, someone must identify and assess the cause of the alarm. For example, a door sensor will send an alarm when a door is opened.
Assessment may be achieved by an on-site respondent or remotely via CCTV. In some cases, sensing and assessment may be performed by the same element. For example, a staff member may observe a trespasser (sensing) and use a two-way radio to report the incident (assessment).
Security systems are designed to operate in two modes. Generally, the first mode is during daytime when facilities are open, and the second mode is during nighttime when facilities are closed. Even though the security system uses different methods in different modes, the system must maintain a balanced profile.
6. Delay
Delay in a school is not simply about locks and doors, but about the door itself and other surfaces adjacent to the door. Doors include hinges, glazing, and the basic construction. For interior doors, a basic need is to list all of the doors in the school by room number. Next, determine the use for the room. Finally, list room function. Obviously, the computer lab is a more attractive target for theft than the typical classroom. For daytime use, a simple door bolt on the door will allow the teacher to quickly secure the room from the inside to prevent a series of violent acts from progressing unimpeded from room to room.
7. Response
Response is based on a security person arriving at an incident on campus in a timely manner. As a general rule, the first responder must act within two minutes or fewer from the time an alarm is reported. The local law enforcement agency is typically 15 minutes away from responding. Obviously, the campus security has to be ready to respond quickly. Important questions that involve policy, procedures and training include: What are the security persons trained and equipped to do? Do they use physical force to restrain or interrupt altercations? Are they armed and can they use deadly force to protect themselves, students and faculty? Liaison on a regular basis is important so that police know of the current status of facilities, enrollment and incidents.
8. Mitigation
Mitigation involves actions after an incident has occurred or during an incident of long duration, such as a hostage situation. The long duration incident usually makes use of either an improvised or fixed emergency management center. Those in charge must have familiarity with the facility and surrounding area. Current facility maps and floor plans depicting doors, windows, etc. should be on hand. Other important information that should be noted includes stairwells, lighting panels, telephones (including their numbers), fire panels, HVAC controls, gas lines, etc. A simple, "walk through" videotape recording hallways, doors and office information should also be available to provide cognitive orientation. This information should be readily accessible at an alternate location.
9. Briefings and Drills
Regular awareness training, briefings and drills for students, staff and PTL help correct problems before an incident occurs. Security awareness should be as much a part of contemporary school life as are "D.A.R.E" programs. Signage in school hallways should serve as action reminders when strangers, unlocked doors, etc. are found. Prompt notification of trained security personnel will address issues and may deter or prevent a more serious incident. Practicing security drills is as important as practicing fire drills - both are emergencies. Staff and students should know the difference in their roles.
10. Risk Prioritization
Schools are bound by budgets. Funds must, therefore, be wisely used to "balance" security and, thus, risk. Risk is directly proportional to the threat. A school without risk is unobtainable and unaffordable. As risk is balanced across school facilities, it must also be balanced across a district or geographical area. Additionally, it should be taken into account that demographics and situations change regularly.
Risk is reduced not just with gadgets and guards but with a disciplined program of management-deterrence-detection-delay-response-mitigation that is measured, tested and drilled. Funding should be prioritized and allocated so that the individual school or district improves uniformly from poor to fair to good to excellent - just like a remedial program for a student that has "fallen behind."
A thoughtful consideration of the 10 areas described above is foundational in addressing school security. There is no way to overestimate the value of providing children with a safe learning environment. Detecting, correcting and protecting is, indeed, an important assignment. Learn more at http://www.teamavs.com
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