Corporate Protection Australia: What You Must Know 

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There is no shortage of physical hazards and cyberattacks threatening the very survival of your company. In 2020 alone, the latter cost the Australian economy USD 3.5 billion or AUD 4.8 billion. In fact, the two are intertwined and can hardly be untangled as damage done to one spills over into the other. For this and many other reasons, corporate protection Australia finds itself increasingly among the top search engine results. 

It’s not that companies are letting their guard down. Instead, the issue lies with those malicious actors going the extra mile to: 

  • Steal, delete, or manipulate data, 
  • Weaken infrastructure, 
  • Take control of internal systems. 

As a matter of fact, infrastructure security is probably among the chief targets of malefactors nowadays. Although experts claim that cybersecurity costs are on the rise, the layperson’s experience is that their data is as unsafe as ever. And we can’t blame them. According to researchers, the digital risks we all face will increase as more devices share data worldwide. 

That is only one side of the coin we call corporate protection Australia. The other side mainly focuses on physical security threats that are predominant in the country’s larger cities.

Australian National Security lists 26 terrorist organisations on its website. Some of them state their goal as “destroying the West and democracy.” 

Crucially, one element of a democratic westernised system is the corporate world we have grown accustomed to in the past few decades. Professed intentions of terrorist organisations occasionally manifest in attacks against heads of companies and institutions alike. 

However, other attacks are just meant to be humiliating for the CEO. For example, when Qantas’s Alan Joyce was hit with a pie by Tony Overheu back in 2017, the assailant had to pay a fine amounting to USD 3,600 or AUD 4,900. Still, security experts are always left wondering: What if the attacker had carried a deadly weapon instead of a pie? 

The Inevitable Impact of Corporate Protection Australia  

People often mistake tailor-made security for something that requires plenty of engagement by the person receiving those services. This couldn’t be farther from the truth.  

Security services anywhere in the world, including corporate protection Australia, have only one goal. And that is to help ensure maximum productivity and peace of mind for you ― the principal ― and the company as a whole.  

But, of course, corporate security isn’t so straightforward, as it entails the prevention of workplace crimes, including: 

  • Property damage,  
  • Thefts, and  
  • Assaults. 

As it already happened with dozens of organisations worldwide, a single employee could be the end of an enterprise built for decades. One illustrative example is someone entering their office and simply plugging in a removable storage device, such as a USB stick. If the device contains so much as a shred of unusual software, that could very well be the company’s demise. 

The malefactor ― in this case, the average worker ― either intentionally or unintentionally contributed to: 

  • Installing malware, 
  • Impacting external sites, thereby creating public damage to the company’s brand, 
  • Preventing systems from functioning correctly, and 
  • Selling or stealing business trade secrets or intellectual property. 

All this occurs more or less in one fell swoop. 

The protection of company assets is at the forefront of the interests of any competent board and CEO. Sometimes, that first line of defense is literally at the organisation’s front doors.  

In fact, companies like Panoptic Solutions offer platinum-level services that do just that: make sure that all lines of defense remain impenetrable. Our unobtrusive corporate security officers stand at your company’s frontline, protecting that which matters the most: your business’s well-being and continuity. 

Whether it’s board rooms, offices, concierge, hotels, or black-tie events, we go where you need us. 

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Corporate Protection Australia to the Rescue 

Companies throughout the world offer either products, services, or both. The moment they cease offering them and earning is when they are under attack.  

Therefore, their physical and virtual standing is at stake all the time of doing business. It’s a continuous, never-ending sequence that requires protection 24/7, and your company is no exception. 

Moreover, the thing is that nobody can actually predict a crime. Yet, many preventative measures pose as a deterrent to potential attackers. Briefly, the point is to dissuade them from striking in the first place. 

Typical security systems consist of: 

  • High-decibel alarms or sirens, 
  • Door, window, and motion sensors, and 
  • Wireless or wired security cameras. 

Astonishingly, as many as 40% of employees steal from the workplace. From equipment to workplace supplies to intellectual property, employees target their company for various reasons. Nevertheless, using typical security systems may not be enough to deter them from harming your company’s assets.  

In fact, hiring corporate security guards may be the next step to ensuring that thefts, assaults, and property damage are minimized. Although some wrongly perceive them as simply “standing there,” their actual value is often underrated. In truth, corporate security guards are one of the best deterrents to criminal activities. 

Pro-tip: Employees can also be targets of attacks against your company, as they are its living and breathing image.  

In Conclusion 

Most businesses neglect the importance of corporate protection until a crime occurs in their backyard. Unfortunately, this is a reactive rather than a proactive approach to safeguarding your company’s assets. As a result, it can ruin your firm’s reputation and prospects for good. 

Furthermore, corporate protection is not as clear-cut as many would want it to be. For instance, whenever things go south, the CEO’s responsibility is to make amends with the affected party, i.e., the employee, or try to fix the issue caused by the malicious attacker. 

The spectrum of people that can potentially be affected by a virtual or physical intrusion is as large as the company itself. And while you cannot afford to lose your company assets, the cost of not hiring a security firm is even higher, as it could hinder your business’s growth and prevent you from fostering a culture that is optimal for work and productivity. 

Ultimately, corporate protection Australia is a term that we will see be used more in the years to come. Hopefully, in titles and articles abounding in positive outlooks toward the future. 

What Is Infrastructure Security?

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Infrastructure security relates to the provision of security services to safeguard organisational structures and facilities. The goal is to limit the exposure of systems and structures to threats and risks of sabotage, terrorism, and contaminations. Hence, infrastructure security experts maintain it is at the root of corporate security plans. 

Although the elements vary to some extent on the country or business in question, it involves specific procedures, policies, and techniques that aim to protect so-called critical infrastructure such as: 

  • airports, 
  • highways, 
  • rail transport, 
  • hospitals, 
  • bridges, 
  • transport hubs, 
  • network communications, 
  • media, 
  • the electricity grid, 
  • dams, 
  • power plants, 
  • seaports, 
  • oil refineries, and  
  • water systems. 

Due to technological advancements, these infrastructures have become highly interconnected and interdependent; and heavily reliant on IT. In turn, this has made them more vulnerable to intrusions and disruptions.  

Most significantly, since disruptions in one infrastructure can adversely affect and provoke failures in another, their security has become a key concern. 

Potential Threats to Infrastructure Security 

Since critical infrastructure is vital for countries and organisations to function properly, damage can seriously impact the economy and the provision of services. There are several intentional and unintentional risks from which infrastructure needs to be heavily secured and protected:  

Terrorism – the deliberate targeting of critical infrastructure for political gain.  

Theft – breaking into sites, like electrical substations, to steal materials or equipment. 

Sabotage – this includes the activities of competitors, ex-employees, or political groups against organisations or governments. 

Cyber-attack – hacking to gain information or damage national or company infrastructure.  

Natural disaster – hurricane or natural events that damage oil pipelines, water supply, and power grids.  

Global Trends of Attacks on Critical Infrastructure  

In December 2015, the BlackEnergy malware hit three utility companies in Ukraine. In its wake, hundreds of thousands of people were left without electricity and the world witnessed the first known power outage caused by a malicious attack by hackers. 

Since then, the energy sector has remained a favourite target for cyber-attacks. However, these attacks are not limited or isolated to that one industry. In fact, transport, public sector services, and telecommunications also present appealing targets. 

In 2013, a group of hackers from Iran breached the Bowman Avenue Damn in New York, USA, gaining control of the floodgates. That same year, damage caused by a sniper attack at an electrical substation in California threatened power distribution throughout Silicon Valley.  

More recently, the 2020 car bombing in Nashville, Tennessee, injured three people and destroyed a section of the city’s downtown region, causing significant damage to a key AT&T transmission facility. As a result, wired networks were brought down across parts of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama, and briefly grounding flights.  

Critical Infrastructure in Australia 

A PwC survey from late 2020 warns of an increased risk of cyber-attacks targeting local, critical infrastructure. Business leaders are expecting more cyber-attacks in the next 12 months than their global peers. Reportedly, 56% of Australian executives anticipate attacks on the nation’s critical infrastructure which could shut down vital services such as hospitals.  

According to everything we have seen so far, those fears appear to be well-founded. 

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Eastern Health Attack 

One of Melbourne’s largest metropolitan public health services, Eastern Health, had to postpone several elective surgery procedures following a cyber-attack. Even though patient safety was not compromised, the category two and three elective surgery procedures were postponed. 

Western Australia’s parliamentary email network 

Earlier in March 2021, Western Australia’s parliamentary email network was hit by hackers as part of a massive global cyber-attack involving Microsoft software. The cyber-attack was detected in the middle of the state election campaign, with the hack affecting thousands of Australian servers. 

False Claims of COVID-19 cases on ANU campus 

Staff at the Australian National University (ANU) received a scam email, falsely claiming that the Canberra campus recorded COVID-19 cases. In fact, multiple members of different departments at the university reported receiving the email, including a link that the reader was advised to follow. 

This institution had also fallen prey to a 2018 attack, when hackers infiltrated the university’s systems, sparking a months-long process to shut the attack down. 

Tamim Khaja Plot 

Sadly, cyber-attacks seem just to be the tip of the iceberg against critical infrastructure in Australia. Similarly, endangering the proper functioning of society, terrorist attacks and plots can be equally deadly.  

In 2018, 20-year-old man Tamim Khaja was sentenced to 19 years in jail. He pleaded guilty to planning and preparing a so-called lone-wolf terrorist attack in Sydney. 

In fact, he intended to target the Timor Army Barracks and Sydney West Trial Courts. Claiming to derive his inspiration from the Charlie Hebdo terror attack in Paris, Tamim Khaja hoped to encourage others to perform similar acts. 

Conclusively, NSW Supreme Court Justice Desmond Fagan said of the case: “He expected his actions would encourage others of the same mind to undertake similar atrocities leading to police and security services being overwhelmed, the institutions of democratic government being weakened, and the Australian people being forced to live under Islamic law, sharia.” 

Infrastructure Security and Risk Management 

Infrastructure security risks are unique to sectors within a particular industry.  

Organisations within the healthcare industry most often face breaches to patient records security, or worse, harm to the patients. Conversely, chemical companies are vulnerable to terrorists releasing hazardous chemicals. Due to this, mitigation strategies should also be unique and adaptable to the evolving threats. 

In terms of infrastructure security, the risk management strategy involves five main functions: 

Planning – Being prepared means staying watchful and having clear guidelines on how to properly identify, assess, and avoid risk. Despite many of these risks often being difficult or impossible to predict, having a plan goes a long way when disaster strikes.   

Prevention – Risk is often thought to lead to the greatest benefits. However, this does not hold true for infrastructure security. Potential harm will always outweigh probable benefits, and because of this prevention and avoidance policies are best practices. 

Quick Response and Operational Efficiency – A high level of operational efficiency is essential to critical infrastructure security. In turn, this facilitates quick response when a disaster or security breach occurs. 

Disaster Recovery – This involves measures taken to maintain operations during a crisis, as well as minimisation of time needed to recover from the damages. An efficient recovery plan is crucial to production resumption and overall business continuity. 

Reinforcement – A company’s initiatives to support infrastructure security need to be shared with all stakeholders through all channels at one’s disposal. Furthermore, cultivating a risk-aware culture in the company, from top to bottom, plays an important role in infrastructure security. 

Conclusion 

The responsibility of critical infrastructure security lies with the government. Still, organisations need to implement adequate practices in order to guard against infrastructure security risks. In fact, this requires multiple layers of protection and different stages of evaluation. 

Hence, companies should collaborate with a preferred security partner and choose a programme that can enable and deliver business success. Alternatively, delays in implementing proper security protocols can expose a business to evolving threats of a very unpredictable nature. 

Therefore, organisations with an integrated approach to security can successfully mitigate the risks of infrastructure casualties.  

Security experts – like Panoptic Solutions – can help you identify vulnerabilities and improve your security to future-proof your company. You can have the safety and security you need, as well as the peace of mind you deserve. 

Corporate Security Guards: A Benefit to Any Organisation

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Corporate security is an often-ignored management function. Yet, directors and executives are experiencing a growing need to properly understand the risks that their organisations face. The authors of Corporate Security in the Asia-Pacific Region inform us that in Australia it is a director’s duty to make sure that the company has and maintains risk management. So, executives need to involve themselves and demonstrate appropriate action with small margins for error. Security matters are an inextricable part of their duties – and some of the most fundamental considerations and concerns made when employing corporate security guards.  

Ensuring the protection of company facilities and its employees is a matter of the utmost importance. Sometimes, it can even seem daunting. It is unrealistic to expect managers and executives to patrol the grounds themselves while managing the business. It is likewise unworkable for them to expect to trust just anyone to look out for their company with as much investment as they themselves have.  

In order to keep their people safe and protect company assets, more and more businesses are employing the services of corporate security guards. Often misperceived as simply “standing there,” their intrinsic value is often underestimated. Corporate security guards are a competent deterrent to criminal activities and are well-equipped and trained to protect an organisation’s investment. 

Using Professional Corporate Security Guards vs. Hiring Internally 

Let’s suppose that an organisation realises that it would benefit from additional security. In this event, they still have to decide whether to use a third-party security company or hire a security guard from within your company. Yes, hiring internally seems like a quick and easy solution. Still, the benefits of outsourcing and employing external corporate security guards outweigh appointing a current employee to oversee security matters.  

An immediate benefit is the peace of mind of having qualified and trained professionals protecting their organisation. Also, any professional security company will make it standard practice to run extensive background checks on all of their guards. This would include criminal history checks, licence and character checks, as well as speaking with previous employers or military/law enforcement units.   

Additionally, outsourcing often proves the more cost-effective solution. Organisations will save money that they would otherwise spend on proper training for novice security guards, as well as their certifications. Then there are the costs of equipment and maintenance.   

Lastly, corporate security guards from a private security company generally come from a rich background of security work. Typically, this includes years as a professional security guard or previous military or law enforcement experience. Organisations that hire their services will generally find that outsourced guards will consist of those with a broad range of experience and likely have the necessary skills to protect their facilities and employees. 

Additional Considerations on Corporate Security Guards 

In this context, security outsourcing as a concept provides companies with more room to concentrate on their core business. Also, it allows them freedom and the opportunity to cut costs, while feeling completely protected.  

However, apart from some default competencies – like security skills, knowledge, personal integrity, flexibility, adaptability, and commitment, corporate security guards should possess certain business expertise, such as:  

  • understanding corporate culture,  
  • business acumen,
  • management skills, and  
  • communication and presentation skills. 

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Imagine the unlikely situation where a director has the capacity to employ as many guards as they want. In this case, professional expertise and the size of the corporate security firm are not necessarily crucial factors when it comes to producing results. 

It is far more important to have a coherent team, working toward a common goal. So, when hiring corporate security guards, it is vital to concentrate on features that are crucial for team dynamics. Some of these include: 

Performance – they need to possess the appropriate skills and have correct instructions pertaining to their tasks, as well as the ability to execute them.  

Company interests — the candidates’ interests and motivations need to align with the rest of the organisation’s structure. 

Character — executives need to consider their corporate security guards not only in a professional sense but as individuals with whom you are going to interact. 

Corporate Security Guard Duties and Responsibilities 

As previously mentioned, most executives deal with the companies of the outsourced workforce in terms of the quality and quantity of the services performed. In general, corporate security guards may perform the following duties: 

Reception – Meet and Greet, Directing Visitors, handling postal mail, and in some cases, answering calls. However, security staff should not be seen as a replacement for a dedicated receptionist. 

Access control – making sure that people or materials do not pass through a particular point and assist, escort, or direct those who are permitted access.  

Patrolling – identifying, observing, and intercepting suspicious behaviour and objects. 

Handling of security and fire equipment – they operate any equipment intended to detect, prevent and mitigate incidents. 

Cash in transit – these include security measures aimed at protecting transported funds. 

Regardless of whether an organisation employs a dedicated security manager to manage the corporate security guards or those duties fall within the scope of a company director, that person is in charge of: 

  • Maintaining regular communication with the outsourced company, 
  • Reviewing and checking invoices for their services, 
  • Measuring performance and setting KPIs, 
  • Keeping a record of incidents, 
  • Keeping track of dates and information that could affect security,
  • Creating the budget for the guard services, 
  • Creating procedures and work instructions and ensuring that the staff follows them, and 
  • Making sure that all physical security elements are maintained and operational, etc. 

Conclusion 

When clients and employees are confident that an organisation is properly guarded and implements adequate security protocols, business runs smoother. However, company security isn’t just the concern of a single individual. A sound security strategy needs to be embedded in the organisation on multiple levels and across departments.  

Each agency or business comes with a unique set of security needs and requires a custom plan of protection. A good corporate security service company is able to incorporate their professional security guards into their business place with minimal disruption. 

By working with the company, professional corporate security guards will be able to come up with several security tactics. These are tailor-made to fit the company’s specific needs, while at the same time addressing any special challenges that the facility may face. 

Security experts – like Panoptic Solutions – can help you identify vulnerabilities and improve your security to future-proof your company. You can have the safety and security you need, as well as the peace of mind you deserve.  

What is Executive Protection?

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The term executive protection (EP) has been very popular since the turn of the last century, especially in corporate circles. It is used to refer to specific and exclusive protective services aimed at crime deterrence, risk mitigation and management, and security in general.  

The exact definition has taken on many meanings through years of misuse – both at the hands of amateurs and security professionals who have no idea what executive protection really entails. It became a misnomer because some of its practices and techniques are not limited to EP, but are applicable to anyone with a need for personal security. 

Still, we can say that executive protection is a security programme specially designed around the specific lifestyle, environment, and family of the Principal. Sometimes called close protection, it includes practices and concepts such as:  

  • determination of actual and potential vulnerabilities,  
  • analysis, planning and preparation,  
  • implementation of a comprehensive security plan,  
  • advance security arrangements, and  
  • provision of a safe secure environment. 

Simply put, it entails anticipating and preparing, as well as planning for any contingency that could put the Principal at risk. Therefore, the goal of Executive Protection is the removal of potentially harmful circumstances, with direct confrontation as a measure of last resort. Executive protection agents’ duty is to deter attacks, not to expose their Principals to danger. 

A Brief Historical Overview 

Executive protection as we know it today is a rather young service industry. It was born somewhere in the last four decades of the twentieth century. Specifically, in the 1970s, after several corporate and political kidnappings and terrorist attacks – like that of Richard Oetker, Patty Hearst or Aldo Moro, to name a few – companies began providing bodyguards to vulnerable executives, politicians and their families.  

Soon enough, celebrities and other public figures recognised the increased need for protection specialists to keep them safe. The police simply could not provide the protection that they needed due to limitations in terms of manpower and funding. Also, depending on the jurisdiction, law enforcement faced a number of legal restrictions.  

Another defining moment came with the onset of the Iranian Revolution, when a small but very significant change happened in the security business. An increasing number of Iranian expatriates immigrated to the USA.  

Many of these were wealthy and influential people in their own country. They created a niche for protection specialists, who previously worked in agencies such as the Secret Service, FBI, U.S. Marshall’s Office, and founded businesses specialising in executive protection. 

So, after the turbulent and violent seventies, executive protection outgrew the sweeper-mentality bodyguard or the martial arts trained bouncer. EP agents became highly professional and trained personal protection specialists. 

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The Need for Executive Protection 

So, why do companies and high net-worth individuals need executive protection? In the simplest terms possible: to avoid and manage risks that threaten their lives, businesses and reputations. This is a very complex matter since threats and vulnerabilities are not “created equal.” There is no one-size-fits all solution. 

A number of factors, circumstances and considerations enter into the calculation. However, when assessing risks, we can say that the goal is to provide answers and solutions to the following questions: 

  • What would be the consequences if a certain risk is realised and the Principal is harmed? 
  • What is the probability of that event happening? 
  • How to avoid that threat in the most effective manner possible? 

A major company can suffer a number of negative consequences if, for instance, their CEO is harmed.  

Firstly, of course, this concerns direct consequences to the CEO and their family – potentially this person can lose their life. Secondly, there is the impact that such an event would have on shareholder value and the financial interests of the company. Thirdly, an organisation’s reputation and competitiveness would be severely damaged since they are often directly related to the well-being of high-profile company members.  

This means conducting risk assessments entails more than simply looking at actual threats. A number of factors such as income inequality, threats of terrorism, local crime rates – or traffic accidents, come into play. 

Then, there are the celebrity or infamy elements to consider. The more spotlight a certain company or individual gets, the greater the likelihood of them attracting the attention of persons of interest – i.e., people who present a threat. 

The Benefits of Executive Protection  

Executive protection takes a holistic approach to security. This entails a full and complete security service. EPAs provide protection services, but also conduct all the advance work, surveillance, logistics, and driver duties if needed. 

Every organisation and individual has their own unique preferences, engages in specific activities or leads a distinctive lifestyle. Because of this, EP programmes are tailor-made to fit the needs of the client with minimal intrusion into their regular, daily goings-on.  

On the other hand, this type of service can also be seen as a competitive advantage. Namely, an organisation that utilises an executive protection program will have a meaningful edge in comparison to one that does not. 

Its executives can travel more and be completely safe during their travels. This is an important factor, considering McKinsey’s findings that by 2025 half of the Fortune 500 companies will be located in emerging markets where travel risks are higher.  

However, whether at home or on the road, Principals can enjoy increased productivity. Executive protection is not an interference to their everyday life, it happens in the background of the Principal’s attention. Executive Protection agents/operatives limit or completely eliminate many of the interruptions that would otherwise be inevitable. 

Conclusion 

Executive protection continues to evolve through the years, with changes in training techniques and procedures as well as with enhancements in technology. It has proven to be an effective resource for executives and high-profile personalities and families. It is a service industry which should be considered by individuals with a significant risk profile. 

Security experts – like Panoptic Solutions – can help you identify vulnerabilities and improve your security to future-proof your company. You can have the safety and security you need, as well as the peace of mind you deserve.