Last March, the U.S. Congress heard testimony about a scientific study in the journal Safety Science. A military analyst worried that the paper presented a model of how an attack on a small, unimportant part of the U.S. power grid might, like dominoes, bring the whole grid down.
Nearly 10 years after 9/11, a video depicting the terrorist attacks of that day still had a sobering effect on a crowded room of security professionals. It’s a day that many will never forget and a Thursday session at ASIS 2010 was dedicated to reflecting back and discussing what has changed.
- By Cindy Horbrook
- Oct 15, 2010
The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program is more important now than ever. That was the message Wednesday from Sue Armstrong, director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Infrastructure Security Compliance Division, in her update of the CFATS program at ASIS Wednesday.
- By Ronnie Rittenberry
- Oct 14, 2010
Risks such as crime, infrastructure failures, supply chain disruptions and fire were all major considerations when it came to preparing for the world’s largest sporting event earlier this year. Contrary to popular belief, it was the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, not the Olympics, that holds the title of world’s largest sporting event, according to Marc Siegel of ASIS International and Johan DuPloy, senior partner of the Temi Group.
- By Cindy Horbrook
- Oct 13, 2010
Pulling it together was a Herculean task that took some five years to complete, but now a massive training curriculum designed by Florida State University researchers to ensure the security of the nation’s 350 commercial ports is about to enter the marketplace.
The Department of Homeland Security recently launched the “Stop. Think. Connect.” public cybersecurity awareness campaign -- a national initiative that promotes simple steps the public can take to increase their safety and security online.
In an age of heightened security concerns, potentially vulnerable manufacturing and processing plants are re-evaluating their security systems and looking for new ways to protect assets. This is particularly true of expansive facilities handling vast amounts of volatile materials, as monitoring large, dimly lit areas has long been a security challenge.
- By Leslie Corriea
- Oct 01, 2010
As we go about our day, preoccupied with work, family, friends and activities, many of us have the luxury of never thinking about cyberwarfare. But know that right this second, more than 100 foreign intelligence organizations are trying to hack into our military networks. A scary thought, isn’t it? To defend our nation against this threat, the Pentagon is partnering with NATO allies and the private sector.
- By Sherleen Mahoney
- Oct 01, 2010
Since Sept. 11, 2001, all aspects of air security have been a top priority for governments, businesses and the public. New and emerging terrorist threats now necessitate that airport detection be as adaptable, proactive and evolutionary as possible. Long gone are the days of simple metal detectors and unconcerned passengers. Airport security has become one of the most daunting technological challenges facing experts today.
- By Susan Cooper-Curcio
- Oct 01, 2010
It’s true what they say: The best offense is a good defense. And when it comes to border security, I couldn’t agree more.
- By Megan Weadock
- Oct 01, 2010
When a bomb technician inspects a potential explosive device, the bulky protective suit might be the only defense they have. Bomb suit manufacturers run tests on their protective suits to ensure they can withstand an explosion, but there currently is no single set of requirements that the suits must meet before they can be sold.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano recently announced the beginning of Cyber Storm III -- a three-day long, DHS-sponsored exercise that brings together a diverse cross-section of the nation’s cyber incident responders to assess U.S. cyber response capabilities.
High-resolution, vandal-resistant color dome cameras from Rainbow CCTV are being used at a convention center in Rosemont, Ill.
Waterfall Security Solutions, provider of Unidirectional Security Gateways, announced recently the successful completion of a security assessment, undertaken by the Idaho National Laboratory, of Waterfall's Unidirectional Security Gateway's technology and products. The assessment was conducted as part of the Department of Homeland Security Control Systems Security Program (CSSP).
Four members of the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee introduced S. 3806 on Monday to reform the Federal Protective Service, a DHS agency that provides security for 9,000 federal buildings across the country. FPS says it employs 900 law enforcement security officers and 15,000 contract guards; the bill would provide funding for FPS to hire 500 additional full-time employees (it has 1,225 currently) during the next four years.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for mitigating a range of threats, including terrorism, natural disasters, and pandemics -- and risk analysis is an essential part of fulfilling that responsibility. This report, undertaken by units across the National Research Council, evaluates risk assessment methods employed by the DHS, concluding that risk analysis capabilities are strong in the area of natural disaster response, but substantial improvement is needed in other areas.
DVTel Inc. recently announced that the City of Wilkes-Barre, Pa. is protecting the city’s square, downtown and other high risk areas in the city with DVTel’s intelligent Security Operations Center (iSOC) platform and its Altitude family of PTZ and fixed IP cameras.
Safran announced recently that it has entered into a definitive agreement with L-1 Identity Solutions, a identity management provider in the United States, for Safran to acquire the operating and holding company of L-1 and its biometric and enterprise access solutions, secure credentialing solutions and enrollment services businesses, for a total cash amount of $1.09 billion.
Avigilon recently announced that the City of Selma, Ala. has deployed the Avigilon High Definition Surveillance System to boost community safety and reduce criminal activity.
In mid-2009, a fiber optic intrusion detection system was installed on McAllen-Miller International Airport's perimeter fence. The system, known as Secure Fence, was developed by Future Fibre Technologies and, one year on, the airport's security department reports the system has performed impressively.