In anticipation of GSX, we sat down with presenters of upcoming sessions in order to get a better understanding of the topics at hand. This week we are featuring, “Strengthening Supply Chain Resilience by Leveraging the Power of AI and Data,” presented by Chris Hurst, the vice president of global technology solutions at OnSolve. Read on for what he had to say and don’t forget to register for GSX 2022! 

Q: How did you become interested in your topic?   

CH: Supply Chain resilience is a topic I’ve been interested in for a while! After serving at the tactical level as an army diver/army engineer officer from 2001 to 2006, I spent my last year on active duty serving with Army Forces Central Command (ARCENT), which had the sustainment mission for all US military forces in the Middle East. At a conceptual level, ARCENT faced the strategic challenges of supply chain resilience to support all forces in conflict zones. Second, this mission continued in my civilian life. I spent the next four years (2006-2010) planning and building infrastructure in Iraq and Afghanistan. At the time, supply chain resilience meant ensuring the right people, equipment and components showed up at the right place and at the right time – and that was obviously a huge challenge. Challenges ranged from our internal systems and processes, to the supplier organizations, to the links and nodes – from manufacturing plants to airports and seaports (“APODs and SPODs” when it involved military equipment) to roads and borders. Third, as a co-founder of a software company, we wrestled with a different kind of “supply chain resilience:” the supply of software engineering talent. For many reasons, we found the right mix to be both domestic and international – from the US to Colombia to Ukraine. Obviously, recent events challenge assumptions of stability that seemed sound just a few years ago.  

Philosophically, I think the scope is even larger. Supply chain resilience is, at its core, closely tied to questions of globalization itself. There are arguments that the policies and beliefs surrounding the integration of goods and services which skyrocketed the growth of developing countries in the post WWII era (and particularly, post-1980) may be waning. All of us are living at an important moment in history, and that’s fascinating to me.  

Q: Tell us about your presentation and why security professionals should have this topic on their radar.  

CH: The chaos of the last 12 months has shed light on an already vulnerable supply chain, and the ripple effect it can have on other industries and areas of business. What we’re seeing with our customers is the need to anticipate supply chain disruption, so its impact can be mitigated. Separately, we have also been hearing about the promise of AI to help us solve our most difficult security problems. I know security professionals have been involved in both discussions, and I wanted to bring them together to show a practical application of AI and machine learning to help increase supply chain resilience.  

Q: What advice would you give security professionals interested in this topic?  

 CH: 3 pieces of advice:  

1. The deeper you understand your organization’s business model and operations, the more helpful you can be. What are the “must-have” components of your business and supply chain – and what are the nice-to-haves? What are the security and disruptive risks to the must-haves? Who are your supply chain management counterparts responsible for those?  

2. To the degree that you can, design your calendar, priorities, and team to allow space for thinking “what could go wrong?” I’m sensitive in saying this. COVID and everything else over the last 2 years have slammed our industry. There is no work-life balance, and BC and Security teams are notoriously overworked and understaffed. But there’s a hidden cost: there’s been little space for our risk professionals to think broadly about risk, and most teams are continually in reactive mode. I think the best of us find ways to prioritize the mental and temporal space to plan for the “unknown unknowns.” How do you achieve this? Communicate with your boss, upward and team vision, delegate what you can, use technology effectively… we’ll talk more about this.  

3. Be the answer to the risk questions that your executive team should be asking. If you’ve done the above, you’ll be a strategic asset to your organization. One way to have these answers is to use technology. AI can help with quickly processing and making sense of a “world of data, in a world of risk.”  

Q: How do you see this issue evolving in the next 2-5 years?  

CH: Achieving supply chain resilience is going to become a key strategic advantage in the next 2-5 years. The truth is, these risks and disruptions are not going away, in fact they are getting more complex. Those who can put processes and technology in place to anticipate and predict disruption are the organizations that will come out on top. Every organization should be interested in better, faster data related to natural disasters, civil unrest, climate change, global health crises, severe weather, and other critical events. Knowing sooner helps you react faster and produces better outcomes. Our presentation will demonstrate how organizations can leverage AI to anticipate and mitigate disruptions to their supply chain, which will put their organization in a better position going forward. 

In anticipation of GSX, we sat down with presenters of upcoming sessions in order to get a better understanding of the topics at hand. This week we are featuring, “Simple And Practical Activities In Putting Diversity, Equity And Inclusion Into Action,” presented by Donna Kobzaruk, Chair of the ASIS North American Regional Board of Directors and Executive Director at JP Morgan Chase and Melissa Mack, Director at Pinkerton. Read on for what they had to say and don’t forget to register for GSX 2022! 

Q: How did you become interested in your topic? 

DK: I’ve always been passionate about supporting the under-represented having a voice. Melissa and I were talking and thought we needed to communicate our best practices for simple steps to create a DE&I program. What better forum than GSX!! 

Q: Tell us about your presentation and why should security professionals have this topic on their radar? 

MM: It is important for employees to feel comfortable in bringing their true selves to work every day and this presentation identifies actionable ways to create that environment. Doing so invites the essence of critical thinking into the way we protect assets. Threat actors and methods are not homogeneous so neither should approaches we take in risk management.  

Q: What advice would you give security professionals interested in this topic?  

DK: Attend the session. If you walk out with one recommendation to put into practice, trust that it will change lives.  

Q: How do you see this issue evolving in the next 2-5 years?  

MM: The next 2-5 years are critical in DEI efforts as we continue to see division and polarization threatening societies that influence professional environments. Organizations and leaders recognizing the value of creating inclusive work cultures and prioritizing resources in doing so will be better positioned with talent management, innovative transformations, and corporate social responsibility. 

In anticipation of GSX, we sat down with presenters of upcoming sessions in order to get a better understanding of the topics at hand. This week we are featuring, “Mental Health & Workplace Safety,” presented by Jeremy Prout, CPP, APP, the regional security director at International SOS, Kelly Johnstone, the Chief Security Officer at V2 Global, Robert Quigley, a professor of surgery and the senior vice president and global medical director at International SOS, and Steven Bernard, CPP, PSP, APP, a senior security advisor at International SOS. Read on for what they had to say and don’t forget to register for GSX 2022!

Q: How did you become interested in your topic? 

JP: I first became interested in the topic of workplace violence after the 1999 tragedy in Columbine, Colorado. As my career progressed, I gained a greater understanding of the intersection of workplace violence and mental health issues. As security professionals, we have a duty to ensure a safe working environment and also to make sure that individuals who are struggling can get the assistance they need. 

Q: Tell us about your presentation and why should security professionals have this topic on their radar. 

KJ: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen an increase in mental health awareness, issues and incidents. We are also seeing more aggressive behavior, less tolerance of differing opinions, and more polarization around beliefs, which are all leading to the potential for bad behavior in the workplace. Security professionals need to be keenly aware of these changes and review their current policies and programs around workplace safety to ensure they are able to protect their employees and appropriately assess and mitigate any potential issues. 

Q: What advice would you give security professionals interested in this topic? 

RQ: Security professionals have actually been battling two contagions: COVID-19 and mental health which are not mutually exclusive. The same energy and focus placed on the health and safety of workforces needs to be applied to the management of mental health. Besides the obvious impact mental health is having on absenteeism and presenteeism, there is now growing evidence that workplace violence will be yet another manifestation. Mitigation best practices through awareness, education, and open dialogue will become standard operating procedure in any organization. 

Q: How do you see this issue evolving in the next 2-5 years? 

SB: Work from anywhere, hybrid work schedules, forced return to work, depleting government resources, the great resignation, the insider threat, declining economies and a possible recession will all likely increase the evolving mental health crisis. The burden this will place on employers is a critical one. Let’s have an open discussion and be a part of the solution versus failing to improve the environment. 

In anticipation of GSX, we sat down with presenters of upcoming sessions in order to get a better understanding of the topics at hand. This week we are featuring, “Mass Casualty Awareness and Preparedness — Active Assailant Response Planning,” presented by Dale Buckner, CEO/President at Global Guardian, Dennis O’Toole, Former Anne Arundel SWAT Lieutenant and Federal Law Enforcement Tactics Instructor at NA, and Greg McAleer, Senior Vice President of Business Operations & Risk Management at Global Guardian. Read on for what they had to say and don’t forget to register for GSX 2022!

Q: How did you become interested in your topic?  

DB: An employers’ duty of care obligation is to keep their employees safe and out of harm’s way – and to provide assistance should a crisis, such as an active assailant in the workplace, occur. When employers have effective duty of care programs and emergency response plans in place – and partner with the right provider – it can save lives and ensure business continuity. As the founder and CEO/President of Global Guardian, a leading duty of care provider, our mission is to ensure the safety and security of our clients. One of the things we regularly do is emphasize the importance of crisis preparedness trainings and tabletop exercises to support employees and workforces in an increasingly unpredictable world. 

In the past five years, the threat landscape in the United States and around the globe has steadily expanded, which is having a detrimental impact on business continuity. One of these top threats is violent crime and mass shooting events. When defined as four or more people shot, a total of 693 mass shooting events took place in 2021, 13.4 percent higher than 2020. This year alone, there has been almost 200 mass shootings to date. 

With the rise in crime, and active assailant events, you can’t think it is not going to happen to you. According to the FBI, active assailant attacks typically involve significant planning: 77 percent of attacks took over a week of planning and 24 percent of active shooters (who are 18 and older) have undergone military training. On average, it takes approximately ten minutes for law enforcement to arrive on scene to intervene, but most attacks end in less than five minutes. This means that to survive, individuals must be prepared to react promptly and properly.  

We work with our clients to prepare them for these types of attacks and make sure they are aware of how to respond pre-crisis, during, and post-event. Real-life examples show these types of trainings work; when Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker and others from his congregation were held hostage, he credited the security courses that the congregation had participated in with making sure he knew what to do to get himself and those around him to safety. I cannot emphasize to our clients, and to the security professionals at GSX, the importance of being prepared and knowing how to respond in an active assailant incident.  

Q: Tell us about your presentation and why security professionals should have this topic on their radar.  

DO: In the United States, the number of mass shootings has been climbing steadily over the years, making it imperative for organizations to have proper training, plans, and protocols in place.  

Security professionals need to know how to ensure their workplaces are prepared to respond to an active assailant incident. It is critical that security professionals work with corporate leaders to develop, communicate, and regularly exercise emergency management plans to protect assets, support employees, and minimize loss in the event of an active assailant incident. Such plans also go a long way toward increasing resiliency, ensuring business continuity, and supporting and empowering employees.  

Our presentation will discuss the current threat environment and how this has impacted active assailant incidents. We will provide real-life examples of how to prepare for and react to such an incident through tabletop exercises and scenarios. Participants will leave equipped with the necessary skills to train and prepare their employees to respond to workplace violence or an active assailant incident, including how to identify red flags, assess risks, and look out for and monitor threats that are made either in person or online.  

Q: How do you see this issue evolving in the next 2-5 years? 

GM: Since 2020, mass shootings have increased, with 611 incidents taking place in 2020 and 693 incidents in 2021, including the March 16 shooting in the Atlanta area that left eight people dead and the May 26 shooting at a rail yard in San Jose, California, in which nine people were killed. Already in 2022, there have been almost 200 mass shootings to date. The stress of the pandemic and state of the world these past three years have impacted the population in a multitude of ways; it is imperative that we pay attention to how we emerge from the pandemic as reopening may affect vulnerable populations. We may witness an uptick in mental health and wellness challenges during reintegration into workspaces, which unfortunately can result in violence.  

Mass shootings and active assailant threats affect businesses and individuals, making it critical that the security professionals charged with overseeing corporate and employee safety programs establish emergency response plans and protocols, make them available, and test them. Companies should conduct regular active assailant drills, tabletop exercises and engage local law enforcement. Security professionals and corporate leaders must know their people, have a well-practiced plan, and empower employees to speak up if they see warning signs that could prevent an active assailant incident. Active assailant incidents will continue to be a major threat to all individuals and businesses and security professionals will have to address it, plan for it, and respond. 

In anticipation of GSX, we sat down with presenters of upcoming sessions in order to get a better understanding of the topics at hand. This week we are featuring, “20 Years Later — What if the D.C. Sniper Happened Again?,” presented by John King, the director of operations at Eagle Protection Agency, LLC. Watch his interview with Chuck Harold to learn more about this session and don’t forget to register for GSX 2022!

In anticipation of GSX, we sat down with presenters of upcoming sessions in order to get a better understanding of the topics at hand. This week we are featuring, “Sacred Spaces — Prevention-Based Security Mindset for Faith and Outreach Communities,” presented by Rev. Christopher CarrOwner at Diakon Consulting. Watch his interview with Chuck Harold to learn more about this session and don’t forget to register for GSX 2022!

In anticipation of GSX, we sat down with presenters of upcoming sessions in order to get a better understanding of the topics at hand. This week we are featuring, “Research Reveals Best Practices in Ransomware Response & Negotiation,” presented by Jon Clay, Vice President, Threat Intelligence at Trend Micro, Inc. Watch his interview with Chuck Harold to learn more about this session and don’t forget to register for GSX 2022!

In anticipation of GSX, we sat down with presenters of upcoming sessions in order to get a better understanding of the topics at hand. This week we are featuring, “Within Your Walls: Adversary Strategies to Infiltrate Your Organization,” presented by Janet Lawless, CEO/Founder at Center for Threat Intelligence. Watch his interview with Chuck Harold to learn more about this session and don’t forget to register for #GSX2022!

In anticipation of GSX, we sat down with presenters of upcoming sessions in order to get a better understanding of the topics at hand. This week we are featuring, “Deep Fakes – Evolving Threats to Enterprise Security,” presented by Peter Warmka, CPP, Founder at Counterintelligence Institute, LLC. Watch his interview with Chuck Harold to learn more about this session and don’t forget to register for #GSX2022!

In anticipation of GSX, we sat down with presenters of upcoming sessions in order to get a better understanding of the topics at hand. This week we are featuring, “Large-Scale Evacuations: Tactics, Techniques & Protocols,” presented by Henning Snyman, Security Director, US South Atlantic at International SOS, Jeremy Prout, CPP, APP, Regional Security Director at International SOS, John Rendeiro, Vice President at International SOS, and Julian Moro, Senior Vice President & Regional Security Director, Americas at International SOS. Read on for what they had to say and don’t forget to register for GSX 2022! 

Q: How did you become interested in your topic? 

HS: Every escalation that leads to a large-scale evacuation is unique and presents challenges given country, regional, political, and organizational dynamics. Very few escalations happen overnight and without notice and that is why organizations need to prepare for such events. Managing and coordinating large scale evacuation highlighted a lack of planning and preparation within organizations. The role of the Security Professional during an evacuation are not only reactive to manage the crisis but also leading from the front as the subject matter expert.     

Q: Tell us about your presentation and why should security professionals have this topic on their radar? 

JP: Large scale evacuations are incredibly complex and dynamic operations. To successfully accomplish these operations, Security Professionals need to have the planning and logistical infrastructure in place, prior to culmination of the crisis. The Kabul Airlift and Ukraine-Russia Conflict were two of the larger and more complex evacuation operations in the past few years but they will not be the last. The time to prepare for the next crisis is now. 

Q: What advice you would give security professionals interested in this topic? 

JR: -If you have a provider with extensive experience in conducting evacuations, talk to them about their experiences. Read case studies on evacuations of all types.  No two are the same.  They can be driven by individual circumstance, crime, medical emergencies, natural disasters, political unrest, wars and other causes. Many if not most evacuations involving multiple evacuees will have both security and medical components, so be aware that both will have to be addressed in an effective and coordinated fashion. Be sure to explore what governments can, and cannot, do for you in assisting with an evacuation. Understand the roles of the various stakeholders within your organization in advance of emergencies.  Ensure that your stakeholders are organized and become accustomed to working together as a Crisis Management Team. Have an experienced service provider; work with that provider in advance to ensure that both you and they understand expectations and lastly, attend educational sessions on evacuations at events like GSX.  

Q: How do you see this issue evolving in the next 2-5 years? 

JM: The geo-political risk landscape is trending upwards, exacerbated by the impact of climate change amongst other factors, resulting in increased likelihood of more frequent large-scale evacuations. On the back of Afghanistan and Ukraine, there will be an expectation on leaders that their organization is forward leaning, intelligence led and operationally prepared to support their entire workforce and continue business operations when crises manifest.