ASIS International is proud to be a participant once again in the U.S. Department of Commerce International Buyer Program (IBP), which recognizes the importance of Global Security Exchange to the security industry worldwide.
We invite you to join an IBP delegation from your country to take advantage of exclusive benefits and registration rates for Global Security Exchange (GSX), taking place 23-27 September in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Connect with your peers and colleagues from around the globe to explore the trends and technologies driving the security industry.
To discuss attending GSX and receive a special registration code, please contact the Commercial Service Specialist at your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Take the next step by finding your delegation. You can also download a multilingual brochure below.
To receive a letter of invitation, you must first register for GSX; however, registration fees will be refunded if the visa was applied for in time and proof is shown that a visa could not be granted.
The Dark Web: Protecting Brand, Reputation, and Assets
The Dark Web, or darknet, is classified as a small portion of the World Wide Web that has been intentionally hidden and is inaccessible through standard web browsers. There is no “darknet Google.” Darknet sites are often put up and taken down within a matter of minutes specifically to maintain anonymity. The entire drive behind the dark web is anonymity—and privacy.
The most famous content that resides on the Dark Web is found in The Onion Router (Tor) network, accessed with a special web browser, called the Tor browser (www.torproject.org). This is the portion of the Internet most widely known for illicit activities because of the anonymity that the Tor network gives.
The backbone of the WWW works because there are online directories, known as domain nameserver (DNS), handing off your search requests to the real location of the site. It’s often easy to remember a domain name—especially if it’s a catchy name. But it’s the Internet Protocol (IP) address—the number—associated with the URL name that is the true language the Internet understands. For example, you type in hetheringtongroup.com and hit Enter. Up pops the website for the Hetherington Group. But what’s truly happening is this: the browser sends your hetheringtongroup.com address to a DNS and is handed back the actual IP address, which is 209.177.145.48, and at the same time takes you to the Hetherington Group website. To better understand, try typing in 209.177.145.48 and hit Enter. You will be taken to the Hetherington Group website. But hetheringtongroup.com is a heck of a lot easier to remember than 209.177.145.48, eh?
On the darknet, however, there are no DNS servers. You must know where you want to go and what you are looking for; you must have those specific coordinates beforehand to locate what you want on the darknet. Otherwise you will not find it. More importantly, it can’t be indexed or mapped, which is what makes it anonymous.
With caution, a good way to start eyeballing the dark web is to try a few websites that try to create a searchable platform. Some of those beginner websites are:
• The Hidden Wiki (torhiddenwiki.com): It’s like Wikipedia for dark web content, or Yahoo’s subject directory.
• Onion Link (onion.link): Uses Google’s API on the links and content they have located. A search on, say, puppies in surface web Google would give very different results than the same search would give on Onion Link.
These accessible sites and others that lead to your assets and brands, are the type of practical dark net matter we will be sharing September 25 at GSX 2018! Join me for Session #5105, The Dark Web: Protecting Brand, Reputation, and Assets.
Karen Marquez Memorial Honor Nominations Are Now Open
Annual Honor Recognizes Outstanding Women in Security
The Karen Marquez Honor is presented annually to a female security professional who has consistently worked for the betterment of the security industry over an extended period (minimum 15 years experience or equivalent—law enforcement/military, or 10 years experience or equivalent—law enforcement/military—with an ASIS Certification).
The candidate must be a member of ASIS International in good standing (or Life Member) at the time of the award. The nomination must identify contributions the individual has made to the Physical Security Industry. The candidate must attend Global Security Exchange (GSX 2018) to be considered. This is noted in the nomination form as well.
Mrs. Karen Marquez was the Co-owner and Executive Vice President of MVM, Inc. a physical security services firm based in Virginia. Karen passed away in 2006 after a long battle with Cancer. During her 23-year career in security, Karen developed and implemented core administration and support functions at MVM, including finance, billing, recruiting, and human resources processes. A member of the National Association of Women Business Owners, the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, and the National Association of Female Executives, Mrs. Marquez brought her hands-on expertise to global management issues.
In 2006, in memory of MVM’s co-founder Karen Marquez, MVM established the Karen Marquez Institute for the purpose of helping Hispanic students obtain a college education. In 2010 the Karen Marquez Institute was transformed into the Marquez Foundation, a not for profit organization to honor Karen Marquez and the causes she had a great deal of passion for.
“During her 25-year career as a business executive, Karen always appreciated the value a college education could give to employees in the business world,” said Dario Marquez, husband of the late Karen Marquez. ” Today, Karen’s dream is being realized through this Institute which bears her name, and as a family, we are proud to support her memory.”
To nominate an ASIS member for the Karen Marquez Memorial Honor, please fill out the nomination form and follow the instructions for submission.
Welcome to the GSX blog. On behalf of the HQ team, we’re excited to be able to share program news and updates, offer sneak peaks of the education and technology you will experience in September, and provide behind the scenes glimpses of what it takes to put on the industry’s flagship event. This blog will help you connect with fellow attendees, speakers, companies, allied organizations, and partners that will be at GSX, as well as put faces to the names of HQ staff that serve the membership and the profession throughout the year.
Building on our 64-year legacy of event distinction, the newly rebranded GSX will bring the full spectrum of security together for one powerful global event. Our modernized education, transformed exhibit floor, and refreshed networking events are just the beginning of the event enhancements that will continue in the years ahead. And, it’s clear the industry has taken notice. Already we have seen:
Record-setting number of education proposals and a blockbuster 300+ session education lineup
An allied partners program that continues to grow
Significantly increased attendee and exhibitor satisfaction
Expanded opportunities to engage attendees with more theaters, immersive learning experiences, and career center programming
And, with four months to go and more announcements on the horizon, all signs point toward an experience in Las Vegas that will truly be talked about all year ‘round.
And this excitement extends beyond GSX. Growth, engagement, and satisfaction for all our global events continue to rise. From the exclusive content and conversations at our CSO Summit to the jam-packed ASIS Europe in Rotterdam—and with record attendance predicted for ASIS NYC—GSX is poised to deliver an extraordinary experience for both attendees and exhibitors alike.
In the days ahead, we’ll be sharing details related to every aspect of the attendee and exhibitor experience in Las Vegas. For today, I’d like to end with this thought:
There are a lot of industry events you can choose to attend. Security practitioners and product and service providers have options. Some event organizers are focused on selling you a product, sending you on your way and seeing you again in a year. At GSX, you can take pride knowing your event investments aren’t just funding the bottom line for a corporate entity. As the leading association for security professionals worldwide, ASIS serves the profession all year long and reinvests proceeds from GSX back in the profession each and every day in the form of professional development, certification programing, resource development, and best practice sharing. Convening the industry at GSX to share insights and highlight technologies and services driving the industry forward is a critical component of that strategy. Everything about ASIS International – and Global Security Exchange – is truly informed and driven by the industry and for the industry.
So I’ll close by saying thank you. We appreciate your continued support as it allows us to address critical industry issues together…as a community, both in-person at the event and all year long. Together we will make the communities where we all work, live, and play safer, smarter, and more resilient.
Ron Rosenbaum Chief Global Marketing & Business Development Officer | ASIS International
Outstanding Security Performance Awards Open, New Young Professional Category Added
Nominations are now being accepted for the US OSPAs. The US OSPAs are part of a global awards scheme currently running in eight countries and designed to recognize and reward outstanding performance within the security sector.
Entry to the US OSPAs is open to companies, teams and individuals who have performed at an exceptional level and you can enter as many categories that are applicable.
Nominations are open from today until the 23rd July 2018, and submissions are invited in the following categories:
Outstanding In-House Security Manager/Director
Outstanding Contract Security Manager/Director
Outstanding Security Team
Outstanding Contract Security Company (Guarding)
Outstanding Security Consultant
Outstanding Security Initiative
Outstanding Security Installer/Integrator
Outstanding Investigator
Outstanding Cyber Security Initiative
Outstanding Information Security Company
Outstanding Security Equipment Manufacturer
Outstanding Security Officer
Outstanding Young Security Professional
Lifetime Achievement Award (this is nomination only)
The US OSPAs will be presented on Monday, 24th September 2018 at the Global Security Exchange (GSX), which is taking place in Las Vegas.
The judges are nominated by leading security associations across the US who proactively support and participate in these awards. All judges sign up to an ethics policy and mark independently. The criteria for each category as well as full details on how to enter are available on the OSPAs website.
Professor Martin Gill founder of the OSPAs says, “These awards provide the opportunity for global recognition of exceptional performance. The awards are increasingly being recognized as one of the highest accolades a security professional or company can receive. Finalists and winners will be promoted not just across the US but across the world.”
3 Myths and Tips of Campus Security (Education & Houses of Worship)
3 myths of campus security for educational institutions and houses of worship
1. “A security guard or officers on campus will give the atmosphere of a prison or make people feel like they are under siege.”
2. “Schools and places of worship are impossible to secure as anyone can enter at any time by the very nature of their intention and design.”
3. “If only we had 360 security camera coverage we would be safe as clams with all that monitoring and detection.”
3 things you should know about campus security for educational institutions and houses of worship
1. Security is unimportant to them, a divisive topic and burdensome… until someone gets hurt.
2. They may believe firearms on campus will ultimately lead to their use on campus and further vulnerability to violence.
3. Run, Hide, Fight cannot work in a church or synagogue as there is nowhere to run and hiding depends on luck.
1. These institutions want to operate on an “open campus” platform in an effort to foster an atmosphere of invitation to newcomers, welcoming guests and acceptance. In parallel they open them selves up to vulnerabilities from bad actors who look for soft targets.
2. Many decision makers are averse to having anyone in a uniform on campus, as teenagers often avoiding authority figures. In the mean time unarmed “guards” provide little actual effect on outcomes of emergency situations of a violent nature.
3. Funding is often spoken for and allocated to other programs that are more palatable then active threat training. Only after a heinous act are people willing to accept the reality of our society.
4. There is no set standardization or official governing body for emergency procedures and enforced implementation. Outside of the fire martial the only other source provided by the government is a resource officer, which has its own limitations as we have seen.
5. Most threat assessments provided for free by the local police department or DHS representative are far to generic in nature and do little to address the details of any one specific institution making the request. Further they lack any specific guidance on how to allocate resources and design with security in mind. This is nonetheless an attractive option because it is readily available, free and accessible.
After 64 years of delivering the most comprehensive security event in the world, you probably don’t need any more reasons to attend, but as we dive headfirst into the evolution of Global Security Exchange, we’ve laid out the top 5 reasons you won’t want to miss this event!
1. Expand Your Knowledge
GSX has a full curriculum of quality content across nearly two dozen tracks. Designed for interactive and collaborative learning, these sessions provide valuable, actionable takeaways to help shape your security strategy—today and in the future.
2. Invest in the Best
The GSX exhibit hall provides you with the most robust and engaging technology and solutions experience. Showcasing the full spectrum of security—from immersive reality to robotics and access control to alarms—you can explore, compare, and invest in the best solutions for your specific needs.
3. See into the Future
GSX is where hundreds of companies launch products, preview innovations, and deliver solutions. With more than 500 exhibitors, Impact Learning Theaters, live demos, and the Innovative Product Awards, you’ll experience new and emerging technologies before they hit the market.
4. Gain Even More Skills
Make the most of your time and resources in Las Vegas by adding a pre-conference program to your agenda. These two-day intensive courses provide an unparalleled opportunity to gain professional and career-building knowledge in a setting designed for collaboration and learning.
5. Celebrate Our Profession
It’s no secret that security professionals around the world work night and day to protect their organizations, communities, and assets. And at GSX, we like to celebrate our achievements and honor our peers at the industry’s most legendary networking events.
Need more reasons to attend? Grab a free Expo-Only Pass for full access to the exhibit hall.
The Karen Marquez Honor is presented annually to a female security professional who has consistently worked for the betterment of the security industry over an extended period (minimum 15 years experience or equivalent—law enforcement/military, or 10 years experience or equivalent—law enforcement/military—with an ASIS Certification).
Nominations are now being accepted for the US OSPAs. The US OSPAs are part of a global awards scheme currently running in eight countries and designed to recognize and reward outstanding performance within the security sector.