Security Management Highlights

Security Management magazine Senior Editor Megan Gates talks about the online frauds we’re seeing personally and professionally, as well as the serious costs involved. Then, cybersecurity expert Tom Cross, head of threat research at GetReal Security, gets into deepfakes: AI-tech-enabled recorded or live audio and video that looks so legitimate the world thinks fake news is real, fake job applicants get hired, and fake authorities obtain confidential information. Additional Resources Go deeper into considering how technical double-checking and human skepticism intersect in countering fraud with the NIST Phish Scale that Tom Cross mentions: https://www.nist.gov/publications/nist-phish-scale-user-guide . Read how North Korea turned identity fraud into cash and information access by getting fake IT workers hired around the world: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2026/august/Follow-the-Money/ AI also makes deepfakes in “cognitive warfare” between companies,

GSX 2026 wraps up today, so we’re taking a look back at another major event that concluded recently: The FIFA World Cup 2026. James Weston, a team-base camp security specialist for FIFA, kept the Croatian team safe as it trained, practiced, and rested in Alexandria, Virginia, for its North American matches. He shares how he got the gig, what he learned on site, and why he found the players particularly inspiring. Additional Resources Weston says security teams for soccer events watch out for so-called “soccer ultras,” passionate fans who sometimes take their love for teams too far. Check out recent content this year covering tactics and strategies to protect staffers, athletes, and other spectators from fan misbehavior: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/01/fan-misbehavior/ In the race to the World Cup, Security Management shared a raft of content on the international government and corporate security preparation for the global event: https://www.asisonline.org/security-m

GSX 2026 is in Atlanta, Georgia, and one of the city’s world-class attractions is the Georgia Aquarium. Attending the ASIS Celebrates networking event on 15 September? You’ll be there, and the man in charge of your safety is Jonathan Thomas, the aquarium’s senior manager of security and compliance. One of the biggest challenges for him and his team? “Trying to give our guests, along with our team members and our animals, the top-level security without them feeling like they have the top-level security,” Thomas says. Hear more from Thomas about aquarium security and, yes, his favorite picks for must-see animals on a visit (he didn’t want to play favorites—we made him). This special GSX episode is generously sponsored by Wavelynx. Additional Resources Sign up for the new school-facing pilot program from Wavelynx here: https://wavelynx.com/shield-our-schools Thomas sometimes works closely with other major venues as part of Atlanta’s down Pemberton Place area, which includes World of Coca-Cola and the Nation

Angela Lewis, PhD, vice chair of the ASIS Intelligence Standard Technical Committee, will be sharing details on 14 September at GSX 2026 about her work with dozens of others creating an ANSI-certified international intelligence standard. In this podcast episode, Lewis breaks down the value of intelligence for driving influence in enterprise decisions, where the new intelligence standard is in the process, why now is a good time for it, and when it’s (tentatively) planned for release. I can feel our intelligence about intelligence growing as we speak … This special GSX episode is generously sponsored by Knightscope. Additional Resources Learn more about Knightscope here: https://knightscope.com/ Angela Lewis is speaking at GSX 2026 about intelligence standards and how they can elevate physical security and influence executive decisions. If you’re at the conference, make sure to check out her session on Monday, 14 September, at 10:00 a.m.: https://gsx26.mapyourshow.com/8_0/sessions/session-details.cfm?sched

Security Management magazine Editor-in-Chief Claire Meyer spills the tea on a big crisis-communications package, the content calendar for 2027, and the first step to getting published online. Then, management and leadership consultant Gregory Shea, PhD, author of the recent Rising From Ground Zero: 9/11 and the FDNY’s Path Through Crisis to Transformation, shares leadership lessons gathered from another notable, much-older story: The Endurance’s captain Ernest Shackleton and his nearly fatal expedition in the early 1900s to Antarctica that saw him and his crew survive against all odds. It’s a preview of the CSO Center Secure Horizons two-day seminar at this month’s GSX in Atlanta, Georgia. This episode is generously sponsored by Belfry. Note: Shea’s interview does include a mention of suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health struggle, emotional distress, or just need someone to talk to, the International Association for Suicide Prevention provides a helpline assistant t

Two professors—Jillian Peterson and James Densley—are combing through thousands of incidents of violence in workplaces, healthcare facilities, and schools to find actionable advice to prevent future crime. Then Security Management senior editor Megan Gates follows the trail of violent cases working their way through the justice system and a new U.S. federal rule on drone take-downs. Finally, we hear from Christian Poonwah, who offers drone-safety training in Ukraine to humanitarian and other nonmilitary staffers living and working in a 21st-century war zone. This episode is generously sponsored by Acoem. Additional Resources Learn more about Acoem, this episode’s sponsor, here: https://acoematd.com/ Find out more about Peterson and Densley’s data and takeaways on lethal violence at work, in hospitals, and on campus in their article for Security Management: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/07/lethal-violence-databases/ Explore the full datasets from the Violence Preven

Have you identified all of your trade secrets? It feels like table stakes, but it’s a critical first question to get all parties on the same page about trade secret protection, says Thomas Stutler, CPP. Then, ASIS Content Development Director Scott Briscoe shares some of the findings from the latest ASIS research report, sponsored by FacilityOS—including key takeaways about compliance, security controls, and adding value to the organization. To wrap up, Bruno Dias, CTM, PCI, explains how children’s behavior in-person and online is affected by their development. That context should inform behavioral threat assessments to avoid overreaction. Additional Resources Explore more about trade secret theft and protection in this article from Thomas Stutler, CPP: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/06/insider-threat/trade-secret-theft-the-overlooked-fault-line-in-modern-security/ Learn how to apply storytelling to your corporate communication efforts: https://www.asisonline.org/sec

Little can prepare security teams for the sheer noise, pyrotechnics, national pride, and fan enthusiasm around FIFA World Cup events, but in this episode of Security Management Highlights, we’ll give it a shot. First, Anton Kalaydjian shares how his experience on close protection details for celebrities and VIPs at World Cup events translated to a broader career in soccer security. Then, Efrén Vera Torres, CPP, explains how fraudsters take advantage of the World Cup and what that means for banking and finance institutions. And finally, Mason Wilder, CFE, research director for the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) shares some of the findings from the association’s latest occupational fraud report—not strictly about soccer, but a good reminder not to take your eye off the ball for insider threats. This episode is sponsored by public safety and security company SoundThinking. Gilbert Farrulla, director of customer success at SoundThinking, joins this episode to talk about growing tensions in secur

Agentic artificial intelligence (AI) solutions are here, and they can both streamline and endanger your operations. In this episode, sponsored by global security integrator Northland Controls, the chair of the ASIS Emerging Technology Community, Quang Trinh, PSP, discusses some of the bad habits agentic AI can pick up from its users and how to help correct those assumptions. Then, Jordan Hill of Hivewatch explains how adding a flexible AI triage layer for alert monitoring can alleviate user stress, uncover activity patterns, and refine operations in SOCs. Technology writer Sage Lazzaro rounds out this episode by outlining the technical use cases of AI for security to mitigate liability risk, but also where agentic AI could complicate accountability. Additional Resources Learn more about this episode’s sponsor, Northland Controls, here: https://www.northlandcontrols.com/ Read more about the importance of interoperability in security—especially during emergency response—in this sponsored article from Nort

Are your presentations falling flat, even though they’re chock full of metrics? You might be missing some human connection. Peter Rudge, CEO of HumanStory, explains how the effective and efficient use of storytelling structures makes your concepts hit home. Then, freelance journalist Rachel Muller-Heyndyk shares some of her research into the risks faced by extremism researchers in academia and beyond, and what their organizations can proactively do to help protect them. Additional Resources Interested in learning more about the value of storytelling in presentations and corporate communication? Read the article from Peter Rudge and Rachel Briggs here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/04/improving-presentations/storytelling-superpower/ Explore the full topic on how to improve your presentation skills in Security Management: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/04/improving-presentations/ You’ve got the executive presence, now what about

Is finding sufficient staffing a challenge for your organization? The U.S. Bureau of Prisons has been in that boat for years, and its staffing shortages have had notable effects on correctional facilities’ safety and employees’ security, says Gretta Goodwin, director of homeland security and justice at the U.S. Government Accountability Agency (GAO). Corporate security functions are also scrambling to hire and retain enough specialized intelligence analysts to help keep organizations ahead of emerging challenges and geopolitical strife, says senior security specialist and GSOC manager Shane Clymer. But turnover is inevitable; even so, organizations that invest in holistic security system life-cycle management and governance can protect themselves from disruption after key personnel leave, notes security consultant Mohammed Atif Shehzad. Additional Resources Interested in learning more about staffing and screening challenges in correctional facilities? Check back in with Security Management for our deep dive

At high-profile basketball games, VIPs and celebrities are often in coveted courtside seats, making executive protection challenging. Players also face risks from fans within arm’s reach, and unruly behavior can spill over quickly onto the court. Security leaders Darcy Leutzinger and Larry Thompson share their insights on EP, crowd dynamics, and risk management in sports security. Then, luxury hotel security professional Ricardo Flores, CPP, shares his own personal experience with executive protection threats—when he was abducted, threatened, and ransomed while on the road in 2024. Additional Resources Read more about the risks associated with courtside seating at basketball games in this article from Security Management: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/01/fan-misbehavior/risk-sits-courtside-at-basketball-games/ Explore more about sports security and unruly fan behavior in this collection of articles from Security Management: https://www.asisonline.org/security-manag

In an uncertain world, it can be difficult to see past the next 48 hours. But future-proofing exercises can help security and business leaders get more strategic about what they want to achieve in the next few years and how to get there, says futurist Heather Vescent. She helps outline how to step back and take a different worldview to uncover emerging risks and opportunities. Then, Scott Fitzsimmons talks about how to chart a path forward from individual contributor to manager to leader in security—for yourself or your employees—and how to instill a culture of reflection and professional growth in your organization. Additional Resources Get to know our colleague and friend, Mariah Bartz, in the ASIS Blog here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-news/blog/2025/in-loving-memory-mariah-bartz/ Read more about how to incorporate future-proofing into security tabletops and thought exercises in Heather Vescent’s article for Security Management: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/

Chemical and biological attack attempts can be hard to detect, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t happening, including at major events and sports games, says Jeff Brodeur in this month’s Security Management Highlights podcast, sponsored by Acoem. We look at other blind spots this episode, including in multitenant building security with René Reider, CPP, PSP, who explains how changing perspectives from flat, concentric circles of security to vertical strategies makes a difference for tenants. Then, Kim Pacelli outlines some of the frequently encountered challenges in discrimination and Title IX investigations and how security personnel can get involved. Additional Resources Learn more about this episode’s sponsor, Acoem, and the ATD gunshot detection system here: https://acoematd.com/ Read more from Jeff Brodeur about chemical and biological weapon risk and screening in the latest issue of Security Technology: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/monthly-issues/security-technology/archive/

Have you ever felt manipulated into doubting yourself and your abilities, even though your track record shows that you’re doing well? You might have encountered a gaslighter, says Michael Gips, CPP. These individuals’ manipulative shenanigans can be costly to personnel and productivity unless managers intervene promptly. Also in this episode, disruptive behavior extends beyond the office. Yan Byalik, CPP, of Newport News, Virginia, shares how and when security teams can intervene in unwanted behavior in public spaces—such as libraries, city halls, and parks—and how to communicate about access rights and restrictions with staff and visitors. Additional Resources Read Michael Gips’s article about gaslighters here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/10/disruptive-behavior/gaslighting/ Gaslighters are the only adversarial personalities you might meet at work. Read the list here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/10/disruptive-behavior/ad

Your mindset makes a huge difference in proactively managing change at work, rather than just reacting to it, says Mohammed Shehzad in the October 2025 episode of SM Highlights. When security technology and processes get involved, resistance and confusion can impact the overall progression and success of the change. Also in this episode, Rachel Briggs from The Clarity Factory outlines some of the essential findings from the 2025 Chief Security Officer Survey. Then, Erin McNally from Growing Resiliency for Aquarium and Zoo Employees (GRAZE) explains how traumatic critical incidents at zoos can offer lessons around crisis recovery, employee support, and grief. Additional Resources Contemplating a security technology or process change? Read more from Mohammed Shehzad about managing that process here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/09/change-management/resistance-into-readiness/ Explore that 2023 study about change management and the reasons people resist change here: h

With nearly a million people participating every year, Mardi Gras is a massive economic and cultural engine for the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. While the festivities—and the many other major events hosted in The Big Easy—can make security efforts more complex, community outreach and partnership enable law enforcement to keep the good times rolling, says Captain Anthony Micheu, New Orleans Police Department Traffic and Special Events Commander. Find out more about mass event security in this year’s GSX host city, New Orleans, in this special edition of the SM Highlights podcast. Additional Resources Learn more about GSX for this year and moving forward at https://www.gsx.org/ Interested in boosting your security intelligence capabilities, whether for an event or an individual, in this issue of Security Technology: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/monthly-issues/security-technology/archive/2024/october/ Read about the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans and how the ci

In the aftermath of school violence incidents, security professionals are often looking for ways to help. That turned into a three-year effort for Jeff Slotnick, CPP, PSP, who co-led the ASIS International effort to develop the new ASIS School Security Standard. By facilitating discussion across 50 multidisciplinary volunteers and collecting input from non-security professionals, the team was able to build a game-changing standard. Learn more about this project and ways security professionals can make a difference by volunteering in this GSX Daily episode of SM Highlights, sponsored by Titan Protection. Additional Resources Learn more about this episode’s sponsor, Titan Protection, at https://www.tpcsecurity.com/ Interested in learning more about the new ASIS School Security Standard? Check out the overview session at GSX on 30 September at 11:00 a.m. CT: https://gsx25.mapyourshow.com/8_0/sessions/session-details.cfm?scheduleid=811 Or visit the ASIS store—online or in-person at GSX at booth 1919—to purch

From snide remarks that set off office arguments to physical threats connected to a CEO’s social media post, political polarization has put workplace tensions on a hair trigger. Melissa Muir and Raymond Fleck of Pinkerton’s Comprehensive Risk Management Group join the GSX Daily edition of the SM Highlights podcast to talk about their upcoming GSX session on mitigating risk amid workplace incivility and where security professionals can lead their businesses forward by putting the mission over political differences. Additional Resources Meet this episode’s sponsor, Johnson Controls, at GSX booth 1955 or online at https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/ Attend Muir and Fleck’s presentation, “Bridging the Divide: Security Solutions in a Politically Polarized World,” at GSX on 29 September at 11:15 a.m. CT. Learn more here: https://gsx25.mapyourshow.com/8_0/sessions/session-details.cfm?scheduleid=695 Read more from SHRM about social and political incivility in the workplace in 2024 here: https://www.shrm.org/about/pr

Security professionals have to be integrated into operational resilience efforts and business continuity planning to prevent disruptions of all kinds, according to new research from the ASIS Foundation. In this episode of the SM Highlights podcast, report co-author and ResOrgs principal consultant Joanne Stevenson shares why security gets left out of resilience discussions and what they can do about it. Then, Don Aviv, CPP, PCI, PSP, CEO of Interfor International, discusses what happened during a shooting at a Manhattan office building in July and how proactive threat monitoring can change the nature of site security. Additional Resources Read the ASIS Foundation research, Operational Resilience: The Critical Contribution of Security to Operational Resilience, online here: https://store.asisonline.org/asis-foundation-operational-resilience.html?_gl=1*1l3liqy*_gcl_au*MTE5NTA5MjQzMC4xNzUxMzk3MDA3*_ga*NzQxNzQ1OTA0LjE3NTEzOTcwMDg.*_ga_0ZPVSP549B*czE3NTY4MTYwMjAkbzIwMiRnMSR0MTc1NjgxNjcxNCRqNjAkbDAkaDA ASIS membe