AS Solution - Experts & Thought Leaders

Allied Universal®, a security and facility services company in North America, and SOS Security®, a renowned provider of global security services, announces that a definitive agreement has been executed with respect to a transformational merger that creates a security leader in North America and beyond. “I am thrilled to welcome Edward Silverman - one of the most highly regarded leaders of the security industry - and the SOS Security team to the Allied Universal family,” said Steve Jones, CEO of Allied Universal. Providing new security solutions SOS Security brings a complementary and scalable approach to security services to Allied Universal “Like Allied Universal, SOS Security has built a renowned and respected brand of security services. Now, working together, we will be able to combine the best of both brands to elevate security services, the breadth and reach of capabilities and opportunity to provide new security solutions.” Founded in 1969, SOS Security brings a complementary and scalable approach to security services to Allied Universal. With offices in five countries, SOS Security's 15,000 employees work around the world providing safety, security, executive protection, intelligence, consultancy and advisory services, including more than 2,000 assignments last year in over 100 countries through its subsidiary, AS Solution. The company has among the highest retention rates in the industry with respect to customers and security personnel. Comprehensive and integrated technology solutions The joining of Allied Universal and SOS Security establishes the company as a truly differentiated service provider in the global security industry with: A combined force of over 230,000 security professionals; Combined best practices to elevate security service delivery and industry norms; SOS Security’s unique capabilities in international markets and intelligence analysis; Allied Universal’s highly advanced, comprehensive and integrated technology solutions; Expertise in risk management specializing in security consulting, investigations, personal protection and threat, disaster and emergency response; High-level crowd management, event staffing and consulting providing a one-stop solution for event and site security. Delivering personalized services Following the merger, Silverman, the CEO and Founder of SOS Security, will serve as Co-Chairman of the Executive Committee and an Advisor to the Board of Directors, bringing his vision of scalable boutique security service to Allied Universal. “Delivering personalized services, whether operating under a billion or at $10 billion, has always been my mission,” said Silverman. “As part of Allied Universal, and with shared values and purpose, we have a remarkable opportunity to bring specialized security services that reflect client priorities and attract the best resources and strategic partners to the industry.”

SNGTM takes a broad look the latest research, and commercial and industrial market trends in the security industry The Security Industry Association (SIA) has announced the agenda for Securing New Ground® (SNGTM), the security industry’s top executive conference, scheduled for Oct. 28-29, 2015, at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York City. The SNGTM 2015 This executive forum takes a comprehensive look at the state of the security industry, the latest research, and commercial and industrial market trends impacting business strategies. Over a day-and-a-half of sessions tailored for suppliers, integrators and practitioners, conferees will experience a focused, unbiased event where game-changing information is exchanged, and business gets done. “In the last several years of SNGTM, we have mapped incredible change in the security industry to the benefit of our members and conferees,” said V. John Stroia, Chief Operating Officer of The Will-Burt Company and SIA Chairman. “I’ve seen firsthand how businesses have been bought and sold and lucrative new deals have been made because of contacts initiated at the SNGTM conference. It is the best place for security industry executives to make things happen.” Some of the top presenters confirmed to date include influential suppliers, integrators and practitioners in the security industry: Suppliers Steven Van Till, President & CEO, Brivo Systems Thanasis Molokotos, President & CEO, ASSA ABLOY Americas Division Ron Virden, President & General Manager, Lenel, Supra and Onity Integrators And Dealers Tim Whall, Chairman & CEO, Protection 1 Jason Oakley, President, North American Video, Inc. Pamela Petrow, President & CEO, Vector Security Inc. Practitioners Bonnie Michelman, Director of Police, Security and Outside Services, Massachusetts General Hospital Brian Allen, Chief Security Officer, Time Warner Dave Cullinane, Founder, TruSTAR Technology LLC New SNGTM Opportunities For the first time, SIA is teaming up with the Global Security Risk Management Alliance (GSRMA) to expand SNGTM opportunities for security practitioners. A half-day practitioners’ session will provide a plain English translation of IT security concepts and actions so any physical security leader can effectively engage in a discussion of cyber security. “As cofounder and president of GSRMA, I have alerted my fellow security practitioners to beware of the blurring distinctions between traditional and logical security. As we work toward an umbrella Enterprise Security Risk Management framework, SNGTM is an excellent venue for practitioners to identify the challenges of a unified security alignment side-by-side with suppliers and security integrators,” said Ray O'Hara, CPP, Executive Vice President of AS Solution. The security sector is evolving at a rapid pace, and SNGTM is essential to properly evaluate new partnerships and key factors that will influence the decisions and investments visitors make in the future.

Enterprise security strategies identifyliabilities & ways to mitigate risks, showinghow the cost of mitigation prevents largerliabillity costs  The security profession continues to take on new risk management responsibilities. The big thing now is called Enterprise Security and Risk Management (ESRM). ASIS International has issued a standard on the subject: ANSI/ASIS/RIMS RA. 1-2015, and a couple of booths at the recent ASIS International 2015 Seminar explored the subject. Mitigating Risks “Enterprise Risk Management or ERM is a common business term, so we differentiate ERM from the security world by adding the word security to it,” says Ray O’Hara, CPP, Executive Vice President in the Palm Desert, California, offices of AS Solution. The growth of multi-national business enterprises with multiple locations domestically and internationally has given rise to this new and multi-faceted form of security. “ESRM covers a myriad of areas that need to be protected today,” says O’Hara. O’Hara lists domestic and foreign executive travel, manufacturing and production facilities here and around the world, third-party manufacturing facilities, executive offices, intellectual property and the supply chain that ties all of these assets together. ESRM requires continuous risk and vulnerability assessments, too, because the risks change with circumstances. “What if I have a tractor trailer with electronic equipment sitting in an unsecured truck yard 2,000 miles from its destination?” asks O’Hara. “Do I care? If I transfer the responsibility to the shipper and the shipper’s insurance, I don’t care. Then again, what if I have a customer with a deadline waiting for that equipment? Now I do care. Effective protection requires corporate security to identify all risks — in every department — and rank them as low, medium or high. Then, where appropriate, you mitigate risks to a level that the company can absorb.” Senior Executive Buy-In Effective protection requirescorporate security to identify all risks -in every department - and rankthem as low, medium or high. Then,where appropriate, you mitigate risksto a level that the company can absorb For an ESRM program to succeed, senior corporate executives must endorse it and actively support it, continues O’Hara. Suppose you walk into the Human Resources department to discuss risks involved in hiring people around the globe. Suppose further that you have discovered that HR is using a questionable (and inexpensive) service to conduct background checks, and you would like to address that risk. If the Director of Human Resources doesn’t have time for you, you will need to be able to ask the CEO to tell the director to make time, listen to what you have to say and to act on the advice you give. Without the active support of senior executives, ESRM programmes addressing departmental risks throughout every department and in facilities around the world cannot succeed. How does a security department generate that kind of support? Developing Enterprise Security Strategy According to O’Hara, you have to develop an enterprise security strategy, present it to C-Suite executives and show them how your strategy synchronizes with the corporate business strategy. The presentation identifies risks and liabilities, recommends ways to mitigate those risks, and shows how the cost of mitigation can prevent much larger liability costs. “Mitigation measures could be insurance, where you transfer the risk to someone else,” O’Hara says. “It could be security technology, security patrols, better background checks. It all depends, of course, on the nature of the problem right now.” For example, explains O’Hara, suppose you have protected a warehouse that is storing a custom-made inventory worth a million dollars awaiting delivery to customers. You’ve secured the warehouse with card access locks, intruder alarms and several cameras. For good measure, you have a security guard swing by a couple times each night. As the inventory is picked up and trucked away to customers, the financial risk declines. At some point, you might decide the risk isn’t great enough to send the security officer to check on the merchandise. By the time the warehouse empties out, you won’t need anyone to monitor the surveillance cameras. Depending on when you expect the warehouse to fill up again and the value of the materials, you could move one or all of those cameras to another location. Enterprise Security and Risk Management is the next big thing for security professionals — and it is a very big, comprehensive thing.

Executive protection can be costly, but it isa fraction of the loss that protecting a topexecutive could prevent  Corporate security departments work hard to protect people and property. Executive protection is one of the key components of corporate security services. In fact, many corporate security departments are now taking on this new responsibility. “We are seeing more companies adopting executive protection as a normal part of corporate security,” says Brian Jantzen, executive vice president with Seattle, Washington-based AS Solution, a company that provides a variety of security services, including executive protection, around the world. Need for Executive Protection Why should a company bring in an executive protection firm? Two reasons, says Jantzen: First, it could prevent the significant loss in the value of the company that would follow a successful attack on its executives. Second, executive protection is different today. In addition to security, executive protection also helps to support executive productivity.  Financial Implications Of Corporate Security An argument against executive protection may be its expense. Recent news reports have noted that Amazon spends $1.6 million annually to protect CEO Jeff Bezos. Disney pays $584,075 annually to protect CEO Bob Iger. Other high-profile companies spend hundreds of thousands of dollars per year to protect their top executives. Why so expensive? High-profile executives travel extensively by car and jet, and an executive protection team provides round-the-clock coverage in shifts. The team’s costs include salaries and expenses for travel, food and lodging. The team may also maintain a post at the executive’s home. “You also have an intelligence analysis piece and threat assessment,” Jantzen says.“That involves continuously looking for emerging risks and threats for the individual. For a high-profile executive, the threat assessment changes constantly and requires constant review.” "For a high-profile executive, the threat assessment changesconstantly and requires constant review" While it does sound expensive, Jantzen points out that the executive protection cost is a fraction of the loss that protecting the top executive can prevent. Effect of Lack of Executive Security Imagine a public company with a $1 billion market capitalization, he says. The sudden death of the company’s CEO would likely have a significant impact on the company’s stock price. Suppose the share price were to fall by 5 percent, it would reduce the company’s market capitalization by $50 million. “Not all sudden deaths can be prevented,” notes Jantzen. “But some can. Wouldn’t it be worth spending a fraction of $50 million on trying to prevent such a loss?” Add to that the other key service provided by today’s new executive protection practitioners: Security for top executives plus productivity support. Productivity Benefits To Executive Protection Executive protection services today go beyond basic executive protection. “Companies expect more from executive protection firms, today,” Jantzen says. “At AS Solution, for example, our premise is to keep people safe, happy and productive.” "Not all sudden deaths can beprevented," notes Jantzen. "Butsome can. Wouldn’t it be worthspending a fraction of $50 millionon trying to prevent such a loss?" “Of course, the idea is to mitigate risks based on a risk and threat assessment of the environment — on company property and in the areas of the world where company executives travel.” “At the same time, our teams carefully plan travel logistics. Well-planned travel reduces the exposure of a principal by avoiding long waits between appointments. When a principal finishes a keynote speech, for instance, he or she is smoothly escorted from the building and to the vehicles for the move to the next location.” “Flawless logistics are risk mitigation tactics that also support productivity,” Jantzen says. “By keeping the principal on the move, it is possible to increase the number of meetings attended in a day and countries visited on a five-day trip. That’s the productivity side of executive protection services.” Security Practitioners’ Capabilities Executive protection isn’t what it used to be. Today’s goals and capabilities have been fashioned by years of experience with the dangers stalking the modern world. At the same time, today’s professional security practitioners understand that corporate security has two jobs: Keeping people and property safe while contributing to the company’s business goals in the way that executive protection can boost productivity.  

If your company has a facility or a current business meeting in Seoul, South Korea, you would want to know the details behind the recent knife attack on the U.S. ambassador to South Korea, Mark W. Lippert. You would want to know that the attacker belonged to a group promoting the unification of North and South Korea and that South Korean President Park Geun-hye called the event an attack on the South Korea-U.S. alliance. You would want to know where in Seoul the attack occurred as well as many other details not reported in the newspaper. How close are your facilities to the location of the attack? Does proximity to the location mean that you should take special precautions to protect your people? “If you do business in Nigeria, you’ll no doubt want to know all you can about Boko Haram and how this movement can affect your company and personnel,” says Ray O’Hara, CPP, executive vice president with AS Solution, a security provider offering services that include embedded intelligence analysts. Monitoring and reporting on news sources: Many Fortune 500 companies with installations around the world employ or embed third-party intelligence analysts in their far-flung operations. The goal is to keep everyone up to date on potential regional risks. “The work of intelligence analysts includes gathering many types of data and creating reports that turn that data into actionable intelligence,” continues O’Hara, who is also a past president of ASIS. “The work of intelligence analysts includes gathering many types of data and creating reports that turn that data into actionable intelligence.” Intelligence analysts monitor a variety of news sources every day looking for events that could affect the company’s business as well as its vertical markets. “Analysts don’t simply report the news — they filter it and analyze it,” says O’Hara. “They use a variety of public and proprietary news sources, alerts, social media platforms and even deep web data.” They look for changes in existing patterns and new, emerging patterns that could alter the company’s security profile. When company employees travel to a city or if the company decides to take part in an event in a city, the analysts take a close look at the neighborhood, the city and the region. In addition to news sources, they talk to local people in the company’s orbit: employees working in a company office there, customers, the authorities and others. Finally, the analysts consolidate their findings into reports on risks related to company travel and events. Intelligence analysts around the world: Analysts also follow and report on major events in parts of the world where the company has interests, issuing regular updates whenever new information becomes available. AS Solution’s people are always scanning the landscape for talented young people that might make good analysts. “They need to have an interest in the world and a business mind,” O’Hara says. “An analyst’s job is about duress and risk to the business they are involved in.” “An analyst’s job is about duress and risk to the business they are involved in.” For instance, an analyst working with a firm that manufactures heavy equipment would have to be tuned into the markets for raw materials, equipment needed to handle the manufacturing tasks, the state of the company’s customers. How are their businesses doing? Intelligence analysis as part of a company’s security portfolio is becoming more and more important to companies with facilities and customers located around the world. “It is also an important response to 24-hour-a-day news overload,” adds O’Hara. “We have to find news important to our company somewhere underneath all the news chatter. “And as you know, the news media is often wrong. So part of an analyst’s job is to validate the information included in his or her reports.” Intelligence collection and analysis is a growing security need, adds O’Hara. AS Solution works with Fortune 50 companies, and embeds more and more of its analysts in their business units to look for trends and risks — in emerging economies such as those in Africa and now Cuba as well as in trouble spots such as the Ukraine. As the world changes, so does the nature of security.