Playing in Mogadishu – The Dangers of False Security and the Value of Situational Awareness February 23, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in Risk & Risk Management, weapons and tactics.Tags: Chris Mark, cybersecurity, mark consulting group, security, situational awareness, USMC, weapons
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UPDATE: This is a great video that shows the difficulty in reacting with a concealed weapon. Let me be clear, I am a proponent of the 2nd Amendment but I think that people place too much trust in their firearms without proper training.
Recently, I was discussing gun laws and other issues with some gentlemen with whom I used to work. I live in a state (Utah) that has very liberal gun laws and a LOT of people who carry concealed firearms. A short 4 hour class with no proficiency testing any adult that is a US Citizen without a felony can carry a concealed weapon in Utah. This is a scary proposition to many (including me). The men were talking with full confidence about how they feel more safe with their guns. They referenced a few situations in which some woman had been assaulted and stated with full confidence that if the women had been armed, the assault would not have occurred. I explained to them that it is more important to have situational awareness than it is to have a weapon. (more…)
Security 101: “You don’t have to out run a bear…just your friends” February 22, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in InfoSec & Privacy, Piracy & Maritime Security, Risk & Risk Management, weapons and tactics.Tags: armed security, arms race, Chris Mark, cybersecurity, InfoSec, Piracy & Maritime Security, risk, risk management, security
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Yesterday MSNBC had a story that discussed the “arms race” between Somali pirates and shipping companies. The article discussed the increasing violence of the pirates. While this should come as no surprise to anyone, it is a single statement that caught my attention. “Greater use of private armed security guards on ships and a much tougher approach by international navies is beginning to work, some… say. (more…)
“Lipstick on a Pig”- Vetting Armed Security Part 3 February 21, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in Piracy & Maritime Security, Risk & Risk Management.Tags: Anti Piracy, armed security, Chris Mark, Maritime Security, Piracy & Maritime Security, risk management, security, vetting security
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The recent event where Italian military personnel killed “suspected pirates” off the coast of India should provide an exclamation point to shipping companies on the need to carefully evaluate the armed security protecting their vessels. While military personnel were involved in this particular incident, it is simply a matter of time before private military contractors make the same mistake. This post is part 3 of a series of posts on vetting companies. You can read the previous posts here and here.
One of the tactics being employed by many companies within the maritime security arena, and especially those with little experience, is to promote the fact that they are “ICOC signatories” as evidence of their professionalism and expertise. While there is little debate that the ICOC is a step in the right direction toward gaining some form of control over a growing industry, the ICOC is NOT and should NOT be viewed as anything more than what it is. Using the ICOC as any basis of evaluation of a security company is both dangerous and short sighted. All companies should be signatories of the ICOC. That being said, the ICOC is not intended to be a governance document or standard. The purpose of the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Companies (ICOC PSC) is to: (more…)
Armed Guards Kill Two Indian Fisherman- “…suspected to be pirates” February 21, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in Industry News, Piracy & Maritime Security.Tags: Chris Mark, Enrica Lexie, italian navy, maritime piracy, Maritime Security, mark consulting group, Piracy & Maritime Security, pirates killed, pirates shot, security
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According to the Times of India, armed guard aboard an Italian merchant (Enrica Lexie) vessel shot and killed two Indian fisherman last night that they “…suspected to be pirates.” According to the Italian government, the vessel did not respond to warning lights. According to the Indian fisherman, no prior warning was given. Here is where it gets somewhat questionable: “Two fishermen in a boat were killed after guards onboard the Italian merchant vessel fired at them off Alapuzha coast last evening, suspecting them to be pirates.” While the facts are not yet public on what exactly happened, my personal view is that this particular episode is has serious issues. Based on other reports, the guards were members of the Italian navy and NOT private security. (more…)
“Trust but Verify”- Insider Threats & Intellectual Property Theft February 20, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in InfoSec & Privacy, Risk & Risk Management.Tags: Chris Mark, corporate espionage, cybersecurity, InfoSec, insider theft, IP Theft, markconsultinggroup.com, operational security, security
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According to the US Government, intellectual property theft costs the US approximately $250 billion per year. Unfortunately, a large and growing percentage of this theft is due to insiders. The human element of data security is a topic that I have written on numerous times. This article follows one I wrote in August, 2011 titled: Security 101: The Human Element.
I have worked with a number of large (and small) organizations that were very focused on risk management and information security. It is always disheartening when you find that the companies focus solely upon external threats and ignore one of the largest threats to their intellectual property; their own employees. Humans are social creatures. We make friends and we want to be trusted. We also believe in our fellow person. Nobody likes to feel like they are not trusted and consequently, few like to make others feel like they are not trusted. Unfortunately, where data security and the protection of intellectual property is concerned, companies are well advised to adhere to the old adage: “Trust but Verify”.
With increased responsibility often comes increased authority and increased access to sensitive systems, and information. Companies often make the mistake of believing that with increased responsibility comes a decrease in the need to monitor activity. (more…)
Global Security, Privacy, & Risk Management 