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SECURITY AUDITS

Security Assessments Every Business Should Conduct


There are many different types of security audits. Some audits are specifically designed to make sure your organization is legally compliant.   1. Risk Assessment Risk assessments help identify, estimate and prioritize risk for organizations. Security audits are a way to evaluate your company against specific security criteria. While this might not be the case for specific businesses, security audits can help with compliance issues in heavily regulated industries.  2. Vulnerability Assessment A vulnerability assessment uncovers flaws in your security procedures, design, implementation or internal controls. It identifies weaknesses that could be triggered or exploited to cause a security breach. During a vulnerability test, your IT team or an outside expert will examine and determine which system flaws are in danger of being exploited. They might run specific software to scan for vulnerabilities, test from inside the network or use approved remote access to determine what needs to be corrected to meet security standards.  3. Penetration Test A penetration test is unique because it involves an expert acting as a “hacker” in an attempt to breach your security systems. This type of security audit leads to insight into potential loopholes in your infrastructure. Penetration testers use the latest hacking methods to expose weak points in cloud technology, mobile platforms, and operating systems.  There are different kinds of penetration tests you can engage in. For example, internal penetration tests focus on internal systems, while external penetration tests focus on assets that are publicly exposed. You might also consider a hybrid penetration test (including both internal and external penetration tests) for maximum insight, as well. 4. Compliance Audit A compliance audit is necessary for businesses that have to comply with certain regulations, such as companies in retail, finance, healthcare or government. The goal is to show whether an organization meets the laws required to do business in their industry.  A company that does not conduct compliance audits is susceptible to fines, and it might also lead to clients looking elsewhere for their needs. This type of cybersecurity audit usually examines company policies, access controls and whether regulations are being followed. An organization that does business in the European Union, for example, should run a compliance audit to make sure that they adhere to the General Data Protection Regulation.  Best Practices For Cyber Security Audits Cybersecurity audits are critical, but there are many steps you need to take to ensure you’re conducting them properly. Here are some best practices to sure that your cybersecurity audit is as accurate as possible. Keep Your Employees Informed: First and foremost, you should let your employees know that a company-wide audit is about to happen. This will help your organization remain as transparent as possible. Business owners may also want to announce an all-hands meeting so that all employees are aware of the audit and can offer potential insight. This is also advantageous because you can choose a time that works best for your team and avoid interfering with other company operations. Gather as Much Information as Possible: Secondly, you should ensure that all company data is available to auditors as quickly as possible. Ask auditors what specific information they might need so that you can prepare beforehand and avoid scrambling for information at the last minute. The auditors might require a list of all company devices and applications, for example. This step is also important because you can make sure you are comfortable with the auditors, their practices and their official policies. Hire an External Auditor: It’s smart to hire external auditors for your cybersecurity audit. The truth is that your own internal auditors might not be comfortable explaining all of your organization’s vulnerabilities. Business owners would like to believe that their own employees wouldn’t hold back concerning a security audit. But in reality, current employees may have biases with respect to company security that can lead to future issues and oversights. Conduct Regular Audits: Lastly, you should make sure that your security audits are consistent. Your company might have detected and resolved major vulnerabilities last year and feel that it’s excessive to conduct another one this year. But the most successful organizations are proactive when it comes to holding regular cybersecurity audits. New types of cyberattacks and risks are constantly emerging.  A cyberattack can often prove catastrophic. Neglecting cybersecurity audits can allow small problems to grow into massive risks, easily putting a company out of business. It doesn’t matter if your business is large or small; you should continue to conduct audits several times per year. Proactively Audit Your Security Posture and Stay Protected With HI-END Security The size of your business doesn’t matter when it comes to cybersecurity. In fact, 58% of cyberattack victims are small businesses.  While you might not feel like you are vulnerable to these attacks now, the truth is that it can happen to anyone. Every business owner should take steps to ensure that their assets are secure from cybercriminals and protect their reputation.

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EVENT SECURITY

Event Security Best Practice to Minimize Your Risk


Event security entails far more than just dotting the venue with security personnel. The process is quite complex and requires extensive coordination. With the right security practices, you’ll ensure the safety of your guests and staff — plus you’ll prevent damage to the venue and related property. 1. Know the venue inside and out You should also know how porous the venue is. “Porous” refers to any way someone could get inside without using actual entry points. This could be a back door for staff, or a window that can be opened from the outside. Identify all venue entry points and make sure all personnel is aware of them.  is an easy and effective way to give the team a visual understanding. If the venue is outdoors, establish boundaries where the event perimeter begins and ends. Temporary fencing and barricades can help.   2. Gauge attendee risk Are there any attendees or guests that may pose a risk? You can’t do a background check for every ticket buyer, of course. But, you should identify potential risks. For example, if a guest speaker represents a company with a controversial history, that may increase the risk of protests or attendees who want to cause a scene. Be suspicious of guests that purchase event tickets in bulk. This may be an event protestor buying tickets for their fellow disruptors. 3. Control the crowd The larger the crowd, the more likely it is that something can go wrong. Staff needs to be comfortable with managing large groups and exerting authority when needed. The security team may need to perform the following with respects to Ask guests to move away if they’re blocking the exit. Monitor the registration line to keep it organized and prevent people from cutting. (Using cones, yellow tape, or stanchions is a great help here.) Ensure guests don’t stray into staff-only areas or areas reserved for VIPs. It’s also important that you ensure that the crowd in the venue never grows beyond the capacity limit. Remember to count all staff and security personnel when keeping track of total numbers. Going overcapacity can result in fines from the venue administrator.

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PARKING ENFORCEMENT

Taking the Confrontation Out of Parking Enforcement


Parking Tickets, no one likes them or the people who issue them! Let’s face it no one likes to get a parking ticket.  It is expensive and annoying. It feels like it’s a money grab for greedy organizations right? Wrong.  Parking-Enforcement is actually a resource. Unfortunately, there aren’t unlimited spaces. Allowing people to break the parking rules means rule-breakers are getting more than their share of the resource. And they’re paying less for it.  However, through customer and employee education you can change the role of Parking Enforcer. Due to added education, it can result in the more customer-friendly (and accurate) role of Parking Protector. Parking Protector As a Parking Protector, it is my job to improve customer satisfaction and experience. Done by ensuring spaces are available for parkers who follow the rules and pay for their spots accordingly. As a result, they’re creating convenient and stress-free ways of trying to park their vehicle. With proper parking protection, parkers receive assurance that no one is parking illegally, unsafely blocking exits or emergency access. Hence, no one is preventing the efficient operation of the parking lot. This ensures that spaces exist for the rule followers. Remember, the goal is to improve customer compliance and solidify the revenue stream of parking managment The job of the Parking Protector will be more pleasant and less controversial. It should lead to less staff turnover and consequently less training for new employees if done correctly and efficiently. Consider using signage and social media to educate your customers on why parking enforcement is essential to the safety and efficiency of our daily parking lives. Unfortunately, there will always be compliance issues. However, these issues can be opportunities to educate rather than punish.

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COMMERCIAL SECURITY

How To Maintain Your Commercial Security System


Common Issues with Commercial Security Systems All systems require regular maintenance. While there are some simple steps you can do to maintain your system, it is important to work with a qualified service provider to ensure the necessary inspections are conducted and for any repairs that might be needed. Some of the most common problems with security systems and devices include: Repetitive false alarms Incorrect programming Calibration issues with the system’s sensors An inability to arm or disarm alarms Problems with security locks on doors not functioning properly Problems with the intelligibility of voice evacuation systems While some of these problems require the help of a service technician, regular maintenance can go a long way to help you avoid most of these issues. What You Can Do to Help Maintain Your System If you are having a new business security system installed, ensuring that maintenance services are included in your contract can help to save costs in the long term. There are also some simple steps you can take to help maintain your security system: Routinely check the locks on all doors and check the door lock contacts to ensure they are clean and operate smoothly Regularly check and clean the lenses on any security cameras and check their connections Check with your service provider or your system’s manufacturer to ensure you haven’t missed any firmware updates that could compromise your system For any devices that require batteries, make sure they are checked on a regular basis and replaced when necessary Make sure your video cameras and motion detectors are always clear of environmental obstructions (e.g., trees/bushes, cobwebs, dust, etc.) Regular Inspections are Key to Keeping Your System Functional In the security industry, new and evolving technologies are offering ever more effective and affordable security solutions to business owners every year. Still, no system is built to last forever – access control panels can become less effective over time, cameras can stop working, and wiring can decay. If you are using a UL listed Central Station Monitoring service and a system that is equipped to provide maintenance alerts, it is likely that you will know right away if there is a problem with your security system, avoiding any interruption. However, if you are using an older alarm system that isn’t equipped with these features, there are only two ways to ensure that your monitoring station is correctly receiving signals from your security system – you either find out the hard way when an alarm is tripped with no alert or response, or you can have it tested through regular inspections. You should plan on having your system inspected annually at minimum and more often if possible. Professional inspections should include the following: Visual inspection of all your system devices and cleaning of devices if needed A “walk-test” of the system in which a technician walks around the protected area randomly testing different components and activating different devices to test the signal and whether it is received at the supervisory panel Verification of communication links and ensuring that test signals are received by the monitoring station Programming back-ups and applying any software updates Other issues that should prompt a call to your security company include any damage to a device, loose sensors, fuzzy camera footage, and software compatibility issues. Partner with a Trusted Company Koorsen Fire and Security stays up to date on rapidly evolving technology in the security market. Our certified technicians are experienced in the installation and service of all manufacturer’s systems. And, when you have a problem with your security system, you can expect a rapid response from Koorsen’s team of expert technicians. Contact Koorsen today to enjoy the bottom-line benefits and peace of mind that regular maintenance of your security system can provide your business.

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EVENT SECURITY

Event Security Tips to Keep Your Guests Safe


1. Assess Your Security Risks In terms of security, different events don’t have different needs. A politician’s campaign speech has a much higher risk than, say, a twelve-year-old’s birthday party. Your first step is to decide what type of risk you’re dealing with. Here are some things to consider: Who is hosting your event? Are they a target for any individual or group? Who is attending your event? Do they attract controversy? What is the context of the event? Does its topic or subtopics invite security problems? Who is speaking, performing, or exhibiting at the event? Do they attract agitators or present any unique security risks? Do you expect protests or counter-protests? Will any media be present? (A larger audience sometimes encourages agitators). Does the venue have any security vulnerabilities? For instance, an outdoor venue is harder to secure but an indoor venue has fewer escape routes. Does the location have non-human security threats (like a highway in close proximity, the chance of flood in the area, or wild animals roaming nearby)? 2. Keep Your Security Measures Visible The main goal of security isn’t to respond to threats. The goal is to prevent threats from happening in the first place. It’s best if a potential agitator sees your security measures and moves on. This is why hiding your security team or putting them undercover throughout your event does more harm than good. Agitators think the event is unprotected and may decide to start trouble.In one case, an event organizer placed metal detectors at the entrances to the event but hid them with clever décor. The result was an abnormally high number of people attempting to enter with weapons. When they uncovered the metal detectors for the next day, fewer people tried to enter with prohibited items. By making your security team and devices obvious, you also make your attendees feel safer. They know you’ve enlisted the help of people and tools to protect their wellbeing. In the event of an emergency, they know where to find help. 3. Create Security Checkpoints One of the key ways to protect people from security threats is to set up checkpoints away from the gathering that attendees must pass through to get inside. This forces agitators to confront security personnel (or even just your registration staff) long before they can cause any damage. For instance, instead of installing your registration desk right outside an auditorium’s doorway, you would want to place it a few hundred feet away in the facility’s lobby. This way if an uninvited person tries to enter, they’ll be stopped before they reach the crowd. 4. Match IDs to Registration Information To make sure people who attend the event actually belong there, it’s important to collect identifying information in advance when they register. Collect multiple data points – like name, date of birth, and address (or similar) – to make it harder for an intruder to assume someone’s identity. Ideally, you’d want to require each guest to send you a copy of their ID so you can compare it to their ID at the gate. That’s the best way to confirm identifies, but it’s not always feasible. However, if someone fails to bring an ID or their ID doesn’t match your registration information, it’s best not to let them in. If you don’t require registration to attend your event (meaning they haven’t been pre-screened), you must check their belongings. “I suggest [using] magnetometers wherever applicable,” says Anthony Davis, president of AD Entertainment Services. “Sometimes that’s a challenge due to power. Then, you go to a hand-held metal detector wand. And then lastly, if none of those things are available, you do a bag check.” 5. Keep Private Events Private Some organizations like to announce their events publically, even if the events aren’t open to the public. They mention their events on websites, in newsletters, in press releases, and on social media. We know you’re proud of your event, but informing the public about an event is a security risk. For instance, a dinner for a company’s upper management isn’t open to everyone, so there’s no need to tell everyone. If agitators don’t know about the event, they can’t disrupt it or cause anyone harm. “Unless the event is open to the public, it’s a good idea to keep private events as secret as possible,” says Martin Kirsten, founder of Suits Security. “This is especially important for companies that might operate in an industry that has politically charged opponents.”

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