To Serve and Protect

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Leveraging Technology

The Internet, the ultimate information resource, provides a wealth of resources for gathering background material. Up-to-date studies on countries around the world are available through online government publications such as the U.S. State Department. The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) provides timely and recurring information through daily briefings and updates e-mailed automatically based upon the country profiles of one’s choosing.

Country fact books abound on government sites, such as that of the CIA. These detailed resources provide information ranging from the amount of rainfall an executive might expect to the biographies of current government ministers.

Many security departments use these resources to create their own “country reports” incorporating information and maps from the risk assessment. These documents should be used not just as an information tool for executives traveling in high-risk areas but also as an opportunity to educate the executive on why a protection program is necessary and how the threat profile was developed. To increase the likelihood that busy top executives will really read this information, security professionals should boil down the reports to a two- or three-page executive summary.

The free government information can be supplemented by various private sources, which charge a fee but generally update their information more often than the government. These companies provide data on political violence, terrorism, and natural disasters and they often make the information available through telecommunication devices such as global positioning systems or satellite phones, so that it can be accessed from any location while the team travels. Such systems typically work well, but satellite reception can be spotty in cities.

Some companies rent telecommunication devices on a per trip basis, which may be a more cost-effective option than purchasing them outright, depending on how much and where executives travel. These devices can be used to give the traveling executives relevant up-to-date information via text messaging, allowing them to make informed decisions as to their own safety and security. But they should be tested by security in real-life situations as part of the advance before they are given out for field use by the executives.

Another caveat is that some governments bar foreigners from bringing such equipment into their country. For example, Middle Eastern and some Southeast Asian countries make it difficult to carry in such devices. In those cases, the team will have to stay current through more traditional means.