I just returned from approximately two weeks in Peru, and while I was there for a little R&R, I can never seem to take off my security hat. While most of my time was spent in rural areas slinging a camera and enjoying the natural wonders of the Incans, I couldn’t help but bump into a bit of "security" along the way, so I want to share some observations:
1) Security lines are better than ever. I flew out on Labor Day weekend, a pretty popular weekend as far as flying goes, but TSA security lines seemed faster than ever at the Atlanta airport. I chalk it up to more checked luggage as people are putting items like hair gels and shampoo bottles into their checked luggage, and only bringing the on-plane essentials through the passenger lines.
2) New technologies aren’t the through-put problems many thought they would be. The TSA security checkpoint for Miami’s Terminal A is using one of GE’s "Puffer" machines that dislodges particles from skin and clothing and tests those particles for contraband. While the machines get a wary eye from children and new users, I was able to compare the time of the puffer line to the non-puffer security line. Incredibly, the two lines moved along at close to the same rate, despite the fact that it took the machine approximately 20 seconds to process individuals. What seemed to be happening was that the machines took advantage of "dead time" people stood in line waiting to get their bags through the X-ray systems and used that time to process them for explosives.
3) Air security isn’t yet standard. Also at the Miami Airport, I went through the security lines a few times. On two out of the four times, my shoes went through the X-ray, but not the others, despite the fact that I was wearing the same pair of sneakers. Let’s make a decision and stick to it. TSA screeners don’t need a guessing game – they need clear policies and standards.
4) Some airports have a lot of catching up to do. Three out of the four airports I journeyed through had great security. Number four (which shall remain anonymous because of the obvious implications) was a hazard waiting to happen, despite the fact that it was an international airport. Without going too deeply, let’s just say that the border between "secured" and "unsecured" was a joke. Any manner of prohibited substances and items could have been freely passed between the different areas, and worse, there was not a single camera monitoring that weak point.
5) Hotel security is what you make of it. At one hotel, I had the pleasure of chatting with an armed Wackenhut guard decked in full body protection. This incidentally was at a rural hotel, where I was one of only 10 guests for the two nights I was there. At a busy hotel in Lima – which catered toward Americans and Europeans and which saw travelers arriving at all hours of the night, and which was in a convenient yet crime-laden portion of the city -- security was practically non-existent. The outcome of that was that I spent some time thinking about the need to develop an international system for ranking the security of hotels which could be used by corporate security directors, travel agents, business travelers and anyone else interested in their personal welfare.
6) Car-jacking continues to persist. My friend and guide kept a knife with a six-inch blade strapped for ready use to defend his SUV. We never faced a car-jacking, but this is the reality that corporate business travelers continue to face today. Your facility in Denver may be great at protecting employees, but how well can you manage their security when they are overseas?
7) South American cash-handling crews are a study in efficiency. Relaxing at a café, I was able to watch the methodical processes of two crews from two different companies running their mid-day routes. I found this interesting because SecurityInfoWatch.com had published articles recently of how cash-handling vehicles have been struck around the world. These Peruvian cash-handling guards were faced with unique challenges including 1) high vehicular traffic, 2) a great volume of pedestrian traffic, 3) access only from a car-packed curb, and 4) a random protest/march occurring on the same street. Guns drawn and with a two-person tarry that covered their exposure constantly until they were safely inside the cash vans, these cash-handling details were beautiful to watch, though not nearly as impressive as the Andean Condor.
Catching the Thieves Red-Handed
Home security via the cell phone
Let’s get to the business of security. Residential alarm dealers everywhere are going to love this story. A wealthy business man from Merseyside, England, was traveling in Spain when his cell phone notified him of a break-in at his home, some 1,200 miles away. The gentleman logged onto a computer to pull up a live video feed from surveillance cameras linked to the alarm system within his home and saw thieves moving about the property. He then was able to call police back home, who arrived to arrest the thieves.
That story may come across as a bit of an oddball, but in fact, this is the future of our industry, on both the residential and commercial sides. An April 2006 study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, the Associated Press and AOL found that some 35 percent of cell phone users are already using text messaging on their phones, and 52 percent of cell phone owners keep their phones turned on at all times. At the same time, we’ve been watching the development of DVRs with integrated cellular phone messaging capabilities, and scores of niche systems that can push video clips to some of today’s more cutting-edge phones. Being that alarm systems are already set up for automated communications, and being that more and more communities in the U.S. are turning policies like enhanced call verification and false alarm reduction ordinances, it’s only a matter of time before many of the systems you install -- whether at the home or at the office – are going to need these mobile-ready and remote-video-ready features.
Security Legislation Update
New rules for air cargo that really don’t change much at all
Washington, D.C. was the big driver for security news this week. Perhaps most significantly, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff announced yesterday during a press conference that some air cargo will be subject to the same stringent requirements as passengers’ checked baggage. I qualify that statement, of course, by saying that only "some" air cargo will be screened because the new mandate will only apply to that air cargo which is shipped at airline ticket counters. Most cargo shipped aboard commercial passenger jets is routed through freight handlers, which use random screenings, and already most airports have been processing ticket-counter cargo like checked bags. Thus, the announcement was more publicity stunt than a significant milestone in the world of security. Nonetheless, the DHS has recognized that air cargo may still be the weak link in our air security -- and recognition is the first step to the solution.
More news you should know...
The Hilton Hotels chain has reportedly created a disaster plan ready for any manner of hurricane-related emergencies. Score: Hilton = 1; Disasters = 0. ... The risk management department at Baylor University is acting smartly with a fire education program for students. ... Fire/security systems sales staff need to think about facility implications when explaining the installation process. A hospital in the UK is faced with shutting down almost an entire ward as it replaces an outdated fire system. ... Shareholders have approved EMC’s acquisition of RSA Security, making the final process a "done deal", so to speak.
