Celebrating our
SHANE WRIGHT
Wright from Security O cer to Executive Vice President. Shane has always been driven by his passion for learning and exploring new ideas that led to his success within the company, for his clients, and across the industry.
DEPARTMENTS
From the Editor
By Neil Sutton
Wisdom from the Top 10
Anyone in the security industry who has been keeping close tabs on their social media accounts lately will be fully aware of the pent-up demand for in-person networking.
W hether it’s trade shows, association meetings, seminars or even the summer golf tournaments that are right around the corner, people want to see each other, hear a voice unfiltered by a phone or laptop, or even, if they’re feeling truly adventurous, shake a hand or two.
O ver the last few years, we’ve all learned to fine-tune our social posts and brush up on our video-conferencing etiquette. These are skills that will continue to serve us well as we establish a new balance between virtual and in-person engagements, but there’s really no substitute for face time.
I recently attended the ISC West conference in Las Vegas, Nev., where I had the opportunity to catch up with dozens of industry folks, some of whom I haven’t seen for several years.
The Canadian Security Association (CANASA) also recently wrapped up its first in-person show in years in Quebec. T heir smiles may
EDITORIAL
ADVISORY BOARD
Jason Caissie: Profile Group
Ken Close
Ashley Cooper: Paladin Security
David Hyde: Hyde Advisory & Investments
Sherri Ireland: Security Exclusive
have been obscured by masks, but judging by the photos online, attendees and exhibitors were all happy to participate in the opportunity.
T he huge role that networking can play in career development and industry engagement is one of the most common observations made by our Top 10 Under 40 winners this year.
“Security may seem like a career more geared towards identifying potential adversaries, but reason and compassion still go a long way.”
We asked each of our Top 10 a series of questions about their security roles as well as offer some advice for others who are looking to elevate their own careers. (Read their responses on p. 14.)
Perhaps not surprisingly, making the most of your network is key to expanding your career horizons.
Whether that means joining an association, volunteering to speak at a conference or simply buying a colleague a coffee and lending them a sympathetic ear, the ability to stretch beyond the parameters of our job descriptions pays
dividends towards personal and career growth.
The Top 10 also collectively recommended mentorship (becoming a mentor or seeking one out) and ongoing education.
Some other Top 10 observations that will serve anyone well at any age and in any career: trust yourself to take on tasks you were not initially hired to do, and, perhaps most importantly, be empathetic.
To the casual observer, security may seem like a career more geared towards identifying potential adversaries, but reason and compassion still go a long way.
This issue of Canadian Securit y also includes a feature article on open source intelligence, often referred to as OSINT.
This is a discipline that has grown alongside the rapid expansion of social media in recent years and combines a variety of skills, including data science and investigative powers. OSINT is also a prime example of the value of a constant education, since it’s evolving as quickly as the internet.
Please join us in congratulating this year’s Top 10 Under 40. The future of the security industry is in good hands. | CS
Spring 2022 Vol. 44, No.2 canadiansecuritymag.com
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ASIS Update
By Terri Govang
Representation and support for women in the security industry
Owning its vision of “being the recognized leader advancing security worldwide,” the ASIS International 2020-2024 Strategic Plan promises an exciting future for the industry.
This year proves to be picking up traction and gaining ground in support of the plan’s objectives, which include a focus on:
• Achieving recognition for the profession
• Accelerating digital transformation
• Elevating the security function to influence organizational success
• Serving global needs
ASIS Women in Security Canada’s first meeting introduced a strong line-up of chapter liaisons, generating exciting ideas for the year ahead. Participation and involvement with WIS provides participants experiences for career growth; networking amongst a supportive, collaborative community; and sharing ideas and challenges to augment career advancement.
Still, there is work to be done. ASIS Canada includes more than 1,800 security professionals, yet only 12 per cent identify as women.
Women in Security aims to support and assist women in the security industry, motivating participation. Fundamentally, WIS champions its members by providing tailored programming and mentoring, build ing upon skills and talents to strengthen leadership abilities.
The chapter liaison is a single point of contact for local membership and acts as the conduit to Women in Security globally. A vital part of the overall chapter structure, their primary goal is to support the local WIS network by coordinating communication and events throughout the chapter.
Women benefit from having direct access to professional development by net-
working with security professionals.
E ducation programs and resources, such as virtual, in-person or hybrid events, enhance career growth and transition. Moreover, women in our field have avenues to become involved, and contribute experiences and best practices with their WIS chapter cohort.
In 2022, the ASIS Women in Security community will focus on aligning with the association’s strategic initiatives, generating inspiration through:
• Support: Online engagement and communication among community members
• Promote: Expand the Global Women in Security Speaker Series — an available roster for speaking engagements, panels or topics
• Educate: Develop content and resources accessible to community members
• Build: Engage and serve the community through various events over multiple time zones
Our community exists to build membership and provide tools, programs and mentoring to enable women to attain leadership positions.
Programs are tailored to women, although all ASIS allies dedicated to supporting women in the industry are encouraged and welcome.
Participation opportunities benefit all members. Beyond attending events or occasions, contributing to positive change can be as simple as connecting with your chapter WIS liaison, providing input, or joining or forming a local committee.
A s life continues to transition from virtual to personal, volunteers play a significant role in creating and delivering inclusive events. Conne ct with your Women in Security liaison or chapter executive to learn more or become involved.
Our contact information is available via your local chapter or by visiting www. asiscanada.ca. | CS
ASIS Canada 2022 WIS liaisons:
• Atlantic Chapter 202 - Heather McDonald
• Quebec City Chapter 281 – Position open
• Manitoba Chapter 198 – Kendra Rodewald
• Montreal Chapter 196 – Ann-Marie Olivera
• Ottawa Chapter 140 – Nicole Ouellet, CPP
• Southwest Ontario Chapter 241 - Position open
• Toronto Chapter 193 – Ceres Silva, APP
• Saskatchewan Chapter 275 - Helen Perry-Raycraft
• Edmonton Chapter 156 - Pam Brown
• Calgary Chapter 162 - Lindsay Nicholson
• Vancouver Chapter 190 - Lorna Clamp
• Canada Region 6 – Terri Govang, CPP
Terri Govang, CPP, is the assistant regional vice-president (ARVP), ASIS Women in Security, Canada (www.asiscanada.ca).
Trending
The art of deception: combatting ‘creative’ retail fraud
Whether we own a retail business or work for someone else’s, theft and fraud become cringeworthy yet inevitable realities of dealing with the public.
As Canada Post security director Rita Estwick noted, the retail sector is customer-centric. This begs the question of how retailers can continue to profit and maintain their customer-service standards while guarding against theft.
Estwick and Guy-Paul Larocque, acting officer in charge, Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, RCMP, discussed all the ways fraudsters perform scams in retail during the “Mitigating the Creative Deception of Professional Fraudsters in Retail” segment of the Retail Council of Canada’s Retail Loss Prevention Forum on Apr. 14.
The keyword here is “creative.”
As Larocque put it, return fraud is now a full-time business.
While a report of theft or fraud to the police may not necessarily lead to an arrest, Larocque encourages retailers to do it anyway.
“Any piece of information can be critical to advancing an investigation,” said Larocque. “Especially if losses are significant, or if there’s any indication that it is part of an organized network, we highly recommend victims report it to the local police. We also encourage victims to report it to the anti-fraud centre.”
Larocque said police recognize that it is ultimately the retailers’ decision to make a report or accept the loss as the “cost of doing business.” However, reporting to the anti-fraud centre allows investigators to leverage the information given to them and identify trends they can share with one another.
This enables a more coordinated approach with different investigative units. Additionally, the anti-fraud centre will work to increase public awareness
E-commerce channels and supply chain fraud
Ever dealt with an angry client who said they ordered something online and opened their package to find a miscellaneous item inside? This was likely not an accident. Larocque mentioned that this too is an ongoing trend where someone participating in a scam deliberately opens the package and switches the contents before the shipment reaches its final destination.
Larocque’s main piece of advice is for retailers to tailor their customer service standards so that they incorporate protections against return-policy exploitation. This could mean explicitly communicating or posting the return policy in a way that is visible and comprehensible before any purchases are made.
Real return vs. fake return
The key here is to ask a lot of questions or “take a layered approach,” in Larocque’s words.
In this situation, retailer’s should keep in mind that the goal of fraudsters is to get the funds returned in cash and to get them fast.
A first question could be, “At which location did you make this purchase?” which allows them to cross verify the purchase against other retail locations.
And then there’s the old “Do you have your receipt?”
In cases where an honest customer doesn’t have proof of purchase, retailers can offer a store credit or item exchange — something return fraudsters do not care for. | CS – Madalene Arias
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Window on Security
By Kevin Magee
Getting the board on board
As a cybersecurity professional who is also an active board member for several organizations, I have had the unique opportunity to watch from both sides of the boardroom table.
In such meetings, directors ask highly informed and proficient questions of the CFO, while CISOs continue to wearily answer endless questions about nonsensical movie-plot hacking scenarios and immaterial technical metrics.
All of this has led me to ask, why are boards simply unable to apply their skills and experience in governance and enterprise risk management of financial assets and business processes to the digital realm?
It was during an audit committee meeting several years ago when the answer finally came to me.
We were discussing the state of the organization’s current ratio — I had no recollection as to what it measured, so I had largely withdrawn from the conversation. That’s when I realized that I was abdicating my duty of care for no reason other than I didn’t want to ask a question that would betray my ignorance on the subject matter being discussed in front of my peers. When I mustered the courage to raise my hand and ask for help, it turned out that I wasn’t alone in my financial ratio ignorance.
What this episode made me realize is that the business executives, lawyers and
“Creating a formal cyber-literacy program for the board … is a great place to start.”
accountants that populate most boards must experience th is same level of anxiety when reviewing a technical report that I have in trying to decipher a balance sheet. This leaves them in a similar situation of not knowing how to fulfill their duties and responsibilities as a board member when it comes to items on the agenda such as digital transformation and cybersecurity. Many likely stay silent, as I had done, or ask ill-informed questions — but rarely, if ever, raise their hands
and ask for help.
W hen you join a board of directors, it is required that you either possess — or will quickly obtain — a degree of financial literacy, while staying out of operational matters. This is often referred to as “noses in, fingers out.”
To achieve this, board members perform much of their expected duties by informing themselves and asking questions. The better informed they are, the more likely they are to ask pertinent questions. Most directors come to the
role with a medium to high level of financial literacy but unfortunately, there is no such cyber-literacy equivalent or requirement. This is likely the reason why there is such a disconnect between the CISO and the board.
While board members don’t need to be able to write firewall rules, they should attain and maintain an acceptable level of “cyber-literacy” that includes familiarity with the cybersecurity domain and associated risks sufficient to ensure the fulfillment of their
“The monthly board briefing package should include updates on key metrics.”
governance, oversight and fiduciary responsibilities. Facilitating the achievement of this level of cyber-literacy can therefore become a key opportunity and positive engagement point for the CISO with the board.
Creating a formal cyber-literacy program for the board, which defines a baseline of knowledge as well as other resources that will allow board members to keep up to date, is a great place to start. This can
include articles, books, podcasts, and other information sources curated and continuously updated by the CISO and the cybersecurity team.
The monthly board briefing package should include updates on key metrics and performance indicators measured by management which have been chosen in collaboration with the CISO to ensure they are effective for informing the board’s oversight responsibilities. An excellent example
would be security posture maturity as measured against a standard framework such as NIST. This can be enriched by the inclusion of strategic threat intelligence relevant to the business, including curated industry reports and news clippings that provide insight into overall trends and topics that are receiving media attention.
A mechanism to solicit questions from the board in advance of the meeting and
offering a pre-meeting briefing can greatly increase the effectiveness of the questions asked and the chair’s ability to moderate effective discussion.
Investing in the development of a cyber-literate board that views cybersecurity as an enterprise-level strategic risk, understands the legal and implications of cyber-risk, and adopts an enterprise framework for managing that risk, will improve the overall security posture of the organization.
For those wanting to learn how to “get your board on board,” my latest webinar (accessible via the Canadian Security website) is great starting point. | CS
Risk Perspective
By Tim McCreight
Leaving your comfort zone
Doing something new or different can be an exhilarating — or daunting — experience. O ur personal perspectives and experiences help shape our response to change. Leaving our comfort zones and trying something new can bring out different feelings in each of us. And that’s OK — it’s part of the unique human experience. We need to remember how this feels when we begin our Enterprise Security Risk Management (ESRM) journey with our organizations and our security team.
I’ve always enjoyed learning new perspectives from people I work with, especially when these employees work with teams I haven’t met on a project or program. For me, it’s a chance to learn more about my organization and what it really takes to keep it running every day. When I get a chance to meet folks from a new department (well, new to me), I have an opportunity to listen to someone else’s story. I find that exciting!
When I’m developing (or operating) an ESRM-based security program, it’s these types of encounters where I gain a greater perspective on my organization. I get a chance to learn so much more about how my organization operates, the assets it needs every day to function, and some insight into their concerns about what can go wrong. We can’t let our personal feelings of discomfort impact our work in developing a risk-based approach to security. We need to embrace change as we collaborate with teams across our organization. That takes commitment — to our security program, to its benefits to our organization, and to the process of learning new things about
our organization.
One of the greatest skills we can practice as security professionals is the acceptance of change. Our world isn’t static — we will never reach a state where we are “secure.” These past two years have demonstrated the need to embrace change, focus on resilience, and be able to pivot from one event to another.
“Don’t let your past experiences shape your current expectations.”
Over the years, I’ve seen different responses to change from fellow security professionals. Some have been agents of change, immersing themselves in new experiences and environments and challenging accepted norms regarding process and procedure. A few have been less adaptive, and fearful of being seen as either antagonistic or opinionated. These professionals struggled to accept change and their personal experience and past history generated a reflexive response. They withdrew from the challenge that change brings.
I urge all security professionals who read this column, and either have an ESRM-based security program or are developing one, to free
yourself from your past experiences and embrace change.
Don’t let your past experiences shape your current expectations, or taint your perception of what a different department does every day to help your organization succeed. We need to remain open-minded and inquisitive, whether we’re hosting a collaborative workshop to review remediation strategies, or just having a cup of coffee with a fellow leader from a different department.
Whenever I begin a new change journey (and there’s been a few!) I rely on some great advice given to me many years ago by a great boss. Whenever we were starting a new project, we’d meet as a team to go over the project, what the goals and objectives were, timelines we had to meet, and what resources we had to acquire. We’d also talk about how we felt about the project and if we had any concerns or fears. I thought that was insightful — to talk about the change and face any fears head on. Our team had great success following his guidance. What will happen if we embrace our change? | CS
Tim McCreight is the national director, market development and strategic advisory at CGI (www.cgi.com).
WOMEN IN SECURITY
We created Advance: Women in Security to promote gender diversity in one of Canada’s most critical and growing economic sectors.
Join us for a virtual conference and participate in key discussions:
• Recruitment & Retention: Increasing diversity and representation in the security industry and supporting women throughout their career journeys
• The role of security associations, peer networking and mentorship
Industry View
By Winston Stewart
Training security guards to handle adversity
The coronavirus pandemic offered a real-time lesson on the effects of health and social restrictions, and their impact on our interactions in both individual and group settings.
For the most part, Canadians kept their cool as social distancing rules and mask mandates required immediate adjustments to how we work, live, shop, play and socialize.
But there were inevitable exceptions, followed by situations that challenged even seasoned security professionals. That came as no surprise to those of us who have worked in the security industry for decades. When placed under pressure, people can become frustrated and will struggle to cope, causing them to act out in inappropriate or anti-social ways.
A s we emerge from the pandemic, it’s a reminder to leading security firms of the need to put a sustained emphasis on training their guards to manage adverse situations when interacting with the public.
The reasons are numerous. To provide an adequate client service experience, for example, guards need to be trained in both proactive and reactive crisis management, use-of-force techniques and crisis de-escalation strategies — more on the latter in a moment.
W hether they’re protecting a manufacturing facility or a condominium community, an office complex or a retail space, a worstcase security scenario from a client’s perspective is a guard that increases — rather than mitigates — potential legal liability, risk exposures and the likelihood of costly
fines. But especially in service-sensitive environments such as luxury hotels or stores, the customer experience is everything. The brand impact of poor security guard work can have lasting consequences from a customer retention, public relations (and potentially financial) perspective.
Preparing guards to handle challenging situations starts with research and analysis. Security firms need to do the work to understand the people and property they’re being asked to protect, taking into consideration everything from the unique features of a space to the demographic composition of the tenants, customers or residents they serve. A luxury condo with a predominantly senior-aged population, for example, will require a much different approach than a condo building comprised of 20and 30-something residents. That basic intelligence needs to
“Supervisor oversight and on-site engagement is absolutely critical to helping guards navigate stormy situational waters.”
be communicated by supervisors to their guards at the pre-deployment training stage. It’s worth noting that every reputable security firm should employ a comprehensive pre-deployment training program designed to teach or enhance basic skillsets such as incident repor t writing, observational skills, slipand-fall response measures and a range other important tactics that guards are likely to employ on a daily basis.
Those programs should complement and align with the industry-mandated security training program for guards in each province, while ensuring that guards have a robust understanding of relevant legislation. In Ontario, for example, that would include the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, among other laws. Guards should also have completed first-aid, CPR and AED certifications; if not, a pre-deployment
Winston Stewart is the president and CEO of Wincon Security (wincon-security.com).
course should offer that training.
O f course, pre-deployment training should also involve educating guards on a property’s various technical features including fire panel and elevator operation, security entry and monitoring systems and emergency evacuation procedures.
Perhaps the best way that security firms and their supervisors can teach guards to manage adverse interactions with the public — beyond providing effective training — is to emphasize the importance of patience, compassion and the aforementioned skill of incident de-escalation.
In the majority of cases, even the most incendiary situations can be snuffed out with the help of calm, measured communications. Supervisors can help their guards prepare for these events with situational training that emphasizes role-playing based on real-world scenar-
ios, as reported by guards in the field. Reminding guards that being respectful with the public and using force only as a last resort can help to eliminate most problems before they spiral out of control.
Another important — and often overlooked — aspect of helping guards address on-the-job challenges is a focus on employee retention and engagement. Put simply, security firms that change staff on an overly-frequent basis are in constant training mode, increasing the chance that some guards will be deployed into the field without proper briefings or instruction. High turnover also increases the risk of employee disengagement, meaning guards might do a poorer job when they’re on-site, if the employee culture at their firm is lackluster.
Lastly, supervisor oversight and on-site engagement is absolutely critical to help -
ing guards navigate stormy situational waters. In all too many cases, firms don’t invest the time or management-level staffing resources to both ensure on-site service quality control and actively coach their teams in the field. Those interactions are particularly important for guards at the start of their careers, or who find themselves working in more difficult environments — think enforcing entry restrictions or masking protocols at hospitals at the height of the pandemic, for example.
S ecurity guards are professionals skilled in liaising with the public and responding to difficult situations. But that expertise can be tested at times. That’s why it’s the responsibility of security companies and their supervisory teams to ensure guards have the tools they need to do their job right — every time. | CS
Top 10 Under 40: In their own words
This
year’s leaders tell us what motivates them, identify challenges for the security industry, and offer advice to newcomers
The fourth annual Canadian Security Top 10 Under 40 includes an impressive line-up of young security professionals from banking, guarding, utilities, property management, and more.
This year, we asked the recipients to provide their thoughts on a range of topics, from their own personal motivations and recipes for success, to the areas they feel the industry still needs to grow and mature.
Manager, security and life safety, Cadillac Fairview
A fantastic example is the COVID-19 pandemic which has shown the importance of safety and the impact a well-structured security program has on the success of a business or operation. I’m proud knowing that my team and I ensure a safe space for our guests, clients and employees when they attend our property.
As for motivation, I find that it is fueled by the success of my team as this is where I measure personal achievement. I strongly believe an environment that supports open communication, transparency and fosters growth and development is most important and a lead driver in success.
How have you grown in your career and what are some of the key lessons you’ve learned?
What are some of the challenges facing the industry today?
From a risk management perspective, the growth and integration of technology has drastically changed the threat environment with the rise of cybercrime and the influence of public opinion.
I firmly believe that we as an industry must embrace change and enhance training on de-escalation, risk management and mitigation practices. Advancing training with the focus on risk will not only improve the knowledge and intuitiveness of security professionals, but also contribute to a more safe and secure environment for all.
What do you like most about working in the security industry and what motivates you to succeed?
The security industry is forever changing.
I have been very fortunate to have amazing mentors and a support system that allows me to open my perspectives and take on new assignments and projects. Being open to change and finding new opportunities to progress is critical to overall development. However, this is only the beginning. My ambitions are to continue to learn as well as contribute to overall public safety and the development of leaders within the industry.
What would you suggest to someone thinking about a career in security or just starting out?
S ecurity is a very dynamic profession covering multiple industries, resulting in exposure to a multitude of experiences and opportunities. For many, security is used as a stepping-stone for future career aspirations within the public safety field. For myself, I had always wanted to be a police officer growing up. It wasn’t until I had an understanding of the number of opportunities within the security indus -
Dayne Charbon
try that I changed my mindset and entire career path. I think this is important to acknowledge, as there are other ways to contribute to community safety outside of policing.
What do you like most about working in the security industry and what motivates you to succeed?
I find this industry extremely rewarding because I am helping people feel safe and connected as they navigate through the complexity of our health-care system. I am motivated by mentoring and coaching newer staff members when they join the organization. I enjoy this because I am sharing my knowledge; I find it gratifying and feel that I have played a role in their career trajectory. I am also motiv-
ated by working as part of a team to complete tasks and projects.
How have you grown in your career and what are some of the key lessons you’ve learned?
I started out as a casual security guard primarily conducting patient watches. Soon after, I excelled through various leadership roles at many health-care institutions. Throughout this journey, I learned that in order to enhance the collaboration and unity between your team and third-party contractors, it’s imperative that you all share the same vision and embody the values of the institution.
What are some of the challenges facing the industry today?
In my opinion, high turnover and talent retention are some of the biggest challenges we face in the industry today. I am a firm believer of high retention and empowering the team with the right resources, tools and opportunities. As leaders, I feel that it is our responsibility to address the gaps that the pandemic highlighted and have uncomfortable conversations with internal and external stakeholders. This will ensure that security can be seen and treated as an essential
and respectable profession so we can attract highly skilled candidates and provide them with appropriate training and fair compensation.
What would you suggest to someone thinking about a career in security or just starting out?
It’s a fulfilling industry with tons of opportunity and growth, and it’s an essential service. You are making a direct and meaningful impact within your community. You get to meet people from all walks of life, create lifelong connections and gain transferable skills.
What do you like most about working in the security industry and what motivates you to succeed?
I enjoy building relationships. Helping others is a great motivator; establishing a rapport with people and seeing the world through their lenses provides a unique perspective to any challenge they may be experiencing. Recognizing and understanding these perspectives allows me an opportunity to develop a solution.
How have you grown in your career and what are some of the key lessons you’ve learned?
I found my compass. I am more self-aware of my emotional intelligence and have a better understanding of my strengths and weaknesses, which gives me a realistic sense of self-confidence. I am more mindful in my approach when dealing with difficult people or situations. I am more compassionate and seek to foster connections with like-minded people.
What are some of the challenges facing the industry today?
Low wages, I feel, is the biggest challenge the industry faces today. Consequently, many people working in the security industry need to work two jobs to make ends
Kazia Martin Manager, client service,
Fayez Bilal Security manager, Black
Top 10 Under 40
meet. Security practitioners are required to be licensed and undergo mandatory training. I believe the industry needs to recognize security practitioners and provide fair compensation to attract people to this vital sector.
What would you suggest to someone thinking about a career in security or just starting out?
A career in security allows you to build and enhance a diverse skillset in mental durability — dealing with an array of circumstances which can include volatile situations, assessing and being alert to dynamic changes in your environment, and engaging in decisive responses to rapidly changing conditions. If you are just starting out, it gives you the opportunity to build, evolve and refine these vital life skills, leading to greater fulfillment in both your personal and professional life.
What do you like most about working in the security industry and what motivates you to succeed?
Over my career, I have built lasting relationships with colleagues, vendors and industry contacts. Being such a small, tight-knit community, everyone is always eager to support one another. I am still close with colleagues who were there to support me in my early days as a security manager. One thing that motivates me to succeed is that the more I grow in the industry and the more success I achieve, the more I want to give back to the industry.
How have you grown in your career and what are some of the key lessons you’ve learned?
I have grown in my career by never being afraid of opportunities. Over the past sever al jobs I have had, I have put myself out to
take on a new challenge and in some cases, learn new areas of the security industry. With these opportunities have come some risks, but the rewards and successes have outweighed them. A major lesson I can offer is to move out of one’s comfort zone and learn other ways or areas of security. Never be afraid to raise your hand when an opportunity comes up.
What are some of the challenges facing the industry today?
As an industry, we are working towards improving diversity, belonging, inclusion and equity, but we still have a long way to go. I personally strive to create as diverse a team as possible. Everyone brings a unique background and experience to their team. A large portion of the security work we do is people-centred. There is no better way to connect with the people of our organizations (clients, employees, etc.) than to have a diverse team to make strong connections.
What would you suggest to someone thinking about a career in security or just starting out?
I can’t stress this enough when I mentor young professionals: the best advice I can offer is network, network, network. What has created success for me over the years has been a great network of professionals to bounce ideas off of, benchmark with, be a sounding board and even being able to put a name to a face when applying for roles. The other piece of advice is to get out and be involved in the industry, whether it be through mentoring programs, association committees, security chapters or conferences. I think it is very important to give back to an industry that is always there to support.
What do you like most about working in the security industry and what motivates you to succeed?
There are many different elements within the security industry that keep it exciting — having extremely meaningful interactions with others can provide moral gratification. The ever-changing landscape helps me to keep investing in myself by pursuing continued professional development to expand my skillset.
I enjoy being a strong female leader within a post-secondary institution, and to be an example for other female students looking at the security industry as a career option.
How have you grown in your career and what are some of the key lessons you’ve learned?
I have learned from my team leaders to take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself to help me grow in my career, either by continuing my education or participating in volunteer work. Also, they have taught me that teamwork is essential in order to reach my goals. Once you have a strong foundation and a strong team beside you, you will be able to tackle any obstacle.
What are some of the challenges facing the industry today?
A challenge the security industry still faces today is helping the broader community to better understand what a career in the security industry can offer and the professional qualifications a security professional must possess. One way I believe we can improve on this is by connecting better with high schools and post-secondary institutions.
What would you suggest to someone thinking about a career in security or just starting out?
Connect with a mentor or someone already working as a safety professional to get a better understanding of what a career in security can offer. Accept all the opportunities presented to you, possibly through training in various security enhancements, emergency management, IT and even the occupational safety field. I truly believe my quick advancement into a management
Nicole Ryan Supervisor, campus safety, Conestoga College
position was due to my openness to learn and willingness to work with others.
Rob Furlong Security manager, Connect Logistics Services (DHL Supply Chain)
Years in the security industry: 17 years 39
What do you like most about working in the security industry and what motivates you to succeed?
I enjoy working with people, procedures, technology and hardware. There may be some things I do every day, but there is a lot of variety in what I do. There are also a lot of career streams within the industry, along with good job security in a field that is still growing. I feel there is a world of opportunity if I am willing to work hard.
How have you grown in your career and what are some of the key lessons you’ve learned?
I’ve had the chance to experience a fair number of different sectors, corporate cultures, leaders and intense start-ups. It’s made me a good generalist, well-rounded and adaptable. Being in corporate security, I also get the chance to work with a lot of different security specialists with individual skillsets. They are the real experts and I still learn from them.
What are some of the challenges facing the industry today?
From a personal perspective, the biggest risk is violence and trends aren’t heading in the right direction. A lot of security agents are still placed in environments with a significant risk of physical confrontation with unreasonable or unstable people. Training and people skills are important, but are not a guarantee of personal safety. From a business perspective, obviously cybersecurity is huge.
What would you suggest to someone thinking about a career in security or just starting out?
Force yourself to network, even if you fear it or don’t know where to start. The best career decision I have made was joining a
local security association, volunteering and taking advantage of their education opportunities.
Start your education as early as possible and keep challenging yourself, regardless of whether you are a part-time student or
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seeking an industry certification. It may be slow-going or you may have to chip away at it, but never give up.
Senior data protection analyst, Royal Bank of Canada
Years in the
What do you like most about working in the security industry and what motivates you to succeed?
What I like most about the security industry is the abundance of learning opportunities available. The industry is so broad and filled with individuals with diverse perspectives and forward-thinking ideas that the learning never ends. W hat motivates me to succeed is my family. Second, it is the understanding that my contributions to the global cybersecurity (GCS) team, however small, can have the potential to be impactful to the enterprise.
How have you grown in your career and what are some of the key lessons you’ve learned?
The way we have traditionally viewed career growth is upward, often measured by a professional title. What I have learned is that growth is useless if we do not use our knowledge and opportunities to better others, our workplaces and our communities. A large part of security is about enforcing rules and policies, but most of all, it should be about understanding human beings. The key lesson I have learned is to always lead with empathy.
What are some of the challenges facing the industry today?
Diversifying the security workforce, especially at senior levels, has always been a challenge in the security industry. We are slowly witnessing the emergence of differ-
ent training programs that are course-correcting this imbalance, but changing the narrative is crucial. We need to change some of the common assumptions about the industry — i.e., men are more technical than their counterparts, physical security is limited to guarding opportunities, etc. Changing these narratives, particularly with younger generations, is critically important in opening up and diversifying the talent pipeline.
What would you suggest to someone thinking about a career in security or just starting out?
Never be afraid to share your ideas and opinions, or to ask questions. Many of us battle with imposter syndrome, especially early in our careers, but remember that security benefits from your ideas. The more people who can identify security risks and find complementary risk controls will inevitably strengthen the organization. Diversity of thought is critically important in security, and shying away from speaking up is a detriment. Find a positive/healthy workplace culture and surround yourself with people who value your competencies.
Chris
Anquist Regional manager, security services, GardaWorld
Years in the security industry: 7 years
What do you like most about working in the security industry and what motivates you to succeed?
There’s no greater honour than being trusted to keep people safe. The threats we face are constantly adapting, and our industry faces growing complexity at both local and global levels. I’m genuinely curious and passionate about digging into big issues, trying new strategies, growing thought leadership, and supporting col-
laboration and innovation in our approaches. I’m motivated by a belief that good security starts with a genuine care for people.
How have you grown in your career and what are some of the key lessons you’ve learned?
Completing a master’s degree in global security overseas opened my eyes to the diversity of thought and practice that exists around the world. It taught me to question assumptions, behave with compassion and always be data hungry.
Practically speaking, I’ve learned to surround myself with people smarter than me; to write simple plans that are clear on objectives; to have open and honest conversations; and to trust and empower teams so that they can solve their own problems.
What are some of the challenges facing the industry today?
Pivoting from reactively fighting threats to instead deeply understanding our persons or issues of concern. Walking a mile in someone else’s shoes helps to identify root cause issues, which results in the development of long-term effective strategies.
We need a sense of urgency and a sense of the greater good. The global order is changing, trust in organizations is falling, and threats are increasing. So we need to put aside our differences and have difficult conversations now to strengthen our future resiliency.
What would you suggest to someone thinking about a career in security or just starting out?
No matter what level you are at, lead the development of healthy cultures. Don’t let bad habits be your guide — instead find good people who you can emulate. Create an atmosphere of trust and respect where people matter.
Hold strong values and high standards no matter what. Hire people who align with your values and standards. Always ask why.
Vivian Chiu
Raphael Duguay Senior security advisor, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
What do you like most about working in the security industry and what motivates you to succeed?
Helping others, being useful and serving a good cause motivates me the most. As a security advisor and inspector in nuclear security, it’s a privilege to work for the CNSC (federal nuclear regulator) to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians, as well as our environment. As a volunteer, I am proud to be an ASIS member and to support my community.
How have you grown in your career and what are some of the key lessons you’ve learned?
At age 19, 9/11 happened. A year later, I enrolled as a reservist and studied security and police studies at the University of Montreal. I continued with a master’s degree in criminology while I was working part time as a private security officer, consultant and researcher. I had excellent teachers who became my mentors.
Being a volunteer with ASIS International in Montreal is one of the best career decisions I have made. I pursued my first PSP certification and moved to Ottawa to work at the CNSC nuclear security division. That was another good decision—after marrying my wonderful wife and having three kids!
What are some of the challenges facing the industry today?
New and evolving cyber-attacks, potential insider threats, unmanned aerial vehicles and converged security threats (blended attacks) continue to challenge the nuclear sector. As a volunteer with ASIS Ottawa, we are working on bridging the gaps with students and young
professionals who are interested in making a career in security in the private and/or public sector. There’s great work being done to increase inclusion, equity and diversity in the security profession and to enhance security professionalization. More work is needed there.
What would you suggest to someone thinking about a career in security or just starting out?
If you are interested in a security career, touch base with other security practitioners in the field. Sign up for security magazines, ASIS newsletters and social media platforms to learn more. Ask questions and have discussions with subject matter experts. Be curious. If you are serious, pursue an education or certification program in security. Become a member of a security association and start networking with peers.
Shane Wright Executive vice-president, Paladin Security Group
tionships through universal principles based on trust, transparency and the respect for the inherent worth and dignity of all people. When you treat people with respect and make decisions coming from a place of care and empathy, trust is formed very quickly. Conducting myself by these principles has allowed me to gain the trust of our Paladin employees who work tirelessly to make the world a safer and friendlier place. It has also allowed me to develop successful business partnerships with Indigenous communities who are trying to make the best long-term decisions possible for their people.
What are some of the challenges facing the industry today?
From supply chain issues impacting integrated security systems to labour shortages impacting guard services, there are many challenges facing the security industry today. For many years, the trend has been to eliminate the guard positions outright using security systems technology as a long-term cost-saving measure. Now more than ever, we need to focus on the evolution of full-service security solutions where security guard services are augmented by technology.
What do you like most about working in the security industry and what motivates you to succeed?
In my career at Paladin, I have had the privilege to learn and lead our integrated security programs, which fuse high-profile guard services with integrated security systems. It is the creative aspect and innovation of these combined services that I find most rewarding and therefore serves as one of my biggest motivators.
How have you grown in your career and what are some of the key lessons you’ve learned?
One of the key factors that has helped me at all stages of my career (security officer, account manager, branch manager, director and vice-president) is establishing rela-
What would you suggest to someone thinking about a career in security or just starting out?
The security industry has proven to be a great stepping stone for other public safety-related careers and Paladin has helped thousands of employees take their security careers to the next level, but I always tell our people that the security industry can be more than just a stepping stone.
One of my biggest motivations in the security industry is to put our organization and, therefore myself, in a position to provide other deserving persons with opportunities to grow from within. It is gratifying to find someone that enjoys what they do, equip them with additional training and tools to excel in their position and prepare themselves for further advancement. | CS
THE INTERNET DETECTIVES
A combination of analytical skills and technology can help security managers make the most of open source intelligence
By Madalene Arias
British spy thriller TV series Killing Eve follows the story of an intelligence officer in her hunt for a psychopathic killer. Aside from these central characters, the audience meets self-trained investigator Kenny Stowton. He becomes the young man MI6 agent Eve Polastri relies on time and time again. He locates the face of the wanted killer through a database of known convicts. He finds the precise location of a person using nothing more than an email address. In magical TV seconds, Stowton gets it right every time. Embedded in this fictitious tale of quick investigators is the very real story of how much information about the world and its people is publicly accessible online, much of it carrying the potential to become intelligence that will ultimately determine a course of action.
Investigative experts in Canada’s corporate security landscape do not speak of magical seconds in open source intelligence, or OSINT, but rather describe a process that requires a fine balance between human analytical ability and machine-led artificial intelligence to be successful.
The human and the machine
M ike Lantz, vice-president at Paladin Risk Solutions, says securing the right balance between a good analyst and AI has been the biggest evolution in OSINT since its inception.
According to Lantz, a private investigator working out of British Columbia for more than 27 years, so many tools have emerged from OSINT. The term itself has transformed to more modern descriptions like “intelligence risk monitoring.”
“ There’s no really good AI tool out there that will do it for you. And as a single
analyst, it is difficult to do it by yourself. That’s why it’s a good pairing,” says Lantz.
The technology is there to collect the data. As Lantz explains, the more data collected, the higher the possibility of locating potential threats. The analyst, or team of analysts, is there to assess the data and determine whether a real threat to their client is represented in the information.
Successful analysts possess technical prowess and are social media savvy. They have an investigative mindset but maintain an open mind that can piece together data from various sources. They are familiar with different databases and know the best places to look for certain types of information.
Existing OSINT-related tools serve to narrow down searches for the analyst. Some tools monitor and produce alerts while others serve more as investigative tools to collect data.
In his role as VP at Paladin, Lantz oversees the company’s North American risk operations. He says the company invests at least half a million dollars in annual subscriptions towards data mining tools.
“ There’s so much information out there that’s not really relevant to what we need, but somebody needs to sift through it to
make sure that it’s not, in fact, relevant. Having those tools is really imperative to be able to get through that information.”
Steering through the data universe
One such tool comes from digital threat intelligence company, Halifax-based Liferaft.
Navigator is a platform powered by Liferaft. The company’s manager of market strategy, Neil Spencer, describes it as a system that is designed to make the analyst’s life easier in the old needle in the haystack scenario.
“It’s multifaceted. It is one big collection and aggregation of that data, so you need the machines to go and find the right content,” says Spencer.
Navigator has machine learning and AI built into it. Its functionality allows users to pick and choose the information that is most pertinent to their investigations, and some of this is done using keyword terms. Once the platform sees that specified information come through, it will elevate that content of interest for the user.
A s Spencer explains, the human is there to validate the information brought before them. At this stage, the security professional would assess the information before highlighting the findings to stakeholders within the organization. This could be done through a report or mass communication, if time is of the essence.
One of the greatest changes in OSINT is the availability of open source data that could become intelligence. Five years ago, people in the field only had what he called a “smattering” of sources centred around social media like Reddit, Facebook and Twitter.
“Now, there is a much more broad array of areas that contain information that can identify threats,” said Spencer.
Since the digital era has been plagued by misinformation, validation of the data collected is a process that requires yet another set of skills.
A s security veteran Bob Riddell explains, analysts cannot take any of the information they find at face value.
OSINT and misinformation
Riddell, whose security career spans more
than 30 years in financial institutions and property management, said security analysts leveraging OSINT need to grow their analytical abilities to counter the rising tide of erroneous data online.
“ Despite being so plentiful, social media already heavily integrates misinformation,” he says. “Not only do they get the information, but you have to go through a process of discerning as to what is fact versus fiction. There’s a lot of sophisticated analysis that has to be done.”
Riddell has contributing to the security industry in multiple capacities, including as the founding chair of the Building Owners & Managers Association Toronto - Security Risk Management Advisory Council. Riddell established his own advisory practice, Riddell Risk Management, in 2020 and is also the director of Consilium Public Sector Services.
Throughout his career, Riddell used OSINT to identify threats in the form of potentially violent protests where protection of private property was concerned. In the area of finance, OSINT became a security tool to identify potential scams.
“ The overarching rule for any analysts moving forward, when they’re reviewing information, is they’ve got to be cautious in their assessments of the data and take steps necessary to cross verify against other sources, so they can make sure of the veracity of that information,” says Riddell, adding that this is of even greater importance if they’re going to be distributing their findings or making recommendations based on their research.
D espite the security challenges that inevitably arise as technology advances, it should be noted that the expansion of OSINT has also meant opportunities for growth.
The development of Edmonton-based AI and big data company Samdesk is almost a direct correlation of this expansion in open source information.
The earliest signs of a threat
Samdesk founder and CEO James Neufeld describes the green stages of his career in newsrooms, when he held a technical, behind-the-scenes role, assisting journal-
ists with breaking news by scouring social media for the first signs of an event.
In the years that followed, Neufeld would build a company similar to that role, however, his company would use AI to monitor data at the global level and help identify the earliest signs of a threat to different stakeholders. Currently, Samdesk’s portfolio includes corporate clients, NGOs and public sector organizations, among others.
The company’s sources have expanded to include reports from community-based journalism, satellite imagery, audio sensors, live streaming data, textuals and footage uploaded from the mobile devices of bystanders.
Neufeld says the goal of Samdesk is to give its users the most robust and raw data from multiple angles so that they have the richest possible view of events as they transpire on the ground.
“ We’re now in a unique position from an information and situational awareness standpoint that we’ve never really had in human history, where everything is being documented from numerous angles in near real-time, or often in real-time,” says Neufeld.
Of late, the company has integrated its technology with travel management tools to provide travel managers and security managers with alerts. Samdesk has also integrated with enterprise resource planning software to assist companies with their supply chain management.
For Neufeld, human intelligence is not only a critical component in the analytical stage but also in the actual building of the platforms. Neufeld explains that data scientists and engineers are responsible for the creation of systems that can identify items of significance using AI.
Currently, Samdesk is also using its platform to collect data on events in Ukraine to supply Amnesty International’s investigations and documentation of the conflict for human rights abuses.
“It becomes a really powerful data set where we don’t have to rely on official government bodies as much as we once did. We don’t have to rely on the assessments of individual analysts and their view of the world.” | CS
Product Focus
Fire communicator
Alula
BAT-Fire is a universal 5G-ready fire communicator for system integrators requiring an all-purpose, full-featured device. BAT-Fire offers easy configuration and support of all fire alarm control panels using dial-capture to report Contact ID signals, or flexible inputs for interfacing with dialer-less FACPs. Connect the communicator via its dual Tip & Ring Dial Capture, configure the panel and the system is ready to go. The new communicator provides sole path cellular (LTE-M) and IP or dual path communications. BAT-Fire’s four programmable inputs or outputs allow monitoring of auxiliary building systems, such as the HVAC and sprinkler flow control. There’s no need to redo battery calculations, as the new communicator is powered off the panel, using less current and eliminating the need for a different power supply or a bigger or secondary battery. www.alula.com
Integrated voice
Potter Electric Signal Co.
Potter announces the release of the Integrated Voice System along with the IPA-4000V and AFC-1000V fire alarm control panels. These updated panels have all the functionality of the original IPA-4000 and AFC-1000 panels, and now include the ability to create and send out voice evacuation messages. The Integrated Voice System can be used to address multiple site requirements for the Potter AFC-1000V and IPA-4000V, with capacity including up to 104 programmable push buttons, 31 total system amplifiers, 248 speaker circuits, and remote system control using the new LOC-1000 Local Operator Console. The Integrated Voice System utilizes a text-to-speech feature that allows users to create custom spoken audio messages themselves.
www.pottersignal.com
Connected wearables
Blackline Safety
Sprinkler shields
Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls introduces the Tyco Model ES-1 and ES-2 Sprinkler Shields for the protection of in-rack early suppression fast response (ESFR) sprinklers in storage facilities and warehouses. The all-metal shields work to protect sprinkler elements from cold soldering, which occurs when cascading water from ceiling-mounted and high-mounted in-rack sprinklers cool down and inhibits the operation of in-rack sprinklers mounted at lower heights. The sprinkler shields are designed for use with Tyco Model ESFR pendent sprinklers. www.tyco-fire.com
Blackline Safety’s cloud-enabled G7 wearable safety devices provide connectivity across any workplace. The G7 wearables — small, wireless devices worn like a cell phone — detect gas leaks, falls and other health events in all types of business environments, from lone workers in the field to industrial workers. They can also be used for contact tracing purposes or to determine how often workers travel through high-risk areas. The devices operate on available cellular, with optional satellite connectivity, and deploy straight out of the box. Workers are instantly alerted to emergency situations to facilitate streamlined evacuation and emergency response procedures, and if workers themselves are harmed or injured, their location is pinpointed so emergency responders know exactly where to go and what conditions to expect.
www.blacklinesafety.com
Sirens/Strobes
STI
STI’s line of round and rectangular Select-Alert sirens/strobes are a way to alert to unauthorized use, theft or vandalism, as well as unwarranted exits and entries. For use with cabinets, or mount above doors, to the wall, or the ceiling, the Select-Alert Mini Controllers feature a round or rectangle shape, and 32 selectable sounds with volume control. The round model (STI-SA5500) has a choice of eight strobe flash patterns with speed selection, backup battery feature, and is weather resistant. The rectangle model (STISA5600) has a tamperproof lens option, and alert trigger on power. Both models have a 12-24 VDC power supply. Lens colour choices are amber, green, blue, red, white or clear (round model only).
www.sti-usa.com
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West Richmond, British Columbia June 22, 2022
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