Whether you’ve just got your Guard License and considering joining a large security company to get your first job or you are a well-seasoned close protection officer who has experienced the corporate culture of a large business and is ready to make a change, consider the advantages of working for a small security company first because bigger isn’t always better.

• Small companies are more flexible. Large businesses are known for lengthy chains of command and strict protocols, offering employees little to no freedom to go above and beyond for a client. With fewer layers, small companies allow you greater flexibility. Whether it’s providing exceptional customer support or going that extra mile to get that new customer, working for a small company will give you the chance to show initiative, stand out from other security guards and competitors and the opportunity to advance in your career.

• Clients are more than just a number. Large security agencies employ hundreds if not thousands of people who are only doing enough to scrape by. Being a small business is a unique selling proposition, because it gives you the opportunity to be more personable and engage with clients.

• You can make a big impact because your opinion really matters. Working for a smaller company will give you a greater opportunity to voice your ideas, have them be heard and even put into play. Watching the positive effects your work has on a company as a whole is rewarding and will drive you forward.

• You can have many roles. Small business are resourceful, they put together hardworking teams of individuals with a diverse skill set to get the job done. This often means helping out with tasks that might not fall under your job title and can be a great benefit for anyone who gets easily bored.

• Being part of a small business will allow you to stretch your creativity. With a smaller budget, a smaller business will push you to think outside of the box in order to accomplish your goals. Maybe a new CCTV system is needed and your boss appoints you, the security guard, the task of putting together a fundraiser for the money needed to purchase it.

• You can build strong relationships with employees of all levels in a small business. If you’ve worked for large security firms, you’ll already know it’s difficult and can be almost impossible for large companies to create a close knit, family like atmosphere within their organization. With numerous offices and employees doing different tasks, there is little likelihood all employees will even meet. On the contrary, small businesses allow you to work in a warm and friendly environment where workers know, work closely and support one another.

• There are less rules and regulations needed in smaller work environments, and they are more likely to be bent for you, if your individual circumstances permit.  It can be harder to get support during difficult times in your life in big security firms because instead of looking at your individual circumstances, big businesses have to follow work protocol and treat you like the next employee to keep things fair.

• There is room for change. Being part of a smaller company leaves room for innovation making it easier to respond to opportunities and threats. Without as many layers, you can quickly respond to challenges the business is faced with and take on new opportunities as the arise, whereas with larger companies, their lengthy chain of command can mean it can take time to fix what isn’t working or take hold of opportunities that are waiting for the company.

Do you work for a small business or a big one? What do you like most and least about it? Comment below to let us know.

The post Reasons to Work for a Small Security Company appeared first on Advanced Professional Security.

We’re approaching peak season for summer event planners and event managers, and it’s time to start getting all the finer event details done and coordinated. As you know by now, planning and executing a good event is challenging. If you’ve done it before then you’ve probably learned a thing or two along the way, but if you’re managing or planning an event for the first time then there’s a lot that may be new to you. Here are some of our major summer event dos and don’ts to help you through the process:

DO: Think Like a Guest

Set aside time to go through the details of your event, from start to finish, from the perspective of a guest that has no prior knowledge or information to work from. Consider logistics like pre and post-event communication, clear signage, lineups, wait times, volunteers being positioned at helpful locations, onsite access to bathrooms, ease of social media engagement during the event, and the availability and location of food and beverage providers. Being able to consider your entire event from the perspective of a guest will allow you to imagine the actual event-goer experience and identify any missed pieces or ways to improve.

DO: Keep Guests Cool

Whether your event is indoors, outdoors or a mix of both, make sure that you’ve considered the heat. Does your venue have air conditioning? Is there enough shade outside? Are you providing easy access to an ongoing supply of water? If your event is completely outdoors, you could even consider providing umbrellas for shade, small fans or sunscreen during peak hours of the day.

DO: Have a Safety & Security Plan

Safety and security measures are very important for any event where a large number of people will be gathering in one location. Having a security plan in place and security personnel on location is hugely important, both for guests’ peace of mind and also ensuring that if an issue arises there are trained professionals ready to respond. It’s important to also make sure that your guests have easy access to emergency medical attention in case it’s needed.

DO: A Pre-Event Walkthrough

Before any big event, it’s important to do a full walk through to ensure that all the moving pieces are in place, and that the event will physically move and flow in the way that you want it to. Specifically, ensure that all tech requirements have been met and systems are good to go, any rental equipment or furnishing has arrived and is in place, entrances are clearly indicated and won’t cause bottlenecking, signage has been correctly placed and staff or volunteers in each area have been fully briefed and prepared. Doing a physical walk through the day before or morning of an event is a great way to identify any issues that, if unidentified, could be seriously problematic mid-event.

DON’T: Under Staff

Be both realistic and generous when planning out your staffing and volunteer requirements. There are few things as chaotic as an understaffed festival or event. It’s far better to have a few extra staff on hand than not enough available to manage things. Volunteers can be a great asset within any event, but be sure to correctly allocate your staff and volunteer resources to where they are most needed. And account for the fact that, often, not all of your volunteers will show up on the day of the event!

DON’T: Under Resource

One of the worst things that you can do for any big event, specifically an outdoor summer event, is under-resource. From food vendors and bars to water stations and restrooms, make sure that you have enough! Running out of food and water is not only a bad experience for your guests, but it can be dangerous in the summer sun, especially if alcohol is also being served. Be sure to also have enough restrooms for your guests, and have a staff team on hand to keep them as clean and pleasant as possible.

DON’T: Keep People Waiting

A little anticipation can certainly build up the pre-event hype, but don’t keep guests waiting too long! There’s a fine line between exciting anticipation and agitation over waiting for something that you’ve paid good money for. You want your guests to experience the excitement, but not the agitation! Make sure that your timelines are well planned and all scheduled parties are fully aware of their start times and requirements. The last thing you want at your event is an angry group of impatient ticket holders!

DON’T: Over Serve

Alcohol consumption is a normal and expected part of many summer events. Depending on the nature of your event, guests will likely expect there to be alcohol available. It’s important to be well stocked in order to avoid running out, but it’s equally important to have trained, certified bartenders who are able to identify and manage anyone who has been over served. Over serving puts the individuals’ safety at risk, and can make you, as the event manager, liable.

Consider each of these dos and don’ts as your event date approaches, and be diligent in each detail! The more planning and preparation you do now, the easier things will be later on. And don’t forget, if you’re in need of event security or want advice on how best to secure your venue, we’re always here to help.

The post The Major Dos and Don’ts of Event Planning appeared first on Advanced Professional Security.

VIP Protection

When it comes to large-scale events in Denver, it’s not unusual to have high-profile speakers, political figures or even celebrities on the list of attendees. It’s important to protect these individuals, but also to protect the rest of your attendees, as these individuals can often attract unwanted attention. Having security guards on hand means that uninvited attention is kept out, and protection and management is immediate should any issues arise.

Crowd Control

This is probably the most obvious reason to have security at your event. Be it a concert, market, conference or festival, summer events almost always draw out a crowd. And where there’s a crowd, there’s potential for chaos. People in crowds have a tendency to follow one another’s behavior, especially if tension breaks out. This often means that if one person makes a decision to follow the wrong line, ignore a sign or head through the wrong entrance or exit, then others will follow. Things can escalate quickly, alcohol is often involved and crowd control becomes incredibly important. Hope for the best, but always be prepared for the worst. If anything goes wrong within a large crowd, you’re going to want security guards on hand to manage and take control to de-escalate a situation, and make sure your attendees are having fun without feeling in danger.

Crasher Prevention

Ticketed events often come along with a few non-ticket holders. People love to crash events. Whether it’s a few kids trying to gain entry to a 19+ concert or an angry fan who couldn’t get a pass for the music festival that sold out, you may have a few people trying to sneak into your event. If you have any celebrity or high profile guests, you’ll likely also have media, press or paparazzi trying to gain access. These situations can be very tricky to manage, especially for staff who already have their hands completely full. Security guards are fully trained in managing these situations in the best way possible. They’ll be able to diffuse the situation, ensure that no one gains access who shouldn’t, while also prioritizing a positive and professional look for your event in order to avoid negative press or unwanted attention.

How are thing coming along for your upcoming summer event? Don’t forget about the importance of crowd management, emergency planning and security! Let us Know what kind of event you’re planning and we’ll let you know exactly how we can help.

The post Why Security Matters at Your Summer Event appeared first on Advanced Professional Security.

On Saturday, Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) arrested hacker Denis Zayev in Stavropol, Russia on charges he created several software programs designed to swindler gas customers, according to multiple Russian media reports. The software was found only on gas stations located predominantly throughout the south of Russia.

The FSB did not return email request for comment on this story.

Zayev is accused of developing the software programs and selling them to rogue gas-station employees. Under the arraignment, both gas-station employees and Zayev received a cut of the money customers overpaid for gas. According to the FSB, the crime earned Zayev and gas station employees “hundreds of millions of rubles.”

A translated report from news source Rosbalt said the malicious software was nearly impossible to detect by local inspectors and oil companies that monitor gasoline inventory remotely.

According to the report, not only did pumps display false data, but also cash registers and back-end systems.  Next, Zayev’s software was able to cloak sales data tied to the sale of a station’s illicit surplus gasoline.

It’s unclear what tipped Russian authorities off to the scam.

Hackers targeting gas stations isn’t new. In 2014,  New York state authorities charged 13 men for using Bluetooth-enabled skimmers to steal more than $2 million from customers at gas stations across the Southern United States between 2012 and 2013.

A 2015 Black Hat presentation (PDF) by researchers Kyle Wilhoit and Stephen Hilt, also highlighted dangers of a growing number of internet-exposed gas pump monitoring systems in the U.S. They warned exposed SCADA systems could allow malicious actors to carry out DDoS attacks against pumps, register incorrect fill data and damage engines by manipulating pumps to serve diesel fuel instead of unleaded.

The post Hacker Infects Gas Pumps with Code to Cheat Customers appeared first on Advanced Professional Security.