Health Benefits of Almonds and Pistachios
Disclosing Pregnancy in an Interview
Exercise Machines Used to Trim the Waist
Gender Discrimination in the Workplace
Can Quitting Gluten Be Bad for You?
Proper Technique for Running
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Health Benefits of Almonds and Pistachios
Disclosing Pregnancy in an Interview
Exercise Machines Used to Trim the Waist
Gender Discrimination in the Workplace
Can Quitting Gluten Be Bad for You?
Proper Technique for Running
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For a long time, security was its own entity in the IT infrastructure. Security and IT didn’t always see eye to eye, and there were often points of contention. Nowadays, as collaboration between the two has become more common, both IT and security are combining forces to better understand the risks and threats to the enterprise. IT looks at security for expertise on finding weaknesses, how they can exploited, and how big that particular weakness or vulnerability is. Security needs IT to help implement proper controls.
As this collaboration increases, there are four ways for security professionals to better understand the relationship between security and IT (and even the business) in order to better protect the enterprise and make themselves more valuable to their companies in the process:1) Get out of your chair. You don’t establish relationships by sitting at your desk and sending emails. You establish relationships by talking to people as much as possible, whether it be face-to-face, over the phone or using new technologies, such as Skype. Develop relationships with those in the IT department and in other business areas within your company. As you develop these relationships, start to work on building trust by listening to the problems of those in other business areas and sharing your problems as well. Help your colleagues by showing them that you care about their issues and want to help them solve their problems. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.This also means becoming involved with different organizations, whether it be a local or online chapter. Some of the larger organizations are ISSA (the Information System Security Association) and ISC2 (the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium). Both of these have local and national chapters. Another is InfraGard, which is an organization that works in conjunction with the FBI to discuss all aspects of security. Participating in these groups will make you realize that you are not alone as a security professional. Others have walked the same path for years and are eager to help those in their community.2) Attend conferences and meetings at both the local and national level. This ties into No. 1 quite a bit, but it’s important for security professionals to attend both security and IT conferences. These are opportunities for you to get out and meet people and to find out what are the latest threats and vulnerabilities. At the conferences, you can watch presentations from industry experts to stay up to date on what’s happening out there in the world of IT and in the world of security – or even in the world of business. You can also learn more about the current best practices and standards by talking with those that are at the cutting-edge of their process or technology.3) Pursue formal training and/or education. First, understand the difference between training and education. Training will teach you a very specific skill, while education teaches you the critical thinking necessary to work with those skills. On the training side, there are numerous classes you can take to boost a particular skill.On the education side, it is important to realize that technology alone does not solve or prevent problems. Technologies are just tools you use by having the right training and experience. With education comes the knowledge and critical thinking skill set necessary to solve not just one problem but multiple problems. Another thing that education gives you is exposure to different subject areas and problems within each of these subjects, as well as knowledge about how to solve these problems using many different types of tools and techniques.You’ll need the right combination of training and education in order to get hired and do well in your position. There is no magic bullet where you can say, “Well, if you do all of this, you’ll be guaranteed a job.”4) Always Be Curious (ABC). You can also call this “always be learning.” One good problem-solving technique that I use all the time is called the “five whys.” Ask yourself why five times. For example, why is this a problem? Why did this occur? Why wasn’t this prevented? Why is this the best solution? Why will my solution prevent the problem from occurring again? This includes using the professional network discussed in the earlier points to discuss the situation with professionals both inside and outside your company. Make sure to read current news, websites, blogs and literature. Going back to the collaboration between security and IT, don’t just read about security but also read about IT and the business practices in other parts of your industry. Understand how your business works, and what your company is in business to do. Most companies are not in business to do security, and you should know what your business processes are.Another important part of being curious is studying on your own. Do your homework. If you aren’t familiar with a topic, you don’t need a big budget in order to learn more about it. There are a ton of free resources on the Internet. In addition, don’t be afraid to use your network to learn more. If you don’t know much about a particular technology, find an expert to answer your question. Ninety-nine percent of the time, someone will be willing to help you if you come across as being curious and wanting to learn.The last part is being willing to play. Get out and practice on your own systems. Try out new things, and set up your own virtual lab. It doesn’t cost anything, and PCs are so robust nowadays that it is very easy to set up a virtual lab on one computer. One of the best ways to learn is to use your own systems, and if you accidentally destroy something, all that is harmed is one of your own systems. And, if it’s a virtual system, you can just wipe it away and restart it without hurting your base system.One thing to keep in mind is that to be a good security professional, the most important attribute is maturity. Once you’ve been around the block and understand how things work, you will know how to influence your environment in a positive fashion in order to improve security. In addition, you will know how to see things from others’ viewpoints in order to understand whether they have a valid concern or are just throwing up a roadblock. But, how does one gain this maturity? This goes back to attending conferences, pursuing more training and education, and remaining curious. Performing these activities within your organization and outside network will give you a chance to learn how things have been done in the past, whether procedures or solutions can be successful, and whether there might be some pitfalls.This maturity will also help you tackle complicated problems and come up with more than one potential solution, as problems often are not black and white with only one solution. Proper problem definition is often a key challenge, and these techniques will put you in a position to best identify ways to approach problems and solutions from both a technical and non-technical standpoint.
This article was previously published in the print magazine as "Want Better IT Collaboration? Be Willing to Play (and other tips)."
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Health Benefits of Almonds and Pistachios
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Exercise Machines Used to Trim the Waist
Gender Discrimination in the Workplace
Can Quitting Gluten Be Bad for You?
Proper Technique for Running
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International Fighters Flock to High-Risk Battlegrounds | 2014-09-01 | Security Magazine
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Recent Searches safest hospitals / webinar / top security integrators / universities / ted bushnik FIND ADVANCED Physical Security / Security Education & Training International Fighters Flock to High-Risk Battlegrounds The Syrian civil war has resulted in the deaths of 150,000 people, more than 500,000 injured and millions displaced internally and outside Syria. By Dean C. Alexander September 1, 2014 No Comments KEYWORDS Arab Spring security / counterterrorism / international security risks / Syrian civil war security / terrorism risks Email / Print / Reprints / 
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The Syrian civil war has resulted in the deaths of 150,000 people, more than 500,000 injured and millions displaced internally and outside Syria. The country is increasingly viewed as a hotbed and training ground for transnational (especially Sunni) jihadists. This troublesome phenomenon, including the possibility that Syria will become a safe haven from terrorists, as Afghanistan was prior to 9/11 – and is still to some extent – merits further elucidation.
According to James Clapper, Director of U.S. National Intelligence in January 2014 U.S. congressional testimony, there are some 100,000 rebels fighting Assad’s forces, of which about 25,000 are “extremists.” Director Clapper further estimated that foreign Sunni jihadi fighters traveling to and participating on behalf of disparate Syrian insurgent forces originate from more than 50 countries, and number some 7,000 persons. In February 2014, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry estimated the number of foreign fighters in Syria between 7,000 and 11,000 persons from about 70 nations. These foreign fighters have come from across the globe (e.g., Canada, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan, Chechnya, Kosovo), although mostly from the Middle East and North Africa.
The allure of fighting in Syria has even reached Australian shores. In 2014, Australia’s Attorney General, George Brandis, stated that between 120-150 Australians traveled to Syria to participate in the conflict.
By 2013, more than 1,200 European Muslims – mostly from Russia, France, the United Kingdom, Belgium and Germany – were believed to have traveled to Syria, looking to fight on behalf of the rebels, mostly Sunni-linked. Interest by Europeans in participating in the Syrian conflict stems, in part, to the relative ease and low cost of reaching Syria through Turkey, Jordan or Lebanon.
By 2014, some 500 British citizens were estimated to have traveled to Syria to fight in the civil war. In 2014, Theresa May, the UK Home Secretary, warned, “We are concerned about the threat to the UK from Syria-based groups and the threat of foreign fighters returning to this country.”
Concurrently, some 6,500 foreign Shia fighters (mainly those affiliated with the Shia, Lebanese-based terror group Hezbollah; Iranian soldiers; and Iraqi volunteers) have fought to buttress the efforts of the Assad regime. In sum, Sunni and Shia foreign fighters have contributed to the aggravation of this sectarian conflict, although other elements of the population – Christians, Druze and Kurds – further complicate prospects for reconciliation post-conflict, whenever that will occur.
American Fighters in Syria
Analogously, it is estimated that more than 70 Americans have traveled (or attempted to travel) to Syria to participate in the conflict, primarily, again, to aid Sunni jihadi rebels. Among some of U.S. citizens who tried (or were able) to join various insurgent groups against the Assad regime include:
Eric Harroun: A former U.S. army soldier, Harroun was arrested and charged in March 2013 with conspiring to use a rocket propelled grenade while fighting with al Nusrah Front, often referred to al Qaeda in Iraq. More specifically, he was charged with conspiring to use a destructive device outside of the United States. Harroun apparently entered Syria in January 2013, and later trained and fought with al Nusra. Ultimately, Harroun pled guilty to a conspiracy to export defense articles and services in a September 2013 plea agreement. He was sentenced to time served in jail.Abdella Ahmad Tounisi: In April 2013 Tounisi, an 18-year-old high school student from Illinois, was arrested as he attempted to board a flight from Chicago to Istanbul, on his way to ultimately travel from there to Gaziantep, on the Turkish-Syrian border, and then to Syria. Tounisi, who interacted both online and offline with an undercover FBI employee, was charged with attempting to provide material support to al Nusrah Front, an alias for al Qaeda in Iraq. A trial is expected in 2014.Nicole Lynn Mansfield: In May 2013, Mansfield was killed with two men by Syrian government forces. According to Syrian government media reports, she was fighting with an al Qaeda affiliate, believed by press reports, to be Ahrar al-Sham, the “Free Men of Syria.” Mansfield’s family claims that Nicole was media coordinator to one of the Islamist rebel groups. According to some reports, Nicole was imbued with extremist tenets by her second husband, a Saudi, who she met online. A subsequent marriage to a man from the United Arab Emirates, who she also met online, ended in divorce as well. In any case, Mansfield is believed to be the first American killed in the conflict.Amir Farouk Ibrahim: In July 2013, Ibrahim’s passport was found with the identification documents of other foreigners in Syria, at a base abandoned by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, an al Qaeda affiliate. He is presumed to have been killed fighting Assad’s forces.Gufran Ahmed Kauser Mohammed: In August 2013, Mohammed, 30, and Mohamed Hussein Said from Kenya were charged with conspiring to provide money and recruits to al Qaeda, al Qaeda in Iraq/al Nusrah Front (in Syria), and al Shabaab (in Somalia). Mohammed sent wire transfers to a person he believed was a fundraiser, recruiter, and supplier for al Qaeda and al Qaeda in Iraq/al Nusrah Front with the goal of supporting those organizations. Also, Mohammed and Said agreed to aid al Qaeda and al Qaeda in Iraq/al Nusrah Front by recruiting and transferring experienced al Shabaab fighters to Syria. A trial is expected in 2014.Nicholas Michael Teausant: In October 2013, Teausant was arrested for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq (ISIS), a merger – in April 2013, subsequently unhinged – between the Islamic State of Iraq and the al-Nusra Front. Teausant came to the attention of U.S. law enforcement through his anti-U.S. and pro-jihadists rants on various social media sites. Subsequently, Teausant interacted with a confidential informant and undercover FBI agent, and the three discussed Teausant’s plans to travel to Syria and fight with ISIS. He was arrested as he commenced his travels abroad. A trial is expected in 2014.Basit Javed Sheikh: In November 2013 Sheikh, 29, was arrested as he attempted to board a flight from North Carolina with a final destination to Lebanon, believing that an individual – who turned out to be a FBI covert employee – could smuggle him to Syria. Sheikh was charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to Jahbat al-Nusrah, an alias name for al Qaeda in Iraq. Sheikh told the FBI covert employee that he was ready to fight and be a martyr there. In 2012, Sheikh spent several weeks in Turkey, while attempting to enter Syria to fight wit Jahbat al-Nusrah. A trial is expected in 2014.Sinh Vinh Ngo Nguyen: In December 2013, Nguyen pled guilty to attempting to provide material support to Jahbat al-Nusrah, an alias name for al Qaeda in Iraq, in Syria. Nguyen claimed that for several months he was in Syria, fighting with Jahbat al-Nusrah, and then returned to the United States. While in the United States, Nguyen interacted with a confidential informant, who he thought was an al Qaeda recruiter. Nguyen offered to travel to Pakistan, where he sought to train al Qaeda fighters for an attack against ISAF forces.Three U.S. naturalized citizens of Somali descent undertook suicide bombings in Somali on behalf of the Somali terror group al Shabaab. The concern is that U.S.-based individuals would fight in Syria, return to the United States, and participate in a terror attack on U.S. soil.
While the majority of the Americans who travel to Syria are presumed to aspire to fight with one of the Sunni jihadist groups there, some Americans travel abroad to fight in support of Syrian government forces, including Hezbollah forces, or assist the Syrian regime while based in the United States. An example of the latter is Mohamad Anas Haitham Soueid, who in March 2012, was convicted of unlawfully acting as an agent of Syria. Soueid was convicted of collecting videos and audio recordings and other information about individuals based in Syria and the United States who were protesting the Syrian government as well as providing this content to Syrian intelligence agencies in order to intimidate and target the protesters. In July 2012, Soueid was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Analogously, in March 2014, Mohammad Hassan Hamdan was charged with attempting to provide material support to Hezbollah. Hamdan, a Lebanese immigrant to the U.S., was a Hezbollah member when he lived in Lebanon, including fighting with them against Israel in 2006. In 2014, Hamdan was arrested at Detroit Airport before boarding a flight to Beirut. In Beirut, Hamdan planned to rejoin Hezbollah, get paid between $500-$1,000/month and fight with Hezbollah members in Syria against varied insurgent forces.
Under U.S. federal law, 8 U.S. Code sec. 1481, an American born or naturalized citizen may lose his citizenship if he: (3) enters or serves in a foreign army and that entity is engaged in hostilities against the U.S. or the person serves as a commissioned or non-commissioned officer in that fighting force; or (7) engages in a conspiracy to destroy the U.S. government or levy war against it. As such, U.S. citizens who participate in fighting abroad or at home against the United States are subject to losing their citizenship, among other sanctions.
Combating the Participation of Foreign Fighters
In addition to understanding the dispositions and goals of prospective foreign fighters, it behooves governments to take steps to reduce the frequency and negative ramifications of fighters leaving far away lands for Syria. Among such measures governments can pursue include:
Outlaw travel to Syria except for limited reasons (e.g., media, humanitarian or religious activities) and require notice to government officials of travels to neighboring countries.Enact (or enforce existing legislation) to prohibit citizens to fight on behalf of a sovereign state or a sub-state group, including rebel organizations.Expand enforcement of attempts by individuals, groups and organizations to provide material support to foreign terror and rebel groups.Increase intelligence sharing domestically and internationally in this regard.Raise efforts on the information-driven and community policing fronts in order to gain tips about individuals who plan on participating in the Syrian conflict – whether through fighting, recruiting, raising money, or acquiring weapons and supplies.Continue the use of sting operations online and offline to ferret out prospective terrorists.Strengthen local communities in their struggle against radicalization.Undertake de-radicalization activities among returning fighters and others who have embraced extremist tenets.Expand counter-narratives against the alluring pitch of Syrian-themed recruiters.Accelerate inquiry into non-profit entities and charities that have a nexus with Syria as they may serve as terror funding fronts.Increase training in relation to terrorists profiles, terrorist indicators, suspicious activities and suspicious financial transactions.Conclusion
These foreign fighters, coupled with the aid offered by sovereign states, exacerbate the Syrian civil war. While an internally crafted solution to the bloodshed is unlikely in Syria, external sovereign state interference, too, complicates and prolongs the conflict. As such, it is likely that the Syrian civil war will continue for several more years, or some variant of the conflict for more than a decade (as we have witnessed prolonged insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan). Nevertheless, as noted, governments can adopt steps that undermine the prospective participation of their citizenry in the Syrian conflict.
About the Author: Dean C. Alexander is Director of the Homeland Security Research Program and Associate Professor of Homeland Security at Western Illinois University.
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Dean C. Alexander is assistant professor of homeland security at Western Illinois University. He is author of Business Confronts Terrorism (University of Wisconsin, 2004).
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Data centers are increasingly becoming the center of the enterprise, and data center and cyber security is following the same path for security departments. According to Justin Flynn, a consultant at the Burwood Group, the virtualization of data centers allows enterprises to scale more easily and faster, with a smaller footprint.
However, hosting enterprise data in the cloud can make intrusion detection more difficult – how can enterprise security leaders team up with other departments to keep aware of cyber risks and traffic, and physical and data compliance during the virtual transition? How can CISOs and CSOs discuss cyber threats with the C-Suite to get the resources they need? And how can the proper infrastructure test and verify possible malicious attacks?
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2015 February In the February 2015 issue of Security Magazine, see what other companies have learned from the massive data breach and what they are doing in the now and in the future. Also, what could adding thermal cameras to your operation do for you? and Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs prepares for the future with security decisions. Table Of Contents Subscribe Tougher Cybersecurity Legislation On January 20, President Barack Obama called for tougher cybersecurity legislation in his 2015 State of the Union address. Which of the following points do you feel is most needed today? Better cybersecurity information sharing between public and private enterprises Modernizing law enforcement’s cybercrime-fighting tools Establishing national data breach notification standards Initiative to better protect children’s data and privacy View Results Poll Archive THE SECURITY STORE
CompTIA Security+ Certification Study Guide CompTIA's Security+ certification is a globally-recognized, vendor neutral exam that has helped over 60,000 IT professionals reach further and higher in their careers. The current Security+ exam (SY0-201) focuses more on being able to deal with security issues rather than just identifying them.More Products Clear Seas Research 
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From terrorism to vandalism, it’s preparedness, response, training and partnerships. Learn about some of the critical security issues facing this sector.
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The vast majority of security industry leaders agree that the key to professionalizing our industry is establishing and maintaining high standards. However, there is one standard that leaders in our industry continue to ignore that may hold the key to our success: security officer physical fitness standards. Unfortunately, the establishment of universal security officer physical fitness standards has long been the proverbial “elephant in the room.” Truthfully, the absence of reliable security personnel physical fitness standards may be the primary reason our industry is sometimes challenged with high levels of professionalization.
Perception
Since perception plays a major role in both personnel and corporate safety and task effectiveness, being physically unfit or obese contributes to the stable, negative cultural perceptions of the “overweight and inept security officer.” Whether we like it or not, every time a physically unfit security officer interacts with the public they reinforce these negative cultural stereotypes. Unfortunately, institutions that hire physically unfit security personnel do more harm than just reinforcing the negative security guard stereotype; they create unsafe conditions for employees, consumers and visitors and impede the security industry’s professionalism process.Professionalization
Professionalized vocations such as attorneys, doctors, nurses and teachers are characterized by their individual and collective influence, high degrees of relevance, productivity, effectiveness and trust, are well compensated (pay, fringe benefits and retirement) and upwardly mobile. The establishment of high standards plays an important role in professionalism process of these and other vocations. Similarly, the success of the law enforcement vocation is the result of serious physical fitness and training standards (POST).Safety
Security officer physical fitness standards improve officer and organizational safety. Physically fit security officers as less likely to have their authority questioned and less likely to be physically challenged. On the other hand, when security personnel need to exert themselves, like having to run a distance, or to run up a flight of stairs, or to physically defend themselves or others against an assault, physically fit security officers are able to maintain an adequate level of physical stamina necessary to overcome an attacker and survive the encounter. Conversely, unfit security officers are often a danger to themselves and others and become an “added” liability when their required to physically defend themselves. In fact, positive public perceptions of a security officer’s physical fitness reduces the quantity of uncooperative interactions and officer assaults. Likewise, when physically fit security officers are involved in physical interactions, they’re less likely to be injured which reduces potential workers compensations claims.Physically fit security officers are better able to provide high levels of organizational safety and customer service for employees, consumers and visitors. Organizational and community stakeholders expect their security personnel to play a valuable role in crime reduction and personal protection. Physically unfit security personnel take more time to perform basic crime prevention tasks, like patrolling an area on foot and often require additional personnel to perform a task that would typically require only one officer. On the other hand, physically fit security officers are able to perform their job functions more efficiently, lose less time to illness and injury, and file fewer workers compensation claims. The failure to maintain safe environments or the inability to provide “due care” creates potential civil liability and discourages patrons from frequenting an organization. Once an organization is perceived as unsafe, it’s extremely difficult to maintain financial stability.Training Challenges
It’s impossible to have a serious training standard if security personnel are physically unfit. Unfit security personnel make it impossible to train to serious standards that require a high degree of physical interaction and realistic scenario training. Unfortunately, if security personnel are unable to test their competency levels in a safe and controlled environment the only other environment left to train in is the actual work environment! The inability to practice tactics, theories and tools in a realistic training environment leads to a greater quantity and quality of field injuries, time lost and increased workers compensation claims.Survey Data
I recently surveyed my security manager clients to determine their opinions on the implementation of a security officer physical fitness standard. The vast majority wanted to implement a physical fitness standard, although only two organizations currently had one. When I asked them why their organizations didn’t currently have a physical fitness standard, they cited two primary reasons: resistance from their human resources personnel and the fact that the majority of their personnel couldn’t meet the standard. As I dug deeper into these answers it became obvious that the implementation of a security officer physical fitness standard was thought to be an administrative and socio-political burden for these organizations. Unfortunately, like most organizational behaviors that are enabled and accepted over time, they ultimately become the de facto organizational standard. However, difficult as it may initially be to implement a security officer physical fitness standard, it’s honestly a moral/ethical imperative to make these changes in order to provide a safe and secure environment for patrons, employees, visitors and security personnel.Managing the Challenges
Begin the process by reviewing the current security officer job description. At least 50 percent of the security officer’s job task needs to be related to physically protecting employees, patrons and visitors. In order for a physical fitness standard to be “necessary” there needs to be a direct connection between the need to be physically fit and actual job requirements.Start the process by first requiring new hires to meet the new “pre-employment” physical fitness standard before rolling it out to current employees. There are several advantages to beginning this process as a “pre-employment standard.” First, the quality of the applicants will improve. Physically fit applicants have a higher commitment level, have already established a personal lifetime fitness standard and are drawn to organizations that have high standards. It’s also much easier to change a hiring practice when it only applies to applicants and not currently employed personnel. Moreover, these new “physically fit” security officers will quickly become the new “unofficial” standard and become role models for the currently employed security personnel.Next, introduce the new security officer physical fitness standard to current employees and choose at date in the future (between 6 -12 months) when all personnel will be required to meet the new standard as a condition of continued employment. It’s best to regularly test and access the employees physical fitness progress as they move toward the official implementation date of the new standard. To ease the transition, try requiring security officers to reach a minimum percentage of the new standard as a sign of their progress and commitment as they move toward the enforcement date. Expect that some security personnel will resist the new standard while others may attempt to sabotage it. These employees will spend more time resisting the standard rather than working on improving their physical fitness level. In truth, some security personnel no matter how much time they’re given are not interested in being physically fit. Some personnel will challenge the legality of the new standard and try to create social and political barriers to its implementation. Physical fitness standards have been legally tested (EEOC challenges of disparate treatment) and have consistently stood up to legal challenges (Title VII of the Civil Right Act). However, enterprises need to seek legal advice prior to initiating a new standard.Finally, security enterprises need to have a plan on how to process those who are either medically unable, or those who are not interested in changing their physical fitness level to meet the new standard. Under some circumstances an unfit security officer may be able to be reassigned to another job classification within the enterprise. However, in some enterprises there may be no choice but to release the security officer from employment for failing to meet the new minimum job requirements. Although some stakeholders may fiercely resist taking this kind of employment action, I consider it the only legally and ethically defendable position for a responsible enterprise to take.The Good News!
This is universal agreement for security officer physical fitness standards across all stakeholder categories. Organizations that have implemented a security officer physical fitness standard have seen an outpouring of support from their organizational stakeholders for (finally) requiring their security personnel to be physically fit. Employees, it seems, understand the relationship between being physically fit and an individual’s ability to protect them!I think of myself a “field risk manager” not a “risk eliminator.” My primary responsibility is to create high levels of safety for my clients and employees while mitigating potential liability. Every enterprise must decide the scope of their safety mission and then implement policies and procedures to mitigate the risks associated with that desired level of safety. However, it’s impossible under every condition to eliminate all liability, especially when dealing with uncooperative and violent individuals. It seems rather obvious to me and other security and operational professionals that allowing physically unfit security personnel to perform security related tasks is a greater risk than the risks associated with establishing and maintaining a serious physical fitness standard.Establishing and maintaining serious security officer physical fitness standards is an important first step to providing high levels of organizational, community and officer safety and ensuring the security industry gets back on the path to professionalization.About the Author:Over the past 25 years, Andrew Tufano has held various positions in the security industry such as uniformed security officer, loss prevention agent, loss prevention investigator, loss prevention manager, security guard company owner, security trainer and security consultant. He holds various security industry instructor and end-user certifications such as baton, firearm and Taser. He is a recognized subject matter expert (SME) in private person use-of-force and field conflict resolution. He is also an experienced speaker and writer on various security industry related topics.Editor’s Note: Physical fitness standards have been legally tested (EEOC challenges of disparate treatment) and have consistently stood up to legal challenges (Title VII of the Civil Right Act). Therefore, enterprises need to seek legal advice prior to initiating a new physical fitness standard. In addition, according to AlliedBarton “Research has shown that the EEOC is very much interested in protecting employees with disabilities from physical fitness tests that are not 100% job related and consistent with business necessity. Enterprises should do a site by site, post by post analysis to determine what standards are required for each individual job.”
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