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In the latest Nerd Out, Dave welcomes Ed Heyman and Alec Davison to talk about the recent hostile event in Monterey Park and how organizations can take some of the lessons learned from the incident and apply them to their business. This led to a deeper discussion about simple and straightforward security measures that can go a long way to ensuring the organization is prepared for a wide variety of events. This discussion included sharing free resources around vulnerability assessments, training, and exercises. The nerds then talked about Faith-Based Organizations and some of the threats that these organizations are facing heading into 2023 to include the often-overlooked threat from above (drones), as well as the impacts that attacks on critical infrastructure can have.
Some of the resources mentioned in this episode include:
- Conduct a facility vulnerability assessment, such as a free assessment offered through DHS’s Protective Security Advisor (PSA) program.
- Train employees on how to identify suspicious behaviors and activities, using resources available through the Nationwide Suspicious Activity (SAR) Initiative (NSI) and information in the U.S. Violent Extremist Mobilization Indicators booklet (2021 edition).
- Maintain situational awareness about incidents and events happening in your communities that threat actors might seek to exploit to commit acts of violence, such as by connecting with your local fusion center.
- Prepare and/or update an emergency response plan, including by using templates and resources provided by EPA and FEMA.
- Rehearse and improve your plans and employee preparedness through training and exercises. DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has published a series of CISA Tabletop Exercise Packages (CTEPs) that prompt participants to walk through their plans for responding to incidents.
- First Responder Toolbox: Free reference aid material intended to promote counterterrorism coordination among federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government authorities and partnerships with private sector officials in deterring, preventing, disrupting, and responding to terrorist attacks.
The Nerd Out team:
- Ed Heyman is a security professional with over 30 years of experience in the intelligence and security community and he is the co-chair of the Faith-Based Information Sharing and Analytical Organization (FB-ISAO) Operational Resilience Group. Twitter: @El_Grillo1.
- Alec Davison is a threat and risk analyst with Gate 15 where he works with various industries on threat awareness and security preparedness matters. Twitter: @Analyst_Alec.
- Dave Pounder is a Senior Risk Analyst for Gate. Twitter: @dpounder; email: [email protected].
Have a listen to the Nerd Out! on Anchor, Spotify, Apple, Google, as well as other locations accessible via the Anchor link or almost anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts.
Read more about Gate 15’s full podcast menu at our Podcast page. You can subscribe and enjoy all the Gate 15 Podcasts on Anchor, Apple, Spotify, Google, as well as other locations accessible from the Anchor link. Week-to-week, you can hear and learn more about our all-hazards threats, risks, mitigation and other issues impacting homeland security risk management from our team as well as our regular and special guests. The full podcast menu includes:
- The Security Sprint is our weekly rundown of the week’s notable all-hazards security news, risks and threats and some of the key focus areas for organizations to consider behind the headlines. Gate 15 team members discuss physical security, cybersecurity, natural hazards, health threats and other issues across our environment.
- The Risk Roundtable is a recurring monthly discussion among our team and occasional guests as we explore the all-hazards threats and risks impacting the United States and internationally.
- The Cybersecurity Evangelist, with Jennifer Lyn Walker, is a cybersecurity-focused discussion with Jen and invited guests.
- Nerd Out! Security Panel Discussion, moderated by Dave Pounder, focuses on physical security topics including terrorism, extremism, hostile events, and other pertinent topics.
- The Gate 15 Interview is a monthly interview between Gate 15’s founder and Managing Director, Andy Jabbour and guests from throughout the homeland security risk management community addressing a wide range of all-hazards topics and issues.
We hope you’ll subscribe, listen and share your ideas and other feedback! Reach out to us on Twitter, LinkedIn or via email at: [email protected].