Nerd Out Security Panel Discussion: EP 33. Monterey Bay, Practical Security Measures, and risks for 2023.
In the latest Nerd Out, Dave welcomes Ed Heyman and Alec Davison to talk about the recent hostile event in Monterey Bay 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. 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) Organizational Resilience Group. Alec Davison is a threat and risk analyst with Gate 15 where he works with various industries on threat awareness and security preparedness matters. 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.