Apple iPhone at the Center of a National Security Debate The ongoing debate between privacy and national security recently intensified. In early March, FBI Director James Comey and Apple’s top lawyer Bruce Sewell testified before the House Judiciary Committee. The hearing centered on the iPhone of Syed Farook, the gunman responsible for the San Bernardino […]

Corporate Risk Assessment and Cyber Security The importance of cyber security in corporate and international fields cannot be underestimated. Recent events prove that cyber security is a growing issue and Presidential candidates campaigning for the 2016 election should spend some time dwelling on this. Last year, the US Government suffered a major international security incident […]

Buying your gifts online? Check out these Holiday Safety Tips for Online Security As the end of the year approaches, more and more shoppers will scour the Internet, looking for deals and unique finds. With every passing year, an increasing number of people are choosing to purchase their holiday gifts from online retailers. Unsurprisingly, may […]

International Security Update: Cyber attack on Sony Pictures On Nov 24th, the computer system of Sony Pictures was compromised by a sophisticated cyber attack. The firm’s employees were locked out of their computers, and much of the company’s data was stolen or erased. During the attack, an image was uploaded to company computers by a […]

The Five Most Important International Security News Stories of 2014 2014 was a dynamic year in international security. Although there were many security issues making the news this past year, five stories stand out in particular. The protective services specialists at IMG believe these five to be the most significant. This was based on two […]

The Sochi Olympics has shed worldwide attention on the Russian security environment. While security at the Olympic Games in always a concern, the Sochi Olympics seems to be at heightened risk. To date, most coverage of Russian security has highlighted the threat of terrorism. The media has particularly focused on the possibility that a female […]

Executive Summary: iPad Security Meets Corporate Security Corporate espionage is becoming an increasingly alarming threat to companies around the world. Many foreign firms, with or without the support of their home government, are actively looking to acquire the trade secrets, corporate strategy, and intellectual property of their competitors. These activities present many new challenges to […]

Cyber security is a well-known concern of individuals, companies, and governments. Many organizations hire specialized personnel and put in place elaborate systems to ensure that their information networks are safe from intrusions, viruses, and other cyber threats. However, it is common for managers and planners to fail to see the critical role that physical security plays in safeguarding these systems.

There have been many incidents that highlight the need for proper physical security in any cyber security plan. In fact, almost a third of the disclosed security breaches in 2009 involved missing or stolen physical equipment. For instance, one of the largest government data breaches of all time occurred when a Veteran’s Affairs laptop containing the records of over 20 million people was lost. There has also been a spate of missing/stolen laptops, computers, and other hardware at critically important facilities such as the Los Alamos National Laboratory. These incidents underscore the importance of utilizing physical security techniques to complement cyber security protection plans. Continue reading

On June 8th, US Attorney General Eric Holder directed two special prosecutors to investigate a recent spate of intelligence leaks. Republicans have, for some time, criticized President Obama for the poor handling of classified information. Some have even asserted that the White House deliberately leaked intelligence in order to garner some type of political gain. It has yet to be determined whether the recent security breaches are the fault of the administration or simply the irresponsible actions of a few rogue politicos and bureaucrats. What is certain, however, is that the frequency of high-profile intelligence leaks has grown over the years, posing a significant threat to national security. Several recent incidents help illustrate this trend. Continue reading