Mass protests, incomplete venues, and infrastructure concerns are just a few of the issues that Brazilian security personnel will face during the 2014 World Cup soccer tournaments. The question remains whether the training has been sufficient for personnel to protect the tournament venues while continuing to address common security threats such as: petty thefts, disorder, vandalism, public intoxication, and traffic control.
Although the primary objective of a security system is to prevent crimes, some technologies provide limited information only after a security breach occurs. Information gaps can occur when detection and identification are limited to a specific moment in time. The solution is a layered approach using radar, thermal imaging, and other technologies.
The airport security environment, especially in the United States, has changed significantly since 9/11. Technological advances have helped raise the standards at security checkpoints around the world, but technology is not infallible. Maintaining a high standard of security requires a balance between technology and human intelligence.
To address the gaps and concerns revealed in a recent article and the flash poll, subject matter experts who warned of the dangers in 2009 reunited five years later to address the issues that are still as real now as they were five years ago. Although there have been some improvements, much more is still needed.
An article, a flash poll, and a podcast each addressed the same topic: Is the United States prepared for a nuclear detonation? Each came to the same conclusion, "No, not as prepared as it needs to be." The threat of a nuclear attack did not disappear with the Cold War, but the lessons learned are fading.
The 2013 Boston Marathon bombings caused confusion, frustration, and anger when race marshals abruptly ended the event. The consequences, though, could have been much greater had the initial reports been true. Knowing what makes a dirty bomb "dirty" is the first step to ensure the health and safety of all those who are near the detonation.
In the first 72 hours following a nuclear blast, survivors would face many challenges - communication, evacuation, sheltering, response, and incident command. Scenario 1 (Nuclear Detonation - Improvised Nuclear Device) of the National Response Framework was depicted in the History Channel's "Day After Disaster" in 2009. Five years later, is the United States prepared?
Local authorities must continue to prepare for disasters, despite cuts in grant funding. To address this topic, LTG H. Steven Blum, (Ret.) USA, led a discussion with subject matter experts at the U.S. Air Force Academy's Falcon Club in Colorado. That discussion and survey results from a nationwide audience of preparedness professionals provided content for this report.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service's (NCIS) former Director Thomas Betro provides insights on how to keep the U.S. homeland safe from both physical threats and cyberthreats. He shares information specific to NCIS's responsibilities, technologies, and efforts to protect against cyber, piracy, and insider threats.
As technology advances, so do the interconnected relationships among various technologies, communities, and infrastructures. This interconnectedness creates greater efficiency, but also raises many concerns. The consequences of not making cybersecurity an integral part of risk management and strategic decision-making plans can be devastating.
