Security Management Highlights

Security Management magazine Senior Editor Megan Gates talks about elections on our publication’s radar—especially which ones risk unrest and violence before, during, and after voting. Then, Andrew Cheatham, corporate counsel at Global Guardian who also teaches a course on disruptive technologies and state governance at Boston University, explains a philosophy of clear-eyed recognition about problems with elections here and abroad—ideas learned firsthand while working in places like Libya with the United Nations. Note that these interviews were recorded in mid-October. Some elections discussed have already been decided. Additional Resources It’s not just physical security that worries your colleagues about voting around the world. Read more about deepfakes and the misinformation and infiltration they bring. https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/10/deepfakes-and-fraud/deepfake-detection-dilemma/ Does personal risk turn off potential candidates? Threats against politicians skyrocketed a few months ago when Facebook made cuts to enforcement. https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2026/june/center-for-countering-digital-hate-report-meta-2026/ So-called “cognitive warfare,” with bad actors using increasingly angry and polarized voters against each other, is harming the public and private sector. https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/04/cognitive-warfare/ Curious about the Bill Gates essay Andrew Cheatham refers to during the episode? Read it here. https://www.gatesnotes.com/home/home-page-topic/reader/a-turbulent-ai-era-and-critical-choices-to-make The ASIS Extremism and Political Instability Community (EPIC) shares information and expertise on threats from global terrorism and political instability. Learn more about the community and get involved here. https://community.asisonline.org/subjectareahome?CommunityKey=0a241efb-04fa-42f1-b073-72847ffddf00

Security Management magazine Senior Editor Megan Gates talks about the online frauds we’re seeing personally and professionally, as well as the serious costs involved. Then, cybersecurity expert Tom Cross, head of threat research at GetReal Security, gets into deepfakes: AI-tech-enabled recorded or live audio and video that looks so legitimate the world thinks fake news is real, fake job applicants get hired, and fake authorities obtain confidential information. Additional Resources Go deeper into considering how technical double-checking and human skepticism intersect in countering fraud with the NIST Phish Scale that Tom Cross mentions: https://www.nist.gov/publications/nist-phish-scale-user-guide . Read how North Korea turned identity fraud into cash and information access by getting fake IT workers hired around the world: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2026/august/Follow-the-Money/ AI also makes deepfakes in “cognitive warfare” between companies, political parties, and countries easier and more insidious: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/04/cognitive-warfare/ Deepfake impersonation is big money for more than North Korea, as seen in a recent report from IBM. Back in June, we reviewed a report that found a 500 percent increase in deepfake impersonation in 2025. But, really, how widespread are impersonation-related scams? We don’t know. https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2025/april/scam-government-approach/ Deepfakes hurt teens and prey on our need for love: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/07/cyberbullying-in-schools/cyberbullying-development-pressure-information-overload/; https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2025/february/Looking-for-Love-Romance-Scams/ Some people say AI isn’t all bad—or that we need to find ways to better use it. Cassie Kozyrkov, former chief data scientist at Google, explained some ideas for hiring and HR in a keynote address at GSX 2026: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/gsx-daily-2026/gsx-2026-keynote-kozyrkov/ Want to cut out AI and tech from your work? You’re not alone—and it’s not necessarily a bad idea: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/09/workforce-engagement/office-luddite/

GSX 2026 wraps up today, so we’re taking a look back at another major event that concluded recently: The FIFA World Cup 2026. James Weston, a team-base camp security specialist for FIFA, kept the Croatian team safe as it trained, practiced, and rested in Alexandria, Virginia, for its North American matches. He shares how he got the gig, what he learned on site, and why he found the players particularly inspiring. Additional Resources Weston says security teams for soccer events watch out for so-called “soccer ultras,” passionate fans who sometimes take their love for teams too far. Check out recent content this year covering tactics and strategies to protect staffers, athletes, and other spectators from fan misbehavior: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/01/fan-misbehavior/ In the race to the World Cup, Security Management shared a raft of content on the international government and corporate security preparation for the global event: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/05/world-cup-security/ See who Weston was protecting by checking out how Croatia did this year at the World Cup: https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/teams/croatia/team-news The practice of court-storming or field-storming remains a problem: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2024/january/dangerous-court-storming-tradition/ Explore all of our GSX coverage in the GSX Daily here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/gsx-daily-2026/

GSX 2026 is in Atlanta, Georgia, and one of the city’s world-class attractions is the Georgia Aquarium. Attending the ASIS Celebrates networking event on 15 September? You’ll be there, and the man in charge of your safety is Jonathan Thomas, the aquarium’s senior manager of security and compliance. One of the biggest challenges for him and his team? “Trying to give our guests, along with our team members and our animals, the top-level security without them feeling like they have the top-level security,” Thomas says. Hear more from Thomas about aquarium security and, yes, his favorite picks for must-see animals on a visit (he didn’t want to play favorites—we made him). This special GSX episode is generously sponsored by Wavelynx. Additional Resources Sign up for the new school-facing pilot program from Wavelynx here: https://wavelynx.com/shield-our-schools Thomas sometimes works closely with other major venues as part of Atlanta’s down Pemberton Place area, which includes World of Coca-Cola and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights: https://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/plan-your-visit/pemberton-place Want a sneak peek of Thomas’ picks? Check out the Ocean Voyager exhibit, home to a whale shark, manta rays and more. And check out the live video for African penguins or a beluga whale (can’t promise they’ll swim by, but maybe): https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/gallery/ocean-voyager/ Security practitioners need to know how to deal with difficult feelings for visitors and staffers when bad things happen to animals in zoos and aquariums: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/09/violent-incident-recovery/critical-incident-stress-management/ The Columbus Zoo family of parks, which includes an aquarium, went through an extensive rekeying project in 2024: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2024/05/zoo/columbus-zoo-rekeying/ A series of swatting incidents and hoax threats hit zoos this year. Read the Security Management analysis here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2026/may/zoo-swatting-hoax/ Explore all of our GSX coverage in the GSX Daily here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/gsx-daily-2026/

Angela Lewis, PhD, vice chair of the ASIS Intelligence Standard Technical Committee, will be sharing details on 14 September at GSX 2026 about her work with dozens of others creating an ANSI-certified international intelligence standard. In this podcast episode, Lewis breaks down the value of intelligence for driving influence in enterprise decisions, where the new intelligence standard is in the process, why now is a good time for it, and when it’s (tentatively) planned for release. I can feel our intelligence about intelligence growing as we speak … This special GSX episode is generously sponsored by Knightscope. Additional Resources Learn more about Knightscope here: https://knightscope.com/ Angela Lewis is speaking at GSX 2026 about intelligence standards and how they can elevate physical security and influence executive decisions. If you’re at the conference, make sure to check out her session on Monday, 14 September, at 10:00 a.m.: https://gsx26.mapyourshow.com/8_0/sessions/session-details.cfm?scheduleid=85 This ASIS webinar covers work on the new intelligence standard in even more detail. Watch it here: https://community.asisonline.org/viewdocument/developing-an-intelligence-standard Are you in the know about ASIS standards? You can find out more—including standards on executive protection, school security, and cannabis security—here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-news/standards-guidelines/ Explore all of our GSX coverage in the GSX Daily here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/gsx-daily-2026/

Security Management magazine Editor-in-Chief Claire Meyer spills the tea on a big crisis-communications package, the content calendar for 2027, and the first step to getting published online. Then, management and leadership consultant Gregory Shea, PhD, author of the recent Rising From Ground Zero: 9/11 and the FDNY’s Path Through Crisis to Transformation, shares leadership lessons gathered from another notable, much-older story: The Endurance’s captain Ernest Shackleton and his nearly fatal expedition in the early 1900s to Antarctica that saw him and his crew survive against all odds. It’s a preview of the CSO Center Secure Horizons two-day seminar at this month’s GSX in Atlanta, Georgia. This episode is generously sponsored by Belfry. Note: Shea’s interview does include a mention of suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health struggle, emotional distress, or just need someone to talk to, the International Association for Suicide Prevention provides a helpline assistant to connect you with a crisis helpline in your country: https://findahelpline.com Additional Resources Learn more about Belfry, this episode’s sponsor, here: https://www.belfrysoftware.com/ Dig into Security Management’s Focus on Crisis Communication content package here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/08/crisis-communications/ In the package above, Pamela Meyer’s “Why ‘Never Go Off-Script’ is Advice for Amateurs” especially caught the eye of Senior Editor Megan Gates. Check it out here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/08/crisis-communications/never-go-off-script/ Explore the Security Management editorial calendar and other guidelines for potential authors here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/resources/writers-guidelines/ Gregory Shea shared some of the key incident response and leadership lessons from the New York City Fire Department during 9/11 in this article with Security Management: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/08/crisis-communications/FDNY-leadership-lessons/ Want a crash course in what made the Shackleton expedition so noteworthy? Narrated by Liam Neeson, the documentary The Endurance is Gregory Shea’s No. 1 recommendation to newbies to the explorer: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264578/ Antarctica has shown up in security news recently, too. Read about environmental activists ramming a fishing boat in waters between the tip of South America and Antarctica here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2026/april/aggressive-environmental-activism/ Did we mention that GSX 2026 happens this month, 14-16 September, in Atlanta, Georgia? The team at Security Management hopes to see you there for a special “Meet the Editors” session on the first day of the conference: https://www.gsx.org/special-events/

Two professors—Jillian Peterson and James Densley—are combing through thousands of incidents of violence in workplaces, healthcare facilities, and schools to find actionable advice to prevent future crime. Then Security Management senior editor Megan Gates follows the trail of violent cases working their way through the justice system and a new U.S. federal rule on drone take-downs. Finally, we hear from Christian Poonwah, who offers drone-safety training in Ukraine to humanitarian and other nonmilitary staffers living and working in a 21st-century war zone. This episode is generously sponsored by Acoem. Additional Resources Learn more about Acoem, this episode’s sponsor, here: https://acoematd.com/ Find out more about Peterson and Densley’s data and takeaways on lethal violence at work, in hospitals, and on campus in their article for Security Management: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/07/lethal-violence-databases/ Explore the full datasets from the Violence Prevention Project online here: https://www.theviolenceproject.org/ Organizational culture plays a large role in violence prevention. Look into recent ASIS Foundation research and other analysis about security culture here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/07/security-culture/ Culture can help change the pathway to violence into a pathway to hope, says Dr. Karie Gibson from the FBI. In the ASIS North America Conference, she explained the mindset shift and how it can mitigate targeted violence threats: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2026/june/pathway-to-hope/ Recent high-profile incidents have sparked notable interest in targeted violence risks. Reexamine what happened in the deaths of a United Healthcare CEO (https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2024/december/alleged-unitedhealthcare-assassin-captured/) and a right-wing activist (https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2025/september/kirk-death-suspect/). How did executive protection change a year after Luigi Mangione allegedly killed United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson? https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/08/threat-assessment/tackling-online-radicalization/ The U.S. Supreme Court justices asked for more physical and cybersecurity, citing increases in threats, writes Security Management senior editor Megan Gates: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2026/july/Supreme-Court-Funding-Executive-Protection/ Security practitioners are adopting drone technology and drone detection solutions to better protect their organizations. Read more about these efforts in the August issue of Security Technology: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/monthly-issues/security-technology/archive/2026/drones-august/ Learn more about the new drone take-down guidance in the United States: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2026/july/US-Issues-Rule-On-Local-Law-Enforcement-CUAS/ Did you hear that a drone collided with a plane in New York? https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2026/june/drone-jetblue-jfk-collision-droneshield-2026-report/ The Global Peace Index says things are getting worse. https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2026/june/Global-Peacefulness-Deteriorates/

Have you identified all of your trade secrets? It feels like table stakes, but it’s a critical first question to get all parties on the same page about trade secret protection, says Thomas Stutler, CPP. Then, ASIS Content Development Director Scott Briscoe shares some of the findings from the latest ASIS research report, sponsored by FacilityOS—including key takeaways about compliance, security controls, and adding value to the organization. To wrap up, Bruno Dias, CTM, PCI, explains how children’s behavior in-person and online is affected by their development. That context should inform behavioral threat assessments to avoid overreaction. Additional Resources Explore more about trade secret theft and protection in this article from Thomas Stutler, CPP: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/06/insider-threat/trade-secret-theft-the-overlooked-fault-line-in-modern-security/ Learn how to apply storytelling to your corporate communication efforts: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/04/improving-presentations/storytelling-superpower/ Interested in more insider threat issues? Check out the content package from Security Management: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/06/insider-threat/ Employees need to know their rules about artificial intelligence (AI) use and how it could endanger trade secrets. Read more about AI issues in the security industry here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/monthly-issues/security-technology/archive/2026/Agentic-AI/ ASIS International conducts regular research on benchmarking, security best practices, and emerging challenges. See past research here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-news/security-research/ Dig into the findings of the latest ASIS research on security controls, sponsored by FacilityOS, in this on-demand webinar: https://store.asisonline.org/excelling-at-security-visibility-and-controls.html Read more about the school shooting case in Newport News, Virginia, and the subsequent legal action here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2026/may/Virginia-Charges-Dismissed/ Are you focused on cyberbullying in your school district? Maybe it’s time to take a closer look. Explore the topic with Security Management here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/07/cyberbullying-in-schools/

Little can prepare security teams for the sheer noise, pyrotechnics, national pride, and fan enthusiasm around FIFA World Cup events, but in this episode of Security Management Highlights, we’ll give it a shot. First, Anton Kalaydjian shares how his experience on close protection details for celebrities and VIPs at World Cup events translated to a broader career in soccer security. Then, Efrén Vera Torres, CPP, explains how fraudsters take advantage of the World Cup and what that means for banking and finance institutions. And finally, Mason Wilder, CFE, research director for the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) shares some of the findings from the association’s latest occupational fraud report—not strictly about soccer, but a good reminder not to take your eye off the ball for insider threats. This episode is sponsored by public safety and security company SoundThinking. Gilbert Farrulla, director of customer success at SoundThinking, joins this episode to talk about growing tensions in security checkpoints. Additional Resources Learn more about this episode’s sponsor, SoundThinking, here: https://www.soundthinking.com/ Read more about World Cup security in Security Management’s content package here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/05/world-cup-security/ Focused on executive protection around World Cup matches and travel? Learn how to run an effective two-stage advance and build multiple contingency plans: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/05/world-cup-security/executive-protection-advance/ Fan culture and rivalries in global football are core factors in World Cup security. Hospitality personnel can play a key intelligence role to detect signs of trouble early. https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/05/world-cup-security/hospitality-awareness/ The World Cup could drive upwards of $41 billion in GDP this year. Fraudsters are already taking advantage of the tournament’s economic force to drive scams and counterfeit schemes. https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/05/world-cup-security/scam-economy/ ASIS members can join the Banking and Financial Services Community via ASIS Connects and view the recording of a May webinar about the potential impact of the World Cup on financial institutions: https://community.asisonline.org/viewdocument/workshop-fifa-world-cup-2026-the-potential-impact-on-financial-institutions?CommunityKey=4b4dfeed-1f93-4457-a265-ed282c53d03d&tab=librarydocuments Explore more findings from the ACFE Occupational Fraud 2026: A Report to the Nations in Security Management’s coverage: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2026/may/fraud-prevention-background-checks/ Read the full ACFE Occupational Fraud 2026: A Report to the Nations here: https://www.acfe.com/fraud-resources/report-to-the-nations Learn more about white collar crime in SM’s content package from 2024: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2024/11/white-collar/

Agentic artificial intelligence (AI) solutions are here, and they can both streamline and endanger your operations. In this episode, sponsored by global security integrator Northland Controls, the chair of the ASIS Emerging Technology Community, Quang Trinh, PSP, discusses some of the bad habits agentic AI can pick up from its users and how to help correct those assumptions. Then, Jordan Hill of Hivewatch explains how adding a flexible AI triage layer for alert monitoring can alleviate user stress, uncover activity patterns, and refine operations in SOCs. Technology writer Sage Lazzaro rounds out this episode by outlining the technical use cases of AI for security to mitigate liability risk, but also where agentic AI could complicate accountability. Additional Resources Learn more about this episode’s sponsor, Northland Controls, here: https://www.northlandcontrols.com/ Read more about the importance of interoperability in security—especially during emergency response—in this sponsored article from Northland Controls CTO Henry Hoyne: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/monthly-issues/security-technology/archive/2026/Agentic-AI/sponsored-interoperability-isnt-optional/ Explore the full Security Technology issue about agentic AI here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/monthly-issues/security-technology/archive/2026/Agentic-AI/ Start playing around with AI and upskill your knowledge with business courses on Coursera, as Quang Trinh, PSP, recommended: https://www.coursera.org/learn/agentic-ai ASIS members can access ASIS Upskill courses about AI for free, including sessions on AI essentials and practical AI uses at work. Explore all courses here: https://store.asisonline.org/learning-programs/asis-upskill.html Read Jordan Hill’s article about how agentic AI can help address burnout in security operations centers: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/monthly-issues/security-technology/archive/2026/Agentic-AI/human-and-tech-collaboration-how-socs-become-truly-intelligent/ Read Sage Lazzaro’s deep dive into agentic AI and liability risk from Security Technology here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/monthly-issues/security-technology/archive/2026/Agentic-AI/Risk-vs-Reward-What-Security-Leaders-Need-to-Know-When-Using-Agentic-AI/ Explore more technology coverage by Sage Lazzaro here: https://www.sagelazzaro.com/ See new guidance from CISA, NCSC-UK, and other government agencies on implementing agentic AI safely: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2026/may/agentic-ai-safety-guidance/ For more about how AI is affecting security, watch this on-demand ASIS webinar about navigating emerging AI-linked threats in the workplace: https://store.asisonline.org/ai-extremism-navigating-emerging-threats-in-the-workplace.html