COVID-19 has accelerated a variety of global trends. Some of these are perhaps ultimately good, for example moves towards more investment in AI and automation, or a growing focus on taking this opportunity to making lasting changes to benefit the environment. Many others are, however, quite concerning. Continued threats to the global order, the likelihood of states testing the resolve of the new U.S. administration, and increasingly polarized populations are all factors that will dominate 2021.
As organizations bring their employees back to the workplace, many are looking to leverage location technology as a means to increase safety. Return-to-work solutions ranging from digital contact tracing and social distancing monitoring to sanitation alerts and occupancy analytics are being explored and embraced in varying degrees around the world. However, it’s imperative that any technology deployed works a double shift to also provide value in the post-pandemic times. The same location technology infrastructure used to address infection prevention and mitigation can be used to complement and enhance traditional security efforts.
As we have done in previous years, the Security magazine team compiled our favorite articles from this year. As we head into 2021, we hope you take a moment to review some of 2020’s top articles about lessons learned, thought leadership, security challenges and good practices.
FEMA and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) creating the Job Corps Emergency Management Advance Training Program (EMATP) recently. This program consists of approximately 12 weeks of advanced emergency management training for Job Corps students to become mission-ready emergency management specialists. The MOU establishes a framework for emergency management capacity building between the two agencies.
Risk management firm Crisis24, a GardaWorld company, released its annual Global Forecast report and Risk Maps that provide expert insight and analysis of various threats for 2021 for businesses and organizations seeking to protect their people and operations, no matter their location or circumstances.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and government and industry members of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) Task Force released an annual report on its progress to advance meaningful partnerships and analysis around supply chain security and resilience.
The World Economic Forum today launched a new report that outlines how organizational leaders can influence their companies and encourage the responsible use of technology and build ethical capacity. “Ethics by Design” – An Organizational Approach to Responsible Use of Technology integrates psychology and behavioral economics findings from interviews and surveys with international business leaders. It aims to shape decisions to prompt better and more ethical behaviors. The report promotes an approach that focuses less on individual “bad apples” and more on the “barrel”, the environments that can lead people to engage in behaviors contrary to their moral compass. The report outlines steps and makes recommendations that have proven more effective than conventional incentives such as compliance training, financial compensation or penalties.
One of the largest public train operators in the United Kingdom, Southeastern Rail Network, upgraded its analog legacy system to a smart video security solution for securing 12 train depots, including five unmanned locations, against theft and intrusion.
Recognizing that medical first responders are experiencing unrelenting stress as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to fill hospitals to near capacity, Elite Detection K9 (EDK9), which breeds, raises and trains scent-detection dogs, found a way to bring some puppy love to these tireless and dedicated health care professionals.