Name: SECURITY TRENDS: Protecting Houses of Worship by Security Management in Security
Duration: 15 min 9 s
Description: Houses of worship are more vulnerable to attack than ever, but these properties must maintain the balance of being an open environment, as well as hardened against threats. ASIS Cultural Properties Council member Jim McGuffey, CPP, PSP, PCI joins us to talk about the latest trends in protecting these facilities.

Security

Scott Stewart, vice president of intelligence for TorchStone Global, joins SM Highlights host Chuck Harold to discuss the history and current status of two major jihadist terrorist groups—al Qaeda and the Islamic State—and what their shift toward grassroots terrorism means for security professionals. In addition, Stewart explains the current situation in Afghanistan, the Taliban’s aims, and what the latest upheaval in the Middle East may mean for global security and terrorism.  
Read more about the state of jihadist terrorism in the September/October 2021 edition of Security Management, coming soon.

Bonus: The State of Jihadist Terrorism and the Situation in Afghanistan

“Access rules the landscape—every attacker wants it, and every employee has it,” says Jon Ford at Mandiant, who joins this month’s episode, sponsored by Alert Enterprise, to discuss insider threat elements and how to address risks and resilience. Also in this episode, Willem Ryan shares insider threat vs. insider care guidance, and Emily May breaks down the options available to bystanders who could intervene in harassment. 
This episode was sponsored by Alert Enterprise. Learn more at www.alertenterprise.com

September 2021: Insider Threats and Insider Care, Plus Bystander Intervention

Business travel is back, and travel risk is back right with it. In this episode of the SM Highlights podcast, Robert Dodge outlines the growing threat of wrongful detention during business travel, his own experiences being detained abroad, and how to educate travelers about risk. Gene Petrino shares proactive strategies for preventing workplace violence incidents, including threat assessments and early intervention. Then, Dale Buckner explains how duty of care is changing in the face of escalating and overlapping crises, from hurricanes to pandemics and more. 


Additional Resources
Learn more about wrongful detention in this article from Robert Dodge here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/monthly-issues/security-technology/archive/2025/april/wrongful-detention-an-ermging-travel-risk-for-2025/ 

Where is wrongful detention on the rise? Find out: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/monthly-issues/security-technology/archive/2025/april/where-wrongful-detention-is-on-the-rise/ 

What are the different travel risk indicators used by the U.S. State Department? https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2023/07/travel-security/fast-facts-travel-risk-indicators/ 

Learn how to keep yourself calm during stressful situations with these de-escalation tips. https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2024/11/deescalation/emotional-dysregulation/ 

What other travel risk management issues should you be watching? Read the latest issue of Security Technology to find out: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/monthly-issues/security-technology/archive/2025/april/ 

Explore ASIS research about active assailant preparedness and response here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/03/research-active-assailants/ 

Read more from Gene Petrino about proactive and preventative measures to mitigate active assailant risks: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/03/research-active-assailants/proactive-active-assailant-intervention/ 

Learn how the COVID-19 pandemic affected duty of care and other security issues in this retrospective: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/03/pandemic-readiness/post-covid-security/ 

Attendees at ASIS Europe 2025 debated duty of care and travel risk management in a special session last month. Get the highlights here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/monthly-issues/security-technology/archive/2025/april/5-takeaways-from-asis-europe/

Safer Travels: Wrongful Detention, Active Assailants, and Duty of Care

Security benefits can come from unexpected sources, especially in community-centric organizations like schools and colleges. Melinda Heikkinen from Saint Louis University (SLU) explains how the college’s history of open dialogue and philosophy of meeting peace with peace helped it weather a wave of mass protests on campus. Then, Jason Stoddard with the National Council of School Safety Directors (NCSSD), digs into establishing a feeling of safety in schools, including the four elements that lead to greater school security. 

Additional Resources
Read more from Melinda Heikkinen about protest and activism responses at Saint Louis University in her article here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/05/mass-protests/campus-protest-slu/ 

Interested in reading the Clock Tower Accords from SLU? They are available online here: https://www.slu.edu/diversity/occupy-slu/clock-tower-accords/index.php 

If your organization or employees are likely to participate in any marches, rallies, or activism activities, it could benefit you to establish and send a rules of engagement document. Check out a template here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/05/mass-protests/rules-of-engagement-document/ 

Worried about vandalism or graffiti during protests? Read guidance from the International Facility Management Association: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/05/mass-protests/graffiti-protocols/ 

Read more from Jason Stoddard about the four free elements that make the difference in school safety and security here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/04/k12/school-safety-directors/ 

Want to hear from other school stakeholders about where their work overlaps with security? Check out the Security Management collection: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/04/k12/ 

Learn about the National Council on School Safety Directors online: https://www.zeronow.org/ncssd 


Mission-Critical Partnerships in Protest Preparedness and Schools

Brandon Payne, executive director for the National Council on School Facilities, joins this month’s episode of Security Management Highlights to discuss how to integrate security and safety into school facility planning and funding during both retrofits and new builds. Then, Kevin Jones, CPP, PCI, addresses key considerations for arming security professionals, from legal liability to insurance to continuous training. 

Additional Resources
Read more from Brandon Payne about school facility management and where security and safety fit in here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/04/k12/school-facilities-managers/ 

Meet many of the other essential partners in school safety and security in this Security Management series: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/04/k12/ 

Want to help drive school security forward? Keep an eye out for the forthcoming ASIS International School Security Standard. Learn more here: https://www.asisonline.org/publications--resources/news/blog/2024/press-briefing-school-security-standard/ 

Read more about arming security teams in the June issue of Security Technology: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/monthly-issues/security-technology/archive/2025/june/ 

Hear more from Kevin Jones, CPP, PCI, in his latest article about considerations for selecting the right weapons for security: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/monthly-issues/security-technology/archive/2025/june/how-to-make-a-weapon-selection-when-arming-your-security-team/  


Is Security Well-Positioned to Influence Decisions Around School System Funding and Arming Guards?

Does your EP program account for cultural sensitivities, legal shortcomings, and evolving conditions? In this episode of the SM Highlights podcast, Jessica Ansley explains how cultural awareness can make all the difference in harmonious low-profile travel security and executive protection. Then, lawyer Timothy Sini outlines the limitations across U.S. states around protective orders and proactive legal action. But how can you cope with the unknown? Chuck Randolph debates priorities and requirements in EP and risk management. 

Additional Resources
For more about executive protection for female VIPs, read the latest from Security Management: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/06/executive-protection/ 

Learn about cross-jurisdictional differences and limitations in orders of protection and how they affect executive protection here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/06/executive-protection/orders-of-protection/ 

Interested in travel security skills? Check out this issue on the topic: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/monthly-issues/security-technology/archive/2025/april/ 

Stalking can span across physical and digital realms, and it is increasingly converging: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/06/executive-protection/fast-facts/ 

Speaking of convergence, EP risks smash silos, too. https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2024/07/convergence/emerging-technology-asymmetric-threats/ 

Learn how to write better incident reports to document patterns of concerning behavior here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/01/incident-reports/
 
Narrative and reputational security has gotten more complicated with the advent of deepfakes and generative AI: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2024/06/deepfakes/ 


Executive Protection Evolves in Challenging Times

This month’s Security Management Highlights episode features three compelling conversations with industry experts, starting with a chat with Ontic’s Cynthia Marble about a new step on the pathway to violence—step zero—and how it provides an even earlier opportunity to prevent escalation, if you’re paying attention. Then, Jeff Krull from Baker Tilly outlines some of the risk management challenges when an organization swiftly switches third-party partners and vendors and how cybersecurity professionals can step in. Lastly, Sean Spence, APP, at AON Corporation takes us outdoors to talk about scalable and adaptable security at events. 


Additional Resources
What are the steps on the pathway to violence? Watch this video from Security Management to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=job8p3x4uEw&list=PLEIon2_1tJwVHbHlEnyMgNjdMnm0xO_vP&index=67 

The U.S. Secret Service’s Exceptional Case Study Project is available here: https://nij.ojp.gov/library/publications/preventing-assassination-secret-service-exceptional-case-study-project 

Want to learn more from Jeff Krull about cybersecurity and vendor management? Read his article here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/monthly-issues/security-technology/archive/2025/august/shifting-battleground-of-cybersecurity-risk-management-for-manufacturers/ 

For more about manufacturing security, read the latest issue of Security Technology: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/monthly-issues/security-technology/archive/2025/august/ 

Having trouble connecting with executives about risk management? Try some of the guidance from Security Management’s coverage about metrics and connecting with stakeholders: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/03/metrics/ 

Learn more about securing outdoor events, concerts, and festivals in Security Management’s July coverage: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/07/concerts/ 

Sean Spence outlined the four distinct categories of live events in his Security Management article here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/07/concerts/live-event-risk-management/ 

Read about the dangers of extreme weather and temperatures on security here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/05/extreme-temperatures/ 


A New Step on the Pathway to Violence, Plus Outdoor Security and Vendor Cybersecurity Management

Security professionals have to be integrated into operational resilience efforts and business continuity planning to prevent disruptions of all kinds, according to new research from the ASIS Foundation. In this episode of the SM Highlights podcast, report co-author and ResOrgs principal consultant Joanne Stevenson shares why security gets left out of resilience discussions and what they can do about it. Then, Don Aviv, CPP, PCI, PSP, CEO of Interfor International, discusses what happened during a shooting at a Manhattan office building in July and how proactive threat monitoring can change the nature of site security. 

Additional Resources
Read the ASIS Foundation research, Operational Resilience: The Critical Contribution of Security to Operational Resilience, online here: https://store.asisonline.org/asis-foundation-operational-resilience.html?_gl=1*1l3liqy*_gcl_au*MTE5NTA5MjQzMC4xNzUxMzk3MDA3*_ga*NzQxNzQ1OTA0LjE3NTEzOTcwMDg.*_ga_0ZPVSP549B*czE3NTY4MTYwMjAkbzIwMiRnMSR0MTc1NjgxNjcxNCRqNjAkbDAkaDA ASIS members can access the report for free. Read the free executive summary here: https://www.asisonline.org/globalassets/foundation/research/asis-foundation-operational-resilience-executive-summary.pdf 
For an overview and analysis of some of the key points of the research, read Security Management’s take here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2025/july/Security-Operational-Resilience-Planning/ 
For more on the cyberattack on the National Health Service in 2017, read the National Audit Office’s investigation report: https://www.nao.org.uk/reports/investigation-wannacry-cyber-attack-and-the-nhs/ 
Interested in using human-centric narratives to back up your metrics? Get some advice and examples here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/03/metrics/crafting-metrics-story/ 
Interested in how to build out a resilience function, including a crisis response team? Read this article from the SM archive: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2024/07/resilience/create-crisis-managment-team/ 
Get an overview of the shooting at 345 Park Avenue in Manhattan in Security Management’s coverage here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2025/july/345-park-ave-shooting/ 
Research past security incidents in high-rise buildings here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2021/03/mitigating-rising-risks-for-high-rises/ 
Learn more about digital threat monitoring and assessment on social media here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/08/threat-assessment/ 
Want to explore the changing nature of risk further with Don Aviv, CPP, PCI, PSP, and other security experts? Attend the Game Changer sessions at GSX: https://www.gsx.org/game-changers/

How Security Can Lead Operational Resilience, Plus Reimagining Office Security

From snide remarks that set off office arguments to physical threats connected to a CEO’s social media post, political polarization has put workplace tensions on a hair trigger. Melissa Muir and Raymond Fleck of Pinkerton’s Comprehensive Risk Management Group join the GSX Daily edition of the SM Highlights podcast to talk about their upcoming GSX session on mitigating risk amid workplace incivility and where security professionals can lead their businesses forward by putting the mission over political differences.

Additional Resources
Meet this episode’s sponsor, Johnson Controls, at GSX booth 1955 or online at https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/

Attend Muir and Fleck’s presentation, “Bridging the Divide: Security Solutions in a Politically Polarized World,” at GSX on 29 September at 11:15 a.m. CT. Learn more here: https://gsx25.mapyourshow.com/8_0/sessions/session-details.cfm?scheduleid=695 

Read more from SHRM about social and political incivility in the workplace in 2024 here: https://www.shrm.org/about/press-room/political-and-social-viewpoint-differences-escalating-workplace- 

Explore the Harvard Business Review coverage of the costs of incivility at work here: https://hbr.org/2013/01/the-price-of-incivility 

Read more about threats to judges, attorneys, and jurors in Security Management coverage here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2024/10/election-security/attorney-judge-threats/ 

Explore more about how to manage security during periods of mass protest: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/05/mass-protests/ 

What do you do if your workplace is feeling toxic? Check out resources and articles here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2024/05/toxic-workplaces/ 

Discover six sources of workplace conflict here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2020/06/six-sources-of-workplace-cultural-conflicts/ 


GSX Daily: Small Incivilities Pile Up in a Politically Polarized World

In the aftermath of school violence incidents, security professionals are often looking for ways to help. That turned into a three-year effort for Jeff Slotnick, CPP, PSP, who co-led the ASIS International effort to develop the new ASIS School Security Standard. By facilitating discussion across 50 multidisciplinary volunteers and collecting input from non-security professionals, the team was able to build a game-changing standard. Learn more about this project and ways security professionals can make a difference by volunteering in this GSX Daily episode of SM Highlights, sponsored by Titan Protection. 

Additional Resources
Learn more about this episode’s sponsor, Titan Protection, at https://www.tpcsecurity.com/

Interested in learning more about the new ASIS School Security Standard? Check out the overview session at GSX on 30 September at 11:00 a.m. CT: https://gsx25.mapyourshow.com/8_0/sessions/session-details.cfm?scheduleid=811 

Or visit the ASIS store—online or in-person at GSX at booth 1919—to purchase your copy. ASIS members can access the eBook edition of all ASIS International standards and guidelines for free. https://store.asisonline.org/school-security-standard-ebook.html 

Learn more about the ASIS President’s Award of Merit and other ASIS Awards of Excellence here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-news/press-room/asis-international-announces-its-2025-asis-awards-of-excellence-recipients/ 

Want to get involved volunteering with ASIS International? Learn about opportunities to contribute here: https://www.asisonline.org/about-asis/get-involved/ 

Read Jeff Slotnick’s latest Security Management article here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/08/guards-to-guardians/ 


GSX Daily: Designing a Step-by-Step Guide to Holistic School Security

With nearly a million people participating every year, Mardi Gras is a massive economic and cultural engine for the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. While the festivities—and the many other major events hosted in The Big Easy—can make security efforts more complex, community outreach and partnership enable law enforcement to keep the good times rolling, says Captain Anthony Micheu, New Orleans Police Department Traffic and Special Events Commander. Find out more about mass event security in this year’s GSX host city, New Orleans, in this special edition of the SM Highlights podcast. 

Additional Resources
Learn more about GSX for this year and moving forward at https://www.gsx.org/ 

Interested in boosting your security intelligence capabilities, whether for an event or an individual, in this issue of Security Technology: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/monthly-issues/security-technology/archive/2024/october/ 

Read about the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans and how the city reevaluated security: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/latest-news/today-in-security/2025/january/Bourbon-Street-Reopens/ 

Interested in soft target protections? Read more from Security Management: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2024/03/site-hardening/ 

How did security and law enforcement professionals use the swarm leadership style to lead an effective response to the Boston Marathon bombing? Read more in Security Management: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2023/09/marathon-and-mass-event-security/swarm-leadership-boston-marathon-bombing-response/ 


GSX Daily: How New Orleans Police Leverage Engagement and Communication to Secure Mardi Gras and More

Your mindset makes a huge difference in proactively managing change at work, rather than just reacting to it, says Mohammed Shehzad in the October 2025 episode of SM Highlights. When security technology and processes get involved, resistance and confusion can impact the overall progression and success of the change. Also in this episode, Rachel Briggs from The Clarity Factory outlines some of the essential findings from the 2025 Chief Security Officer Survey. Then, Erin McNally from Growing Resiliency for Aquarium and Zoo Employees (GRAZE) explains how traumatic critical incidents at zoos can offer lessons around crisis recovery, employee support, and grief. 


Additional Resources
Contemplating a security technology or process change? Read more from Mohammed Shehzad about managing that process here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/09/change-management/resistance-into-readiness/ 

Explore that 2023 study about change management and the reasons people resist change here: https://www.oak.com/media/c5llwb4v/oak-change-report-digital.pdf 

More resources and case studies on change management—including at the CIA—are available here from Security Management: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/09/change-management/ 

Explore research from The Clarity Factory about change management as an essential part of holistic security: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/09/change-management/holistic-security-change/ 

Dig deeper into issues of violent incident recovery, including trauma response and leadership, here: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2025/09/violent-incident-recovery/ 


How to Proactively Manage Change in Security Technology Implementations

This month we speak to longtime ASIS member Joe Masciocco about his time in the association and how he’s seen it evolve. Jim Leflar, CPP and co-author of this month’s cover story, shares his tips on implementing an effective social media plan. A security director from a private police force in Hollywood, California, talks about their strategy for getting arrest-rates down. Plus, more on how companies can design and implement their own spear-phishing training program

Security Management Highlights September 2015

Houses of worship are more vulnerable to attack than ever, but these properties must maintain the balance of being an open environment, as well as hardened against threats. ASIS Cultural Properties Council member Jim McGuffey, CPP, PSP, PCI joins us to talk about the latest trends in protecting these facilities.

SECURITY TRENDS: Protecting Houses of Worship

Marco Rubin, senior investment director at the Center for Innovative Technology, shares insights on the latest in drones and unmanned systems technologyies including how start-ups are championing innovation in the space, as well as counter-drone systems.

BONUS: Drones - Security and Beyond, with Marco Rubin, Center for Innovative Technology

How do you become a Bodyguard? 
The training and licensing required to become a professional Bodyguard differs from country to country and in the USA it differs often on a State by State basis. In this podcast we look at the licensing requirement and the core skills that are desirable for a Bodyguard to possess as well as touching on the training.

This podcast is based on an article by Intelligent Protection International Limited that was first published in January 2018: <a href="https://www.intelligent-protection.co.uk/ how-to-become-a-bodyguard.html "> How to become a Bodyguard?</a>.

Intelligent Protection Podcasts

How to become a Bodyguard

Security Management Highlights brings the security professional expert interviews and information on the most critical industry topics. Join host Brendan Howard as he interviews thought leaders and industry professionals, as well as editors from the magazine.

SECURITY TRENDS: Protecting Houses of Worship

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