There’s a lot going on in the world of physical risk and vulnerability; it’s nearly impossible to keep up with the latest news and developments. We’ll keep you informed with the best content to keep your organization safe and secure. Check out the top news and headlines from the past month.
Sudbury hospital hires 22 security guards to deal with rising violence
From CBC: Health Sciences North (HSN) hospital in Sudbury, Canada, has hired 22 dedicated security guards to respond to increasing cases of violence in health care.The hospital has also invested $1.1 million to establish a Behavioural Escalation Support Team, which is expected to be fully operational by 2023, to support staff and follow up on cases of violence in the workplace.
Our take: We commend Sudbury for prioritizing security. A lot of the hospitals we see are understaffed, and at the same time those hospitals are dealing with an increased workload: domestic and gang violence, gun violence, PTSD, abductions, and drug abuse are all on the rise. Despite this, healthcare is underfunded. Every hospital needs to take a good look at their budget and see if it’s sufficient when it comes to security and safety.
The threat within: We need to talk about mental health in cybersecurity
From Security Magazine: Burnout in the cybersecurity industry is a well-documented but often unspoken problem.More than 80% of cybersecurity personnel said they’re dealing with more stress following the pandemic than before it, according to a recent report, but because evaluating mental health requires a person or team to look inward — rather than focusing externally on an emerging threat — it often does not take priority in the front-line industry of cybersecurity. As cybersecurity leaders evaluate the risks that their organizations face, they must account for the risk that stress and anxiety on workers presents in an industry that never sleeps.
Our take: Mental health is a priority, not just for perpetrators and victims of crime, but for those who respond to it. If an officer responding to an incident is burned out, they are likely to make poor choices during that response. The same goes for those who respond to cybercrime. If an employee is burned out, they’re likely to miss the signs of an impending breach, or become overwhelmed while doing their job. Organizations need to help responders in all lines of security work focus on their own mental health so they can do their jobs well.
A report detailed the missed warning signs and motives of the Uvalde gunman
From NPR: Texas officials have offered the clearest picture yet of the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. It comes as part of a 77-page Texas House committee report that is the most thorough evaluation so far of the security of the school, missed warning signs about the shooter and the law enforcement response to the May 24 shooting.
Our take: When it comes to mental health, authorities need to recognize and respond to the signs before there’s a crisis. In the case of the Uvalde shootings, the signs were all there, but no one intervened until it was too late. Had authorities responded properly, the shooting may never have happened.
2 charged in scheme to steal Virginia ABC intel on high-demand bourbon
From the Richmond Times-Dispatch: A former sales associate for Virginia ABC and another man have been indicted in what authorities described as a conspiracy to obtain internal ABC inventory data on high-demand and limited-availability bourbons, and provide that insider information to interested parties for a price. Former ABC employee Edgar Smith Garcia, 28, of Manassas and Robert William Adams, 45, of Chesapeake were indicted last month by a Richmond Metropolitan Multi-Jurisdiction Grand Jury on charges of using a computer to illegally obtain an unauthorized copy of ABC data and embezzling the agency’s inventory product sales list. They also are charged with two counts of conspiring to commit those offenses.
Our take: This theft is a perfect example of the risk posed by insiders. Garcia used his employee access to find out where rare bourbons were being sold, and planned to use that information to make money. It’s critical to run background checks on employees who have access to sensitive data like this. It’s also very important to restrict access to critical data so that not every employee can access it.
July Top Security Grants
CDC’s Commercial Fishing Occupational Safety Training Project Grants: The goal of the training grant program is to enhance the quality and availability of safety training for United States commercial fishermen. Availability includes the frequency, geographic considerations, channels or partners of dissemination, culturally and/or educational appropriate training material, and other characteristics of a successful training program. Grant closes: August 30
FEMA’s 2022 Flood Mitigation Assistance Swift Current (FMA Swift Current): The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program makes federal funds available to states, U.S. territories, federally recognized tribal governments, and local communities to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Grant closes: October 3
DOT’s Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program: The purpose of the RCE Program is to provide funding for highway-rail and pathway-rail grade crossing improvement projects that focus on improving the safety and mobility of people and goods. Grant closes: October 4
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