March 2023 — ISC West, the TikTok Car Theft Trend and More Security News and Grants

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.

Silicon Valley Bank failure could wipe out 'a whole generation of startups'

From NPR: Founded over a poker game in 1983, Silicon Valley Bank became the go-to lender for tech startups that appeared too risky in the eyes of larger, more traditional banks. Eventually, Silicon Valley Bank would come to do business with nearly half of all U.S. tech startups backed by venture capitalists. For tech startups, which for decades have relied heavily on the bank based in Santa Clara, Calif., the mid-March collapse of SVB has set off a crisis that could lead to mass layoffs, or hundreds of startups collapsing, according to industry insiders.

Our take: The true fallout of SVB’s failure isn’t known yet. Not only have scammers and social engineers started to use the bank’s collapse to defraud victims, but the failure is likely to destabilize other institutions.

ISC West hosts thousands of security professionals

From ISC West: From March 28-31, the International Security Conference & Exposition – also known as ISC West – is taking place in Las Vegas. ISC West is the leading comprehensive and converged security trade event in the U.S drawing thousands of security and public safety professionals.

Our take: Circadian Risk is thrilled to be at ISC West this year. We will be in booth #22125 at ISC West. We’d love to meet with you; reach out and book a meeting with us.

Denver Public Schools to temporarily suspend its ban on armed guards in schools after shooting at East High School

From CNN: One day after two faculty members were shot and wounded by a student at a Denver high school, the local school board voted unanimously to temporarily suspend its nearly two-year-old ban on armed guards and police officers in its schools. School district Superintendent Alex Marrero said Wednesday, March 22 that he was “committed” to having two armed police officers stationed at East High School during school hours through the end of the academic year regardless of the official policy.

Our take: While school shootings are a tragedy, armed guards are always a risk. Do the guards know how to respond appropriately to threats? Also, are the guards likely to accidentally shoot a disruptive, but not dangerous, student? It’s important to be sure that the guards are appropriately trained and able to handle being armed.

TikTok Hack-Led Car Thefts Make Kia And Hyundai Models Uninsurable

From Hotcars: Late last year, a group of teens calling themselves the Kia Boyz identified a security loophole in these Kia and Hyundai models that weren't equipped with an engine immobilizer. This allowed these cars to be started without a key. It led to a spate of thefts across the US, accompanied by social media clips of the Kia Boyz joyriding in the stolen cars. It's now known as the Kia Challenge. As if having your car vulnerable to theft with the simplest of tools wasn't enough, it's also being increasingly reported that several insurance companies are denying coverage for these Kia and Hyundai models.

Our take: TikTok can be a good thing, but this trend shows that it can also be a danger. Although the manufacturer and dealerships are taking steps to make the cars safe, car owners will have to shell out for the kits that secure their cars.

March Top Security Grants

FEMA’s 2023 Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) grant: The Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grant Program provides financial assistance to eligible applicants to develop sustainable, multidisciplinary targeted violence and terrorism prevention capabilities in local communities, to pilot innovative prevention approaches, and to identify prevention best practices that can be replicated in communities across the country. Grant closes: April 25

Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP): The Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) is one of three grant programs that constitute the DHS/FEMA focus on enhancing the ability of state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as nonprofits, to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks. These grant programs are part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS to help strengthen the Nation's communities against potential terrorist attacks. Among the five basic homeland security missions noted in the DHS Strategic Plan, the HSGP supports the goal to Strengthen National Preparedness and Resilience. Grant closes: May 18

Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP): The Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) is one of four grant programs that constitute DHS/FEMA's focus on transportation infrastructure security activities. These grant programs are part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS to help strengthen the nation's critical infrastructure against risks associated with potential terrorist attacks. The TSGP provides funds to transit agencies to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism. Grant closes: May 18

2023 Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP): The Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP) is one of three grant programs that support DHS/FEMA's focus on enhancing the ability of state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as nonprofit organizations, to prevent, prepare for, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks. These grant programs are part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS to help strengthen the nation's communities against potential terrorist attacks. Grant closes: May 18

About the Author

Daniel Young

Founder & Chief Innovation Officer

Daniel has been a security and risk advisor for more than 10 years, and is passionate about helping companies to better understand their risks to undesirable events on a daily basis. Dan previously served as the Regional Bioterrorism Coordinator for District 1 in Michigan, where he was instrumental in preparing communities for catastrophic incidents. He has also acted as the Private Security Liaison for the City of Lansing’s Critical Infrastructure Team, which identified and documented deficiencies in the city’s critical infrastructure.

He is a Co-Founder of the CSO Risk Council, a think tank of seasoned security professionals and thought leaders with extensive experience in managing the physical security and risks of large enterprises consisting of multiple sites and whose mission is to create a better process to develop and share innovative solutions and pertinent information with organizations to improve safety and security risk by providing a forum to discuss best practices and recommendations for specific risk scenarios and to network with other enterprise security professionals.