Linx International Ltd - Experts & Thought Leaders

PerpetuityARC Training – a global training provider of accredited security management training courses and part of the Linx International Group - has announced the addition of two new training courses to its extensive learning portfolio: Preparing Emergency Response Plans and Testing and Exercise Training. The courses are pre-emptive of the Protect Duty legislation that is due to come into effect in the future. Both courses are being delivered in partnership with emergency response and planning specialists 3PX Ltd and created specifically for professionals who are involved with preparing for and mitigating risk and emergency planning. Elements of emergency planning The first in these new courses is the Preparing Emergency Response Plans. Delivered live via Zoom, this 2-day virtual workshop guides learners through the practical elements of emergency planning. It is designed to help an organisation improve its preparedness, giving it a higher chance of responding effectively to an emergency. When formally introduced, the training will support the legislation within the Protect Duty, and covers core content such as: Mitigating the impact and reducing casualties. Limitations / Inhibitors / Risks and Training. Evaluating plans to gain assurance. Vehicle-borne threats It is the ideal course for those with a responsibility for managing the safety It is the ideal course for those with a responsibility for managing the safety and security of an organisation and its staff, and provides a solid basis to build upon should learners wish to follow with the Testing and Exercise Training course. In a similar vein the 3-day classroom Testing and Exercise programme can either be used as a follow-up to Preparing Emergency Response Plans, or undertaken as a standalone course. Designed primarily for business owners, professionals will get to grips with the most important considerations of testing and exercising their plans on how to respond to unexpected serious incidents. This could include acts of terrorism, marauding attack, or vehicle-borne threats. Its key content includes: Exercise Planning. Compiling a Project Initiation Document (PID). Constraints and Inhibitors. Encouraging group discussion 3PX Ltd Directors Mark Gower OBE and Kevin Jewell both have long-serving police backgrounds Guided by experienced specialists from 3PX Ltd, the interactive nature of the course encourages group discussion to share experiences and draws upon good practice and the importance of understanding what could prevent the best outcome. 3PX Ltd Directors Mark Gower OBE and Kevin Jewell both have long-serving police backgrounds. During his policing career, Jewell served as one of the UK’s longest Hostage & Crisis Negotiators as well as being seconded to the UK Home Office where he led a team delivering the National Counter Terrorism Exercise Programme. Immediately after retirement he carried on this role and became the T&E Advisor for HMG, working in several countries around the world to help build their preparedness response. Security and homicide investigations Similarly, Gower is a former senior police officer of New Scotland Yard and is an internationally known Counter Terrorism Command specialist. He is a recognised and respected expert in counter-terrorism, security and homicide investigations. After leading an investigation into the 2015 Tunisian terrorist incident, Gower was awarded an OBE in 2019 for services to Policing. He comments on the new courses: I have seen first-hand the difference a cohesive and thought-out response plan can have" “I have seen first-hand the difference a cohesive and thought-out response plan can have. We all hope that we are not caught up in a major incident, with lives being in danger. However, major incidents and terrorist attacks do sadly occur, and these courses will enable individuals and organisations to prepare as much as possible in order to respond in an effective manner should the need arise.” Well-respected organisations Similarly, Director Kevin Jewell says: “As the need to have comprehensive and validated response plans becomes ever more important, 3PX are delighted to be partnering with PerpetuityARC Training. The world that we live in today means that simply ‘having a plan’ to deal with major incidents is not good enough and it is righty expected that organisations are as prepared as possible.” “Realistic testing and exercising of plans, whether it be ‘table-top’, ‘command post’ or ‘live play’, is the only way to gain assurance, by ensuring they are current and understood. We are confident that the courses offered will enhance further PerpetuityARC Training’s reputation for delivering credible security training and benefit the well-respected organisations they already work closely with.” Credible security training Upon completion of each course, learners will receive a 3PX PerpetuityARC Training Certificate Linx International Group Director Sarah Hayward-Turton, APP, states: “With the anticipated Protect Duty, legislation changes mean organisations will have to demonstrate their mitigation measures against terrorist attacks. For many, a fresh look at testing and exercising their plans will be an essential part of this." "I’m very proud that Linx has partnered with the experts in this field, 3PX, and together we can make the training as accessible as possible for organisations of all sizes.” Upon completion of each course, learners will receive a 3PX PerpetuityARC Training Certificate as well as 4 formal CPE points. For more information about the new training programmes, please visit the PerpetuityARC Training’s website.

PerpetuityARC Training, part of the Linx International Group, is pleased to announce the addition of another internationally recognised and accredited online training course: Principles of Security. Specifically designed for security and SIA operatives, this SFJ Awards Level 2 Principles of Security course will benefit organisations and individuals who are looking for a clear career development plan, starting with formal accreditation.  Comprehensive portfolio of training Sarah Hayward-Turton, Director of Sales and Marketing for PerpetuityARC Training said, “As a leading security training provider, we want to offer professionals a comprehensive portfolio of training, with which they can optimise their development process from home.” Sarah adds, “We have developed an accredited training course aimed specifically for those looking at the ‘what next’ after SIA training. Accredited with a formal SFJ Awards Level 2, the Principles of Security online course covers the areas that security operatives will need to know to secure a foundation of knowledge in security.” Principles of Security SFJ Award Level 2 training course Principles of Security SFJ Award Level 2 training course is hosted on the company’s bespoke e-learning platform Adaptability is the key in modern business development, as the COVID-19 pandemic has seen a surge in professionals turning to online training. The need to be able to meet the increased demand, while maintaining the quality of the material is a challenge faced by many classroom-based training providers. Principles of Security SFJ Award Level 2 training course is available now, delivered online and hosted on the company’s bespoke e-learning platform. Designed for security officers, CCTV operatives, close protection officers, door supervisors and security patrollers, learners cover the same content as the classroom course including, practices of security officers, risk and threat identification, diversity and equality, and communication methods. Learning the importance of information and cyber security Learners also get a good understanding of legal enforcement acts, along with learning about the importance of information and cyber security, customer service, and the significance of strong situational awareness. Sarah Hayward-Turton said, “After we successfully introduced a number of new virtual training courses late last year and early this year, we can now push to expand our portfolio of virtual and online training further so we can continue to meet the global demand our learners are seeking. Virtual online training courses She adds, “The addition of this course is something we’re excited about and gives us the confidence to develop and adapt our other traditional classroom-based courses further.” This course will fit perfectly into any organisations’ career development plan for their security officers of all levels, even those new to the industry, and those who have been in situ for some time. Moreover, this course equips the learner with the right tools and knowledge to be able to take the step up into a supervisory or management role.

Tavcom Training, one of the world’s pioneering provider of accredited security systems training courses and part of the Linx International Group, announced the addition of two one-day CCTV courses to its extensive online learning platform. The CCTV Control Room Refresher and CCTV Legislation courses are available now, with the option of accredited (BTEC) and non-accredited certificates, as well as CPD points available. The CCTV Control Room Refresher Course is essential for security practitioners that have completed the SIA training and want to keep up-to-date with the ever-changing issues affecting public space surveillance. Surveillance camera codes The course provides insight into the latest surveillance and patrolling techniques, new control room technology, incident and emergency handling, communications, ANPR, evidence sharing, as well as surveillance camera codes of practice and operational procedures, data protection, privacy and legislation. The CCTV Legislation course provides expert information and guidance surrounding data protection and privacy, including the GDPR and dealing with subject access requests, the freedom of information and human rights act, CCTV codes of practice, SIA regulations and licensing laws. The course also covers issues relating to the gathering of evidence, digital archiving and audit trails. Facial recognition technology Andrew Saywell, Business Development Manager for Tavcom Training says: “These two courses are ideal for every security practitioner involved in the use of CCTV. Not only is it important to keep pace with the application of the latest control room technology and surveillance techniques, it is essential to have an up-to-date working knowledge of what is and isn’t permissible from a legal perspective.” As the technology evolves, so to must the regulation and legislation" Andrew adds: “As the technology evolves, so to must the regulation and legislation. This was evident in the introduction of GDPR to govern data protection and, in his last month as Surveillance Camera Commissioner, Tony Porter, has shone a light on the governance surrounding the use of facial recognition technology.” Online learning platform The two courses are delivered through Tavcom Training’s bespoke online learning platform combine presentations, video and audio, to deliver an engaging, rewarding and productive learning experience. Each can be completed in one day, or at the learners own place, with online tutor support available. Learners can elect to have their training recognised with an accredited BTEC Level 2 Certificate for the CCTV Refresher course, and a BTEC Level 3 Certificate for the CCTV legislation course, or choose to receive the internationally recognised Tavcom Certificate if they choose to opt for the non-accredited route. CPD points are available to all learners on completion of the training. Courses cost £225+VAT accredited and £125 (excl.VAT) non-accredited. These courses can also be completed at Tavcom Training’s state-of-the-art training centre in Bishop’s Waltham, Hampshire.

An impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been to accelerate change. In 2020, the security industry was among many others that sought to adapt to shifting norms. In the process, we grabbed onto new opportunities for change and, in many cases, re-evaluated how we have done business for decades. If necessity is the mother of invention, perhaps crisis is the mother of acceleration. This article will reflect on how these themes impacted the physical security industry in 2020, based on content we published throughout the year, and with links back to the original articles. Sensitive data leakage Since the lockdown came into effect, organisations globally have undergone years' worth of transformations in a matter of months. Whether it has been to transition their operations online or moving their IT infrastructure to the cloud, there’s no denying that the face of business has changed permanently, experiencing a seismic shift, both operationally and culturally. As we enter the ‘next normal’ there remains a great deal of uncertainty around what the next 12 months holds and how organisations can navigate turbulence in the face of a possible recession. One of the most notable and widely reported trends has been the switch to remote methods of work, or home working. With so many employees logging on from residential networks, through personal devices that may be more easily compromised, the overall attack surface has greatly increased, raising the risk of potential corporate and sensitive data leakage in their new home office settings. Security and data protection are larger issues than ever. Good cybersecurity hygiene Criminals will use the crisis to scam people for money, account information and more" With a majority of the world working from home, businesses had to respond to this changing landscape. While it used to be that in-person networking events and sales pitches secured new projects or opportunities, the current landscape pushes businesses to be more creative in how they reach their customers. For example, with ISC West being postponed, many companies have turned to online resources to share new product demonstrations and other company news. Others are hosting webinars as a way to discuss the current climate and what it means for the industry. Without the proper precautions, working from home could become a cybersecurity nightmare, says Purdue University professor Marcus Rogers. “Criminals will use the crisis to scam people for money, account information and more,” he says. “With more people working from home, people need to make sure they are practicing good cybersecurity hygiene, just like they would at work. There is also a big risk that infrastructures will become overwhelmed, resulting in communication outages, both internet and cell.” Work-life balance In a typical office with an on-premise data centre, the IT department has complete control over network access, internal networks, data, and applications. The remote worker, on the other hand, is mobile. He or she can work from anywhere using a VPN. Until just recently this will have been from somewhere like a local coffee shop, possibly using a wireless network to access the company network and essential applications. There are many benefits of working remotely with productivity right up the top of the list There are many benefits of working remotely with productivity right up the top of the list. By reducing the unproductive time spent commuting and travelling to meetings, we are able to get much more done in a day. Add to this the reduction in stress and improved work-life balance and it makes for an impressive formula of happier, healthier and more motivated colleagues. And it’s still easy to measure results no matter where someone is working. Video conferencing platforms Trade shows have always been a basic element of how the security industry does business - until the year 2020, that is. This year has seen the total collapse of the trade show model as a means of bringing buyers and sellers face to face. The COVID-19 pandemic has effectively made the idea of a large trade show out of the question. The good news is that the industry has adapted well without the shows. A series of ‘on-line shows’ has emerged, driven by the business world’s increasing dependence on Zoom and other video conferencing platforms. The fact is, 2020 has provided plenty of opportunities for sellers to connect with buyers. Some of these sessions have been incredibly informative – and conveniently accessible from the comfort of a home office. Online training courses Online training has grown in popularity this year, and the change may become permanent Online training has grown in popularity this year, and the change may become permanent. “We have seen unprecedented international demand for our portfolio of online training courses ranging from small installation companies to the largest organisations, across a wide range of sectors,” says Jerry Alfandari, Group Marketing Manager of Linx International Group, a UK training firm. “More than ever, businesses are looking to ensure they have the skills in-house to coordinate their response to the changing situation. Individuals are also taking this time to upskill themselves for when we return to ‘normal’ by bringing something with them they didn’t have before. Perhaps unsurprisingly, people are still seeking to better themselves for what will be, eventually, a competitive market.” Virtual trade show ‘Crisis and the Everyday’ was part of Genetec’s Connect’DX virtual trade show last spring. The virtual conversation – emphasising both in form and content the topsy-turvy state of the world – included interesting insights on the current pandemic and its near- and long-term impact on the industry. In the middle of this pandemic, there is an opportunity to help security reinvent itself “In the middle of this pandemic, there is an opportunity to help security reinvent itself,” said Brad Brekke, Principal, The Brekke Group, one of the panelists. “Amid the business disruption, we should ask ‘what’s the new playbook?’ It’s an opportunity for security to look at ourselves now and look at a business plan of what the future might look like. We need to align with the business model of the corporation and define our role more around business and not so much around security.” Cloud-based platform As a cloud-based platform for service providers in the security, smart home and smart business markets, Alarm.com adapted quickly to changing conditions during the coronavirus pandemic. In the recent dynamic environment, Alarm.com has kept focus on supporting their service provider partners so they can keep local communities protected. “We moved quickly to establish work-from-home protocols to protect our employees and minimise impact on our partners,” says Anne Ferguson, VP of Marketing at Alarm.com. The Customer Operations and Reseller Education (CORE) team has operated without interruption to provide support to partners. Sales teams are utilising webinars and training resources to inform and educate partners about the latest products, tools, and solutions. Alarm.com’s partner tools are essential for remote installations and support of partner accounts.

The drive for learning doesn’t diminish, even in times of a global pandemic. To accommodate the demands of social distancing, more training today happens online. “We have seen unprecedented international demand for our portfolio of online training courses ranging from small installation companies to the largest organisations, across a wide range of sectors,” says Jerry Alfandari, Group Marketing Manager of Linx International Group, a U.K. training firm. “More than ever, businesses are looking to ensure they have the skills in-house to coordinate their response to the changing situation. Individuals are also taking this time to upskill themselves for when we return to ‘normal’ by bringing something with them they didn’t have before. Perhaps unsurprisingly, people are still seeking to better themselves for what will be, eventually, a competitive market.” Expert security training Topics such as CCTV, Access Control, Intruder and Fire Tavcom Training, part of the Linx International Group, provides technical security training delivered by expert tutors on topics such as CCTV, Access Control, Intruder and Fire and also CCTV Control Room and Security Management. Given the practical nature of the courses, the majority have historically been delivered in a state-of-the-art training centre through interactive workshops. However, in order to best protect their staff and learners, and following government guidelines, Tavcom have closed their training centre for the time being. Learners are still able to book into classroom courses for later in the year with a choice of two learning centres now being offered: Hampshire or the recently established training centre in Shipley. For those who prefer to learn online, Tavcom delivers accredited online security training. “Given the situation we are all in at the moment, our online courses have seen an 86% increase in demand over the last several months,” says Alfandari. All online courses offer the same level of support as the classroom courses, with many accredited to BTEC level 3 and 5, catering to professionals of varying skill levels and experience. Improve your professional development “Our online courses remain as accessible as ever, with huge numbers of security systems engineers and professionals seeking to use this [quarantine] time to improve their professional development,” Alfandari says. “We encourage all people to consider the benefits of eLearning and, if they need any advice, to reach out to the Tavcom training team.” It’s more important now than ever before that learners are able to access Tavcom’s online learning programmes and continue in their professional development, he says. To help facilitate learning, the company has discounted 25% off the portfolio of eLearning courses, many of which are BTEC accredited and come with expert tutor support. We are also introducing new interactive ways of teaching traditionally classroom-based courses" “We are also introducing new interactive ways of teaching traditionally classroom-based courses with the aid of Zoom virtual classroom courses, led by our tutors,” says Alfandari. “From the learner’s own home, they will be able to undertake their chosen training course and return to the training centre later in the year to complete the practical assessment.” Skillsets remain in demand Even the most well-prepared organisations with extensive contingency plans have been stunned by the scale and speed of the current situation. Alfandari says: “We are finding especially our Intruder Alarms courses for repair and maintenance engineers have been exceptionally popular; those skill sets remain as in demand as ever in these troubled times.” A sister company, PerpetuityARC Training, offers Security Management BTEC Level 4 and Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management BTEC Level 4 courses that are purposely designed to help businesses and those responsible for security learn how to identify threats, risks and vulnerabilities, and create a comprehensive plan that will enable practical measures to be applied to mitigate the impact. Both courses run via two media: classroom or online and are tutor-supported so learners have a choice according to what best suits their needs and requirements. An online Essential Security Practices course is comprised of 12 modules designed to introduce the essentials of corporate security. Modules can be bought individually or as a whole course and will establish fundamental knowledge of best security practice. “It’s a great starting place if you’re new to security or want to brush up on your expertise,” says Alfandari. Maintaining a security presence is a challenge during a global pandemic. “With people following guidelines by staying at home, we’ve been working hard to drive the message that learning doesn’t stop just because you can’t go out,” says Alfandari. “People may think that because they can’t get to the training centre then they can’t train, but that’s just not the case.” Learning in these unprecedented times Our training centres may be closed for now, but our courses are still very much running" Between Tavcom Training and PerpetuityARC Training, there are more than 20 distance learning courses including ASIS International and The Security Institute, all of which can be accessed at home, at a learner’s own pace. “It’s important that people understand that we’re still here, still available and that we haven’t ‘gone away’,” says Alfandari. “Our training centres may be closed for now, but our courses are still very much running. “ “These are, without doubt, extremely difficult times,” he adds. “We are here for our learners. Our team are working hard behind the scenes to facilitate the best possible learning experience during this time, and we encourage all potential learners to really use this and make the most of it. Whether you want a refresher in security basics or finally to start on that qualification you’ve been putting off, we are here to help you in your professional development.” Rhiannon Limbert, Marketing Coordinator for Linx International Group, contributed to this content.

The threat of drones is a growing concern around the perimeter and in the airspace surrounding airports. According to a UK Airprox Board report, the number of times a drone endangered the safety of an aircraft in the UK airspace rose more than a third in 2018 compared to the year before. The highest-profile recent drone incident was at UK’s Gatwick Airport, where a drone sighting last December triggered a three-day shutdown of the UK’s second busiest airport, disrupted the travel plans of 140,000 people and affected 1,000 flights. Unauthorised drone activity And there have been other recent incidents of drone disruptions at airports: At Heathrow Airport in January 2019, flights were temporarily stopped for about an hour ‘as a precautionary measure’ after a drone was reported. The UK Airprox Board recorded 39 dangerously close drone encounters at Heathrow in 2018. In the U.S., flights into Newark Liberty International Airport were disrupted for about 90 minutes in January after a drone sighting. Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, closed its airspace for about 30 minutes in February due to suspected unauthorised drone activity. In March and again in May, air traffic at Frankfurt Airport in Germany was grounded due to drone sightings – for about 30 minutes in the first instance and about an hour in the second. Drone detection systems Security has a role in preventing drone incidents, although pilots often report them Security has a role in preventing drone incidents, although pilots often report them. At Gatwick, the initial reports of a drone over the airfield came from airport security officers. After the incident, the UK government rushed through legislation to enlarge the drone exclusion zones around airports to a maximum of 5 km (up from the previous 1 km). In the U.S., the exclusion zone around airports is a radius of about 5 miles, and even more in sensitive areas such as the National Capital Region around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, where restrictions are 15 to 30 miles. Airports in the U.S. are allowed to deploy drone detection systems but may not use counterdrone technology (such as shooting down the drones), which is reserved for the Justice Department and Homeland Security. Dedicated new technology “News that drone threats to aircraft are increasing should come as no surprise,” says Simon Barnes, Business Development Manager – Airports Europe for Genetec. “Recent reported incidents are just the tip of the iceberg. As drones become increasingly ubiquitous – both from hobbyists and their growing use in professional arenas – we can expect to see many more incidents.” From speaking to airports across the world, Barnes has learned that two of the most pressing challenges they face are how they secure their perimeters (as intruders become increasingly sophisticated) and identifying ‘Friend from Foe’ as operational needs must be maintained. “When it specifically comes to drone detection, the short-term temptation can be to introduce a dedicated new technology to address this specific threat,” he commented. More comprehensive response We need to work with technology, not against it, in order to ensure public safety and security" “However, the last thing a functioning airport needs is an independent system that isn’t unified with all of the other security measures in place. Only when the data from all of these inputs is visualised in one place can an airport begin to make sense of its environment and enable a fast and efficient response to evolving challenges such as the insider threat and malicious drone activities. We fully expect airports to respond to this changing landscape, to help ensure a more comprehensive response.” Philip Avery, Managing Director of Navtech Radar, adds: “In today's current climate of increased national threats, we need to work fast to keep up with modern risks. However, creating new, complicated laws open to misinterpretation or enforcing a complete ban on privately owned drones seem like Luddite solutions that undermine the potential of innovative technology. We need to work with technology, not against it, in order to ensure public safety and security.” Help mitigate risk Navtech Radar sells the AdvanceGuard system for drone detection. Tavcom Training, part of the Linx International Group, has responded to requests from the security industry for expert training in order to be better prepared for and mitigate against the threat of Unmanned Aerial Systems (better known as drones). The company offers a two-day Drone Detection classroom-based course for £375+VAT. Our drone detection course gives security professionals advice from experts" “The responses to the [recent] airport drone attacks were played out in the spotlight, with much public debate regarding the seeming lack of a pre-defined plan of action to prevent or contain such an incident,” explains Sarah Hayward-Turton, Sales and Marketing Director at the Linx International Group. “Our drone detection course gives security professionals advice from experts in drone technology, to help mitigate risk and implement countermeasures to thwart unauthorised drone activity.” The course will be offered again in November 2019 and in February 2020.