ASIS International introduces Executive Protection Standard

“The Executive Protection Standard represents a critical advancement in our profession’s ability to safeguard leaders who drive global commerce and innovation,” explained Joe M Olivarez Jr, president of ASIS International. “As threats to executives become increasingly more sophisticated and complex, this new standard provides the comprehensive framework needed to deliver world-class protection services, while maintaining the highest professional standards.”

The Executive Protection Standard was developed by a dedicated team of industry experts and practitioners, drawing on their extensive experience and knowledge to create a robust framework that addresses the unique challenges faced by executive protection professionals.

Representing an ‘industry first’, this standard establishes a comprehensive programme framework that aligns strategic objectives with protective operations using a structured approach that encompasses leadership, strategy, operational functions and resource management to address specific security needs for executives, their families and associated assets.

“This standard reflects the collective expertise of seasoned executive protection professionals who understand that effective protection requires more than just physical security,” stated Charles Tobin, chair of the ASIS Technical Committee that developed the standard. “It demands strategic thinking, meticulous planning and seamless co-ordination. We’ve created a practical roadmap that will elevate the entire executive protection industry, while in parallel ensuring consistent and professional approaches to safeguarding our most valuable assets: the individuals who lead our organisations.”

Comprehensive security discipline 

Executive protection represents a comprehensive security discipline focused on safeguarding high-profile individuals through systematic threat identification, risk assessment and mitigation strategies.

Effective executive protection programmes require structured leadership and strategic planning that encompasses intelligence gathering, physical and digital security integration, close protection operations, transportation security and emergency response protocols. The foundation rests on thorough security risk assessments that evaluate an individual’s visibility, organisational value and threat history to determine appropriate protection scope and resource allocation.

Success depends on meticulous operational planning, regulatory compliance, continuous monitoring and regular programme evaluation to adapt to evolving threats. The Executive Protection Standard provides organisations with the framework to implement comprehensive executive protection programmes that effectively manage security risks, while ensuring the safety of executives, their families and associated assets through co-ordinated protective operations and ongoing performance assessment.

Key features

Key features of the Executive Protection Standard include:

*comprehensive needs analysis and security risk assessment methodologies to determine protection requirements and evaluate threats to executives and their families

*strategic programme framework to include leadership commitment, policy development, resource allocation and operational scope definition

*personnel management and operational planning guidelines covering selection criteria, training requirements, legal compliance, ethics and communication protocols

*protective operations procedures addressing intelligence gathering, close protection operations, security advances, transportation and emergency response co-ordination.

*programme evaluation and continuous improvement processes through monitoring, compliance assessment, auditing and management review to ensure ongoing effectiveness

The release of the Executive Protection Standard marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts of ASIS International to support the security management community. By providing a clear and actionable framework for executive protection, this standard will help security professionals to better protect their clients and ensure the latter’s safety in an ever-changing threat environment.

Advancing the profession 

“ASIS International is committed to advancing the security profession by providing its members with the tools and resources they need to excel in their roles,” observed Susan Carioti (vice-president of certifications, standards and guidelines at ASIS International. “The Executive Protection Standard is testament to our dedication to promoting excellence and professionalism in the field of security management.”

*Further information is available online at https://www.asisonline.org/security-news/standards-guidelines/executive-protection-standard/