August 25, 2022
Security Resources and Tips from DHS/SHIELD
DSS is a member of SHIELD, an umbrella program under which law enforcement agencies share anti-crime and counter-terrorism information with private security services providers. SHIELD was founded by the NYPD and later adopted by many local law enforcement agencies, including the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD).
SCPD SHIELD recently provided its members with a list of very useful resources put together by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
The free tools and websites listed below can be used by organizations of all sizes to evaluate and enhance the protection of their facilities and events. Topics covered include awareness of potential
threats, signs of suspicious behavior that often precede violent events, and advice for handling specific threats, among other useful information.
These critical tips and guidance can help mitigate risk, enhance security, and potentially prevent violent incidents. They are well worth reviewing.
Security Resources
- Homeland Threat Assessment evaluates the strategic threat environment and anticipates future or emerging threats. This document helps inform interagency policymaking, agency prioritization, resource allocation, and inter-governmental partnerships.
- Personal Security Considerations fact sheet encourages critical infrastructure owners and their personnel to remain vigilant and report suspicious behavior that individuals may exhibit in order to thwart an attack.
- Pathway to Violence – Warning Signs and What You Can Do explains warning signs that may lead to violence and what individuals can do to mitigate a potential incident.
- Employee Vigilance Through the Power of Hello promotes employee vigilance to empower
employees to observe and evaluate suspicious behaviors, mitigate potential risk, and obtain
help when necessary. - Protecting Infrastructure During Public Demonstrations and Outdoor Eating Venue Fact Sheet provides security recommendations for infrastructure owners and operators who may encounter unlawful acts during public demonstrations.
- Suspicious or Unattended poster and postcard provide a process to safely determine if an item is a serious threat or just unattended.
- Bomb Threat Guidance provides site decision-makers with pre-threat preparation, threat
assessment considerations, staff response guidelines, and evacuation and shelter-in-place
considerations. - Vehicle-Borne IED Identification – Parked Vehicles assists in recognizing potential indicators of auspicious parked vehicle.
- What to Do Training Video Series provides guidance to security officials, the general public and many other stakeholders about the steps they should take to protect themselves and others from bomb incidents.
- Bomb-Making Materials Awareness Program (BMAP) is CISA’s counter-terrorism risk
management bombing prevention program sponsored by the agency’s Office for Bombing
Prevention (OBP). BMAP focuses on restricting access by malicious actors to explosive precursor chemicals, explosive powders, exploding target materials, associated components, and delivery methods. - Vehicle Ramming Self-Assessment Tool allows each stakeholder to develop a risk mitigation
strategy based on their identified vulnerabilities and options for consideration. The tool features a section on Information and resources where users have access to information on barriers, crowd management, considerations for high-speed avenues of approach, and many more security topics with corresponding references. - Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) – Critical Infrastructure web presence provides access to various resources on small, unmanned aircraft systems security and response strategies. Resources linked through the website include frequently asked questions, cybersecurity best practices, legal advisories, security guidance, and more.
- Critical Infrastructure Exercises | CISA are cyber and physical security exercises conducted by CISA with government and industry partners to enhance security and resilience of critical infrastructure. CISA Tabletop Exercise Packages (CTEPs) are a comprehensive set of resources designed to assist stakeholders in conducting their own exercises. Partners can use CTEPs to initiate discussions within their organizations about their ability to address a variety of threat scenarios.
- CISA K-12 School Security Guide Suite is a set of products to support K-12 schools and
communities in their efforts to strengthen security and protect against a range of targeted
violence and other threats. The 3rd edition guide and companion tool outline action-oriented
security practices and options for consideration across the K-12 school community. - CISA offers resources dedicated to understanding the physical outcomes of cybersecurity
attacks; cyber and physical security risks, vulnerabilities, and mitigation options specific to
facilities, sectors, or technologies; and the benefits of adopting an integrated approach to
security in organizations. Resources include: Autonomous Ground Vehicle Security Guide, Sector Spotlight: Cyber-Physical Security Considerations for the Electricity Sub-Sector, Stadium Spotlight: Connected Devices and Integrated Security Considerations, and the Cybersecurity and Physical Security Convergence Guide.
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