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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*

The Nashville bomb attack on Christmas morning 2020 exposes the fundamental flaws and the urgent need to revolutionize community safety. We know, based on the post-event reporting, that the Nashville attack should have never happened, and yet it did. How many more tragedies have to happen before calls to revolutionize community safety and prevention result in real action? Since attacks like Columbine in 1999 and 9-11 in 2001, thousands of attacks have occurred even though the at-risk individuals responsible for the attacks exhibited concerning behaviors, warning signs, and pre-incident indicators that community members observed and reported days, weeks, and months before the attack. Too manyRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, 6 Stages

Threat Assessment Teams (TATs) play a very important role in prevention efforts and making organizations and communities safer and are even more critical today due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has created more stressors and even more at-risk individuals for TATs to address. TATs have existed for a very long time in schools, higher education institutions, organizations, and communities, but increasing violence, suicides, and other incidents create concerns and questions on what is missing. Threat Assessment Teams: A Brief History TATs are often one of the main topics of discussion after horrific tragedies. For example, after the Columbine Massacre in April 1999 federal entities likeRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*

Return on Prevention vs. Return on Regret This is a real-life experience. I went down to one of the main hotel/casinos on the Las Vegas Strip to meet a buddy and his wife who were in town for some fun and some gambling. As my buddy and I were standing and chatting in the casino by the poker tables, a big guy with an athletic build approached us and asked us what we did for energy and fun? My buddy and I did not know this guy, so we were a little confused and we both answered with sort of a vague “not much”. TheRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*

Why are ransomware attacks soaring? Because they are working! It is estimated that by 2021 the predicted ransomware damages will be $20 billion. Why are ransomware attacks working? Traditional information security solutions are easy to beat! Do you remember everything from your last information security training? Do you even remember when your last training was? Why are new solutions needed? Because traditional solutions aren’t working! Watch the video below to learn more about these new solutions. Click here to learn more about the solutions discussed in this video.   Read More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*, First Preventer

The First Preventers Playbook: How to Intervene, Disrupt, and Prevent Tragedy Before It Strikes. Enough is enough! Old playbooks and strategies depend on First Responders (defense), however First Preventers (offense) are needed too. It’s time to use a new prevention playbook to prevent more incidents and tragedies, The First Preventers Playbook is just in time to show you how. LAS VEGAS, NV – “For too long, we have ignored the signs of mass casualty attacks and refused to work together to “connect the dots”. Rick has given us a roadmap to do just that,” Captain Griger, Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office. Leaders in schools, higher education,Read More →

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In: Uncategorized

New and Different Times Require New and Different Playbooks In Schools, Workplaces, and Communities Challenges in 2020 have created a new normal that is different and strange. Strange because when you think about it, pandemics are not new, protests are not new, riots are not new, racial tensions are not new, politics are not new, online learning is not new, remote working is not new, responding to violence is not new…but still 2020 feels different and 2020 is the beginning of a new normal. 2020 is also making it painfully clear to almost everyone that the same old playbooks and strategies are struggling mightily withRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*

The Twitter hack is pretty alarming when you realize what a couple of teenage hackers were able to accomplish using one of the oldest hacking techniques in the hacker playbook. Twitter Attack What happened? Twitter employees were hacked by hackers using social engineering and exposing human vulnerabilities and lack of awareness. The result was several Twitter accounts of some very well known people were taken over by the hackers. Twitter said the hackers “successfully manipulated a small number of employees and used their credentials to access Twitter’s internal systems, including getting through our two-factor protections.”  Twitter released an update later and said the hackers “targeted aRead More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*

Scary Indicators for School Leaders… Shootings, COVID, Mental Health & More Targeted Violence In a 2019 US Secret Service analysis, between 2008 and 2017 41 schools experienced targeted violence which is scary enough. However, it is also scary because BEFORE the 41 attacks occurred: ALL the individuals (attackers) exhibited concerning behaviors before the attack ALL the attackers experienced social stressors involving their relationships with peers and/or romantic partners Nearly all attackers experienced negative home life factors Sadly, none of the 41 schools were able to take advantage of the indicators (concerning behaviors, social stressors, home life factors, leakage, warning signs, red flags, etc.) to intervene,Read More →

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In: *Connecting the Dots Blog*

16 years ago, on July 22, 2004, the 9-11 Commission Report was released. Do you remember one of the most important revelations in the 9-11 Commission Report? National intelligence is still organized around the collection disciplines of the home agencies, not the joint mission. The importance of integrated, all source analysis cannot be overstated. Without it, it is not possible to “connect the dots”. No one component holds all the relevant information. The biggest impediment to all source analysis – to a greater likelihood of connecting the dots – is the human or systemic resistance to sharing information. The 9-11 Commission Report revealed there wereRead More →