Security Articles/Blogs From Our Members

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"In the world of executive protection it is of great importance to see how quickly you could become fully operational again after being shot from close range”, Robert Kaiser says after personally being shot, testing their new covert bullet proof vests.

A high definition video has now been made available on YouTube, highlighting the CEO of PPSS Body Armour being shot from approx 9 feet or 3 meters. View here

The shot was fired from a Glock 19 handgun, using 9x19mm FMJ 124gr ammunition.

Robert Kaiser is one of the very first men in this industry who has decided to ‘put his money where his mouth is’.

"I have seen many body armour companies making astonishing claims, so I decided to offer real physical evidence using live ammunition” he says.

Robert explained in great depth and personally ensured this video was not produced to create any type of tough guy image, and it should also not be seen a disregard to human life.

Having viewed the video, it is fair to say that all reasonable and necessary precautions have been taken prior to the production.  One of the country’s leading trauma nurse was present, paramedics were on stand by and an IV was prepared in order to infuse essential drugs in case something did go wrong.

PPSS Body Armour have now launched this ultra light and extremely thin NIJ Level IIIA+ bullet proof vest in order to offer executive and diplomatic security professionals the best possible concealable protection.

With a weight of only 1.65kg, a thickness of just 6.5mm and protective area of 0.28sqm, this new outstanding bullet proof vest certainly means business.

Made out of a high performance ballistic material, this new bullet proof vest also offers additional protection from Tokarev Ball 7.62 x 25mm and Makarov 9 x 18mm.

Waterproof and breathable Cordura® 180 and groundbreaking temperature controlling Outlast® space technology make this great body armour an ideal choice especially in hot and humid conditions.

A specially developed 0.85mm trauma liner provides extremely effective blunt trauma protection.

Please contact PPSS Group directly on +44 (0) 845 5193 953 email info@ppss-group.com or visit www.ppss-group.com

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PPSS Group is a UK based company, specialised in the design, development and manufacturing of high performance bite and cut resistant clothing and body armour. PPSS Group is also the company behind Cut-Tex® PRO, a groundbreaking and one of the world’s strongest cut, tear and abrasion resistant fabrics, now being used to manufacture cut and bite resistant clothing for police, military, emergency services, prisons, mental health care and private security firms all over the world.

Robert Kaiser, CEO of PPSS Group is a globally respected expert in body armour and known for his passion for personal protection and personal safety.  He is frequently invited to speak in front of large audiences about the latest body armour developments within homeland security and domestic frontline services.  He is acting as a body armour consultant for a number of organisations, associations, unions and government departments.

There are a number of security consultants listed on this Website. Most of the security consultants that are members of Security Source Online are competent, well experienced and maintain a high degree of integrity. They bring a wide range of expertise to the clients they serve whether on the factory floor, a hospital, shopping center or in the courtroom.

The value of Security Consultants is that they are able to bring an objective point of view to the clients they serve. In order for them to bring objectivity to the table, security consultants should be independent professionals without ties to the vendor side of the industry. For those of you outside the security consulting world, you may be surprised to know there is a good deal of friendship and mutual respect among these professionals. You will find that most have several years of multifaceted experience prior to hanging out their shingle. Most security consultants hold the CPP designation, along with other certifications.

What benefits are derived through the use of Security Consultants?

As mentioned, the first benefit is objectivity. Many of the organizations we work with have experienced security professionals running their security programs, yet they avail themselves. One may question why an experienced security manager would go outside and hire a consultant. In almost all cases, the reason given is they are seeking a fresh objective perspective. Because experienced security consultants have worked for a variety of diverse clientele, they have a wide range of experience to call upon. They understand many vertical industries and they understand the need to ensure that each security programs is responsive to the situational environment at hand. This objectivity is also useful in helping clients choosing security vendors. Not all vendors are created equally and some vendors who may be strong in Peoria may not be so strong in Sacramento.

Because of their breadth of experience, security consultants have a good understanding what works and what doesn’t work. Their perspective is also buttressed by the fact they frequently communicate with one-another. This knowledge helps ensure to that scarce resources produce will optimal ROI for the clients they serve. They understand that most security programs most meet the corporate goal of management. Security consultants understand the need to ensure that each security program fits within the framework of the organization as determined by the C-Suite.

Finally, our role as security consultants is a positive one. The best security consultants do not come into an organization with the preconceived notion to find fault and with the intent to rebuild the security program in their own image. Rather our role is to come into an organization to discover what is right and what is working, and then determine how to make it better. This concept is generally referred to as positive consulting as opposed to coming to a project with the predisposition to find fault.

As we said at the onset, there are numerous security consultants here at Security Source Online. Most security consultants are driven, to one degree or another, by a certain sense of altruism. If you doubt this, contact some of the consultants on this website. You will find them forthcoming and willing to have a discussion on a wide range of concerns you may have. You will also find that of you raise an issue outside the realm of their expertise; they will refer you to one or more of their colleagues.

Security consultants provide comprehensive security assessment, provide security management support, develop security system RFPs, provide security designs as well as project management support. Many security consultants are active in the forensic area as court qualified expert witnesses.

I hope this topic evokes some discussion form our members and other interested parties. I hope we can elicit differing points of views from other consultants and well as the pros and cons from those who have used security consultants. All security professionals strive for excellence and forums like this advance that cause.

by Felix P. Nater, CSC

Recent news reports of workplace related acts of homicides by non-employees raises concerns relative to workplace safety and security in general.  Are employer's misunderstanding that violence prevention consist of 4 Categories of Workplace Violence ( see chart above).  Your workplace violence prevention program will serve organization's best if the focus is not only the employee threat but also the threat posed by criminals during robberies, vendors, and intimate partners violence.

Since the Postal Service Oklahoma Multiple Homicides in August of 1986 and my experiences in workplace violence since, I've learned that workplaces are unique settings with their cultures and circumstances. In the case of the Postal Service during those years, I participated in hundreds of nonfatal incidents all emanating from one degree of misunderstanding or another in many instances having nothing to do with criminal behavior and everything to do with stress brought about by a variety of societal, environmental, family and medical contributing factors. I quickly earned a special respect for the assignment and respect for the Postal Service that serves as the foundation of my consulting model today.

Most organizations mean well but are ill prepared in their approaches to workplace violence prevention. Not enough time is spent on assessment and analysis of workplace settings; areas that would yield measurable results in violence prevention planning and response. Even today as I respond to workplace issues the underlining reason for confrontations emanate from stresses associated with autocratic leadership, permissive environments, disparate treatment and bullying to mention a few examples. You will always have conflict, arguments and fights.

Organizations that react to training as the solution do so without studying the circumstances and identifying the proper training solution in averting situations that rise to the act of homicide. Now as I discovered then, there is employee distrust and lack of credibility in resolving employee complaints and the notion of workplace security.  Often times employees witnessed victims being labeled trouble makers who were merely reporting their observations. Soon enough these "complainers" were isolated and made to feel like they were the problem.

An accountable workplace culture is a huge step towards creating employee enjoyment and trust and less conflict.  What we do know is that prior violence is not a constant indicator in profiling potential threats. There are sufficient examples of incidents where the shooter did not have a prior criminal history of violence or violent prone past.  Employers would enhance their workplace violence prevention initiatives by focusing in on contributing factors, conditions and situations that create workplace stress and lead to potential retaliatory reaction. Taking aggressive proactive prevention measures creates a culture of accountability in preventing workplace violence.

Even if you are in the state of denial in that workplace violence can't happen here or that workplace violence isn't preventable, please think twice about not doing anything. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound in cure. Plan for the "when" and not the "if".

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Felix P. Nater, CSC
Nater Associates, Ltd.
Security Management Consultants
New York and North Carolina Offices
Toll Free:  1-877-valu101
Direct:  1-516-285-8484
Fax:  1-917-338-2576
Email:  nater@naterassociates.com
Website:  www.naterassociates.com

Any security professional that has worked in the healthcare environment for the first time, especially hospitals, quickly realizes the uniqueness of this environment. The security challenges of providing adequate security to a hospital, whether large or small, whether urban or rural, are unlike any other environment. Because most patients are totally reliant on the hospital for their person safety and security, the reasonable standard of care for adequacy is very high. Add to that reality that most hospitals are, intentionally, very accessible faculties; the challenge becomes even more daunting. The question becomes: How do we maintain a warm and welcoming milieu and at the same time, provide adequate and sufficient security for patients, visitor and staff.

Security providers are now addressing these challenges head on. They are beginning to understand that hospitals have their own lingo and value systems. If the security provider does not thoroughly understand this nomenclature and value system, they generally will not get very far.


In response to this unique vertical security market, security providers are taking the time to understand the unique needs of the healthcare environment. For example, there are a number of consultants that are well informed as to the special security needs of hospitals. These consultants have taken the time and energy to join and participate in such organizations as IAHSS, ASHES, ACHE and ASHRM (If you don’t know these organizations, look them up.)

We are also seeing that major security companies, such as Securitas and G4S, developing security program offerings specifically for hospitals. These companies are bringing well experienced former hospital security executives into their security organizations to ensure they get it right. The critical challenge for contract security agencies, especially when working in the hospital environment, is to control turnover. The negative impact of turnover in the hospital environment is much greater that the same turnover in other commercial venues. In a hospital setting, security officers are required to make judgment calls several times a day. This means that they must have complete familiarity with the hospital they are assigned to. Turnover diminishes this ability.

Finally, we are also seeing technology companies emerging within the healthcare vertical. For example ADT, probably the one of the oldest security and fire protection companies in the world, has jumped into the healthcare vertical with both feet. They are able to integrate exiting disparate stems, and provide a variety of state of the art enhancements if needs dictate. This allows hospitals to enhance security efficiency while reducing reliance on additional FTEs and significantly reduce exposure to liability claims. One lawsuit avoided will buy a lot of security. Reliance on FTEs can be lessened through the application of virtual video tours and/or virtual video escorts.

The lessons learned in the hospital environment should be applied to many other industries. You will see that the companies mentioned here and others have devoted space on their respective website to the hospital vertical market.  Vertical niche market works!

by Robert Kaiser

"PPSS have now launched one of the lightest and thinnest NIJ Level IIIA+ bullet proof vests in order to offer those who protect and serve the best possible concealable protection” Robert Kaiser, their CEO states.

Made out of high performance Dyneema® SB51, this new bullet proof vest also offers additional protection from Tokarev Ball 7.62 x 25mm and Makarov 9 x 18mm.

Waterproof and breathable Cordura® 180 and groundbreaking temperature controlling Outlast® space technology, are two further exceptional materials used for this great new body armour.

A specially developed 0.85mm trauma liner provides extremely effective blunt trauma protection.

With a weight of only 1.65kg, a thickness of just 6.5mm and protective area of 0.28sqm, this new outstanding bullet proof vest certainly means business.

"Every gram we can shave off the weight of body armour will improve the comfort of the wearer, and subsequently reduce the risk of human error due to fatigue and exhaustion”.

"Our ambitious goal was to develop one of the thinnest, lightest and most comfortable bullet proof vests, and it is now crystal clear that together with our manufacturing partners in Sweden we have successfully reached our objective”, says Robert Kaiser.

Available test results also confirm the company’s claim the body armour offer an exceptional high level of protection from hypodermic needles.

PPSS bullet proof vests are initially available as covert (model: CV1) and executive (model: EV1) version, in standard sizes ranging from S to XXXL.

A breath taking HD video of Robert Kaiser demonstrating the performance of this great new bullet proof vest can be viewed on the PPSS website.

Please contact PPSS Group directly on +44 (0) 845 5193 95 email info@ppss-group.com or visit www.ppss-group.com.

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UK based PPSS Group is specialised in the development of body armour, bullet proof vests, stab vests and cut resistant clothing, aiming to protect police, military, emergency services, prisons and private security professionals all over the world.

Robert Kaiser, CEO of PPSS Group is frequently invited to speak in front of large audiences about the latest body armour developments within homeland security and domestic frontline services.  He is acting as body armour consultant for a number of organisations, associations and government departments.  His genuine passion for personal safety and personal protection is widely respected.

by Robert Kaiser

"Of course” you might say, "we would not expect to hear anything else from someone who runs a company that is specialized in the development of body armor… does it not make a lot of commercial sense to him?”

But why don’t you just ignore this fact for a couple of minutes while you are reading my blog.  Just for once, accept the fact that some professionals actually genuinely care, have other people safety in mind and simply want to redirect people focus on security and safety related issues that really matters.

Over a number of years I have been operationally involved in the security industry, here in the UK and a number of other countries prior to that.  I retired just a few years ago in order to set up PPSS Group.  During these years I was unfortunate enough to witness fellow security professionals loosing their lives and others suffering from horrendous and long lasting injuries.  In fact it often was my responsibility to make that so very emotional and personal call to their next of kin, explaining why their loved one will not come home or requires long term care.

The interesting thing I have noticed is that not many security professionals complained or moaned after a violent incident.  They really seem to believe it is a part of their job and they have to get on with that.  You know what?  It actually is their job.  The moment you decide to become a security professional, police officer or prison officer you can not expect to be treated respectfully every time you go to work.  You cannot expect to stay unharmed every time you face potentially hostile and violent members of the public.  You cannot expect to be handled gently by intoxicated aggressors when a situation has escalated and turned into something of a disaster.

BUT… and this is a massive BUT… there are things a security professional must be able to expect, and that is the respect of their employer, their genuine care and their willingness to do everything in their power to enable him to do his job as safely as possible.

Managing Directors, Operations Director or Operations Managers either care about human beings, and above all of them the professionals who represent their interest or they do not.  It really is that simple.
Just over the past few months we had to read news, which included phrases such as "a security guard was hit with an iron bar during an armed robbery”, "a gang of robbers attacked a security guard front of terrified shoppers”,  "security guard assaulted during Walton robbery” and "a doorman needed surgery”.  We cannot look away any longer.  We have to accept responsibility, ensure their personal safety and at least look into the issue of body armour or stab vests as a real option.

How should we proceed?  Should we do as little as possible in reference to the personal safety of security professionals? Should we just do enough so we get away with things?  Or, should we go beyond what is expected and exceed our employee’s expectations and legal requirements?

Forget The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 and other countries equivalent laws, forget the legal consequences of directors not complying with basic health and safety regulations, but let us not forget RESPECT. We all complain and comment about the lack of respect in this and many other countries, but when it comes to respect, should we not start with the people close to us, those who work for us?

Some of the most successful business people, such as Sir Richard Branson, have long emphasized the importance of looking after your employees and making them feel respected and appreciated.

Asking security professionals to operate without body armor, stab vests or other type of personal protection, increases their risk of workplace violence related injuries, it increases their risk of getting injured, and in my professional opinion it is in breach of health and safety regulations, but above all it is NOT an expression of respect.

If we genuinely care we must make sure these guys are as safe as they can be. It is a bit like a seat belt in your car.  You might well be happy not to wear a seat belt, and you know what?  This is your decision, it is your problem and it is your risk you are willing to take. To make such a decision over your employees head, to refuse issuing them with body armor or stab vests or forcing them to work with a ‘if you do not like it do not work for me’ attitude is wrong… and one of the very simple reasons why society is the way it is.  For me, regardless of any commercial interest I might be accused of here, it shows a clear lack of respect!

Should you have any questions, then feel free to contact PPSS Group directly on +44 (0) 845 5193 95 email info@ppss-group.com or visit www.ppss-group.com.

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PPSS Group is a UK based manufacturer of certified bullet proof vests, stab vests and the company behind Cut-Tex® PRO.  This groundbreaking fabric is the world’s strongest cut resistant fabric and is now used to manufacture slash resistant clothing for police, military, emergency services, prisons and private security professionals all over the world.

Robert Kaiser, CEO of PPSS Group is widely respected expert in body armour and known for his passion for protection and personal safety.  He is frequently invited to speak in front of large audiences about the latest body armour developments within homeland security and domestic frontline services.  He is acting as body armour consultant for a number of organisations, associations, unions and government departments.

The challenges of maintaining a secure hospital are unlike almost any other industry. Most hospitals have relatively easy access because they want to maintain a welcoming environment. At the same time hospitals are responsible for maintaining a safe environment for staff and visitors, and most of all a safe environment for patients. Maintaining sufficient security while at the same time providing a welcoming environment is one of the reasons why hospital security programs require a very unique expertise.

It is not infrequent that in the wake of a specific security breach, such a violent episode in the emergency department or an assault in the parking structure, that a hospital will seek the services of a security consultant in an attempt to mitigate future occurrences. They (hospitals) often request a security review of the affected department, such as the emergency department. However, in most cases the limited review of only the affected department may result in the treatment of merely a symptom of a more overreaching problem.

In most cases those hospitals that identify single issue security breakdowns may be doing so at the expense of ignoring more far more endemic security weaknesses. This means that the symptoms you are aware of very well may be indicative of greater endemic problems. Each department in every hospital organization is inextricably tied in some way, to every other department.

The solution: Treat those security incidents that you know about as symptomatic of a larger problem. This means in may be time for a stem to stern security assessment. The assessment process should obviously include review of all physical security systems and protocols in addition to review of the special security needs of departments such as L&D, Pediatrics, ER, Pharmacy, Behavioral Health, Central Supply and the Business Office. The assessment process should include a review of HR hiring and screening processes. Asst protection protocols should also be
reviewed. Security Awareness programs should be assessed for effectiveness as well as assuring they are contemporary. The training of security staff and employees, as relates to security issues should be reviewed.

The point we are trying to make is that when security problems raise their head in a particular department or area within the hospital, assume they are symptomatic of a larger problems until proven otherwise. Identified security problems can be an opportunity to get better. Remember security is an anticipatory discipline with mitigation as the primary objective.

Recently, I have had several opportunities to gain business from potential customers that I was not able to close before. Their projects were shelved due to unforeseen budget demands and priority shifts away from security. Sometimes your efforts will appear to go nowhere.

All efforts leads to something though, right? even if you don’t get that job opportunity the first time, you will learn something at least. I should hope so. Business isn’t always about knowing exactly what to do every time. Much of the time, it is about learning what NOT to do. Avoiding huge pitfalls will allow for steady learning and growth. In those efforts that appear worthless, we should be viewing the opportunity to gain knowledge. What sort of knowledge can we learn in the physical security business? Plenty. Lets go over a few examples.

Communication. I have written about this before. The importance of good communication with your potential customer cannot be over-rated. There are plenty of pitfalls to avoid and you can learn many of these by really talking and just as importantly, listening to your customer. One of the big things you should try to establish early on is the customers budgetary range.

It is common for small business customers and non-chain customers to react in two ways. One way is to feel like you will try to soak up that budget by charging the most and providing the cheapest possible equipment and service. The other way is to give a knee-jerk reaction number that is somewhat lower than what they are really willing to pay. Both of these reactions can occur within minutes of each other and either one can deal a hard blow to your sale.

Why? Why would they do that?

Two main reasons come to mind…one- it’s their nature, and two- they don’t trust you enough to give you the truth. The first scenario is a tough one to get past but it is far less common than the second. The second scenario is actually an indicator for you. This is a flag that says loud and clear,” You haven’t spent enough time getting to know me, the customer.”

It is important to recognize this scenario so you can correct for it on that visit and prevent it in future visits. Without a good level of trust, you might never learn the true nature of their project budget. You should take care to introduce your company and yourself in a fashion that lets the customer be at ease. They should see you as a partner in solving their problems, not just another security vendor. Try to get on a familiar ground with the customer without being that dreaded, disliked "sales guy”. After all, you are hoping for repeat business aren’t you… or haven’t you been reading my articles?

OK. On to that budget. Your expenses start on your drive over to the customer site. You need to included all of your efforts in the cost of doing business or your ROI numbers will always be incorrect. I mention this because nobody wants to throw good investment efforts at a dry well. There is such a thing as a bad job. This type of job is the killer of small businesses. It is the type of job taken out of desperation or implied promise of bona-fide paying work in the future. It can typically show up in the form of a simple job, but as the job progresses, the job scope changes and not in the ways that pay but in the ways that don’t. Extra labor for out-of-scope wiring requests or forgotten equipment or job results that are unsatisfactory to the customer. Communication is the name of this game. The budget is the tool that keeps all the ducks in a row. It keeps you from expanding the job too much, and it allows you to make accurate hardware and labor goals for an expected, stated, outcome.

Nobody wants to arrive at a customer site and go through the entire site survey. Learning, observing, talking about capabilities and solutions for an hour or more; then come up with an estimate that might take 1-3 hours to create in software and logistics; only to have the customer get sticker shock and say "Twenty two thousand? I was thinking more like five grand!”

Now you’re really in a jam. They think you might be out to milk them, and you are already 2-4 hours in the hole with your visit and estimate etc. Now you have to decide if they will even entertain a lesser number from you and whats worse, you have an even smaller profit portion from which to recoup your existing time investment.

It could all have been avoided in the beginning. Establish a good rapport with the customer. Get them to understand that you want to help them. Inquire about their budget early. If they balk at the request, let them know that you need a money limit to stay under or you will likely just waste their time, and you don’t want that. If they are an inexperienced buyer, you may need to coax them along. It’s OK to do that. Remember that you are providing a genuine service here, and part of that service is education. Let them know that this is standard procedure for this type of B2B interaction. Some people are uncomfortable with talking about larger amounts of money. No problem. We all start someplace. Take the opportunity to make them feel at ease, and then move in again and get that number. You need it.

The larger or more experienced customers understand all this. They realize it is just part of the language or dance or whatever term you want to use to denote the early portion of an estimate scenario.

Budgets come and budgets go. One minute you are happy to spend 6 hours creating the perfect system installation, and then you hear that bad news…”Our snow removal budget was completely used up and we have to use the security budget for something else now, so…maybe next year.” It happens. But, if you have played it right, they call you up in the spring and say "Hey, we have our new budget and we are ready to go. Can you give us an updated version of the estimate?”

That’s how you know you have done it right! They call you and tell you stuff just like that.

At InSightCCTV, we work smartly to make sure our customers get the best possible outcome. Thank you for reading!

Dave Johansen of InSightCCTV www.insightcctv.com

"PPSS have now launched a highly slash resistant Duty Jacket in order to help protect our security professional” Robert Kaiser, their CEO states.                                                                             

"Security professionals who deal with potentially hostile members of the public certainly require additional protection from edged weapons”.

This new slash resistant duty jacket offers BS EN 388:2003 Blade Cut Resistance Level 5 – the highest possible, by using Cut-Tex® PRO.

Cut-Tex® PRO is one of the world’s strongest cut resistant fabrics.

Featuring two large front pockets plus a good size chest pocket this new duty jacket offers plenty of storage space.

Highly durable Nylon rip stop fabric, used as outer material, ensures this great new protective garment can cope with most difficult tasks our security professional face on a day to day basis.

"My favourite feature is a type of long slit we have added right next to the two large size pockets, which allow easy direct access to the duty belt or firearm for Close Protection Officers overseas,” says Robert Kaiser.

PPSS slash resistant Duty Jackets are water and wind resistant and extremely robust.

This new model is available in black as standard colour and in a number of sizes, ranging from XS to XXXL.

Should you have any questions in reference to high visibility stab vests, then feel free to contact PPSS Group directly on +44 (0) 845 5193 95 email info@ppss-group.com or visit www.ppss-group.com.

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PPSS Group is a UK based manufacturer of certified bullet proof vests, stab vests and the company behind Cut-Tex® PRO.  This groundbreaking fabric is the world’s strongest cut resistant fabric and is now used to manufacture slash resistant clothing for police, military, emergency services, prisons and private security professionals all over the world.

Robert Kaiser, CEO of PPSS Group is widely respected expert in body armour and known for his passion for protection and personal safety.  He is frequently invited to speak in front of large audiences about the latest body armour developments within homeland security and domestic frontline services.  He is acting as body armour consultant for a number of organisations, associations, unions and government departments.