Written by Podbean Account on . Posted in Utility Security Podcast.
In this episode of the Utility Security Podcast, we sit down with Jim Willis, CEO of Indev Tactical, to discuss the growing security challenges facing utilities today. From the increasing number of substation attacks to mass shooting preparedness, Jim shares invaluable insights from his extensive experience in the field. We cover best practices for securing […]
Written by Jim Willis, CMAS, CHS-V on . Posted in Infrastructure Security.
President Eisenhower, the five-star general who commanded the largest invasion in history during World War II, stated, “In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is essential.” This philosophy directly relates to utility security for two reasons: Establishing a robust security posture is a complex issue that requires planning […]
Written by Jim Willis, CMAS, CHS-V on . Posted in Frontline Worker Security.
Jim Willis Shares Three Steps to Better Equip You for the Increasingly Complex Challenges that Utility Security Professionals Face “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” ~ Mark Twain. Mr. Twain’s statement reflects the understanding of the utility security dynamic of […]
Written by Podbean Account on . Posted in Utility Security Podcast.
In this episode of the Utility Security Podcast, we explore the critical challenges facing substation security and the importance of comprehensive threat assessments. Inspired by Jim Willis’s article, Substation Security Challenges: Conducting Threat Assessments, we break down the three main threat categories—consequential, indirect, and direct threats—and explain why “hope is an expensive commodity” when it […]
Written by Jim Willis, CMAS, CHS-V on . Posted in Frontline Worker Security.
There is an old axiom that goes, “When seconds count, the police are just minutes away.” Today, this is an understatement. Law enforcement departments across the nation are understaffed and underfunded at unprecedented levels, leaving responding officers overwhelmed, physically overtaxed and overstressed, and exiting the profession at astonishing rates of attrition. So, what does this […]
Written by Jim Willis, CMAS, CHS-V on . Posted in Facilities Security.
The Greek historian and general Thucydides stated, “Hope is an expensive commodity. It makes better sense to be prepared.” This statement is as true today as it was 2,500 years ago. For utility security professionals, this maxim speaks to the nonchalant attitude toward substation and infrastructure security that many of us have or face from […]
Written by Jim Willis, CMAS, CHS-V on . Posted in Infrastructure Security.
As the Assassination Attempt that happened on July 13th Demonstrated, a Failure of Clarity, Communication and/or Consistency Can Lead to Devastating Consequences. It’s Vital that Your Substation Security Strategy Offers Certainty in All Three Areas. Albert Einstein once said, “Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” I often refer to this quote in […]
Written by Jim Willis, CMAS, CHS-V on . Posted in Frontline Worker Security.
In utility physical security practice, professionalism comes from knowing what to do, why it needs to be done and how to do it. Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? However, gaining and maintaining true professional competency, or edge, requires continual effort. In our quest for professionalism we have to overcome a plethora of obstacles to success, […]
Written by Jim Willis, CMAS, CHS-V on . Posted in Infrastructure Security.
In my previous article, I discussed how dangerous unverified assumptions can be when it comes to substation security issues. Now, we will consider the impact of our decision-making process on substation security. Critical decision-making has nothing to do with “criticizing”. In critical decision-making, we’re using the third definition of “critical” in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: “exercising […]
Written by Jim Willis, CMAS, CHS-V on . Posted in Facilities Security.
For many utilities, physical security begins at the door or the parking lot. However, robust facility protection starts at the perimeter. But we often abandon this defense resource to aesthetics, budget restraints, or misplaced values. This makes a secure perimeter the least considered and most often overlooked element of facility security. However, resilient perimeter protection […]
Written by Jim Willis, CMAS, CHS-V on . Posted in Frontline Worker Security, Utility Security Update.
The names Nathan Baker, Zackary Randalls, Alex Boschert and William Froelich may not be familiar to you, but their stories are tragically important for utility workers. Nathan worked for East Mississippi Electric Power Association in Clarke County, Mississippi. Zackary was employed by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) in Fresno, California. And Alex and William […]
Written by Jim Willis, CMAS, CHS-V on . Posted in Facilities Security.
How many substation security or protection articles have you started reading, assuming the subject was one thing, only to discover it was something else? The problem stems from the fact that there are multiple definitions for substation security and protection: one digital/data, one electrical and another physical. When utility professionals hear “substation protection,” many immediately […]
Written by Jim Willis, CMAS, CHS-V on . Posted in Frontline Worker Security.
In this inaugural issue of Utility Security magazine, I felt the best place to start this column was with a foundational understanding from which we can build later. Let’s begin with a discussion of the paradox between safety and security. Many people see safety and security through the same lens and use the words interchangeably, […]
Written by Nick Leonardi on . Posted in Sponsored Webinars.
Awareness, De-escalation, & Response: The Three Essential Security Skills Every Utility Professional Should Master
Which will include:
Written by Jim Willis, CMAS, CHS-V on . Posted in iP Security Articles.
People have finally discovered one of the best unkept secrets in America: Our utility systems can be attacked, and it doesn’t take military tacticians to pull it off. Activists have recently renewed calls for more attacks that disrupt essential utility services and create chaos. Previously, terrorist groups focused on disabling the bulk power grid by […]
Written by Jim Willis, CMAS, CHS-V on . Posted in iP Security Articles.
It’s time for worker security to receive the same attention as worker safety. Society today is no longer predisposed to viewing utility employees in a friendly manner, and aggression toward them is growing. For some time, the steady rise in aggression toward utility workers has flown under the radar. Whether employee or contractor, job site […]
Written by Jim Willis, CMAS, CHS-V on . Posted in iP Security Articles.
Recently I was on a conference call during which a client and I discussed aggression aimed at the client’s line crews and service technicians. As I hung up, I came to the realization that hostility toward utility workers isn’t a passing storm – it’s a bellwether of change in the public attitude. Aggression directed at […]
THE UTILITY SECURITY UPDATE — VIEW LATEST ISSUE Expert intel through interviews with security chiefs, tech experts, and policy shapers. Utility Security Your command center for all things utility security! From power plant warriors to grid guardians, and even curious citizens, this publication is your essential briefing on securing our nations utilities. Danger From Above […]
Written by Jim Willis, CMAS, CHS-V on . Posted in iP Security Articles.
The names Nathan Baker, Zackary Randalls, Alex Boschert and William Froelich may not be familiar to you, but their stories are tragically important for utility workers. Nathan worked for East Mississippi Electric Power Association in Clarke County, Mississippi. Zackary was employed by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) in Fresno, California. And Alex and William […]