Bastion Projects LLC

Does your company have a workplace violence prevention plan (WVPP) compliant with California's new occupational safety law that goes into effect July 1, 2024? The law mandates that nearly all California employers draft, enact, maintain, and train employees on a WVPP. There are several crucial components that must meet the new standards. The new requirements set forth by the California Labor Code Section 6401.9 are enforceable by California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) after July 1. The law, signed in September 2023, stipulates that amongst many requirements, the WVPP must identify key personnel responsible for implementation, create procedures for identifying and evaluating workplace violence hazards and corrective actions, include employees in the planning process, develop a comprehensive training program for all employees, establish a protocol for reporting and responding to risks, and conduct an annual WVPP audit to ensure effectiveness. Organizations without an existing workplace violence prevention framework can start by using Cal/OSHA’s public template, available online, as a starting point to help achieve compliance. While this template covers the basics of policy creation, Bastion Projects LLC's security experts can help elevate your company's prevention program through comprehensive risk assessments and program development. Utilizing industry-leading methods to help identify hazards before they occur, we ensure that the WVPP is implemented at all necessary levels. We can guarantee that employees are effectively trained and that teams are prepared to respond. With Bastion’s help, your organization won’t simply be in compliance, it will have the necessary tools to ensure employees and operations are well protected. Contact [email protected] to learn more.?

Does it sound like something out of a movie for burglars to use WiFi jamming devices to disrupt security cameras? Earlier this year, police in San Jose, CA arrested a group of burglary suspects for doing just that in several residential break-ins across northern California. In fact, luxury homes throughout California and several other US states have been targeted by sophisticated South American organized crime groups since at least 2022 using techniques like this to bypass security systems and recent thefts have totaled millions of dollars. We often find clients’ existing security measures and strategies are not comprehensive—intrusion alarm and video surveillance systems are not properly deployed and used and operational habits may make it easier to determine when a home is unoccupied. In particular, existing alarm systems often are not providing multiple layers of detection (ie, cameras, motion sensors, glass-break detectors) are in disrepair, or are not being utilized completely. A common oversight which appears to have been exploited by these groups is not placing alarm sensors at upper level doors and windows due to assumed inaccessibility—some groups have successfully used ladders and lawn furniture to access upper floors and take bedroom safes that are not bolted down. Additionally, poor camera coverage and inadequate lighting has allowed these thieves to hide their own cameras (sometimes disguised as plants) in the yards of would-be victims in order to track homeowner routines and know when the home would be unoccupied. We also find many clients are often not aware of operational best practices and sometimes publicly post on social media about vacations or are not aware that photos of their home’s external and internal layout are available on street mapping and realty websites. Beginning with a Site Vulnerability Assessment, Bastion’s experts identify vulnerabilities for each client and tailor recommendations based on industry best practices and homeowner preferences. We use several methods, including Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and other proven security design practices, to create multi-layered and comprehensive security solutions that include intrusion detection, video surveillance systems, keyless access control, perimeter detection and even safe rooms or other hardened spaces where needed. We also provide operational recommendations and work with industry professionals to create a system far less vulnerable to measures commonly used to defeat security technology.

According to a 2023 StandoutCV survey, more than 3 in 5 people have lied on their resume—an alarming figure in today's corporate landscape where data reigns supreme and the financial and reputational risks of not performing background checks can be catastrophic. This was seen earlier this year, when a Tech Asia article revealed that Singaporean AI startup firm Vizzio’s CEO had faked his PhD credentials from Cambridge. He has since apologized, but not before board members, investors, and clients severed ties with the company—all preventable with a thorough background screen. While corporate security teams diligently combat external threats, the internal risks posed by unverified employees are often overlooked, particularly with decreased visibility into remote employee behavior. Many companies use mainstream services such as Checkr or Hire Right that perform basic background checks (ie, criminal records searches and employment verification) for a low cost. While these are necessary components, they lack the depth required to thoroughly verify a candidate's experience. We have seen that these screening services often do not contact a former employer or school to verify the association, may not search every previous address for criminal records or go to courthouses in person when necessary, and usually do not offer reference checks. Bastion’s security experts understand that pre-employment screening is a vital and necessary first step in insider risk mitigation and protecting a company or a family’s wellbeing. Bastion can help make informed hiring decisions and protect your organization's reputation and assets. Our meticulous background screening service guarantees thorough criminal record checks across all US counties (digital and in-person where needed), verifies past employment and education directly with institutions, conducts thorough personal and professional reference checks, and even includes comprehensive social media reviews. These critical components are instrumental in ensuring you know exactly who you are hiring and safeguarding your organization's or family's sensitive data. Moreover, our service goes beyond mere compliance, providing customized solutions tailored to each prospective employee’s role. We ensure a thorough screening process that streamlines hiring, minimizes risks, and promotes a safer environment.?

Concerns around the growing availability of personal data are reflected in this year's data privacy week theme "Taking Control of Your Data." They are also? reflected in the continued expansion of the global data broker service market, which is expected to grow to $462 billion by 2031 from $240 billion in 2021. Most of us know there are bad actors looking to steal your personal data illicitly through phishing, identity theft, and other nefarious means. However, our clients are often surprised to learn their sensitive personal information—including passwords, addresses, birthdates, phone numbers, and email addresses—is available online through entirely legal ways. In the US, government and non-government organizations as varied as the DMV, utility providers, banks, credit bureau agencies, and even grocery stores often sell this personal data. In fact, data brokers are constantly searching online and offline sources for personal information to collect, package, and sell to buyers such as people search or data aggregator sites (eg, Spokeo, Radaris). Moreover, while cyber criminals can be thwarted with protective measures such as password managers and multi-factor authentication, it can take significantly more effort to ensure legally collected personal information does not end up online. Complicated arrangements involving PO boxes, LLCs, and trusts can help obscure ownership information and addresses. Personal profiles on data aggregator sites can also often be removed though regular checks are necessary to ensure the information does not repopulate. Bastion Projects LLC and its team of professionals can help you identify and remove this sensitive data. Our online exposure assessments help identify personal information available in the public domain and the deep and dark webs. Our analysis then informs how to most effectively remove the data while ongoing diligence ensures removals do not repopulate. We also provide mitigation advice for information that cannot be taken down entirely, such as news articles and?government documents.

Recent global protests highlight how rapidly risk levels can change for companies and their executives. In our experience, many companies' executive protection (EP) programs are not well-positioned to respond to such quick changes in the security landscape. For instance, while most EP programs focus on the close protection aspect—including agents stationed at residences or accompanying a principal to events and while traveling—this narrow focus may negatively impact the safety of their executives as well as their financial bottom line. For example, drivers for executives are not always security trained, which is a big knowledge gap in the event of a critical situation as well as a possible missed cost savings as the IRS grants tax benefits for trained security drivers in certain situations. ? The most effective and comprehensive EP programs are regularly assessing their organization’s and executives’ risk levels, including residential and office site vulnerability assessments, online exposure assessments, and IRS 132-compliant security program risk assessments, as well as regular online threat and POI monitoring for higher risk individuals and/or organizations. In addition to close protection while traveling, pre-trip travel assessments as well as evacuation and contingency planning for an emergency event should be undertaken—including possibly engaging with third-party companies for emergency evacuations. Moreover, while many companies carry travel insurance for their employees, separate kidnap & ransom (K&R) insurance should be considered for high-level executives, particularly for higher risk locations. Bastion Projects LLC's experienced security professionals have decades of experience in both building and working with mature EP programs across a variety of industries and locations. We can help provide guidance and industry best practices for both growing an EP program or fine-tuning an already established one.?