Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 07 November 2023

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters. 

10 ways to protect worship facilities from unrest and vandalism

The Church Executive’s item provides a short explanation of the following steps to protect houses of worship:

1. Lock all doors and windows
2. Light up the property
3. Perform regular security sweeps of the facility
4. Pick up mail and newspapers every day
5. Secure art and other valuables
6. Protect your stained-glass windows
7. Keep your property looking neat
8. Keep all flammables securely locked away
9. Maintain a relationship with local police
10. Install a security system

Analyst Comments:

Eric Spacek, the author of the item makes the following important point – “In most cases, vandals and thieves avoid challenges. If you make it more difficult for them to break in or cause damage to your property, they may look elsewhere for an easier target.”

As always, Faith-Based ISAO’s website provides resources in the Resource Library.

Follow Up to 12 September DAP’s Highlight of Swatting Incidents

Campus Safety’s Swatting Incidents: 4 Ways to Reduce Widespread Panic, Improve Response article provides details for the following four steps:

• Collaborate and Communicate with Local Law Enforcement
• Use Technology to Locate the Source, Communicate Emergencies, and Detect Unusual Behavior
• Collect Data on All Incidents
• Educate Students and Staff

Analyst Comments:

The article is aimed at schools, but the information contained in the article could apply to all Faith-Based Organization’s facilities.

Weekly Security Sprint EP 41. Normalizing violent threats, Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience month, cybersecurity resources and tools.

The Gate 15 Security Sprint is a weekly rundown of the week’s notable all-hazards security news, risks and threats and some of the key focus areas for organizations to consider behind the headlines. Gate 15 team members discuss physical security, cybersecurity, natural hazards, health threats and other issues across our environment.

In this week’s Security Sprint, Dave and Andy discuss:

• Increasing acceptance of threats of violence
• The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Launches Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month 2023. Though Faith-Based Organizations are not a sector of critical infrastructure, they have a lot in common with Commercial Facilities which are a sector of critical infrastructure. Some key messaging points from CISA are:
  • Assess Your Risk
  • Make a Plan and Exercise It
  • Continuously Improve and Adapt

The above Gate 15 Weekly Security Sprint website also provides links to many security-related items of interest.