Global Security Consulting

Every year, thousands of highly qualified individuals from the intelligence community, the military and law enforcement – as well as related areas of government and private industry – look to strike out on their own. The excitement and the prospect of making it big leads many to choose the fastpaced and potentially lucrative field of global security consulting. Some go on to live the dream. Most do not. The vast majority of new businesses, consultants included, fail to make it even through their first year. The reasons are myriad, but the trends are visible – the most frequent cause of failure is being unprepared to meet the difficult and sometimes dangerous challenges of this highly specialized market. Luke Bencie is one of the many global security consultants who struck out on his own and one of the few who has succeeded – at lightning speed. Bencie has traveled to 120 countries and has been an adviser and confidant to multinational corporations, governments, militaries – even royalty. His success did not come without obstacles. Yet, as a friend to many in the security industry, an adherent to the philosophy of paying it forward, and a firm believer in the promise of global security consulting, Bencie has decided to share his experiences and expertise to help newcomers navigate this increasingly crowded field. Global Security Consulting, his second book, has been lauded as a font of information and insight, an invaluable guide for avoiding the pitfalls that can wreck any business, particularly ones that deal with potentially lethal adversaries. Frequently dead serious, occasionally lighthearted and always clear-headed, Global Security Consulting promises to become a standard reference for consultants worldwide – a blueprint for those with the skills, determination and raw courage to succeed in one of the 21st century's true growth industries. Read it, and be prepared.

With new security threats practically every week all over the globe, governments and businesses are forced to take extraordinary measures to protect themselves these days. Likewise, espionage continues at levels comparable to the days of the Cold War—only with many more players now participating. In this environment, a new industry has grown to deal with these challenges: international security consulting. Drawing from military, law-enforcement, and intelligence communities, new private companies are springing up across the world. Global Security Consulting, written by a former intelligence specialist who has built a successful practice, provides solid guidance for anyone wishing to enter this glamorous but often dangerous field.

A crucial reference for the practicing or aspiring design consultant, Security Design Consulting brings you step by step through the process of becoming a security consultant, describing how to start the business, market services, write proposals, determine fees, and write a report. Specific elements of assessment, design and project management services as well as acquiring product and industry knowledge are all covered in detail. Concentrating on client-focused marketing and sales strategies as well as the crucial elements of preparing, running, and succeeding at the security consulting business, Security Design Consulting gives the reader a working knowledge of all the steps necessary to be a successful security design consultant and a smarter business owner. Security directors, architects and security management consultants will also find this reference invaluable in understanding the security design consultant’s important and growing role in an overall security program. * Focuses on consulting in security design, not security management * Provides sample service agreements, specifications, and reports to use as models * Emphasizes the highest technical and ethical standards for this increasingly crucial profession

The demand for security consulting services is at an all-time high. Organizations of all types face unprecedented challenges in dealing with workplace violence, internal and external theft, robbery and crimes of all varieties. These organizations need help in dealing with these challenges, and are reaching out to independent security consultants to assist them. Operating an independent security consulting practice can be a profitable and rewarding business for those with the right skills. Many people retiring from law enforcement, military, or security careers would like to enter the security consulting profession, but don't know how. These people have extensive skills in security and loss prevention, but don't know how to translate these skills into a successful security consulting practice. While they have some idea about the type of services that they would like to provide, they have no idea of how to go about selling these services, what to charge for them, or how to run a profitable security consulting business. It is for these people that this book was written. Within this book, Michael A. Silva, an independent security consultant with over thirty years of experience, provides practical "how-to" advice on how to start and run a successful security consulting practice. Pulling no punches, Michael tells what it takes to be a successful security consultant, and explains why so many new security consultants fail within the first eighteen months. Chapters in this book include: Chapter 1 - What is an Independent Security Consultant? Chapter 2 - A Week in the Life of a Security Consultant Chapter 3 - The Skills needed to be Successful Chapter 4 - Planning Your Consulting Practice Chapter 5 - Determining What and How to Charge Chapter 6 - Selling Security Consulting Services Chapter 7 - Proposal Writing for the Security Consultant Chapter 8 - Selling to Government Agencies Chapter 9 - Selling to Architects and Engineers Chapter 10 - Security Consulting Services That Sell Chapter 11 - Creating a Business Plan Chapter 12 - Taking the Plunge Chapter 13 - Taking Your Practice to the Next Level Chapter 14 - Continuing Education Chapter 15 - Avoiding Pitfalls and Common Mistakes This book is crammed with practical tips based on the actual day-to-day experiences of a working security consultant. Within this book, Michael tells you what works - and more importantly, what doesn't work. This book is specifically written for the person starting a one-person security consulting practice, and answers questions such as: - What types of skills do I need to be successful? - What types of licenses and certifications do I need? - What should I name my business? - Do I need a website? - What types of insurance do I need? - Should I rent an office, or work out of my home? - How much should I charge? - How do I sell my services and get consulting jobs? - How do I write a proposal? - What consulting services should I offer? - How much money do I need to get started? - What steps should I take before I quit my present job? - Can I start my consulting practice part-time while I'm still working? - How do I grow my practice and take it to the next level? - What are some common mistakes made by new consultants and how can I avoid them? About The Author Michael A. Silva is an independent security consultant that has over forty years of security industry experience. Michael founded Silva Consultants, his independent security consulting and design firm, in 1985. In late 2001, Michael suspended the operations of Silva Consultants to accept a position with Kroll, the world's largest security and risk consulting company. From 2001 to 2006, he managed Kroll's security consulting and engineering practice in Seattle, and was responsible for projects throughout Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada. In 2007, Michael resigned his position with Kroll and resumed the operations of Silva Consultants.

Since 9/11, business and industry has paid close attention to security within their own organizations. In fact, at no other time in modern history has business and industry been more concerned with security issues. A new concern for security measures to combat potential terrorism, sabotage, theft and disruption -- which could bring any business to it's knees -- has swept the nation. This has opened up a huge opportunity for private investigators and security professionals as consultants. Many retiring law enforcement and security management professionals look to enter the private security consulting market. Security consulting often involves conducting in-depth security surveys so businesses will know exactly where security holes are present and where they need improvement to limit their exposure to various threats. The fourth edition of Security Consulting introduces security and law enforcement professionals to the career and business of security consulting. It provides new and potential consultants with the practical guidelines needed to start up and maintain a successful independent practice. Updated and expanded information is included on marketing, fees and expenses, forensic consulting, the use of computers, and the need for professional growth. Useful sample forms have been updated in addition to new promotion opportunities and keys to conducting research on the Web. The only book of its kind dedicated to beginning a security consulting practice from the ground-up Proven, practical methods to establish and run a security consulting business New chapters dedicated to advice for new consultants, information secutiry consulting, and utilizing the power of the Internet The most up-to-date best practices from the IAPSC

The Chief Security Officer’s Handbook: Leading Your Team into the Future offers practical advice on how to embrace the future, align with your organizations mission, and develop a program that meets the needs of the enterprise. The book discusses real-life examples of what to do to align with other critical departments, how to avoid spending time and resources on unnecessary and outdated methods, and tomorrow’s security program. Today’s security executives need to help their industry, their organization and the next generation of security leaders to pioneer, optimize and transform every aspect of our programs, technologies and methods. The book is ideal for current chief security officers, aspiring security executives, and those interested in better understanding the critical need to modernize corporate security. Offers suggestions on the do's and don’ts of professional development Provides tangible examples on how the CSO works collaboratively with internal peers Instructs CSO's on how to align with the business while remaining agile Illustrates the various paths to becoming a CSO Demonstrates ways to move your program into one that embraces enterprise security risk management, convergence and automation

Compelling and practical view of computer security in a multinational environment – for everyone who does business in more than one country.

This book provides a thorough examination of a variety of specialties within the broad range of management consulting. A book of such scope and depth could only be written by a large number of experts, each from one of the many specialties related to management consulting. Together, all 27 contributors take the reader through an industry that is currently undergoing significant change. While covering all the major practice areas of consulting, the book also offers new insights into change processes and addresses compelling management issues now facing consulting firms.