Executive Protection Isn’t Just for High-Risk Industries Anymore

By: Tina D'Agostin - CEO of Alcatraz 

Executive protection is a topic that comes up regularly at Alcatraz. We’ve engaged with hundreds of Fortune 500 executives over the years, and consistently hear that security is a paramount concern. 

But I recently came across a report from the Ponemon Institute, an independent research firm focused on data protection and security trends, that reinforced the urgency of this issue. In a survey of U.S. security practitioners, 50% of respondents believe their executives will be the target of a physical attack in the future. Perhaps even more alarming, the report outlines a growing trend that cyberattacks are increasingly being used as a gateway to facilitate real-world harm.

It's no secret that high-level executives are increasingly targeted, both physically and digitally. Recently, we’ve seen a growing number of utility companies and critical service providers ramp up protection for their executives, going so far as to hire a bodyguard for their CEO. 

But the trend isn’t isolated to high-risk or heavily regulated industries. One consumer delivery company is taking a forward-thinking approach and actively hiring a Head of Protective Services to design and lead safety programs for its C-suite, board members, and other high-profile individuals. This highlights that even companies outside of traditional high-risk sectors are recognizing the importance of proactively managing rising risks.

Executive protection is no longer negotiable. Between earnings calls and media interviews, executives are no longer operating behind the scenes. As the public face of a company with access to highly sensitive information, they face greater risk.

Executives want strong protection, but they also expect a seamless experience. Inside their own office spaces, they shouldn't have to carry badges or enter codes just to walk through the door. 

It’s part of the reason we're launching a new product feature at Alcatraz, called Adaptive 2FA, as part of a whole slew of new updates. Adaptive 2A is an intelligent profile-level authentication that allows face-only access for trusted individuals, such as VIPs or high-clearance personnel, while enforcing two-factor authentication (2FA) for everyone else. CEOs and high-level executives can enjoy a ‘premier lane’ experience while accessing their spaces using face-only authentication, while maintaining stronger security measures for other staffers (e.g. facial authentication + badge)

As the threat landscape becomes increasingly complex, traditional credential-based systems are no longer sufficient to secure access to some of a company’s most sensitive areas, such as executive offices. In fact, 81% of data breaches involve stolen credentials. 

A modern CEO shouldn’t juggle a stack of credentials just to move between offices. They need scalable, secure systems that adapt to their movements without compromising safety or slowing down business. Facial authentication is the future and Alcatraz is leading it.

Check out our latest blog post to learn more about this feature (and the full product update) here.