On corporate security blind spots
“Some corporations, basking in the sunlight of years of growth, can develop security cataracts. Corporations need to be conscious of those moments when they hear themselves saying two things: “It hasn’t happened to us yet,” followed by, “So it likely won’t”. The first may state a fact, but the second, well, that one doesn’t state a fact. Saying “It likely won’t” is a wager. It’s hazarding a guess. And there’s great hazard in doing so.”
Michael Sussman
On how he wants clients to view corporate security
“I want our clients to think of security not just as protecting their business, but as helping them grow their business. We’re known for helping businesses make money from elevated security. Real security adds value to what a business is doing.”
Michael Sussman
On the importance of ethical experts
“Corporate security companies tout having former high-ranking intelligence officers among their numbers all the time. But not all experts are alike. I’ve never understood how people who’ve spent decades risking their lives for others can undo everything they’ve achieved by doing unethical things when they suddenly enter the corporate security sector. Our difference is that each of our experts is hand-picked for their ethics. We’ve turned down retired heads of major security agencies because they don’t meet our ethical standards. I’m not saying anyone is perfect but that’s always what you aim for.”
Michael Sussman
On bringing ‘Heroes’ to businesses
“Since day one I always wanted to bring real security heroes to the world of corporate security. For our airport work we used the former Director of TSA and the former Head of Security for El Al. For crisis management we had the former Director of FEMA. Our Director for the Balkans was formerly Macedonia’s Minister of Defense and the Ambassador to the the U.S. As some of our clients note, the brain you had before working with our experts, you don’t get that brain back.”
Michael Sussman
On a real Security Gap analysis
“A risk assessment that confirms the number of cameras a client has inside their building does what? It tells them how many cameras they have inside the building. What doesn’t it do? It doesn't tell them if those cameras are going to be able to stop someone from stealing, or if they're positioned in the right place, or if they are providing security.”
Michael Sussman
On protecting a business
“When we go into a business, our experts are looking at every detail. They're just so specific. There's nothing left to chance. Whatever scenario they can dream up, they test. They're obsessed with minimizing the chance of failure. They believe if you focus on everything that could go wrong, more will go right.”
Michael Sussman