Posts by Chesley Brown

What is Business Continuity?

Business COntinuity Plan Illustration

Before completely rewriting your Business Continuity Plan, it helps to understand the fundamentals of business continuity. I put together the following FAQ to give you a better understanding of the underlying information and provide a little more context, and hopefully answer some of your lingering questions. Business Continuity FAQ What is a Business Continuity Plan?…

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risk-takers #07 Jack Barsky – Former KGB Spy

As part of our on going conversation around corporate espionage, we decided to sit down with a real KGB spy for some insider knowledge. In this week’s episode, Brent sits down with author and former KGB spy Jack Barsky to discuss the growing threat of corporate espionage, how bad actors can access a company’s most valuable secrets, and how that information gets used. This is one of the most fascinating episodes of the season, so tune in! You’re sure to learn a lot.

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Podcast | Risk Takers Series #07 Jack Barsky – Former KGB Spy

As part of our on going conversation around corporate espionage, we decided to sit down with a real KGB spy for some insider knowledge. In this week’s episode, Brent sits down with author and former KGB spy Jack Barsky to discuss the growing threat of corporate espionage, how bad actors can access a company’s most…

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risk-takers #06. Human Trafficking with Bazzel Baz

Human trafficking touches nearly every city, county, state and locality in America. Yet law enforcement remains critically under prepared to handle this insidious business. Bazzel Baz, star of NBC’s hit show The Blacklist, and real life CIA super spy is often refereed to as the patron saint of missing children. In this week’s episode Baz sits down with Brent and Dell to discuss the ways human trafficking affects our communities us and how we can stop it. This is a fascinating discussion looking into the darker side of human nature — you don’t want to miss it!

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Podcast | Risk Takers Series #06. Human Trafficking with Bazzel Baz

Human trafficking touches nearly every city, county, state and locality in America. Yet law enforcement remains critically under prepared to handle this insidious business. Bazzel Baz, star of NBC’s hit show The Blacklist, and real life CIA super spy is often refereed to as the patron saint of missing children. In this week’s episode Baz…

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risk-takers #05 Corporate Counterespionage

Its not always the stuff of cold war spy novels but corporate or economic espionage continues to affect businesses all over the world both large and small at an exponential rate. It seems like there’s a new breach every time you turn on the news. The difference is the biggest companies have the resources and budget the protect themselves. But where does that leave SMBs? In this week’s episode, Brent and Dell Spry sit down to discuss the growing threat of corporate espionage, how businesses are exposing their intellectual property. They’ll also cover simple steps small businesses can take to stop those efforts in their tracks. Tune in to this fascinating discussion.

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Podcast | Risk Takers Series #05 Corporate Counterespionage

Its not always the stuff of cold war spy novels but corporate or economic espionage continues to affect businesses all over the world both large and small at an exponential rate. It seems like there’s a new breach every time you turn on the news. The difference is the biggest companies have the resources and…

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risk-takers #04 Brad Orsini – Community-based Security

Visiting our places of worship shouldn’t be dangerous. Unfortunately, faith-based organizations are facing the difficult challenge of how to protect their congregations from religion-motivated violence, and still maintain the welcoming, open environment community members expect.

In this week’s episode Brent calls up Bradley Orsini, the Senior National Security Advisor of the Secure Community Network, the official safety and security organization of the Jewish community in North America to discuss these issues, lessons learned from the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue, and the most effective strategies faith-based organizations can use to protect their congregations.

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Podcast | Risk Takers Series #04 Brad Orsini – Community-based Security

Visiting our places of worship shouldn’t be dangerous. Unfortunately, faith-based organizations are facing the difficult challenge of how to protect their congregations from religion-motivated violence, and still maintain the welcoming, open environment community members expect. In this week’s episode Brent calls up Bradley Orsini, the Senior National Security Advisor of the Secure Community Network, the…

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risk-takers #3 Surveillance Detection Routes (SDR)

Have you ever had a gut feeling you were being followed? You might not be so crazy after all. It’s a frightening thought. You’ve spent years building your business, but all it takes is one bad day to compromise that dream. In this week’s episode Brent sits down with FBI Special Agent (Ret.) Dell Spry to discuss surveillance detection routes, what they are, and how they can be used as a spy detector device to find out if you are under surveillance.

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Podcast | Risk Takers Series #3 Surveillance Detection Routes (SDR)

Have you ever had a gut feeling you were being followed? You might not be so crazy after all. It’s a frightening thought. You’ve spent years building your business, but all it takes is one bad day to compromise that dream. In this week’s episode Brent sits down with FBI Special Agent (Ret.) Dell Spry…

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How to Prepare for Economic Risk

Best Strategies for Building Resiliency How to position your business for uncertainty If there is one aspect of business that is certain, it’s uncertainty. It might also be the understatement of the year to say that 2020 has had its fair share of uncertainty. Although you may feel like the odds are stacked against you…

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risk-takers #2 Terry Fisher — Electronic Countermeasures

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself what it is about your business that is truly valuable? When you really think about it, any business with a product or service has something a competitor or adversary could use. And if you’re being honest, you probably haven’t fully considered all the ways they might get their hands on that information. You’ve spent years building your business, but all it takes is one bad day to compromise that dream. In this week’s episode Brent sits down with FBI Special Agent (Ret.) and engineer Terry Fisher to discuss corporate espionage, electronic countermeasures (sweeps), bugging, and the common methods bad actors have used throughout history to gain access to proprietary information.

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The Risk Takers Podcast Series Launches Today!

Chesley Brown Launches the Risk Takers Podcast Series Security Risk Management experts Chesley Brown Companies today announced the launch of “The Risk Takers Podcast Series” — a highly bingeable podcast hosted by veteran risk management professional, entrepreneur, and Chesley Brown Chairman, Brent Brown. The show, which is uploaded every Tuesday showcases stories from notable security…

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risk-takers #1 The Aldrich Ames Espionage Case

Dell Spry, a former FBI investigator and counterespionage expert, sits down to discuss the biggest case of insider theft in U.S. History: The Aldrich Ames Case. Hear how he, along with the help of the CIA, and the fellow FBI agents used their cunning, hard work, and old fashioned investigative work to capture and convict most infamous CIA officer-turned traitor: Aldrich Hazan “Rick” Ames. Beginning in 1985 the CIA experienced the unparalleled loss of its of Soviet assets, which nearly destroyed the government’s ability to gather intelligence on the Soviet Union. In this interview Mr. Spry discusses his personal involvement in the case as the FBI’s lead investigator including many of the investigative methods they used. Hear never before details about the harrowing investigation to not only investigate and convict the highest ranking government official ever accused of spying, but to protect future Russian assets. In 1991, the quest led them to search for a Soviet spy in the CIA. They came to identify that spy as CIA Case Officer, Aldrich Hazan “Rick” Ames, a long-time CIA case officer and analyst. In February of 1994, Ames was arrested by the FBI and sentenced to life in prison.

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Podcast | Risk Takers Series #1 The Aldrich Ames Espionage Case

Dell Spry, a former FBI investigator and counterespionage expert, sits down to discuss the biggest case of insider theft in U.S. History: The Aldrich Ames Case. Hear how he, along with the help of the CIA, and the fellow FBI agents used their cunning, hard work, and old fashioned investigative work to capture and convict…

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10 Steps for Building a Crisis Management Communication Strategy

hand stopping dominos from falling, represent a crisis being prevents or stopped

Small changes have a big impact. As a public health crisis of worldwide proportions comes into focus, it is imperative for individuals, organizations, and nations to develop effective resilience strategies, including communications and outreach as part of any comprehensive crisis management plan. Chesley Brown has responded to the COVID-19 crisis by making our Resource Center…

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7 Tips the Pros Won’t Tell You About Budgeting For Risk

Every business must create its own process for identifying, testing, and budgeting for risk. We studied the data and talked to several industry-leading CSOs to find out how they do it. How much should your company spend on security? The simple answer: It depends. Whether we’re talking physical security, cybersecurity, or risk mitigation practices, every…

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The Future of Work

Two people riding a moving sidewalk into a bright white void to represent transformation

The Future of Work: Protecting Trade Secrets Written by: Dell Spry Many businesses, both large and small, are desperately seeking ways to keep their companies operational with all of  the closures and uncertainties associated with the COVID-19 virus crashing in on them. Hopefully, most have an established continuity of business plan to guide them through…

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