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Industry-leading standard provides actionable guidelines for risk assessment, planning, and implementation of executive protection services
Alexandria, VA (23 September 2025) – ASIS International, the world's largest association for security management professionals, is proud to announce the release of its latest standard, the Executive Protection Standard. This pioneering document sets forth comprehensive industry best practices for the protection of executives and other high-profile individuals, ensuring their safety and security in an increasingly complex threat landscape.
"The Executive Protection Standard represents a critical advancement in our profession's ability to safeguard leaders who drive global commerce and innovation," said Joe M. Olivarez, Jr., MBA, 2025 President of ASIS International. "As threats to executives become increasingly sophisticated and complex, this standard provides the comprehensive framework our members need to deliver world-class protection services while maintaining the highest professional standards."
The Executive Protection Standard was developed by a dedicated team of industry experts and practitioners, drawing on their extensive experience and knowledge to create a robust framework that addresses the unique challenges faced by executive protection professionals. Representing an industry first, this standard establishes a comprehensive program framework that aligns strategic objectives with protective operations using a structure approach that encompasses leadership, strategy, operational functions, and resource management to address specific security needs for executives, their families, and associated assets.
"This standard reflects the collective expertise of seasoned executive protection professionals who understand that effective protection requires more than just physical security. It demands strategic thinking, meticulous planning, and seamless coordination," said Charles Tobin, chair of the technical committee that developed the standard. "We've created a practical roadmap that will elevate the entire executive protection industry while ensuring consistent, professional approaches to safeguarding our most valuable assets; the people who lead our organizations."
Executive Protection represents a comprehensive security discipline focused on safeguarding high-profile individuals through systematic threat identification, risk assessment, and mitigation strategies. Effective executive protection programs require structured leadership and strategic planning that encompasses intelligence gathering, physical and digital security integration, close protection operations, transportation security, and emergency response protocols. The foundation rests on thorough security risk assessments that evaluate an individual's visibility, organizational value, and threat history to determine appropriate protection scope and resource allocation. Success depends on meticulous operational planning, regulatory compliance, continuous monitoring, and regular program evaluation to adapt to evolving threats. This standard provides organizations with the framework to implement comprehensive executive protection programs that effectively manage security risks while ensuring the safety of executives, their families, and associated assets through coordinated protective operations and ongoing performance assessment.
Key features of the Executive Protection Standard include:
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Comprehensive needs analysis and security risk assessment methodologies to determine protection requirements and evaluate threats to executives and their families.
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Strategic program framework to include leadership commitment, policy development, resource allocation, and operational scope definition.
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Personnel management and operational planning guidelines covering selection criteria, training requirements, legal compliance, ethics, and communication protocols.
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Protective operations procedures addressing intelligence gathering, close protection operations, security advances, transportation, and emergency response coordination.
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Program evaluation and continuous improvement processes through monitoring, compliance assessment, auditing, and management review to ensure ongoing effectiveness.
The release of the Executive Protection Standard marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts of ASIS International to support the security management community. By providing a clear and actionable framework for executive protection, this standard will help security professionals to better protect their clients and ensure their safety in an ever-changing threat environment.
"ASIS International is committed to advancing the security profession by providing our members with the tools and resources they need to excel in their roles," said Susan Carioti, CAE, CSP, Vice President, Certifications, Standards and Guidelines, ASIS International. "The Executive Protection Standard is a testament to our dedication to promoting excellence and professionalism in the field of security management."
For more information about the Executive Protection Standard, please visit https://www.asisonline.org/security-news/standards-guidelines/executive-protection-standard/.
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About ASIS International
Founded in 1955, ASIS International is the world's largest membership organization for security management professionals. With hundreds of chapters across the globe, ASIS is recognized as the premier source for learning, networking, standards, and research. Through its board certifications, award-winning Security Management magazine, and Global Security Exchange—the most influential events in the profession—ASIS ensures its members and the security community have access to the intelligence and resources necessary to protect their people, property, and information assets. Learn more about the work we do at www.asisonline.org.
