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Important people throughout history have hired strong individuals, military experts, and security specialists to keep them, their families, and their assets safe. Professional bodyguards have evolved to meet the needs of modern society and now primarily serve high-net-worth individuals and public figures (i.e., CEOs, celebrities, and politicians). This suite of security services, including bodyguards and support services, is now called elite Executive Protection (or VIP Executive Protection) and the services are provided by Executive Protection Companies.
The most well-known example of executive protection is the US Secret Service protecting the President – but this is an extreme case.
Many people need executive protection due to the nature of their work or public exposure. For example, CEOs of corporations, celebrities, musicians, politicians, and high-net-worth individuals may live under consistently high threat levels. While their security details may be much smaller than the President’s, they still require elite executive protection to reduce their risk profile.
Executive Protection has two foundational elements, companies & protection agents:
The most well-known example of executive protection is the US Secret Service protecting the President - but this is an extreme case.
Executive Protection performed at scale is often called Corporate Security (or Commercial Security). For example, Corporate Security may involve individual VIP executive protection for multiple board members, C-suite members, or key employees – in addition to overseeing campus security operations like access control, patrols, and surveillance systems.
The client’s budget and threat profile determine the amount of executive protection coverage they maintain.
Executive Protection performed at scale is often called Corporate Security. For example, Corporate Security may involve individual executive protection for multiple board members, C-suite members, or key employees.
The term Executive Protection (EP) is often used interchangeably with Close Personal Protection (CPP) – because close protection is a crucial element of VIP executive protection. Agents must maintain close physical proximity to keep clients safe from any physical harm and be prepared to respond quickly to any physical threat.
Agents commonly protect clients at private residences, offices, public spaces, private event locations, and during travel.
We have an article that helps you navigate actually hiring a bodyguard and what to think about.
Agents must maintain close physical proximity to keep clients safe from any physical harm and be prepared to respond quickly to any physical threat.
Executive Protection serves clients in a few different ways:
The same people who need elite Executive Protection also need to guard against digital attacks. Here are a few examples of public information threats:
Digital attacks can threaten your physical safety, mental health, and business operations. Threat assessments from reputable executive protection companies can help develop a tailored response plan to minimize damage caused by cyberattacks.
Executive Protection companies handle several different types of threats:
While some threat types require personnel with highly specific expertise (e.g., digital forensics or surveillance installation), these specialists ideally operate under the direction of an executive protection team. Ultimately, it is the company providing executive protection that is responsible for the broader mission of ensuring physical safety and reducing risk across all channels.
Everyone wants to be safe, but some people are more in danger than others. Here are some examples of people who may need VIP executive protection services:
When a company reaches a certain level of public exposure, leadership’s identities become public knowledge, and the threat levels for the organization and key individuals are directly correlated. Public sentiment, the intensity and nature of the competition, and the political climate where the business operates are a few of the critical considerations when assessing a corporate threat level.
In a high threat environment, individual leaders may be at risk of kidnapping, assault, or being targeted for intellectual property theft. Unfortunately, these risks also extend to the families and close personal friends of key leaders.
Celebrities and influencers live under a higher threat level because of public awareness and general interest in their lives – as well as public knowledge of their financial success. In addition, influencers are at high risk of stalking because they publish personal information that stalkers can use to track their behavior.
Being well-known can have many benefits, but investing in elite executive protection is often necessary for doing business.
In a high threat environment, individual leaders may be at risk of kidnapping, assault, or being targeted for intellectual property theft. Unfortunately, these risks also extend to the families and close personal friends of key leaders.
All public figures carry a high-risk level due to public appearances and special events, but politicians are particularly vulnerable to people who disagree with their policies – including foreign actors. There are also psychological disorders that lead mentally ill people to target politicians and other public figures – particularly psychosis and delusional disorder.
Fame, money, and power can motivate a certain percentage of the population to commit criminal acts – and finding a way to live a healthy, productive life as a politician often includes VIP executive protection.
It’s a great privilege to be born into a wealthy family, but it’s also an inherent security risk.
Resentment can be a source of violent conflict.
Kidnapping, ransom, extortion, burglary, theft. As a high-net-worth individual, you are an obvious target.
While insurance can reimburse for lost financial value, it’s difficult or impossible to repair physical or emotional damage from an attack. As a high-net-worth individual or family, executive protection – especially private estate security – is worth considering.
From a high-end jeweler at the mall to the marijuana dispensary down the road, some businesses naturally carry more risk than others. If you are housing or transporting valuable products, your business is a target for both petty and organized criminals. Armed robbery is often associated with bodily harm and mental distress of owners and employees.
You may choose to rely on public resources (police, FBI), but they will only be responding after the fact. A proactive option is to hire private security with the capability of a tactical response.
If someone has made it clear that they want you dead, you’ll want to take precautions as soon as possible.
Do not let these threats ruin your present or kill your future. If the police are unhelpful, another option is to contact an executive protection firm with trained professional agents.
In addition to the previously mentioned categories, executive protection is also for the following individuals in particular circumstances:
Everyone wants to be safe, but some people are more in danger than others.
Global Risk Solutions is a trusted executive protection company for some of Northern California’s top CEOs (references available upon request). We offer a wide range of agents and support staff to provide custom and comprehensive security coverage. Our VIP executive protection team is composed of both men and women that are:
When you hire Global Risk Solutions, you can expect courteous and professional agents who are willing to go the extra mile to ensure your safety.
When you hire Global Risk Solutions, you can expect courteous and professional agents who are willing to go the extra mile to ensure your safety.
SECURITY CONSULTATIONS ARE COMPLIMENTARY AND YOUR INFORMATION IS KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.
