How HP Uses Dataminr’s Real-time Alerts for Executive Protection

Executive protection has become an increasingly critical focus for organizations as the risk landscape continues to evolve. With the rise in threats driven by geopolitical complications, doxing incidents and physical safety risks during travel and events, multinational organizations like HP face significant challenges in ensuring the safety of their executives.

During a recent Dataminr webinar, Paul Woolsey, HP Head of Aviation and Executive Protection, shared a few key ways he and his team safeguard their executives from harm while traveling and at large-scale events, including the use of Dataminr Pulse for Corporate Security.

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Leverage Dataminr’s real-time information

Powered by its AI platform, Dataminr Pulse for Corporate Security delivers real-time alerts to Woolsey and his team, enabling them to identify early warnings of risks to executives near their home, workplaces and travel locations. 

In addition, by leveraging over 1 million public data sources, Dataminr has a diversity of global, regional and hyperlocal information in 150-plus languages and multiple formats. This makes its real-time alerts as relevant and actionable as possible. 

For example, while en route to a National Special Security Event, Dataminr alerted Woolsey and his team to a major public disorder incident near their executive’s travel path. While a local mapping mobile app showed the route as clear, upon seeing the alert, Woolsey quickly instructed the executive’s driver and his team to reroute. As they were driving away, they could see from a distance that the incident was happening, which they were able to avoid, and thus ensuring the executive’s safety and uninterrupted schedule.

“Dataminr is indispensable for us on mobile, where it delivers hyperlocal alerts to us. When an executive is on the road, we need to see what’s going on around them,” said Woolsey.

Furthermore, according to Woolsey, Dataminr’s alerts have proven valuable not only in enabling rapid decision making to avert threats, but also in proactively planning security measures for all executives in the field. In particular, Dataminr allows his team to tailor real-time alerts based on executive travel itineraries and event plans. This lets them receive specific notifications most relevant to the locations and individuals involved. 

“We have an operation specialist [at HP] that monitors where all of our C-suite members are going, and we get catered [Dataminr] alerts based on their travel itineraries,” said Woolsey. “This allows us to make decisions about the levels of service we provide each of those executives.”

Watch Video: Dataminr Pulse for Corporate Security: Protect Your Executives

Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders

At large-scale events such as annual shareholder meetings, sports competitions and industry summits, protecting all participants—especially high-profile attendees—is a massive task. According to Woolsey, it’s imperative that security teams build strong relationships with both internal and external partners, such as venue coordinators and law enforcement, to ensure a coordinated protection strategy. 

Some key tips for effective collaboration include:

• Have an early liaison with the event’s staff and security and know what executive protection procedures entail
• Communicate early and coordinate with internal stakeholders, such as legal, event planners and security 
• Partner with local law enforcement. This helps expand the reach and effectiveness of your security measures—from investigating online threats to providing on-site support during events. 

In addition, Woolsey offered three best practices for internal executive protection teams, including:

• Conduct thorough walkthroughs inside and around the venue prior to the event to assess risks on the ground 
• Assign an internal executive protection personnel who understands the security plan for that event and the schedule of the attendees. Maintain constant situational awareness, and ensure you’re able to see where your executives are and what they’re doing at all times.
• Keep in mind that, “…it’s not just about physical protection. A big part of our role is safeguarding our executive’s reputation,” said Woolsey. 

In today’s increasingly digital, polarized and unpredictable world, it’s vital that executive protection teams are able to stay ahead of threats and respond swiftly when a risk arises. As a result, it’s crucial that they implement robust security measures and advanced technologies to reduce the likelihood of reputational and physical harm to executives.