Pre-Incident Indicators: What People Do Before Violence or Breach

Most violent acts and serious security breaches don’t come out of nowhere. They are often preceded by behaviors, signals, and patterns that go unnoticed—or are dismissed as “probably nothing.”

In this episode of Vigilant By Design, host Benjamin Johnson, CPP, PSP, PMP, explores pre-incident indicators: the observable behaviors and changes that frequently appear before acts of violence, insider threats, or major security failures.

This episode is not about profiling, labels, or fear. It’s about understanding behavior, recognizing escalation, and building systems that allow people to speak up without punishment.

Topics include:

• What pre-incident indicators are—and what they are not

• Leakage: how intent often escapes before an incident

• Common behavioral and digital warning signs

• Why people miss signals due to normalcy bias and social discomfort

• Observation without profiling—focusing on behavior, not identity

• Digital breadcrumbs and online escalation

• What to do when something feels “off”

• Creating reporting paths that encourage evaluation, not overreaction

Rather than asking “Who would do this?”, this episode reframes the question to:
“What happens when risk is increasing—and no one knows how to act?”Preparedness is not about predicting who will act.
It’s about recognizing patterns early and responding with clarity, calm, and responsibility.#VigilantSecurity #VSC #SaferSpaces #SecurityConsulting #HardenYourSite #CrimeIsComing #VigilantByDesign

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How AI Is Being Used to Defeat SecurityArtificial intelligence is changing security faster than most organizations realize, and not always in their favor.

In this episode of Vigilant By Design, host Benjamin Johnson, CPP, PSP, PMP, examines how AI is actively being used to defeat traditional security controls by exploiting trust, authority, and human behavior rather than breaking systems directly.

We explore real-world threats including:

• AI-generated fake ID cards and credentials

• Voice cloning used to impersonate executives, employees, or trusted contacts

• AI-written emails and messages that look authentic, timely, and convincing

• Deepfake audio and video used to support social engineering attacks

• Why visual and verbal verification alone can no longer be trusted

This episode explains why these attacks work: they don’t defeat technology, they defeat people operating within systems built on outdated assumptions.

More importantly, we focus on what still works, including:

• Multi-factor and out-of-band verification

• Process-driven decision making over personality or authority

• Training the human layer to recognize manipulation without fear

• Designing systems that assume deception and limit blast radius when mistakes happen

• Building a culture where slowing down to verify is encouraged, not punished

AI didn’t invent deception, it scaled it. Organizations that rely on trust without verification are increasingly vulnerable, while those that design for human behavior remain resilient.

This episode is essential listening for security leaders, executives, facility managers, and anyone responsible for protecting people, property, or information in an age where authenticity can be convincingly faked.

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When Violence Believes It Is Right: Protecting People in an Age of Moral Justification

We are living in a time when violence is increasingly framed by perpetrators as justified, righteous, or necessary. Attacks against religious groups, political figures, government institutions, businesses, scientists, and everyday citizens are often carried out by individuals who believe they are morally correct in their actions.

In this episode of Vigilant By Design, host Benjamin Johnson, CPP, PSP, PMP, explores how moral justification changes the security landscape — and why traditional deterrents often fail when violence is believed to be “right.”

When someone believes they must act, shame doesn’t work. Legal consequences may be accepted. Public condemnation can even become fuel. That belief makes incidents harder to predict, harder to deter, and more dangerous to dismiss.

This episode covers:

• How ideologically and morally motivated violence reshapes risk

• Why targets expand from individuals to symbols, roles, and institutions

• Situational awareness without paranoia — focusing on behavior, not profiling

• The role of digital exposure and how unmanaged visibility creates vulnerability

• Physical and procedural defenses that prioritize life safety and de-escalation

• Why training the human element matters more than equipment alone

• The importance of community, communication, and shared responsibility

Rather than focusing on fear or political narratives, this conversation centers on preparedness, design, and responsibility. Protecting people today requires acknowledging that belief itself can be as dangerous as intent — and building layered defenses that address behavior, environment, information, and response.

Preparedness is not about predicting who will act.
It is about ensuring fewer people are harmed when someone does.

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Episode 7 – Security Theater: The Difference Between Looking Safe and Being Safe

Not all security measures actually make people safer.

In this episode of Vigilant By Design, host Benjamin Johnson, CPP, PSP, PMP, examines Security Theater — the practice of implementing highly visible security measures that create the appearance of safety without meaningfully reducing risk. We also explore where virtue signaling can enter security decisions, and why optics-driven choices often replace effectiveness.

This episode is not about criticizing intent. Most organizations genuinely want to protect people. But when security decisions are driven by perception, pressure, or talking points instead of risk reduction, the result is often a false sense of safety.

Topics include:

• What Security Theater is — and why it happens

• Common examples of optics-based security measures

• The difference between reassurance and protection

• How virtue signaling can influence security decisions in certain environments

• The operational, legal, and reputational risks of performative security

• Why real security is often quieter, less visible, and more deliberate

• The leadership courage required to say no to ineffective solutions

We reframe the conversation around better questions security leaders should be asking:

• Does this reduce risk?

• Does this change behavior?

• Does this improve response?

• Can we defend this decision after an incident?

Looking safe is not the same as being safe. Effective security is layered, intentional, measurable, and accountable — even when it isn’t flashy.

If you’re responsible for security decisions, budgeting, or risk ownership, this episode will challenge assumptions and help you focus on what truly protects people and places.

#VigilantSecurity #VSC #SaferSpaces #SecurityConsulting #HardenYourSite #CrimeIsComing #VigilantByDesign

Episode 6 – Why a 5-Year Parts and Labor Warranty Should Be the Standard

In the security industry, warranties are often treated as an afterthought — but they shouldn’t be. In this episode of Vigilant By Design, host Benjamin Johnson, CPP, PSP, PMP, makes a clear, direct case for why a five-year parts and labor warranty should be the baseline standard for modern security systems.

We break down an industry reality that every experienced manufacturer and integrator understands: if security equipment is going to fail, it almost always fails early. Most defects and installation issues surface during the first six months of operation — a phase known as infant mortality. That’s why, with very few exceptions, manufacturers already offer five-year material warranties.

So the real question becomes:
If manufacturers are confident enough to cover parts for five years, why shouldn’t integrators be confident enough to cover labor?

This episode explores:

• Why short labor warranties signal misaligned risk — not savings

• The difference between parts-only warranties and true end-to-end protection

• How five-year labor coverage reflects confidence in installation quality and long-term business stability

• Why service calls aren’t losses, but relationship-building touchpoints

• How short warranties lead to deferred repairs, budget surprises, downtime, and increased risk

• The dangers of DIY installs, gray-market equipment, and voided warranties

Security systems are not consumer electronics — they are long-term infrastructure designed to protect people, property, and operations.

If you’re responsible for security decisions, budgeting, or risk management, this episode will fundamentally change how you evaluate proposals and vendors.

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Episode 5 – The Real Price of Protection: Total Cost of Ownership in Security Systems

When organizations evaluate security systems, the focus is often on upfront cost. But the real expense of security isn’t found on the purchase order — it’s revealed over time.

In this episode of Vigilant By Design, host Benjamin Johnson, CPP, PSP, PMP, breaks down Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and explains why the cheapest system upfront is often the most expensive in the long run.

We explore the full lifecycle cost of security systems, including:

• Initial investment in hardware, software, and professional installation

• Recurring costs such as cloud services, software support agreements (SSA), licensing, and maintenance contracts

• Power consumption and cooling requirements for servers, recorders, and network infrastructure

• Ongoing maintenance and lifecycle management

• Downtime, reliability, and operational disruption

• Warranty coverage, including why long-term parts and labor protection matters

Most importantly, this episode addresses a cost that rarely appears in budgets but carries the highest impact: system failure. When security systems don’t work as intended, the consequences can include property loss, business interruption, legal liability, reputational damage, and — in the worst cases — injury or loss of life.

Security systems exist to prevent high-impact, low-frequency events. Total Cost of Ownership isn’t about saving money — it’s about understanding risk, accountability, and long-term sustainability.

If you’re responsible for protecting people, property, or operations, this episode will change how you evaluate security investments and help you make decisions that stand up over time.

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Episode 4 – Access Control & Surveillance: Tools, Tech, and Traps

Access control and surveillance systems are often the first technologies people think of when it comes to security. But these tools can either strengthen your protection or create dangerous blind spots — depending on how they’re designed, installed, and maintained.

In this episode of Vigilant By Design, host Benjamin Johnson, CPP, PSP, PMP, breaks down the real-world strengths and pitfalls of access control and surveillance systems. From card readers and biometrics to cameras and cloud platforms, we explore how to make smart, sustainable choices while avoiding the common traps that cost organizations money and compromise safety.

Topics include:

• How access control really works – cards, PINs, biometrics, and mobile credentials.

• Why policy and procedure matter – technology only works if it’s backed by strong processes.

• Surveillance best practices – placement, angles, retention, and monitoring that actually make a difference.

• Common mistakes to avoid – overreliance on cameras, poor maintenance, siloed systems, and using access control as a time clock or alarm disarm.

• NDAA compliance – why it matters for security and long-term sustainability.

• Hostage-as-a-Service traps – how some cloud products take away your control and lock you in.

• PKOC (Public Key Open Credential) – the open standard that gives you freedom, interoperability, and future-proofing.

• Shiny Object Syndrome – avoiding costly distractions from unproven gadgets.

• Professional integrator vs DIY – why working with a trusted integrator protects you from knockoffs, warranty voids, configuration errors, and long-term costs.

Real-world examples illustrate how small oversights — like skipping maintenance or buying online knockoffs — can undo the investment in expensive technology. On the flip side, thoughtful planning, PKOC adoption, NDAA-compliant equipment, and professional integration can give you a flexible, sustainable system that grows with your organization.

Above all, this episode reinforces a key theme: technology should support design, not replace it. Access control and surveillance are most effective when paired with CPTED principles, strong policies, and a culture of security awareness.

If you’re considering upgrades to your access control or surveillance systems, or you simply want to avoid expensive traps, this episode is a must-listen.

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