ASIS International, an association for security management professionals, released its latest standard, the Executive Protection Standard. This document sets forth comprehensive industry best practices for the protection of executives and other high-profile individuals.

“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, 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 team of industry experts and practitioners, drawing on their experience and knowledge to create a framework that addresses the unique challenges faced by executive protection professionals. This standard establishes a 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 security discipline focused on safeguarding high-profile individuals through systematic threat identification, risk assessment, and mitigation strategies.

Key features of the Executive Protection Standard include:

1. Needs analysis and security risk assessment methodologies to determine protection requirements and evaluate threats to executives and their families.
2. Program framework to include leadership commitment, policy development, resource allocation, and operational scope definition.
3. Personnel management and operational planning guidelines covering selection criteria, training requirements, legal compliance, ethics, and communication protocols.
4. Protective operations procedures addressing intelligence gathering, close protection operations, security advances, transportation, and emergency response coordination.
5. Program evaluation and continuous improvement processes through monitoring, compliance assessment, auditing, and management review to ensure ongoing effectiveness.

The Executive Protection Standard is designed to help security professionals 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, 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.”