The framework provides guidance on the full spectrum of protective security, from initial risk assessment and defining necessary protection requirements
ASIS International, the global association for security professionals, has released its new Executive Protection Standard, providing a comprehensive framework for safeguarding corporate executives, VIPs, and other high-profile individuals amid rising global threats.
The new document codifies industry best practices, integrating strategic planning with detailed protective operations to establish consistent and effective security programmes worldwide.
“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,” said Joe M. Olivarez, Jr., 2025 President of ASIS International.
Developed by a technical committee of subject matter experts, practitioners, and security professionals, the standard moves beyond physical guarding to address modern, executive-specific security challenges.
The framework provides guidance on the full spectrum of protective security, from initial risk assessment and defining necessary protection requirements, to managing highly trained personnel and conducting complex close-protection operations. Critically, it also extends the “defence umbrella” to cover executives’ family members and assets.
Charles Tobin, who chaired the technical committee, emphasised the holistic nature of the new guidelines. He stated that effective protection demands “strategic thinking, meticulous planning, and seamless coordination,” adding that the standard “reflects the collective expertise of seasoned executive protection professionals who understand that effective protection requires more than just physical security.”
The new standard is structured to guide security teams through every phase of developing and executing a protection programme. Highlights of the document include:
Risk Assessment: Comprehensive approaches for threat evaluation and risk profiling.
Policy and Leadership: Guidelines for policy development, resource planning, and security leadership structures.
Operational Guidance: Procedures for managing personnel, setting ethics codes, and establishing communications protocols.
Protective Operations: Methods covering transportation security, specific protective procedures, and emergency coordination.
Auditing and Improvement: Guidance for continuous programme monitoring, auditing, and maintenance.
