Soft Target Hardening: From Theory to Practice (October 08, 2026)

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Attacks against crowded spaces, or soft targets, are on the rise worldwide, perpetrated by terrorists and other violent actors. This webinar will provide viewers with an overview of current and emerging soft target threats, examine past failures, and discuss unique hardening techniques, tactics, and best practices through completion of a scored assessment. Special topics of discussion will include psychological aspects of security adding to vulnerability such as fatigue, complacency and denial. The speaker will also explore ways to mitigate against insider threat and lone actors.

The session is for security practitioners, law enforcement, first responders, business managers, and cultural property administrators. As we rise to the challenge of increased workplace safety and security, these practices will help all of us mitigate similar concerns in our personal lives. How do we identify vulnerabilities and take a proactive approach to enhance our own safety? Do we pre-assess venues and discuss emergency plans before attending an event? How can we become security force multipliers?

This live event will challenge your existing security measures to see if they rise to meet current and emergent threats. We will provide prescriptive information, tools and best practice information to assist. We plan to ask tough questions about your approach to safety and security. What proactive measures do you take to protect your employees and your workplace? What systems are in place to protect infrastructure and people from attack? What are your emergency plans and how familiar are employees with procedures? Is there appropriate crisis response training and programmed drills?

Participants should attend the webinar with a specific soft target property or public event in mind. The presenters will assist with conducting a scored assessment to evaluate that target's vulnerability to attack. Come away with a greater knowledge of soft target threats and vulnerabilities, a scored instrument for any venue of concern, and unique ideas for hardening against attack.

Course Objectives:

• Identify the psychology of security such as fatigue, complacency and denial and impact on vulnerability and susceptibility to attack.

• Review the emergent threats and recent soft target attacks.

• Examine improvements made to strengthen soft targets.

• Discuss unique techniques for hardening soft targets against terrorist and violent criminal attack.

• Review best practices through the use of a scenario, assessment tools and government guidance.

Following the workshop, students will be able to:

• Understand soft targets and their inherent vulnerabilities.

• Conduct a vulnerability assessment of a soft target and enhance security measures.

• Utilize an assessment instrument to identify, deter, and mitigate attacks on soft targets in their community.

About your presenter: Dr. Jennifer Hesterman is a retired Air Force colonel who served in three Pentagon tours and commanded in the field multiple times. Her final assignment was Vice Commander, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, where she led installation security, including protection of Air Force One. Dr. Hesterman is a counterterrorism and soft target hardening expert, working with businesses, sports venues, schools, houses of worship, malls, hospitals, convention centers, and critical infrastructure sites to identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities. She advises the Homeland Security Training Institute, the Crisis Response Journal, and 2 DHS Security Centers of Excellence. Her book Soft Target Hardening: Protecting People from Attack was the ASIS Security Industry Book of the Year in 2015. The second edition received the same honors in 2019 and was the Social Sciences Book of the Year for Taylor & Francis. Dr. Hesterman is an analog astronaut and participates in human spaceflight training and deep space simulations. She conducts human factors research and tests food, spacesuits, technology and tools. She is training for her lifelong goal of space travel.

When Resources Fall Short: Supporting Museum Security Teams Through Technology (October 15, 2026)

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Webinar: 12:00p MT
Q&A / Forum: 12:45p MT

WEBINAR:

When Resources Fall Short
Security staff are critical to safe and secure operations. However, managing what is oftentimes one of the largest teams in the museum comes with challenges. Learn how the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts addressed universal issues like:

- Short-staffing, callouts, and turnover
- Budget limitations
- Visitor complaints about security

Museum security teams must maintain consistent collection protection even when staffing and budgets are anything but consistent. Join IFCPP, Art Sentry, and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts for a practical case study exploring how technology can help security teams navigate staffing gaps, difficult gallery sightlines, and visitor concerns about security interactions. Attendees will hear directly from museum representatives about their experience, lessons learned, and considerations for institutions seeking to strengthen security without compromising the visitor experience.

PRESENTERS:

Ken Nielsen is the Chief of Security at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts where he has risen over a fifteen year career from a security officer position to his current role heading the museum's security department. He is a Certified Institutional Protection Manager through IFCPP.

Carrie Heflin is a Sales Manager at Art Sentry, the leading video management system designed exclusively for museums and cultural properties. She previously worked at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

Q&A / OPEN FORUM:

Following the webinar presentation by world-renowned subject-matter expert, join us for a Q&A and open forum. Ask your presenter direct questions about the topic, and continue with a peer-to-peer discussion about insider threats and related concerns.

PRESENTER INTERVIEW:

Check out our interview with Carrie Heflin of Art Sentry

IFCPP upcoming events

Soft Target Hardening: From Theory to Practice (October 08, 2026)

When Resources Fall Short: Supporting Museum Security Teams Through Technology (October 15, 2026)