The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) has ordered 63 next-generation Itemiser DX desktop explosives trace detection systems from Morpho Detection, the explosives and narcotics detection business of Morpho. Valued at more than $2 million, these systems will be deployed to airports in Canada to support passenger and baggage screening efforts.

Communications technology is shrinking distances every day, but these advances have not stopped executives crossing oceans and continents to conduct business. With each venture to a foreign city, however, executives take on a host of risks — from political instability and street crime to reckless driving habits.

The Canadian Society for Industrial Security (CSIS) has named a new executive director, Andrea Blaustein, who will be taking over the position in May.

Canada's privacy watchdog is concerned a new security plan to closely eye the behaviour of air passengers could amount to racial profiling.

ASIS International says that Robert M. Gates, 22nd U.S. Secretary of Defense (2006-2011), will address attendees of the ASIS International 58th Annual Seminar and Exhibits (ASIS 2012) on Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 8:00 a.m. at the Philadelphia Convention Center.

I recently attended the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Annual Conference in San Diego. Besides some terrific presentations and networking events, there was a bookstore. I’m a sucker for bookstores and I picked up enough books that I had to pay duty when I came back. One of those books was Social Engineering: The Art of Human Hacking, by Christopher Hadnagy. This is a worthwhile book for anyone in the security management and operations field, including investigations. And while it’s heavily IT-flavoured, it’s not just for the IT folks — in fact, it’s likely more valuable to non-IT personnel.

Corporate espionage can be an exciting topic. International spies, top secret research and, of course, the notorious honey-pot trap — the downfall of many a young engineer in a foreign country. At its core, however, it’s about losing market share, contracts and competitiveness.