ASIS International's Threat Advisory System Response Draft Guideline -TASR- Begins 60-Day Public Review and Comment Period; Public Review and Comment Period ends Jan. 24.

Business Editors

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 25, 2003

ASIS International (ASIS), the preeminent organization for security professionals worldwide, released its Threat Advisory System Response Draft Guideline (TASR) yesterday at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The Guideline is designed to help businesses and other institutions respond effectively to advisories issued by the Department of Homeland Security. The Guideline is viewed as a critical first step in developing a comprehensive system for protecting the 85% of critical infrastructure that is in private hands.

Speakers at the event included co-chairs of the ASIS Commission on Guidelines, the body that developed the Guideline. They are Don Walker, CPP, Chairman & CEO Securitas Security Services USA, and Chad Callaghan, CPP, Vice President Loss Prevention Services, Marriott International. Also commenting and taking questions from the press in attendance was Mr. Robert Liscouski, Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Among those attending were Randall Yim, Managing Director, Homeland Security and Justice, U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO); Sharon Caudle, of the GAO's National Preparedness, Homeland Security and Justice Team; Ann Beauchesne of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; and Peggy Lipps, Senior Vice President with Bank of America, which supports the Financial Services Sector Coordinating Council for Critical Infrastructure Protection and Homeland Security (FSSCC).

"I want to recognize you (ASIS) for all the work you've done here," said Liscouski. "I cannot overemphasize what this represents to us in terms of in trying to understand what the private sector is doing to protect themselves. From my point of view, it demonstrates the partnership we're trying to build to help solve the problems."

The TASR Guideline is available for a public review and comment period of 60 days, ending Jan. 24. To view or download the document, go to ASIS' guidelines Web site, www.asisonline.org/guidelines/guidelines.htm. Also included is a comment form that can be completed and submitted electronically, or downloaded and faxed to 703-518-1517.

ASIS International (ASIS) is the preeminent organization for security professionals, with more than 33,000 members worldwide. Founded in 1955, ASIS is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and productivity of security professionals by developing educational programs and materials that address broad security interests, such as the ASIS Annual Seminar and Exhibits, as well as specific security topics. ASIS also advocates the role and value of the security management profession to business, the media, government entities, and the public. By providing members and the security community with access to a full range of programs and services, and by publishing the industry's number one magazine -- Security Management -- ASIS leads the way for advanced and improved security performance.