The Ontic Connected Intelligence Podcast

A mature GSOC does far more than monitor alarms. Manish speaks with Nick Saroka, Vice President of Operations at Exlog Global, about turning the GSOC into an enterprise nerve center that supports decisions across the business. Nick explains how teams can connect threat monitoring to organizational objectives, determine when to escalate with incomplete information, and earn credibility through relationships and repeated performance. He also explores AI’s role as a force multiplier for intelligence collection and dissemination while keeping human validation and judgment in the loop. The conversation closes with practical career advice for analysts who want to understand the businesses they protect and create greater organizational value.

You'll learn:

How to align GSOC intelligence with business objectives and operational decisions

What to weigh when moving from monitoring to escalation and action

Where AI can accelerate intelligence workflows without replacing human judgment

Similar episodes:

Building Next-Gen GSOCs with Visa’s Niall Herlehy

A Modern Approach to Managing GSOCs with Jesse Leeds

Fail Forward: Lessons in Leadership and Innovation with Jacob Valdez

Embracing Change in Corporate Security: Strategies for Modernization with Ryan Schonfeld of HiveWatch

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Frank Rodman, CEO and co-founder of Torchstone Global, joins Fred Burton to discuss what it takes to protect people, events, and organizations in an increasingly complex threat environment. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience across the Diplomatic Security Service, corporate security, executive protection, GSOC operations, and major global events, Frank shares lessons from the 1993 World Trade Center bombing investigation, the Tokyo subway sarin attack, Olympic Games, and Super Bowls. The conversation explores why private-sector security depends on influence, coordination, and clear communication, not just authority. Frank also explains how Connected Intelligence helps teams turn fragmented information into the context needed to make better security decisions before risk becomes crisis. 

 

You'll learn:

How protective intelligence helps teams connect weak signals before a crisis

Why major event security requires coordination, red teaming, and thoughtful trade-offs

How security leaders can build stronger teams by combining expertise, communication, and business acumen

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Modern executive protection requires far more than a physical presence. In this episode, Fred Burton speaks with Bryan Niederhelm, Senior Vice President of Threat Assessment and Management at Gavin de Becker & Associates, about the evolving landscape of protective intelligence, threat assessment, and violence prevention. Bryan shares why the fundamentals of human behavior, preparation, and disciplined observation remain critical, even as AI and emerging technologies reshape the security conversation. The discussion also explores how protectors can avoid over-reliance on tools, build curiosity into their work, and better communicate risk to the people they protect.

What you'll learn:

Why modern protection depends on preparation, mindset, and understanding human behavior

How AI, drones, and emerging technologies may influence protective intelligence

Why curiosity and humility are essential skills for the next generation of protectors

Learn more in Ontic Resources.

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The risk landscape facing corporate leaders has changed dramatically. In this episode, Fred Burton sits down with longtime security executive Ken Senser to discuss how threats have evolved from large-scale physical attacks to today's digitally enabled, grievance-driven risks. Drawing on decades of experience with the CIA, FBI, Walmart, and Corporate Security Advisors, Ken shares his perspective on executive protection, protective intelligence, AI, and the growing convergence of cyber and physical security. The conversation explores what security leaders must do to protect executives, strengthen organizational resilience, and prepare for the future of risk. 

You'll learn: 

How executive protection has evolved from physical security to a converged risk discipline

Why doxing, swatting, and online radicalization are reshaping threat landscapes

How AI will transform both protective intelligence programs and attacker capabilities 

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A growing culture of incivility is reshaping the corporate risk landscape, and security leaders are being forced to adapt quickly. In this episode of the Connected Intelligence Podcast, Fred Burton sits down with Security Executive Council founder Bob Hayes to discuss the research behind rising workplace aggression, executive targeting, activist-driven threats, and the long-term implications for corporate security programs. Bob shares lessons drawn from decades of research and leadership experience, including why organizations often overlook their most probable risks and how security teams can better align intelligence with business action. The conversation also explores the evolution of executive protection and the importance of actionable intelligence in today’s environment.

You'll learn:

Why workplace incivility is becoming a growing corporate security concern

How executive targeting trends are shifting toward activist-driven threats

What organizations often miss when assessing executive risk

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Resources mentioned in this episode:

Beyond Incivility: The Soaring Business Cost of America’s Deteriorating Civility

Executive Targeting Report: Analysis of Attacks on Corporate Executives from 2003-2025

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