The purpose of this section is not to
attempt to acquire every corporate TSCM account that is currently in the hands
of amateur sweep techs. We couldn’t possibly handle them all. It is,
however, part of our mission to educate the corporate world not only as to
how real the threat is, but also how not to get ripped off by an amateur claiming
to be a pro. If you are currently employing a TSCM firm, you owe it to yourself
to read this section carefully and consider the implications
You must be able to recognize the two common forms which amateurs take; those
who work for themselves as P.I.’s and the mega-security companies that
buy some equipment but send $14.00/hour security guards to a short school
to learn how to press the buttons. In the latter case you may actually see
some impressive looking gear but the people pushing the buttons couldn’t
draw the schematic of a flashlight, have no technical background and certainly
don’t have a clue as to what a real sweep involves. We’ll show
you a simple test to give them the results of which may frighten you. The
only thing worse than not protecting your privacy is paying good money for
protection and still not having any.
How to Choose the Right Professional.
Amateurs typically only have one level at which they sweep (“their best”), which is limited by the weakest link between their knowledge, experience and equipment.
Amateurs typically have only a few pieces of equipment with which to conduct a sweep.
Amateurs typically are self taught with no formal training or technical background.
Amateurs work by themselves.
Amateurs typically spend about 4 man/hours on a commercial/corporate sweep.
Amateurs are not specialists and typically offer many other services other than TSCM, which in fact is usually a small portion of their business.
Amateurs typically use cheap, low technology, unsophisticated gear.
Amateurs are not recognized within their field.
Amateurs are not actively involved with the TSCM industry in any way other than doing sweeps and as such are not members of industry organizations.
Amateurs do not come recommended by anyone in authority or with intimate knowledge of the trade.
Amateurs can be found working for national security companies for whom TSCM is an extremely small percentage of their business. Professionals are never found working for $14.00/hour for some mega security company working on company equipment.
Professionals can offer several customizable sweep levels to match your threat level and circumstances because they have the experience, knowledge and equipment to do so.
Professionals have many cases of equipment that they bring to your account.
Professionals have formal training in TSCM and may even be certified, licensed or both as sweep techs, as well as being formally trained on their equipment. They engage at great expense in time and money, in continuing education to keep up with the fast pace of technology.
Professionals frequently work in teams. There is simply far too much involved in a high level, professional corporate sweep for a single tech to accomplish and some procedures are best conducted two techs on the job simultaneously.
Professionals can take 10 times that or more to complete a corporate level sweep (another reason they work in teams is to cut down time on the job).
Professionals are specialists. They do only a few related
things and they do
them well. “Jack of all trades, master of none” is definitely
not what you want in a TSCM firm.
Professionals utilize the advanced, high-tech electronic equipment required for each phase of a comprehensive corporate level sweep (See “Our Equipment” for Off Duty Security’s list). We currently own almost $250,000.00 worth of advanced electronic equipment which we continually upgrade and to which we continually add new pieces. We paid $9,000.00 for one antenna! Capital outlay invested into equipment is perhaps the single best indicator of how committed any TSCM firm is.
Professionals are frequently recognized within their tradecraft. Some are published in trade magazines and journals and will get invited as a spokesperson on their tradecraft.
Professionals are always members of the tradecraft groups and are active and known within them.
Professionals don’t mind recommending each other and working together. We are for instance, recommended by James Atkinson of the Granite Island Group, one of the most respected TSCM techs in the world, on the “GOLD LIST” (see tscm.com).
Professionals work for themselves with their own equipment, not someone else’s.
