Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Saturday Morning News

Security Business Is Booming

Aired September 30, 2001 - 11:34   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We are going to examine how the attack has affected every day life in America. Around the world, there have been changes too, changes in everything from traveling for business to taking a vacation to security measures now in place when you enter your office building. CNN's Kitty Pilgrim start our report with a look at that side of the story and its economic impact.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KITTY PILGRIM, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Security firms say business is booming since September 11. Companies who never thought of security are now rethinking their entire operation. We talked to Kroll, one of the best known names in corporate security.

JEFF SCHLANGER, COO, SECURITY SVCS,. KROLL, INC.: There are literally hundreds and hundreds of companies that have called, looking for our services, and our first priority is to serve our currents clients and then we move on to new clients.

PILGRIM: The entire security business has now changed. First of all, physical security is more important. There is more labor- intensive operation, requiring hiring security guards and putting in checkpoints at security desks at doors.

Wackenhut is the biggest U.S.-based provider of security guards in the country, with 35,000 guards. They say they could use 5,000 more, but can't fill demand. It takes two to three weeks to train someone to fill a slot.

They also say their background check business is off the charts. Employers are calling to check new hires. Previously, such things as protecting proprietary information and data bases were more a focus, not now. Now, businesses are worried about such simple things as the evacuation of buildings.

WILLIAM DALY, SR. VP., CONTROL RISKS GROUP: There are clients looking for us to come in and reevaluate their decision-making strategies, how do they handle a crisis, who make the decisions, how they get people out of the building, and how then they can continue to recover business afterward.

PILGRIM (on camera): Technology is not out of the picture. Technology has also had to move very quickly. Bombs scanning techniques for airports, security carding, background checks, also software for databases, the whole industry is working overtime.

Kitty Pilgrim, CNN Financial News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com