Situational awareness, properly trained, runs in three phases: perception, comprehension, and projection. Each phase plays a distinct role, and a CPO needs all three to read and manage their environment with accuracy: Perception - read the environment Gathering...

Soft skills complement hard skills, and the right combination of the two makes for an exceptional operative. Developing soft skills helps manage unpredictable environments, volatile people and hostile situations. They also provide more empathetic personal interactions...

The Arcfyre Group does upward of 70,000 operational days annually across 60 countries. The client's trust placed in us for every task is a result of due diligence, hard work and creating a team with the right people in the right roles. Twice a year, every operational...

With the arrival of summer in large parts of the globe, bleisure travel is set to peak again, as the temptation to extend a business trip into a few days of personal time is hard to resist, and increasingly common. A while back we shared the rise of business...

Madelyn Coetzee is one of our female CPOs at Arcfyre. We touched base with her to get some thoughts on her role and the industry. How do you prepare before an assignment? ‘Mental preparation is crucial. I run through what the task demands and where it could go wrong,...

This guidance it's worth repeating for travelling principals, as managing a digital footprint is now as much a security consideration as physical movement. As European summer travel begins, a reminder on safe travel risk management - a photo posted from a hotel or...

Travel intentions, preferences and barriers all point towards a cautious outlook for travellers, one who is increasingly asking ‘how safe is it to go there?’ -Close to home There is a growing preference for domestic trips. Australia is shifting away from long-haul...

Emma is a Project Coordinator at Aryfyre International, a complex role balancing movements of live projects and operational teams across multiple countries and different time zones. She began in Business Development and progressed into Protective Operations. Five...

For any organisation requiring staff to travel - particularly into complex, developing or emerging markets - a risk assessment is not optional. It is a duty of care, and a non-negotiable responsibility. Risk assessments exist to ensure that potential threats are...

Airports are often known to be a hotspot for targeted criminal activity. There have been multiple historical incidents involving criminals following unsuspecting travellers from OR Tambo International Airport and robbing them once they arrive at their hotels or...

16th April is a very special day for us. We are incredibly proud to announce that this year marks our 22nd anniversary in business. Over the past 22 years, we have had the privilege of serving thousands of clients, navigating an ever-evolving landscape, and building...

CPOs operate in high-risk environments where quick decision-making and effective medical intervention can be critical. High-risk environments can mean remote locations where often, emergency medical support is not immediately available. So, while security is first and...

We are very proud to announce that Arcfyre has achieved ISO 18788:2015 and ANSI/ASIS PSC.1:2022 certification. ISO 18788:2015 and ANSI/ASIS PSC.1:2022 are the internationally recognised standards for a Security Operations Management System (SOMS), focusing on risk...

While South Africa doesn’t top the list for the country under the biggest threat from cyberattacks, numbers have recently risen. The widely available use of AI tools is evolving, accelerating and increasing the volume of global attacks, making an investment in defence...

The Arcfyre Group is all about people. Each brand within the group reflects who we are, our values, our standards, and our people are the face of that commitment, delivering the service to our clients. Secure Drive | Journey Management | manages the safe travels of...

Security is an investment. An investment in your people, your organisation and your family. It protects your assets, your daily operations, and your ease and comfort when travelling. Professional, reliable security is a protective measure - but also a strategic...

We’ve gained some new followers along the way (thank you for your support!) Let’s highlight what the Arcfyre Group is all about. Here’s the established companies within the group that make it all possible: Arcfyre International We’re a global market leader in boutique...

Day in the Life Jared Higgins - Arcfyre Group CEO ‘I tend to wake up early, between 5-5.30am, make coffee, then sit and read through the news across as many papers and online media as possible. I'm especially interested in politics, local and global, the economy, and...

Our CPOs frequently participate in Knowledge Transfer Sessions, also known as Lessons Learnt, with this one focusing on operational equipment. These sessions create space for our teams to collaborate, share ideas and exchange best practices in the spirit of pursuing...

‘..and are you travelling on business or for pleasure?’ In the past, we would be asked to check one of these options. Now, it is becoming more frequent for travellers to tag on extra time at the start or end of their business trip to explore a destination at their own...

Global company, boutique approach. We describe ourselves as a globally operational boutique security company. We provide protective services, journey management, risk consulting and advisory in 60 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East - with every...

Medical skills aren’t perhaps talked about as much as shooting, self-defence and other hard skills. Traumatic incidents or just everyday life scenarios can happen, and knowing how to correctly act and apply the right treatment - fast - can save lives. Our operational...

We’re driven by a passion to be the best at what we do. That means keeping all operational staff motivated and incentivised to be at the top of their game: Top of the class Every 6 months, we run hard and soft skill assessments, and the top performer across all job...

GSOC (Global Security Operations Centre) is our team of analysts and associates providing live reports and travel advice in high-risk environments across the Arcfyre Group. 360° Client Support GSOC operates 24/7, providing real-time intelligence to support projects...

Imran Leroy: Close Protection Officer ‘I’m a Close Protection Officer with over 10 years of experience in the company. I’ve operated in diverse, and often high-risk environments, to ensure the safety and security of individuals under my protection. Over the years, I...

Road-related incidents, globally, account for approximately 1.19 million deaths every year, with a further 20-50 million injured. When travelling, there are additional challenges to take into consideration: Fatigue Jet lag takes a toll on everyone, and it can...

The international market is seeing an increased investment in travel risk management, yet the South African market seems to have slowed in investing in preventative measures. Here in South Africa, businesses are legally responsible under a duty of care policy to...

Safety while travelling is paramount for everyone. However, business travel as a female can come with additional challenges that could complicate and increase the stress of your trip. Gender Attitudes Perceptions of gender roles vary across countries and can influence...

A continent rich in natural resources, available manpower with a growing population and multiple emerging markets, typically offering a high return on investment, positions Africa as a highly attractive investment destination. Security and safety risks are two of the...

We spoke with CEO Jared Higgins about the challenges, mistakes and risks when leading a business. Naturally there are a multitude of challenges, which stand out for you? ‘Challenges are a daily occurrence, that’s a given in our industry. You build a company on your...

Data from the South African Police Service annual crime statistics shows that kidnappings have increased by 264%, almost trebling, in the past decade. In the past, large sums of money were demanded in return for a hostage. Now, ‘express kidnappings’ are more prevalent...

Gen Z Madagascar vs President Rajoelina Protests in Madagascar have swiftly snowballed from frustration over water and power cuts, to the President’s dissolution of the government, to deadly open fire against protesters. Now, the same contingent of soldiers that...

Sometimes the unexpected or unplanned can disrupt your travel arrangements, which may affect your experience and potentially jeopardise your safety and security. Everyone knows to avoid unlit streets at night, steer clear of rough neighbourhoods and not flash...

Hard skills are considered a given within the close protection industry. Soft skills? Just as relevant. These are all about how we work with others and manage ourselves, critical in settings requiring personal interactions. Soft skills are transferable across multiple...

The likelihood of becoming entangled in a dangerous situation when travelling - a robbery at the airport, a car hijacking or being followed back to your hotel room isn’t definite. But it is a possibility. The consequences of risk, from jumping into a local taxi for a...