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Proprietary to Head of Security

HASARD
Training

Head of Security Active Situational Awareness and Responsive Defense Training. HASARD is the proprietary training program built and taught by Head of Security. It teaches active awareness, behavioral recognition, and responsive defense using the KOODA loop and P.L.A.T.E. framework. Every other training we deliver builds on it.

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Proprietary curriculum
KOODA loop and P.L.A.T.E. framework
Online and in-person
Corporate and individual
Built by practitioners
What HASARD stands for

Head of Security Active Situational Awareness and Responsive Defense

HASARD is not a generic awareness course. It is a behavior-driven training methodology built around how people actually think, perceive, and decide under pressure. The name itself reflects the full methodology: active not passive, situational not generic, and built around responsive defense rather than reactive panic.

H
Head of Security
Built and taught by Head of Security. HASARD is proprietary curriculum developed from real protective work, not generic awareness content.
A
Active
Awareness is a verb, not a state. HASARD trains students to engage their environment intentionally, not passively wait for something to feel wrong.
S
Situational
Threat recognition is context-dependent. HASARD teaches students to read the specific environment, people, and timing rather than apply generic rules.
A
Awareness
Sustained perception of your environment, the people in it, and the behavioral patterns that signal normal versus abnormal.
R
Responsive
Response, not reaction. Trained, intentional action chosen from the KOODA loop, not panic. Decision before movement.
D
Defense
Defensive posture across all phases. HASARD trains students to avoid, deter, disengage, and only when necessary, physically defend.
The cognitive engine

The KOODA Loop

The KOODA loop is Head of Security's proprietary decision-making framework. It is a five-step cognitive cycle students learn to run consciously when stakes are high. The "Know" step is what makes KOODA distinct. Pre-loaded knowledge about your environment, people, and patterns is the foundation everything else builds on.

K
Know
What you have learned about your environment, the people, and the patterns before the moment.
O
Observe
Active perception of what is happening right now. Visual, auditory, behavioral input.
O
Orient
Process what you see against what you know. Is this normal? Is this a threat indicator?
D
Decide
Choose a response based on context, capability, and consequence. The decision is the work.
A
Act
Execute the decision. Then return to Observe. The loop continues.
What feeds the "Know"

The P.L.A.T.E. Framework

P.L.A.T.E. is the framework HASARD students use to build the "Know" foundation of the KOODA loop. It maps the five categories of pre-incident knowledge every protector needs to develop about themselves, their principals, or their organizations.

P
People
Who is in your environment. Who belongs. Who does not. Patterns of behavior and presence.
L
Locations
The physical environments where you operate. Layout, exits, choke points, sight lines.
A
Assets
What is being protected. People, property, information, reputation, continuity.
T
Travel
Routes, transitions, and movement patterns. The vulnerable moments between locations.
E
Events
Scheduled occurrences that change the security picture. Meetings, public appearances, holidays.
Two modes of action

ACT A and ACT B

When the KOODA loop reaches "Act," there are two distinct modes of response. HASARD trains students to recognize which mode the situation calls for, and how to execute either with intention.

Pre-incident
ACT A
The proactive mode. Action taken to prevent, deter, or interrupt a developing threat before it becomes an incident. The goal of HASARD is to keep students in ACT A territory.
Avoid the area or threat entirely
Create distance or change position
Communicate to security, authorities, or your team
De-escalate or disengage from a developing situation
In-incident
ACT B
The reactive mode. Action taken when prevention failed and the incident is already underway. HASARD trains students to execute ACT B decisively and without hesitation.
Run if there is a safe path
Hide if running is not possible
Fight as a last resort when there is no other option
Protect others and provide aid once the threat is past
Who HASARD is for

Built for People Who Cannot Outsource Awareness

HASARD is built for anyone whose role, lifestyle, or environment requires them to be the first line of awareness. It is not security guard training. It is awareness training for the people security guards protect.

Audience
Executives and Principals
Senior leaders, founders, and high-profile individuals whose visibility creates exposure. HASARD gives them the foundation to recognize and respond to threats themselves.
Audience
Corporate Teams
Employees, frontline staff, and management who interact with the public, work in vulnerable roles, or are part of an organization's first-response awareness layer.
Audience
Individuals and Families
Private clients who want a practical, structured methodology for personal safety. Useful for everyday awareness, travel, and family security planning.
Audience
Security Professionals
Guards, agents, and protectors who want a deeper cognitive framework to layer underneath their tactical training. HASARD is the foundation of every Head of Security operator's training.
Audience
High-Risk Roles
Healthcare workers, educators, public-facing professionals, and anyone in a role with elevated exposure to threats, conflict, or workplace violence.
Audience
Travel and Event Teams
Teams that move, host events, or work in dynamic environments where the security picture changes constantly and recognition has to happen in real time.
How we deliver

Three Ways to Train

HASARD is delivered in three formats. The right one depends on your audience, your environment, and how the training fits into your broader program.

01  ·  Self-Paced
Online HASARD Training
Video-based curriculum delivered through our learning platform. Students complete modules at their own pace with built-in assessments. Best for individuals and distributed teams.
Video modulesSelf-pacedCertificate of completion
02  ·  Live
In-Person HASARD Training
On-site instruction delivered by Head of Security trainers. Includes scenario work, group exercises, and Q&A. Best for corporate teams and family or executive groups.
Onsite at your locationScenariosGroup exercises
03  ·  Custom
Corporate HASARD Program
Customized curriculum built for your specific environment, threat profile, and organizational role mix. Combines online and live delivery with role-specific scenarios.
Customized curriculumMulti-sessionRole-based
Common questions

HASARD Training FAQ

How long does HASARD training take? +

The self-paced online program runs approximately 4 to 6 hours of video and assessment content. Live in-person training is typically delivered as a half-day or full-day session depending on group size and the depth requested. Corporate programs are scoped to the engagement, ranging from a single session to multi-day immersive training with scenarios.

Is HASARD the same as active shooter training? +

No. HASARD is the precursor. Active shooter training focuses on what to do when an active shooter event is already happening. HASARD focuses on recognizing the indicators, behaviors, and warning signs that precede attacks, and on building the cognitive habits that make people effective in any high-stakes situation. We recommend HASARD as the foundation before adding more specific tactical training.

Do you offer HASARD training for our entire company? +

Yes. Corporate HASARD programs are one of our most common engagements. We customize the curriculum to your industry, your workforce profile, and the specific threats and risks your organization faces. Programs are typically delivered through a combination of online onboarding plus live training for select roles, with role-specific scenarios built into the live sessions.

Is HASARD certified or accredited? +

HASARD is Head of Security's proprietary curriculum. Students who complete the program receive a certificate of completion from Head of Security. It is not externally accredited, because the value of HASARD is the proprietary methodology, not an industry certification. For students seeking professional credentials in security risk management, we offer the HOS-CSRMP (Certified Security Risk Management Professional) program separately.

What if our team has already had awareness training? +

HASARD is different from most awareness training because it teaches a specific cognitive framework, not just "what to watch for" lists. Many of our students come to HASARD after other awareness programs and tell us this is the first methodology that changed how they actually think and decide. We recommend at minimum a conversation about your current program before deciding whether HASARD adds value for your team.

Can family members attend HASARD training? +

Yes. We deliver HASARD to families regularly, especially for high-profile individuals and high-net-worth families. The curriculum scales appropriately for spouses, adult children, and household staff. We do not deliver HASARD to minors as a standalone program, but family training engagements can include age-appropriate adaptations for teens when the family requests it.

Schedule HASARD Training

Whether you are training a team, a family, or yourself, every HASARD engagement starts with a conversation about your specific situation.

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