In a year marked by escalating acts of targeted violence, the headlines have heightened security for corporate America. In February 2025, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare was violently attacked in what authorities called a “targeted” incident. In June, a shooter opened fire in Midtown Manhattan’s business district in broad daylight, also a planned incident.
For decision-makers across the DMV, a region dense with federal agencies, Fortune 500 headquarters, and high-value corporate targets, these are close to home. They are reminders that threats can reach anyone, anywhere, at any time.
The stakes have changed, and many executives are calling for an improved strategy.
Why Single-Layer Security Fails
Too often, organizations approach security as if it were a checklist—install a firewall for the network, add a badge reader at the door, mount a camera in the hallway. The problem is, modern threats do not respect those boundaries. They slip between the digital and the physical layers, exploiting the very gaps created by siloed protections.
As ZeroFox observed in a recent report: “Between June and December 2024, CEOs were targeted by over 1,560 direct threats across social media and beyond. Then, in just over a month, starting early December, that figure surged to more than 2,200.” (ZeroFox)
“Cyber and physical security risks are inseparable,” says Jason Thompson, President/CEO of Layer One. “If your systems aren’t integrated and communicating, your security strategy is already compromised. By leveraging artificial intelligence, we can take a proactive approach—monitoring patterns across systems, identifying anomalies, and alerting on potential threats before they turn into incidents.”
Our ‘Layers of Protection’ Model
Layer One Technology Solutions answers this challenge with an integrated, multi-layered defense that protects executives, employees, and assets from every angle.
Key capabilities include:
- Video Security & Centralized Cloud Management — Real-time surveillance with secure remote access, allowing leadership teams to monitor multiple facilities at once.
- Advanced Access Control — From biometric authentication to mobile-enabled lock management, ensuring only authorized individuals can enter sensitive spaces.
- Weapons & Gunshot Detection — AI-powered sensors that instantly trigger lockdowns, notify law enforcement, and send mass alerts within seconds of a threat.
- Mass Notification & Incident Mapping — Facility-wide alerts across speakers, digital signage, and personal devices, paired with dynamic maps for rapid emergency coordination.
- Panic Buttons & Mobile Duress Devices — Fixed and wearable panic solutions that connect directly to command centers for immediate two-way communication.
It’s a defense-in-depth philosophy, where each system reinforces the others — closing the gap between detection, communication, and response.
This philosophy mirrors broader security trends. As Facility Executive explains: “Security today isn’t just about keeping people out,” says Jeremy Fromm, Mercury Security Evangelist. “It’s about enabling operational resilience, simplifying management, and building an infrastructure that can adapt over time.” (Facility Executive)
In practice, this means uniting advanced access control, surveillance, detection, and communication tools into one adaptive ecosystem—exactly what Layer One delivers.
From Classrooms to Boardrooms: A Proven Model of Protection
Layer One has already been trusted to secure K–12 campuses, where safety standards are among the most rigorous. Compliance with Alyssa’s Law requires silent panic alarms integrated with public address systems to ensure rapid, coordinated responses to active threats.
The same level of preparedness is now being demanded by corporate headquarters, commercial high-rises, mid-rises, and retail environments. Executives, employees, and tenants face risks that mirror the urgency seen in schools: targeted violence, disgruntled former employees, or armed intruders.
Layer One’s solutions are designed to meet these challenges seamlessly. By integrating access control, video surveillance, weapons detection, mass notification, and panic systems into a single ecosystem, organizations can move beyond piecemeal defenses to a truly unified safety strategy.
The New Executive Responsibility
For today’s stakeholders, security is a strategic imperative. One incident can endanger lives, disrupt operations, and erode shareholder trust in a matter of minutes.
“Safety isn’t about the odds of whether it will happen,” says Katherine Schweit, a former Senior FBI Official and one of the nation’s leading mass shooting experts, “It’s about being prepared if it does happen.” This is exactly what Layer One delivers.
Our Layers of Protection approach integrates surveillance, access control, detection, and communication into a single, unified ecosystem. Paired with our Layers of Service, it ensures ongoing monitoring, rapid response, and future-proof resilience.
For executives in the DMV, where risks are amplified by proximity to government, Fortune 500 headquarters, and high-value commercial properties, this is not optional. It is the standard for doing business safely.
👉 Contact Layer One to start building your layered defense.
