Hiring the right people to protect you when traveling abroad can be a matter of life or death. Here’s a quick list of what criteria and qualifications you should look for when choosing a private-security team, gathered through interviews with top security experts.

• Agents should not have immediately jumped from governmental, military, or police detail to corporate work without retraining. Because federal agents have access to resources that are not available to private security companies, executives should find security experts who have logged a few years in the private sector and who have developed alternative sources for intelligence, equipment, and personnel.

• The security firm should be adept at doing risk analysis, including investigating the backgrounds, political ties, and business practices of the people you’re doing business with in a foreign country.

• Security agents should be in good physical shape and be knowledgeable of world events, new security methods, and foreign laws.

• The security-project leader should be able to assemble a cohesive team of agents. That team should include those with military, computer, medical, and first-aid expertise; foreign-language proficiency; evasive-driving skills; and access to local contacts.

• Security should avoid publicity and be adept at management, logistics, and sizing people up quickly.


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