End Users '20 under 40' 2017—Amanda O'Loughlin

Amanda O'Loughlin, 39

Security supervisor, Crane Currency

Nashua, N.H.

As security supervisor for the Nashua location of global banknote manufacturer Crane Currency, Amanda O'Loughlin is responsible for both physical and information security.

“Crane Currency is an international company with several locations. My site is unique in that we manufacture the security features for currency all over the world,” explained O'Loughlin. “What I am looking at is the risk not only to our physical assets but also our intellectual property and our data.”

As the chairperson of the company's information security committee, she also liaises with the IT department in developing an information security training program for the company, training employees in security awareness and active-shooter preparation, as well as first aid, CPR and AED.

O'Loughlin got her first experience working part time as a security officer while earning her master's degree in criminal justice.

“I really liked private security—bringing that security awareness and teaching people how to protect themselves,” she said. “That is really what motivates or inspires me on a daily basis—getting to help others help themselves; helping them to understand where their risks are, how to mitigate those risks and what to do when you can't possibly mitigate.”

She sees a continued “overlap or blurring of the lines” between physical security and information security.

“There was always a separation between IT and physical security but it is important for us to be working together for oversight and collaboration,” she noted. “We can't do it alone and we don't want any one person having too much power. I already see it with our integrators needing much more knowledge about network security, how to design a network and connect and communicate across different networks.”

O'Loughlin sees “continued development in that area of collaboration between physical security and IT” as everyone tries to stay one step ahead of hacking and data breaches, especially with remote and mobile access becoming more prominent in security.