Security — the state of feeling safe, free from anxiety or fear — has become big business, both for commercial and governmental entities. From the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to the new Intelligence Czar, governmental focus on security is targeted at preventing terrorism. Commercial and institutional security is aimed at a variety of targets, ranging from terrorism to computer fraud or other crimes, as well as employee safety. For both government and commercial risks, however, the danger can come from within, as well as from outside; as much mayhem can result from the actions of employees as from external sources. Security must protect against both.

The new century practically began with the events of Sept. 11, 2001, following on the heels of the late 1990s turmoil involving the Y2K computer problems. Commercial and governmental entities became much more security conscious. Although a few corporations or governmental agencies (primarily courts) had provided security and screening at their entrances for a decade or more, the vast majority had given little thought to aspects of security, including their own employees as either security risks or security victims.

Insurers, likewise, paid minimal attention to security factors. Occasionally, security-related claims would come to the court's attention when coverage issues arose, such as were common when a security guard might injure a third party in the defense of insured property. Such issues often focused on whether such claims were excluded as being “intentional” injuries.