Topics
The cATO™ Body of Knowledge includes a wide spectrum of topics related to contemporary terrorism and the protection of facilities and the public against acts of terrorism. Following is a list of specific topic encompassing the cATO™ Body of Knowledge.
- Dynamics of Contemporary Terrorism
- Target Selection Criteria
- Categories of Terrorism Related Risk
- Terrorist Planning and Execution Phases
- Threat: Explosive Attacks
- Blast Dynamics
- Characteristics of Explosives
- Explosive Employment Methods and Terrorist Tactics
- Chemical & Biological Terrorism
- Strategic Use of CB Terrorism
- Characteristics of CB Agents
- Dissemination of CB Agents
- CB Employment Methods and Terrorist Tactics
- Risk Management & Anti-Terrorism Planning
- Risk Management Principles
- Risk Assessment for Anti-Terrorism Applications
- Operations Security (OPSEC) & Protective Counterintelligence
- Terrorist Intelligence Requirements
- Terrorist Intelligence Collection Methods
- Protective Counterintelligence/OPSEC
- Information Security
- Employee / Contractor Screening & Monitoring
- Surveillance Detection
- Suspicious Activity Investigation, Reporting, & Analysis
- Physical Security & Entry Control
- Physical Protection System Design Principles
- Intrusion Detection Systems
- Surveillance
- Barrier Technology
- Anti-Personnel Barriers
- Ballistic Barrier Technology
- Vehicle Barriers
- Emergency Exit and Escape Planning
- Physical Protection System Analysis
- Access Control
- Entrant Verification Methods
- Entry Screening Technologies
- Vehicle Search Techniques
- Threat-Specific Proactive and Mitigative Measures
- Obscuration and Protection Against Projected Charges
- Chemical & Biological Attack Risk Mitigation
- Food and Beverage Protection
- Water Filtration
- HVAC System Protection
- IEMI Protection
- Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Countermeasures
- Blast Mitigation & Facility Design
- Blast Mitigation Strategies
- Blast Walls
- Structural Design
- Façade Construction & Fenestration
- Emergency Access & Evacuation Requirements
- Protection of Building Subsystems
- Mail Security
- Mail Security Planning
- Mail Screening Procedures
- Mail Screening Technology
- Response to Hazardous Mailings
- Emergency Management and Response to Terrorist Incidents
- Incident Command Systems
- Communications Systems and Infrastructure
- Active Shooter / Marauding Terrorist Firearms Attack (MTFA) Response
- Bomb Threat Response
- Suspicious Vehicle Response
- Post-Blast Response
- Chemical & Biological Attack Response
IACSP offers several options for preparing for the cATO™ Certification Examination.
Body of Knowledge Bibliography
All questions in the cATO™ Certification Examination database are derived from books and publications as described in the cATO™ Body of Knowledge list. Candidates preparing for the examination without attending the S2/IACSP Anti-Terrorism Officer Course are encouraged to study the Body of Knowledge publications.
