SMI Security Management International

What SMI Security Management International does

Security Management International (SMI) is a privately held, Vienna, Virginia-based security consulting and intelligence advisory firm founded in 2010 by Luke Bencie, a former U.S. Intelligence Community member and ex-Raytheon senior security consultant. The firm specializes in the CARVER (Criticality, Accessibility, Recoverability, Vulnerability, Effect, Recognizability) Target Analysis and Vulnerability Assessment Methodology — a CIA-developed framework originally designed for military and intelligence use — and positions itself as the leading global source for CARVER training, certification, and software implementation. SMI serves a diversified client base of Fortune 500 corporations, U.S. federal and state agencies (Department of Defense, Department of State, USDA, Nevada Gaming Control Board), foreign governments, energy and utilities operators (Saudi Aramco, Bahamas Power and Light), and entertainment firms (Paramount Pictures), with engagements delivered across 43 countries and six continents.

SMI's product portfolio is anchored on two proprietary software platforms — CARVER+ (a risk and vulnerability assessment system with web-based 24/7 asset monitoring) and SOTERIA (a field assessment platform with iOS/Android mobile apps co-developed with Leo Labaj, the original CARVER co-creator) — both of which are claimed to reduce assessment time by approximately 70% and lower per-assessment cost to as little as $295 versus traditional engagements exceeding $100,000. These software products are layered on top of professional services revenue streams that include live CARVER certification courses ($2,997), self-paced online courses ($497–$997), customized corporate training, executive coaching ($3,200 for a 12-week program), keynote speaking, vulnerability assessments, counter-espionage, due-diligence investigations, and a portfolio of security books authored by the Managing Director.

The company operates a hybrid go-to-market combining direct enterprise sales to government and Fortune 500 buyers, e-commerce distribution through Kajabi and the USF Corporate Training catalog, channel partnerships (ICON Training Group in Saudi Arabia, Arcuri Group), and an event- and content-driven community marketing engine anchored on the Monday Security Memo newsletter, the Global Security Consultant podcast, and CARVERCON. SMI is bootstrapped and founder/family-owned (CEO Sarah Bencie, Managing Director Luke Bencie), supported by an advisory board that includes former FBI Deputy Director Bill Esposito, former National Security Advisor General James Jones, Lt. Gen. PT Mikolashek, and Major Gen. Edward Leacock, with operational presence in Vienna, Sarasota, Tampa, and London.

Name

SMI Security Management International

Legal name

Security Management International, LLC

Website

https://smiconsultancy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SMI Security Management International is a Vienna, Virginia-based security consulting firm specializing in CIA-derived CARVER methodology training, vulnerability assessment software (CARVER+/SOTERIA), and intelligence advisory services for Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and international clients across 43+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Security Consulting Services

NAICS

Investigation and Security Services (5616), Investigation, Guard, and Armored Car Services (56161), Security Systems Services (56162), Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Enterprise Security Strategy & Program Advisory (BPAKADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Security Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Advisory (BPAKADAG), Security Consulting, Risk Assessment & Security Program Design (BPABAMAE), Executive/Board Security Advisory & Risk Briefings (BPAKADAK), Security Systems Monitoring & Dispatch (SOC/Remote Guarding) (IMAIAEAF)

Keywords

• Security consulting services
• Vulnerability assessment training
• Intelligence advisory services
• CARVER methodology certification
• Threat analysis software

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Training & Certification Programs: Online and live CARVER certification courses, customized training programs for government and corporate clients. Revenue from course fees ($997 online, $2,997 live courses) and custom corporate training engagements.
2. Online Course Sales: Self-paced online courses sold individually through USF Corporate Training catalog and Kajabi platform. Courses include How to Write Winning Proposals ($497) and Global Security Consultant Video Series ($497).
3. Executive Coaching: 12-week one-on-one business coaching program with Luke Bencie at $3,200 (3 monthly payments). Targets entrepreneurs and security professionals seeking mentorship.
4. Security Consulting Services: Direct consulting engagements including vulnerability assessments, counter-espionage, due-diligence investigations, emergency response planning, and competitive intelligence for government and corporate clients.
5. Publications & Books: Sale of security books and publications by Luke Bencie including Among Enemies, Global Security Consulting, The Clandestine Consultant series, and The CARVER Methodology book.
6. Software Licensing (CARVER+): Enterprise software subscriptions for CARVER+ platform using tiered pricing model (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) for organizations conducting vulnerability assessments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SMI Security Management International is a security consulting and intelligence advisory firm that delivers training, certification, and proprietary software for the CIA-developed CARVER Target Analysis and Vulnerability Assessment Methodology. Its commercial portfolio includes the CARVER+ / SOTERIA software platform for real-time facility monitoring, customized and live CARVER certification training, executive coaching, keynote speaking, and security consulting engagements spanning vulnerability assessments, counter-espionage, due-diligence investigations, critical infrastructure protection, emergency response planning, and crisis evacuations.

Product overview

SMI Security Management International is a global security consulting and intelligence advisory firm offering a comprehensive portfolio centered on the proprietary CARVER methodology for threat and vulnerability assessment. The core product portfolio consists of CARVER+ software (risk assessment platform with 24/7 monitoring), SOTERIA (mobile vulnerability assessment system), and professional consulting services (Virtual CSO, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Investigations, Emergency Response Planning). The company augments its software and consulting offerings with educational products including CARVER certification training, customized training programs, 1:1 coaching, keynote speaking, online courses, published books by Managing Director Luke Bencie, and partnership programs like the National Security Internship Program and Security Training Collaborative with USF.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CARVER Training Institute: Training division offering CARVER certification courses including the Certified CARVER Assessment Professional (CCAP) designation in partnership with the University of South Florida.
• CARVER+

Products and services

• CARVER+ Software Platform Risk and vulnerability assessment software that operationalizes the CIA's CARVER methodology for organizational use. Enables standardized, quantifiable facility assessments with automated report generation and 24/7 real-time monitoring for Chief Security Officers across global assets.
• Security Consulting Services Full-spectrum security consulting for government agencies and corporate clients covering Security Management, Virtual CSO Program, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Investigation and Due Diligence, Emergency Response Planning, and Crisis Evacuations.
• CARVER Training and Certification Training and certification programs in the CIA's CARVER Target Analysis and Vulnerability Assessment Methodology, delivered online and in-person, conferring the CCAP designation with ASIS-International continuing education units.
• Customized Training Programs Bespoke training engagements covering Police Tactics, Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence, Surveillance Detection, and Hostile Environment Training, designed and delivered to meet specific client operational needs.
• 1:1 Executive Coaching One-on-one business coaching with Luke Bencie focused on strategic business development, metrics for success, and opportunity identification for entrepreneurs and security professionals seeking mentorship.
• Keynote Speaking International keynote speaking services by Luke Bencie covering global security, intelligence, and consulting topics for corporate events and industry conferences.
• Books by Luke Bencie Published security and intelligence reference books authored by Managing Director Luke Bencie, covering counter-espionage, building an international security consulting practice, and the CARVER methodology.
• Online Courses Self-paced digital video training programs teaching consulting business development, proposal writing, and global security consulting practice operations, sold individually and via Kajabi platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• Assessment time reduced by 70% using CARVER+/SOTERIA platform
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• University of South Florida (USF)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMI partnered with USF to create the Security Training Collaborative (STC), a public/private partnership providing students with a 'Washington DC experience' and pipeline to opportunities in U.S. Government, defense contractors, and management consulting firms. Includes office at USF Research Annex and joint training programs with USF Office of Corporate Training and Professional Education.
• ICON Training CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSMI's in-country partner in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Together they won an annual contract with Saudi Aramco to develop an advanced security training curriculum. SMI has operated in Saudi Arabia for nearly two decades.
• Arcuri Group, LLCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership to offer Situational Awareness Specialist (SAS) certification coinciding with SMI's CARVER training courses at USF Tampa campus. Provides security professionals with dual certification opportunities.
• Gamma Xi BouleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to mentor youth of Sarasota with international security and business skills. SMI Managing Partner and Managing Director attend annual Gamma Xi Boule events to support local high school students.
• KajabicoreTechnology or IntegrationPlatform provider for SMI's online course delivery, membership sites, and digital product sales. Kajabi powers the website, course delivery, email marketing, and e-commerce functionality for SMI's online training business.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Kroll: Global risk-advisory and investigations firm offering security consulting, due diligence, and threat/vulnerability assessments to enterprises and governments. Comparable in client base (Fortune 500, government) and vulnerability/risk-assessment services, though Kroll operates at materially larger scale.
• Control Risks: Specialist risk consultancy delivering political, security, and integrity risk services to multinational clients, including crisis response, investigations, and protective services. Directly comparable to SMI's enterprise/government security consulting and intelligence advisory practice, but with a far larger global footprint.
• Pinkerton (Securitas): Long-established corporate security and investigations provider offering threat assessments, executive protection, and intelligence services. Comparable in vulnerability assessment and corporate security consulting, though Pinkerton's portfolio is much broader and predominantly physical security.
• FTI Consulting (Risk & Investigations): Public consulting firm with a dedicated risk and investigations practice providing forensic investigations, compliance, and security-related advisory to corporations and governments. Overlaps with SMI's due diligence and investigations work for enterprise and legal clients.
• Deloitte Risk & Financial Advisory (Security practice): Big Four advisory practice providing enterprise security strategy, risk, and compliance services to Fortune 500 and government clients. Competes with SMI for enterprise security program advisory and GRC work at a much larger scale.

Direct peers

• S-RM: Independent corporate intelligence and security consultancy serving multinational corporates and law firms with due diligence, investigations, and security advisory. Most comparable mid-sized pure-play to SMI's investigations and security consulting practice.
• Pinkerton Government Services / FLETC-aligned training providers: Providers of specialized training in counterterrorism, surveillance detection, and protective operations to US federal agencies (USDA, military police). Comparable to SMI's customized government and corporate training practice.
• Hetherington Group: Boutique investigative, due-diligence, and security consulting firm offering training programs and research products to corporate and government clients. Closely comparable small-firm peer to SMI in investigations, training, and security advisory.

Emerging players

• Stratfor / Geopolitical Futures: Geopolitical intelligence advisory and subscription research firm serving enterprise and government clients. Comparable to SMI's intelligence advisory and security consulting for multinationals, though focused on geopolitical analysis rather than physical vulnerability assessment.
• Bishop Fox: Specialist offensive-security and risk advisory firm combining assessment methodology with proprietary tooling. Comparable to SMI's positioning of CARVER+ software alongside consulting services, though Bishop Fox focuses on cyber rather than physical vulnerability assessment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SMI Security Management International