The Methodology

Six Factors. One Clear Picture of What Matters.

CARVER breaks any complex decision into six measurable factors — replacing instinct and static frameworks with a repeatable system for ranking what actually deserves your attention.

The CARVER Methodology is one of the most effective tools that a security professional can use.”

- General James L. Jones, Former U.S. National Security Advisor

Timeline Widget

ORIGIN

Developed for U.S. military and special operations target analysis and force protection planning.

ADOPTED

Extended into food and infrastructure defense vulnerability assessments across government agencies.

MODERNIZED

Refined by Luke Bencie into a business-facing framework for risk, strategy, and executive decision-making.

TODAY

Taught through CTI to government, enterprise, and security leaders — and applied in real time through CARVER+ ARES.

 WHERE IT CAME FROM

Description

Built for Target Analysis. Adapted for Every High-stakes Decision.

CARVER originated as a targeting and vulnerability framework used in U.S. special operations and force protection planning — a way to rank targets and assets by what would matter most if acted upon. The same six factors, applied in reverse, are just as effective at ranking what an organization needs to protect, invest in, or fix first.

Learn More About CARVER Methodology

THE SIX FACTORS

What CARVER Actually Measures

Each factor is scored independently, then combined into a single ranked priority — no factor decides the outcome alone.

Criticality

How essential is this target or asset to the mission, system, or business as a whole? The more central it is, the higher it scores.

  SCORED 1–5 · WEIGHTED HIGHEST

Example

A single regional data center that hosts 80% of transaction processing scores far higher than a satellite office with local backups.

Accessibility

How easily can this target actually be reached or acted upon — physically, digitally, or organizationally?

  SCORED 1–5

Example

An unguarded loading dock scores higher on accessibility than a server room behind three layers of badge access.

Recoverability

How quickly could the system recover if this were disrupted, damaged, or lost?

  SCORED 1–5

Example

A vendor relationship with a 6-month replacement lead time scores higher risk than one with same-week alternatives.

Vulnerability

What weaknesses actually exist that could be exploited, and how exposed are they right now?

  SCORED 1–5

Example

A legacy system past its patch-support window scores higher than a recently hardened, actively monitored one.

Effect

What's the scale and reach of the impact if this factor is actually acted on or fails?

  SCORED 1–5

Example

A disruption that cascades into three dependent business units scores higher than one that's fully contained.

Recognizability

How identifiable is this target under the actual conditions someone would be operating in?

  SCORED 1–5

Example

A clearly labeled control room is more recognizable — and more exposed — than an unmarked utility closet.

THE SHIFT

SWOT was the past. CARVER is the future.

SWOT vs CARVER Comparison Widget

Dimension	SWOT	CARVER
Time orientation	Static, one-time snapshot	Living, continuously re-scored
Output	Qualitative lists, hard to rank	Quantified scores, directly ranked
Perspective	Internal, self-assessed	Includes an adversary's-eye view
Best used for	Planning meetings, workshops	Real decisions under real pressure
Repeatability	Varies by facilitator	Standardized six-factor scoring

DeclassifiedCTI ARCHIVE // REV. 2025

Subject File · CTI‑001

The CARVER Chain of Custody

From an OSS targeting tool built for the Army Air Force to the CARVER Training Institute — eight decades of one methodology, carried forward by the people who taught it to each other.

1940s

A Targeting Tool Is Born

The Office of Strategic Services — forerunner to the CIA — develops CARVE as a targeting methodology for the U.S. Army Air Force.

Early 1970s

CARVE Becomes CARVER

As the modern age of terrorism unfolds, the CIA's Special Activities Division is tasked with building a predictive tool to anticipate the next strike. SAD chief Arthur "Mick" Donahue and Leo "The Godfather of CARVER" Labaj transform CARVE into CARVER.

Mid-1970s

Into the Field

U.S. Army Special Forces adopt CARVER in Vietnam as a sabotage-planning matrix. The CIA also incorporates CARVER into its Defense Against Terrorism (DAT) surveys conducted across the globe, using the methodology to identify threats and vulnerabilities against U.S. embassies and military bases worldwide.

September 11, 2001

A Nation Changes Course

Coordinated attacks strike the World Trade Center and the Pentagon; aboard United Flight 93, passengers storm the cockpit over Pennsylvania. In the aftermath, Luke Bencie is hired by Mick Donahue — a former CIA Trailblazer Award winner — at Security Management International (SMI), where he is trained on the CARVER methodology by Donahue and Labaj.

2002

Into Critical Infrastructure

SMI introduces CARVER to the Environmental Protection Agency as an approved methodology for assessing critical water infrastructure. The same year, the newly formed Department of Homeland Security adopts CARVER for critical infrastructure protection nationwide.

2003

Into the Intelligence Community

Luke Bencie joins the U.S. Intelligence Community as a Technical Operations Officer, conducting assessments and teaching CARVER around the globe.

July 2010

A New SMI

Luke Bencie founds a new Security Management International, in honor of Mick Donahue. Leo Labaj joins as SMI's Director of Critical Infrastructure Protection. SMI is contracted by the U.S. government to teach CARVER to foreign partners.

August 2018

Putting It in Writing

Leo Labaj and Luke Bencie co-write the definitive book on the CARVER Methodology. Bencie goes on to write additional CARVER books in the years that follow.

2020

A New Generation

Leo Labaj retires as lead instructor of the CARVER Target Analysis and Vulnerability Assessment course, having trained thousands of students from the intelligence, military, law enforcement, and private sectors around the world; Luke Bencie steps in to lead. Sarah Bencie joins as Marketing Director, modernizing the curriculum and pushing CARVER training into Fortune 500 companies — she later moves into the role of CEO.

2023

New Partners, Global Reach

SMI is contracted to train NATO forces in the CARVER Methodology. The company also enters into a strategic partnership with the University of South Florida's Office of Corporate Training and Professional Education to certify CARVER courses through USF.

2025

CARVER Training Institute

Luke and Sarah Bencie spin SMI's CARVER curriculum into its own organization — the CARVER Training Institute — the premier home for all things CARVER.

THE SHIFT

Enhance Your Strategic Decision Making

CARVER Assessment Worked Example

Worked Example

Assessing a Regional Distribution Facility

A composite, illustrative example: a mid-size logistics company runs a single CARVER assessment on a distribution hub responsible for 40% of regional order fulfillment.

Criticality

Accessibility

Recoverability

Vulnerability

Effect

Recognizability

Composite CARVER Score

19 / 31 (Pa - 61%)

Get Your Free Chapter of the CARVER Methodology TODAY!

  GO DEEPER

The Methodology, Explained in Detail.

Ready to Apply It? Learn to run this assessment yourself.

Get Certified

Or Talk to Our Team ›

Helpful links

Certification Courses

Carver 3 Day LIVE
Carver Strategy
Carver Keynote Speaking
Carver Leaderhip
Carver Mindset
Carver Fundamentals

Resources

Chalk Talk
News
Blog

Membership Program
About Carver
CARVERPLUS
About us

Six Factors. One Clear Picture of What Matters.

The CARVER Methodology is one of the most effective tools that a security professional can use.”

Built for Target Analysis. Adapted for Every High-stakes Decision.

What CARVER Actually Measures

Criticality

Accessibility

Recoverability

Vulnerability

Effect

Recognizability

SWOT was the past. CARVER is the future.

The CARVER Chain of Custody

A Targeting Tool Is Born

CARVE Becomes CARVER

Into the Field

A Nation Changes Course

Into Critical Infrastructure

Into the Intelligence Community

A New SMI

Putting It in Writing

A New Generation

New Partners, Global Reach

CARVER Training Institute

Enhance Your Strategic Decision Making

Assessing a Regional Distribution Facility

Get Your Free Chapter of the CARVER Methodology TODAY!

The Methodology, Explained in Detail.

Helpful links

Certification Courses

Resources

The CARVER Training Institute is accredited by these fine organizations.

PROBLEM SOLVE LIKE A SPY: UTILIZING THE CARVER METHODOLOGY TO ASSESS SITUATIONS.