Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers about working with a licensed Private Investigator and security expert.

Services & Pricing

How much does executive protection cost in Los Angeles?

Executive protection services in Los Angeles start at $1,500 per day with an 8-hour minimum. Pricing varies based on threat level, team size, duration, and whether the assignment is local or international. Custom quotes are provided after a security assessment. Contact for quote.

What is included in a threat intelligence report?

Threat intelligence reports include OSINT investigations, threat actor profiling, risk scoring, tactical recommendations, and executive summaries. Reports also cover digital footprint analysis, social media forensics, and actionable mitigation strategies. Turnaround is 3-14 days depending on scope. Reports start at $1,500. Learn more.

How much does a due diligence investigation cost?

Due diligence investigations for business partnerships, investments, or high-stakes decisions start at $3,000. Pricing depends on the depth of research required, number of subjects, international scope, and urgency. Reports include OSINT research, financial analysis, reputation checks, and comprehensive risk assessment delivered in 5-10 days. View details.

What primary security services do you offer?

Zika Risk focuses on five core areas: Executive Protection (close protection, security driving, event security), Threat Intelligence & OSINT (custom intelligence reports, investigations), Intelligence Reports (due diligence, competitive intelligence), Risk Advisory & Security Consulting (penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, travel risk management), and Digital Resilience (OSINT audits, data defense, privacy hardening).

Do you provide bodyguard services for executives?

Yes. Zika Risk provides close protection (bodyguard services) for executives, high-net-worth individuals, and families in Los Angeles and internationally. Services include personal security, security driving, event protection, residential security, and international travel escort. All protection is discreet, low-profile, and operator-grade. Rates start at $1,500 per day. Learn more.

What is Digital Resilience and what does the audit include?

Digital Resilience is the practice of neutralizing your digital footprint to reduce attack surface and prevent targeting by threat actors. The audit is a Licensed Private Investigator-led OSINT assessment that exposes all publicly available data including home address, family information, social media vulnerabilities, and leaked credentials. Audits provide immediate, actionable steps to remove exposed data and go 'below the radar.' Audits start at $500. Learn more.

What is the cost of a risk assessment or security consultation?

Risk assessments start at $99 for basic evaluations and scale up to $1,000+ for comprehensive physical vulnerability analysis of residences or businesses with written reports. A confidential 1-hour security consultation is available for $299 and is the fastest way to get immediate advice on security strategy, travel risk, or threat mitigation. Book now.

What types of OSINT investigations do you conduct?

OSINT investigations include background checks, due diligence research, threat actor profiling, competitive intelligence, witness location, digital footprint audits, social media forensics, and legal investigative support for law firms and corporate teams. All investigations are conducted using open-source intelligence methods combined with Licensed PI investigative tools. View services.

What is Security Strategy consulting?

Security Strategy is a full-spectrum advisory service for corporations, executives, and high-net-worth individuals seeking a custom security roadmap. It includes threat assessment, vulnerability analysis, protocol design, supply chain vetting, incident response planning, and operationalization of security across people, processes, and technology.

Unlike tactical training or one-off consulting, this is long-term, integrated strategic advisory tailored to your organization's risk landscape. Engagement scope and pricing are custom and determined after a discovery conversation. Request a consultation.

Why do some services show "Qualification Required" instead of pricing?

Certain premium services, Intelligence Reports, Security Strategy, and Specialist Services, are custom, scoped engagements where pricing varies significantly based on your specific needs, timeline, and complexity.

Rather than displaying a misleading generic range, we use a qualification form to understand your situation before providing an accurate quote. This ensures you get realistic pricing tailored to your engagement, not a boilerplate estimate.

How it works: Visit the service page, click the request button, submit the qualification form with details about your needs, timeline, and budget awareness. You'll be contacted within 24 hours with a custom proposal.

Background, Expertise & Process

Are you a licensed private investigator?

Yes. Zika Rakita is a Licensed Private Investigator with 25+ years of experience in close protection, security consulting, and threat assessment across 5 continents. Background includes Former CEO of Nemesis Protection, training special forces for multiple governments, and featured security expert by Business Insider.

Do you work alone or with a team?

You work directly with Zika Rakita, no junior agents or agency outsourcing. For large-scale operations requiring multiple operators such as high-risk travel, events, or complex security details, a vetted network of trusted elite partners is utilized.

How quickly can you respond to urgent security needs?

All email inquiries are personally read and responded to within 24 hours. For urgent or crisis situations, email with "URGENT" in the subject line for immediate callback within 2-4 hours. Emergency security deployments can be arranged within 24-48 hours depending on location and availability.

Do you sign NDAs and maintain confidentiality?

Yes. Discretion and confidentiality are paramount and standard practice. Formal Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) are signed for all sensitive assignments. All client information, investigation details, and security protocols are kept strictly confidential.

How do I book your services?

For immediate consultations: Use the Stripe payment link on the homepage to book a 1-hour security consultation ($299).

For premium services (Intelligence Reports, Security Strategy, Specialist Services): Use the qualification request form on each service page. Submit your requirements, and you'll receive a custom quote within 24 hours.

For other services: Contact directly to discuss requirements. A discovery call is standard before any large engagement.

Training & Specialist Services

Can you assist with high-risk international travel security?

Yes. Services include pre-travel threat briefings, country risk reports, security escort, secure journey management, route-level intelligence, and emergency support during deployment. Feasibility and pricing are determined based on specific destination, assessed threat environment, and duration.

Do you offer corporate or executive security training?

Yes. Customized training for corporate teams, executives, and security professionals in security awareness, anti-kidnapping, surveillance detection, and tactical combatives. Pricing starts at $500 per day depending on group size and subject matter.

Do you provide security for families and children?

Yes. Services are discreet and tailored, including close protection for families, digital safety training for children, residential security assessments, and family travel security. Custom packages are available upon request.

Do you offer online courses?

Yes. Self-paced online training programs are available for individuals. Topics include kidnapping prevention, surveillance detection, travel safety, and cyber hygiene fundamentals. Courses range from $10-$50.

Sentinel AI Platform: Trials, Limits & Features

How does the 7-day trial work?

New users can start a 7-day free trial of PRO, BUSINESS, or ENTERPRISE plans directly from the pricing page. The trial includes full access to all plan features, monthly message quotas, advanced alerts, thread archiving, and priority support. No credit card required to start. At the end of 7 days, you can convert to a paid subscription via Stripe or cancel to revert to the FREE plan.

What are message and thread limits?

Sentinel AI enforces usage limits to ensure platform stability and fair access:

  • FREE: 3 messages (lifetime pool) across up to 5 threads, 3 messages per thread
  • PRO: 500 messages/month, 10 threads, 50 messages per thread
  • BUSINESS: 1,000 messages/month, 25 threads, 100 messages per thread
  • ENTERPRISE: 2,500 messages/month (soft cap), unlimited threads, unlimited messages per thread

Limits reset monthly for paid plans. FREE plan uses a lifetime pool (no monthly reset).

What's the difference between soft and hard caps?

Hard cap (FREE, PRO, BUSINESS): When you reach your message limit, chat is blocked until the next billing cycle. Upgrade to continue immediately.

Soft cap (ENTERPRISE only): When you reach 2,500 messages, the system allows continued usage with a warning advisory. This prevents workflow disruption while giving you visibility to adjust pacing or request a custom expansion. Overage is non-blocking and monitored by your account specialist.

What does "thread locked" mean?

A thread becomes locked when it reaches the per-thread message cap for your plan (e.g., 3 for FREE, 50 for PRO). Locked threads are read-only, you can view the conversation history but cannot add new messages. To continue chatting:

  • Start a new thread (if you haven't reached the active thread limit)
  • Archive an existing thread to free up space (PRO+ only)
  • Upgrade to a higher plan for larger per-thread caps

This structure encourages focused, scoped investigations rather than endless single threads.

How does archiving work and why use it?

Archiving (available on PRO+) moves completed threads into read-only storage, freeing up active thread slots without deleting conversation history. Benefits:

  • Preserve investigation records for future reference
  • Free active slots to start new threads without hitting the thread limit
  • Keep your workspace organized (active vs. archived)

Archived threads can be restored anytime. FREE users cannot archive, they must delete threads to free slots, and deleted threads enter a 30-day soft-delete state before permanent removal.

Why are there per-thread limits?

Per-thread caps encourage focused, scoped investigations rather than sprawling, context-diluted conversations. This design pattern:

  • Improves AI response quality by keeping context tight
  • Reduces computational cost per query
  • Encourages users to start fresh threads for new topics (better organization)

ENTERPRISE removes this constraint entirely for users who need long-form, continuous intelligence workflows.

Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan anytime?

Yes. Upgrades take effect immediately via Stripe. Downgrades process at the end of your current billing cycle. Usage limits adjust automatically when you change plans. If downgrading would put you over the new plan's thread limit, excess threads remain accessible (read-only) until archived or deleted.

What happens after my trial ends?

If you don't convert to a paid plan, your account automatically reverts to FREE at the end of 7 days. You retain access to all conversation history (within FREE limits) and can upgrade anytime. No data is lost during the transition.

Still Have Questions?

Reach out directly to discuss your specific security needs.