要员保护（英语：executive protection）或称重要人物保护（VIP protection）是保镖的其中一种专业范畴，是针对要员提供近身保护，包括事前进行风险评估，确保要员的安全不受威胁，并且为到要员的个人尊严及人身、居所以及行程途中提供一切预防性的保护。要员保护通常由接受过相关专业训练的人员所提供，政府部门通常是由军队、警察以至其他执法机关负担[1]，民间则通常由私人公司提供服务。
要员种类广泛，通常包括因为其身份（例如社会地位及所属政党等）、职业、财富及名誉以至其个人可能承受潜在威胁的人士，当中包括：国家元首、官员、政治人物、使节、富豪和明星等等。
- Braunig, Martha J. (1993). The Executive Protection Bible. Aspen, Colo.: ESI Education Development Corp. ISBN 978-0-9640627-0-2.
- De Becker, Gavin (2002). Fear Less: Real Truth About Risk, Safety, and Security in a Time of Terrorism. Boston: Little, Brown. ISBN 978-0-316-08596-0.
- De Becker, Gavin (1997). The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence. Boston: Little, Brown. ISBN 978-0-316-23502-0.
- De Becker, Gavin, Thomas A. Taylor, and Jeff Marquart (2008). Just 2 Seconds: Using Time and Space to Defeat Assassins: with a Compendium of Attacks against at-Risk Persons. Studio City, Calif.: Gavin de Becker Center for the Study and Reduction of Violence. ISBN 978-0-615-21447-4. [www.just2seconds.org]
- De Becker, Gavin (1999). Protecting the Gift: Keeping Children and Teenagers Safe (and Parents Sane). New York: Dial Press. ISBN 978-0-385-33309-2.
- Karlin, Susan (November 8, 2007). "Covering Your Assets" （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆）. Condé Nast Portfolio.
- Karlin, Susan (November 8, 2007). "How to Choose an Executive Protection Firm" （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆）. Condé Nast Portfolio.
- Karlin, Susan (December 9, 2007). "The Secret Weapon of the Stars". ISRAEL21c.
- Kobetz, Richard W., ed. (1991). Providing Executive Protection. Berryville, Va.: Executive Protection Institute. ISBN 978-0-9628411-0-1, ISBN 978-0-9628411-1-8.
- Kobetz, Richard W., ed. (1994). Providing Executive Protection, Volume II. Berryville, Va.: Executive Protection Institute. ISBN 978-0-9628411-1-8.
- Oatman, Robert L. (1997). The Art of Executive Protection. Baltimore, Md.: Noble House. ISBN 978-1-56167-384-1.
