Building Securi ty on a Solid Foundation

True securi ty does not begin with just guards, or technology, or response training. Real protection begins with a philosophy dedicated to a total knowledge of an environment, asset, or resource and a comprehensive set of securi ty objectives. Effective securi ty begins before an officer is hired or a camera placed above a door; it begins with thorough, comprehensive, and expertly informed preparation.

Proper preparation should first establish the securi ty vulnerabilities and potential targets of a specific asset, be it a physical one like a ship, or a meeting of high-level corporate executives. Every asset is a potential target, but international terrorists threaten different resources than do thieves or vandals. Both the sites of an incident, and the means of execution vary greatly, and an effective securi ty plan requires meticulous analysis that begins with and understands the perspective of the aggressor. From this viewpoint of transgressor, an informed team can create a complete securi ty framework engineered to the specific attributes of and threats to an asset.

Yet even the best plans for a specific securi ty environment require not only excellent personnel training, but first and foremost require the selection of excellent personnel. The men and women charged with protection should be selected through a thorough interviewing and screening process, and then subject to a series of background checks more detailed and in-depth than the minimum standards set by the law. A company invests more than just time and money into a securi ty officer, and perfunctory background checks designed to save time and money are not sufficient for those individuals entrusted to protect our safe ty.

The next step after finding these qualified candidates is extensive training. A securi ty officer must learn more than specific tasks, like patrolling a perimeter - he or she should undergo a detailed educational program. This should be designed to prepare the officer for a wide varie ty of contingencies, but also to understand the specific threats posed to each unique environment as determined during the initial securi ty analysis. Continual testing ensures the constant vigilance of a securi ty professional, and allows a securi ty framework to evolve to changing threats and conditions.

Complementing securi ty technologies with the creativi ty and awareness of the human element, a properly trained and selected securi ty force can not only help respond quickly and effectively to an incident, but can help mitigate potential threats as well. Traditionally, our securi ty personnel are trained primarily to respond and investigate; prevention and protection, while desired, are unfortunately stressed less during the preparatory process. Securi ty officers trained, however, to take a proactive approach—to explore possible avenues of trouble and not just wait for an escalating situation to foment—can be your first and most important line of defense.

Amotz Brandes
Managing Partner
Chameleon Associates LLC

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