The #1 Thing to Do When Evaluating Your Security Program

Thousands of organizations, across nearly every vertical market and global geography, will evaluate their Security Programs in 2016. Most of these firms tally an annual security spend in the hundreds of thousands of $$$ (some even millions). Despite the best of intentions, most will miss the boat and wind up with the same program they had last year, the year before that, and the year before that.

Sure, there may be some minor, incremental improvements, such as refreshed uniforms, an opportunity to ‘reset’ some talent, perhaps an improved tour verification system, etc. Yet the reality still stands: 95% of decision-making committees won’t drive significant progress because they overlook the most important element of the review process:

Challenge Everything.

Everything means everything. Everything down to the shift level. Everything down to the post level. Everything threat related. Everything vulnerability related. Everything consequence related. Everything risk related. Again, everything means everything. For example:

• Why do we currently utilize on-site guarding 24/7 if the activity on third shift is 10% of the first shift and 20% of second shift? Why is our cost the same, shift to shift, if our risk (i.e. threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences) isn’t?
• Why do we have zero idea of what our Officers are paid in wages? If our annual security spend is primarily tied to wages (direct labor), don’t we have the right to know? Shouldn’t we have a voice in the wage identification process? More importantly, shouldn’t wages be contractually guaranteed?
• If one post is more concierge-centric (a lobby, for example), why are the uniforms the same as the roving patrol Officers? Wouldn’t a blazer work better to align with our brand and create a stronger customer/employee/resident experience? Isn’t there a correlation between the customer experience and the essence of risk itself?
• Is a Security Officer the right solution for each post? How about each shift? If technology (i.e. cameras/video surveillance, access control, etc.) provides an attractive break-even point as compared to on-site guarding, reduces our annual security spend, and hardens our security posture, doesn’t it behoove us to evaluate technology alternatives in the marketplace? Shouldn’t we demand these potential alternatives from our current or prospective Suppliers?

The above list barely scratches the surface, but does provide a primer of some high-level considerations when evaluating your Security Program in 2016. Remember: Challenge everything. Significant progress starts with the question, “Why do we do it that way?”.

Good luck!