4 Steps to Determine If Your Company Needs a Security Officer
Uncertainty - a feeling brought to many of us in 2020. The need for security can often be questioned. Is it needed? Are we going overboard? Are we vulnerable? Should we add a security professional? Maybe there are benefits I’m not considering? What if??
Businesses of all sorts have these same questions. From news of added security everywhere to defunding police forces - today’s fear-based media does not help us gain confidence in our decisions around security. While extreme views are easy to come by, we’re here to remove the fear and walk you through how to conduct a risk assessment.
We’ve broken it down into 4 simple steps:
Define the goalDetermine threatsAssess the vulnerability pointsCreate an action plan
Think through the following points and you’ll be making your own informed decision on whether your business should add security measures.
Define the goal
When it comes to security vulnerabilities, many brick and mortar establishments have similar goals. Consider the following: Retail stores, schools, hospitals, libraries, theaters, malls, construction sites, residential living complexes. Because they all have people coming and going from their property, they can all relate to the following goals:
Protect people - employees, visitors, students, residents
Protect assets - the building, goods, equipment, and merchandise within
Minimize damages - Intentional or naturally occurring
With these examples in mind, create a goal that covers your companies specific security goals.
Determine threats
While none of us want to live in fear, reviewing your vulnerabilities is a responsible business practice. Thorough planning is the best way to assure preparedness. Industry, business practices, and location can create unique threats. While your list will be personalized, every review should include: disgruntled employee, unwanted visitor/criminal, fire/natural disaster, medical emergencies, and all possible entrances: doors and windows.
Assess the vulnerability points
If one of the above threats were to become a reality, what would happen? Review how such unfortunate circumstances would affect your bottom line along with personal and professional outcomes. Points to review:
Harmed or injured employees
Theft, property damage
Temporary or long-term closure of business
Implement an action plan
It’s possible your business has very few risks or other security measures to cover your needs. But, if you find your company's vulnerabilities align with the examples provided in this review, implementing personal security can combat many risks. We’ve outlined top concerns and explained how a security presence averts risk:
Disgruntled employee: Security officers are trained to desecrate hostile situations
Identify unwanted visitors: Consistency is a benefit of a personal security officer. We learn the faces of your business, what's normal, and more importantly, what's not.
A security guard presence deters unwanted visitors with ill-intention
Minimize disaster - security officers can quickly communicate to police, fire, or EMS services as needed
Suspicious activity will be noted and reviewed
We recommend spending some time considering each point and writing out a plan for your company. To see how a plan is customized, here’s an example plan with added details specific to the construction industry and its inherent risks:
Top Notch Construction
Goal: Our security goal is to protect
our workers and contractors, project
materials, and tools.
Threats: Unwanted visitors, Disgruntled
employee
Assess vulnerabilities: Theft when the
site is unattended, injury of visitors,
property damage by unwanted visitors,
major financial loss as insurance may
not cover these risks. The construction
staff is made up of reputable
individuals who are long term employees.
There is no known threat by disgruntled
employees at this time. The staff is
trained to keep the site clean and
maintain awareness. The threat of
losses during working hours is small.
When staff leaves for the day, tools
and machinery are left on site.
Although the site is locked, an
intruder could likely make their way in
and cause harm if wanted.
Implement an action plan: The current
construction site is secured by lock
and chain link fence. Top Notch Construction decides to implement night time security to monitor access points and deter unwanted visitors during unattended hours.If you have questions, our management staff gladly walk you through any portion of this analysis. If you conclude your business will benefit from adding an onsite security officer, reach out for a customized plan and quote.