BBQ Security & Risk Management Advice

What's in a sausage?

What's in hamburger meat?

What exactly is in your security information & advice? 

People often joke that a sausage is a 'mystery bag' of unknown content, now in a sausage. 

As to what exactly is in hamburger meat....well you can't be 100% sure. 

These meats or meals are convenient, easy to cook and quick to consume. 

Pre-prepared and ready for speedy mass consumption. 

We have to rely on standards and regulations to ensure it is safe to consume. 

We have to trust the manufacturer that they can make a safe product. 

We have to rely on appropriate labelling and declarations of the product.

We have to rely that all ingredients, contents and additives are included on the label.

We have to ensure the product is stored and handled appropriately. 

We have to ensure the product is transported without any damage or loss to the product. 

Then, after all this, we have to ensure the product is prepared and cooked so as it is safe to consume. 

One failed step, one missed process and an entire batch can make a lot of people sick...even kill. 

This is why you often see or hear of product recalls, calls for better regulation or restrictions on what goes into these products. 

But what about 'security' information and advice? 

There are not nearly as many regulated, controlled, declared, or assurance steps involved, yet people and businesses 'consume' it all the time. 

What exactly is 'in' the mincemeat, sausage, 'mystery bag' of unknown content now called security information and advice?

What ingredients went into it? 

Who exactly prepared it? 

What skills, qualifications and experience do they have? 

Or is it more a buffet arrangement where lots of 'bits and pieces' are laid out by a team of 'kitchen cooks' behind the scenes? 

What labelling, product declarations, assurances and consistencies come with the final product? 

Or is it just a convenient, quick and fast to consume, product for the masses? 

How 'safe' do you feel consuming this now? 

What research, scientific evidence and expert analysis support the results? 

Or is it now likely that this 'junk' food is bad for your health and well being? 

The time has come to question precisely what you are consuming. 

The risk to consumers is too high if you don't. 

You wouldn't accept vague, opaque, unaccountable generalisations prepared by nameless and faceless individuals when it comes to your food. 

So why do it with security information and advice. 

Especially anything mass-produced for easy consumption blasted all over the world via the internet. 

Brands don't produce consumable products, people do. 

Who made yours? 

Sure, at the other end of the spectrum there are speciality sausages and gourmet burgers, but that isn't the norm, and you have to go out of your way to find them, not to mention ensure they are suitable to your pallet.

In addition to not containing nuts, gluten and a growing list of other stuff that a lot of people are allergic to. 

The same applies to security information and advice. 

Trained and experienced professionals produce gourmet and quality content all the time. 

You can tell, it has their name, pedigree and experience on the end product. 

Security is often referred to as 'free from harm'. 

Are the security information and advice you and your business consumes free from harm, or you just don't know? 

Time to start reading the ingredients and checking on the quality of the products you consume. 

You might just find a few weekend BBQ specialists masquerading as award winning Michelin star chefs.

Tony Ridley

Enterprise security risk management & security science