The Illusion of Security – Part 1a – Security Programs

Continuing the Orbital Risk conversation on good security flowing like water, we mentioned it should be adaptable, fill gaps and align with human centered customization, or be people centric. This is often easier said than done, as a lot of folks get the concept but have a hard time executing. Further it takes a bit of vision to see where the water goes. You’d be surprised that it flows further than you think.

?Too often we’re so focused on what we do, we forget how we’re connected to the office, organization etc. We focus on safety and security which is excellent, and hopefully follow best practices in doing so, but how does that translate into business value or become worth the costs of “being (or feeling) secure? Safety and security are the result of our efforts and a value add to the cost of security expenditures. The real value we provide, based on our company’s outlook is continued productivity. If people don't feel safe or secure, their attention isn't on objectives that t should be their primary area of focus. The more we provide a safe and secure environment for those we support, the more productive they can be. We worry about security, so they don't have to.

I used to bristle at the “security theater” label protection got, because I don't see or execute that way. However, unless we know the 5 W’s: Who, what, when, where and why we’re doing protection or implementing safety measures it is just theater.? Having a clip board does not make you busy, just like traveling a lot with photos of your feet on a suitcase does not make you successful. There must be a foundation behind the efforts and that foundation is risk. As well, what may be theater to one, may be a service requirement for others. Nothing we do should be theater. It should be focused, purposeful and designed to reduce risk.

The real theater is posting range photos with kit, planes, yachts etc. as success or professionalism. How does it impact your client’s risk? Real protection is not sexy at all. It’s about getting ahead of the risk. And it’s boring. If you want it to be sexy, you’re likely going to have a very sporty day.

Security is a collective effort. It requires the eyes and ears of the organization you work for at the line level whether you work for a corporation, small business, celebrity, house of worship, adhoc detail etc. It also requires the input of other peer partners working in management, human resources, physical security, information security etc.. Yet most programs don't talk to or support these other resources any organization, let alone the one you work in. How is that working? Do you put out a lot of fires? That’s great if you’re a fire fighter, not so much if you’re a protector. More…

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https://www.orbitalrisk.com/blog/categories/close-protection

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