'Security' as Applied Across Various Locations, Communities, Companies and Context: Variable Layers of Protection, Benefit & Efficacy

"Security" remains a term, practice and derived benefit unevenly distributed across various domains.

That is, security means and appears as different things to different audiences dependent upon benefits, costs, roles and priority of support.

Moreover, individual perception, application and benefit of security provided by many and varied public, private, commercial and corporate actors varies immeasurably and is rarely effectively mapped or measured, let alone remain constant.

Furthermore, security varies further across geospatial and temporal scales.

In other words, specific 'security' varies from one geographical place to another and is typically applied at different times for different proactive, defensive or reactive reasons.

For example, military security, national security and community resilience which is predicated upon securitisation (water, food, societal, crime, violence, equality, etc) is not the same as public, homeland or corporate security yet acts collectively to create safety, security and resilience outcomes for individual and collective communities.

By comparison, public and homeland security is supposed to be agnostic and applied equality for all and funded by taxation and public funding.

Whereas private security remains a restricted privilege paid for by specific benefactors and routinely excludes or treats not benefactors as 'others' or potential threats/hazards.

As a result, 'security' in any one location, context and environment varies considerably.

That is, all these 'security' layers are actively and passively influencing and creating overall 'security' outcomes and seeking to negate insecurity, unsafe feelings and offer protection for simultaneous and select audiences.

In sum, 'security' remains a dependent and independent variable inconsistently applied, consumed and providing benefit to varied audiences at differing times.

As a result, effective measures of security or security outcomes must consider and evaluate each layer and context.

Notwithstanding, security remains a mixed bag of tasks, practices, practitioners, services and technology.

That is, security is not in itself a simple, collective definition reflective of all things done in the name or under the banner of security.

Moreover, the ties that bind and influence security effectively create even more complex and interwoven, complex networks contributing to national, regional, community and individual security states.

Food for thought the next time you think you have a sense, assessment, experience or perspective of security in any local, regional or global context.

Tony Ridley, MSc CSyP MSyI M.ISRM

Security, Risk & Management Sciences