How to Think About Security

Facilities professionals use security policies, procedures, and training to build and implement security plans.

Establishing policies and procedures offers a logical way to get from risks identified by a security assessment to the measures necessary to reducing and managing those risks.

Security Assessments
A security assessment evaluates the context of a building. Is it in the city or the suburbs? Who are the neighbors? What happens in the surrounding area during the day, in the evening, and overnight? How much and what kinds of crimes are committed? Are crimes committed in your building? Who are your tenants? Do you provide parking, and where? Do tenants have to walk alone to and from the parking lot?

A security assessment studies these and other issues, identifies threats and risks, and makes judgments about risks. Finally, an assessment recommends addressing certain risks in the facility’s security plan.

Then, it’s up to the security director, property manager, owner, or some combination of those three to develop policies and procedures to deal with the risks judged important by the assessment.

Read more about developing security policies and procedures >>