Physical security is considered the first layer of defense. The less of a chance a space has to a physical breach, the more threats that can be ruled out. Most companies wait until they experience a significant threat to conduct a risk assessment. As a result, the company can experience huge financial losses, its reputation can be hurt and customer trust can be affected. Don’t wait for a security breach to occur to conduct a physical risk analysis in order to enhance the safety procedures of your company.
What Is a Security Risk Assessment?
A security assessment refers to a comprehensive evaluation of each aspect of your company’s or residence’s security posture. It’s a process of identifying and evaluating physical threats to a space, its employees, and its operations. It involves preparing for risks before they occur.
Having security assessments conducted at the residences of corporate employees are just as important as their office space. With many people continuing to work from home it has become common practice to evaluate the residence for physical vulnerabilities.
Understanding the Physical Security Analysis Process
There are five significant steps within the physical security analysis and management process, including:
1. Risk identification
The first step is to identify the threats that you may be exposed to in your working environment. Risk identification helps you know what, where, why, when, and how something can affect your organization’s ability to operate. Although any space is at risk for crime, the likelihood of the crime differs, so you should gauge your security procedures up or down accordingly. Some of the potential risks you might address include crime rates in the neighborhood, types of crimes commonly committed, number of entrances and exits to your space, number of individuals who can access your facility, and lack of security equipment.
2. Risk analysis
After you have identified the risk, a in-depth evaluation is the next step. Risk analysis involves establishing the possibility that an event might happen and the potential consequences of any event. After establishing the probability, consider any threats that your security procedures fail to address. Threats that fall in this category, likely to occur but are not adequately addressed, become your business’s vulnerabilities. However, by a simple analysis, you will not identify the vulnerable areas of your organization. To get a clear image of the company’s vulnerability, you have to complete the entire risk analysis process.
3. Assess current facility and site security
To effectively assess your businesses vulnerabilities, you have to examine the physical site and facilities. Typically a facility assessment involves examining any vulnerabilities within your physical property and other structures. Site assessments should also include assessing the neighborhoods around your facility. Either way both aspects are just as important as another in uncovering vulnerabilities and help to strategize how to stop these threats. When reviewing your physical location’s security, begin with maintenance and functionality. Any aspect of your business that you haven’t maintained might pose a great security risk. Also, consider the changes you can implement to enhance safety procedures, such as safety entrances/exits and doors.
4. Examine facility operating procedures
After assessing your business’ physical security, you need to evaluate the procedures you have put in place for your personnel. Do you have security personnel positioned strategically around your property? Most companies remain secure during the usual business hours but become lenient with after hours staff like cleaners. If you don’t have an audit trail in place for your employees after regular working hours, then you might be allowing unauthorized persons access to your facility. Also, review emergency procedures and plans. Have you implemented procedures in case of an active shooter situation? Have you adequately trained your staff in handling such situations?
5. Examine physical security systems
The final stage of the evaluation should address the security systems. Are they functional? Have they left any gaps? Assess the effectiveness of your current systems. Threats can range from petty theft to active shooter situations. Develop physical security measures and safety procedures that cover several threat levels.
What makes our firm different is our ability to not only assess and define physical vulnerabilities but also providing our clients with a deeper understanding on their current systems. These systems may include both security and automation style systems. There are many ways to breach a space technically, without actually stepping foot inside. Helping businesses determine whether their systems are adequate to secure their location or are improvements needed.
Conducting a comprehensive risk assessment is one of the most significant measures you can take to enhance security. Once you identify your weaknesses and strengths, you can implement all the necessary measures for a more secure organization.