THREAT IDENTIFICATION

 Whether you are the one designing the security plan and writing its procedures, or one of the security personnel responsible for implementing it and maintaining the areas integrity, your main focus should always be performing the tasks that provide the best deterrence and defense against the threats that are truly most likely to disrupt the location being protected.

It’s all too easy to spend so much time focusing on the worst-case scenario that more likely threats are overlooked and vulnerabilities are left open. Sometimes it is possible to be too careful – if super heavy security measures are implemented in order to counter a threat that does not exist, they will have accomplished nothing beyond inconveniencing honest visitors for no gain. However if the threat is real, then not properly preparing for it could be disastrous.

Many security principles are universal – the mere act of displaying that some form of effective protection will deter the vast majority of criminals away in favor of targets that do not seem to be looked after by their owner. In many cases this is all that is needed to ensure complete security. Sometimes it is not. This could be due to the location having something of enough value to be worth attempting to breach security, or environmental factors such as building design and the local crime rate. Finding exactly what makes you vulnerable can be difficult – many factors like lighting levels and even the layout of pathways can have a huge influence on how an intruder will act. Therefore it is always advisable to consult a security professional to determine the best way to defend your property.