As companies expand around the globe and grow in stature and public profile, their security needs will increase as well. In today's complex and technologically advanced world, increased risk can come in many forms, including physical risk to personnel and assets, the ever-present chance of a cyberattack, or even terrorism.
For internal security departments, simply getting a handle on the many dangers facing their organizations is a challenge, followed immediately by the need to create a sophisticated and comprehensive response plan. These are tasks that professional security consultants can help with, as well as other high-profile requirements. The following are a few particular instances when third-party assistance can have a positive and significant impact on corporate security performance.
Creating or revising Crisis Management Plans: Formalizing crisis response strategies and turning them into official company policies is an essential step in protecting a business today. Whether a company has no such plan, or whether the company has a robust plan that needs review, getting trained third-party experts to offer opinions and guidance can ensure the resulting plans are solid.
Initial development of a plan, implementation throughout a company's global structure and testing to ensure the strategy works as intended under intense conditions are all important tasks. Consultants can assist with any or all of these responsibilities, granting a fresh perspective based on the latest security practices and past experiences.
Ensuring regulatory compliance: The consequences of falling out of line with federal, regional, or even international regulations can be severe for companies in terms of financial penalties, lost reputation and more. It's therefore worth extra time and effort to get organizations in line with all relevant rules. Sometimes, this means changing existing plans to ensure requirements are integrated without undermining the foundations of those strategies.
Having experienced security consultants inspect current and proposed plans is one way to ensure companies combine compliance with overall effective plans. Relevant programs include the Transportation Workers' Identification Cards (TWIC) program, Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TAPT), Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS), the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) and the Transportation Security Act (TSA).
Workplace security and violence prevention plans: There are many issues that can make an office or other workplaces potentially harmful or dangerous. Companies owe it to their employees, contractors and visitors to implement wide-ranging strategies that use training and clearly delineated policies to prevent these situations from breaking out. Security consultants can help internal leaders develop programs to counter sexual harassment, threats, physical violence and more.
Danger that comes into the workplace from outside is also worth considering and planning to prevent. Whether a disgruntled employee or customer causes trouble or risk comes from someone a worker knows, or even a complete stranger, there are a host of possible threats that could harm the people and property within a company. When professionals have been taught about these risks and trained to minimize danger, workplaces become more secure.
Making plans that work
When they first delve into creating or revising strategies to keep workplaces safe, it can be difficult for internal security leaders to know if they have covered all the company's needs. Working with experienced outside consultants is a great way to be more certain that plans are comprehensive and effective, while still bringing their projects in under budget. From making a checklist of problems to address, to launching practical tests that will prove those strategies' usefulness, to implementing training programs, every step matters.
Not having formalized security plans is too great a risk to accept today. If companies face a dangerous crisis and aren't equipped to handle it, the price they pay may be greater than money. Fortunately, experts exist in the industry to provide an outsider's eye and find areas to address that businesses' own first efforts may have missed. These security consulting services exist due to the need for readiness in an unpredictable world.
