Security management

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Security management is the identification of an organization's assets (including people, buildings, machines, systems and information assets), followed by the development, documentation, and implementation of policies and procedures for protecting assets.

An organization uses such security management procedures for information classification, threat assessment, risk assessment, and risk analysis to identify threats, categorize assets, and rate system vulnerabilities.^[1]

Loss prevention[]

Loss prevention focuses on what one's critical assets are and how they are going to protect them. A key component to loss prevention is assessing the potential threats to the successful achievement of the goal. This must include the potential opportunities that further the object (why take the risk unless there's an upside?) Balance probability and impact determine and implement measures to minimize or eliminate those threats.^[2]

Security risk management[]

The management of security risks applies the principles of risk management to the management of security threats. It consists of identifying threats (or risk causes), assessing the effectiveness of existing controls to face those threats, determining the risks' consequence(s), prioritizing the risks by rating the likelihood and impact, classifying the type of risk, and selecting an appropriate risk option or risk response. In 2016, a universal standard for managing risks was developed in The Netherlands. In 2017, it was updated and named: Universal Security Management Systems Standard 2017.

Types of risks[]

External[]

• Strategic: Competition and customer demand.
• Operational: Regulations, suppliers, and contract.
• Financial: FX and credit.
• Hazard: Natural disasters, cyber, and external criminal acts.
• Compliance: New regulatory or legal requirements are introduced, or existing ones are changed, exposing the organization to a non-compliance risk if measures are not taken to ensure compliance.

Internal[]

• Strategic: R&D.
• Operational: Systems and processes (H&R, Payroll).
• Financial: Liquidity and cash flow.
• Hazard: Safety and security; employees and equipment.
• Compliance: Concrete or potential changes in an organization's systems, processes, suppliers, etc. may create exposure to a legal or regulatory non-compliance.

Risk options[]

Risk avoidance[]

The first choice to be considered is the possibility of eliminating the existence of criminal opportunity or avoiding the creation of such an opportunity. When additional considerations or factors are not created as a result of this action that would create a greater risk. For example, removing all the cash flow from a retail outlet would eliminate the opportunity for stealing the money, but it would also eliminate the ability to conduct business.

Risk reduction[]

When avoiding or eliminating the criminal opportunity conflicts with the ability to conduct business, the next step is reducing the opportunity of potential loss to the lowest level consistent with the function of the business. In the example above, the application of risk reduction might result in the business keeping only enough cash on hand for one day's operation.

Risk spreading[]

Assets that remain exposed after the application of reduction and avoidance are the subjects of risk spreading. This is the concept that limits loss or potential losses by exposing the perpetrator to the probability of detection and apprehension prior to the consummation of the crime through the application of perimeter lighting, barred windows, and intrusion detection systems. The idea is to reduce the time available for thieves to steal assets and escape without apprehension.

Risk transfer[]

The two primary methods of accomplishing risk transfer is to ensure the assets or raise prices to cover the loss in the event of a criminal act. Generally speaking, when the first three steps have been properly applied, the cost of transferring risks is much lower.

Risk acceptance[]

All of the remaining risks must simply be assumed by the business as a part of doing business. Included with these accepted losses are deductibles, which have been made as part of the insurance coverage.

Security policy implementations[]

Intrusion detection[]

• Alarm device.

Access control[]

• Locks, simple or sophisticated, such as biometric authentication and keycard locks.

Physical security[]

• Environmental elements (ex. Mountains, Trees, etc.).
• Barricade.
• Security guards (armed or unarmed) with wireless communication devices (e.g., two-way radio).
• Security lighting (spotlight, etc.).
• Security Cameras.
• Motion Detectors.
• IBNS containers for cash in transit.

Procedures[]

• Coordination with law enforcement agencies.
• Fraud management.
• Risk Management.
• CPTED.
• Risk Analysis.
• Risk Mitigation.
• Contingency Planning.

See also[]

References[]

Further reading[]

• BBC NEWS | In Depth. BBC News - Home. Web. 18 Mar. 2011. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/guides/456900/456993/html/>.
• Rattner, Daniel. "Loss Prevention & Risk Management Strategy." Security Management. Northeastern University, Boston. 5 Mar. 2010. Lecture.
• Rattner, Daniel. "Risk Assessments." Security Management. Northeastern University, Boston. 15 Mar. 2010. Lecture.
• Rattner, Daniel. "Internal & External Threats." Security Management. Northeastern University, Boston. 8 April. 2010. Lecture.
• Asset Protection and Security Management Handbook, POA Publishing LLC, 2003, p. 358
• ISO 31000 Risk management — Principles and guidelines, 2009, p. 7
• Universal Security Management Systems Standard 2017 - Requirements and guidance for use, 2017, p. 50
• Security Management Training & TSCM Training

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the General Services Administration document: "Federal Standard 1037C". (in support of MIL-STD-188)