The Ultimate Security Assessment Guide: How to Identify Risks and Strengthen Protection

Security is an essential service in today’s world. However, the security landscape is complex and evolving, and the needs of one organization will be vastly different from those of another. Security evaluations are a way for companies and security firms to identify vulnerabilities and assess risks specific to a particular location and industry. Doing so helps security professionals focus on the right things, allowing them to assign guards with the expertise required to protect people and property.

But security evaluations are never one-and-done, and should always be overseen by a qualified professional, either an in-house security team with the right expertise or an external specialist or consultant with experience in the industry niche.

Assessments should be conducted periodically, at least annually, but more often if there are systemic changes, mergers, or emerging threats. The company’s risk profile will dictate the frequency, and high-compliance industries, such as government, healthcare, finance, and education, may require more attention.

A Blueprint for Modern Security Assessments

While every industry has unique concerns, most security assessments follow a similar process, and this is what we’ll focus on today.

Before we begin, it’s essential to understand the difference between a risk assessment and risk management.

Risk assessments are proactive and involve mapping and testing current infrastructure, including buildings, technology, and other elements, to identify vulnerabilities. While risk management can also be proactive, it primarily involves applying best practices to mitigate risks identified during the assessment. Such activities may include training security staff, keeping infrastructure up to date, and ensuring vulnerable points are protected to minimize security incidents and facilitate rapid response and recovery.

Step 1: Understand the Environment

·         The first order of business in a security assessment is to review the property, its layout, operations, and daily activities.

·         Interview key stakeholders to understand their unique concerns and priorities. This is critical as details can be overlooked if they are not visually evident.

Step 2: Identify Critical Assets and Entry Points

·         Inventory all assets and systems and assign priority based on value, operational impact, and risk level. For example, a bank’s servers could be at increased risk if they are not adequately secured against unauthorized access. A door leading to an unmonitored laneway puts people and property at risk.

·         Map out access points and the flow of foot or vehicle traffic. Things to consider as it pertains to security can include:

o   Are access points appropriately illuminated inside and out?

o   Do doors and windows have appropriate locks, and are they operating efficiently?

o   What are the sightlines like around each access point?

o   Are electrical systems sound and well-maintained?

o   Are there any systemic issues, such as plumbing problems, that could result in property damage or pose potential hazards to people?

o   Are areas that contain significant assets adequately protected from wide-ranging access?

o   Are safety features (alarms, cameras, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers) accessible and in working order?

Step 3: Evaluate Existing Security Measures

·         Thoroughly assess the current systems (cameras, lighting, alarms) to ensure they are functioning properly.

·         Identify blind spots, outdated technology, or gaps in coverage. Is there a need for control access to high-risk areas? And if so, who receives the notification if an area is breached?

·         On-site personnel should be interviewed to assess the need for shift adjustments or further training. For example:

o   Are there times of the day or evening when the premises are unprotected?

o   What are the associated risks?

o   Are personnel adequately trained on security protocols and emergency response? Is the security team trained on all systems, and do they know how to respond to issues when they arise?

Step 4: Identify Potential Threats and Vulnerabilities

Threats can come from various sources, both internal and external. Some locations may be more concerned with external threats, such as retail stores, which face issues like theft and vandalism, while a residential building may be primarily focused on preventing unauthorized access.

During the assessment, all threats should be considered, including the likelihood of natural disasters in areas prone to earthquakes or hurricanes.

Consider variables including:

•              Crime rate in the area

•              Flow of visitors in and out of the premises

•              Employee turnover rates

•              Value of inventory or assets and how portable they are

•              Potential risk to business operations if there is a breach

Apply risk matrices or checklists to evaluate the likelihood and impact of security events and assign priorities appropriately.

Step 5: Recommend Improvements

Once you’ve completed your assessment, it’s time to make recommendations.

Always provide actionable suggestions to accompany each statement. Whether you recommend physical upgrades or repairs, security policy changes, additional staffing needs, or new equipment, the assessment should be easy to understand for the client and outline the expected benefits or associated risk reduction.

While not all clients will want or be able to follow every suggestion to the letter, it’s vital to assign priority to the most critical items. Prioritize recommendations based on risk severity first, but also include budget contingencies so that they can make informed decisions.

Step 6: Document and Review

The report you deliver to the client should be clear and concise, detailing your findings and outlining recommended next steps.

Address issues specific to their location, concerns, and industry first. Well-structured reports are intended to inform decision-making and should be supported by data, if possible, such as financial impact, risk potential, and cost/benefit analyses.

Your report should reinforce the critical nature of specific risks and provide a rationale to support mitigation strategies.

Think about who will be reading the report and adjust the language to suit the audience. Err on the side of clarity, avoid jargon, and prioritize threats so stakeholders can understand where they need to focus their attention.

Visual reports tend to be more engaging and easier to read. Charts and graphs can help represent the severity of threats and enable clients to grasp the scope of the issues more quickly.

Lastly, maintain reports on file to compare to future assessments. It’s always nice for the client to see how far they’ve come as their security posture matures.

Vigilance is Essential: Assess Your Environment Today.

The value of ongoing security assessments can’t be understated. Physical and technological threats are evolving and becoming increasingly costly for companies over time. Assessments help to focus on what matters most, ultimately saving the client time, money, and effort while ensuring continuous improvement.

Explore our guard training programs today and ensure your security teams have the knowledge and insights they need to protect your interests against any threat.