Facilities Manager's Desk Reference, 3rd Edition

33Security Management

33.1 Introduction

Security is about prevention. It can be defined as preventing adverse consequences from the intentional and unwanted actions of others. Because both society and organisations want people to behave in a certain way, and often they don’t, security management is used to mitigate the effects of this behaviour. The impacts of security management and security systems include cost, time, convenience, flexibility and the loss of privacy.

Most intentional and unwarranted actions, or attacks, are on assets belonging to people and organisations. Security systems are set up as countermeasures to protect these assets.

33.2 Security strategy

Before embarking on any security programme, such as installing or upgrading devices or systems, employing security personnel or engaging a contractor, the FM (facilities manager, or facilities management) needs to carry out a security audit and determine an overall security strategy. This should have full involvement and support at board level, since security is crucial to an organisation’s continued existence and success. It may be beneficial at this stage to engage the services of a security consultant, and the local police crime reduction or crime prevention officer will be able to provide advice.

The audit should look at the geographical environment within which the organisation operates, and every physical aspect of the site and all it contains, with reference to the aforementioned hazards, and identify ...