The Current Landscape
An organization’s Physical Security program is the first layer of protection against malicious intent upon its people, assets, and physical property. Physical security programs and technologies used by most organizations have commonly been overlooked and are becoming far less effective at detecting and responding to threats. Preparation is critical to optimize their Physical Security frameworks to effectively identify and respond to , malicious actors, physical breaches, and internal & external risks.
Modernization and Digitalization of Physical Security
As threats against organizations continue to increase, the Physical Security program requires integrated security solutions, robust training, and awareness program as well as integration of other stakeholder groups through the digitalization of technologies. The goal is to create a resilient organization by breaking down silos, encouraging information sharing and preventing and minimizing exposure to threats and risks.
Security convergence relates to the holistic approach to Tackling physical & personnel security while protecting an organization’s assets including its data, people, and facilities. As technology enables every critical function, threat actors will continue to look for the path of least resistance in an organization. Security convergence requires a realization and understanding that security is everyone’s responsibility, and upholding user privacy is a fiduciary duty of the organization. It entails having a security-minded culture in preparing for and tackling new risks.
Training, education, and awareness are ongoing principles of Physical Security. Developing a security-first culture should be top of mind for all stakeholders; incidents do not simply come with a notification to the organization, but rather an abrupt disruption that requires preparation and real-time response. Further, organizations and employees should be equipped with training on the processes to adequately communicate to stakeholders during an event, preventing events from occurring or returning to operations quickly after an incident.
An organization’s Physical Security program is dependent on the collaboration and the exchange of data with other stakeholder groups. Organizations should consider methods where the use of technology and program digitalization can be leveraged. An example of this would be a data integration between the physical security software and the business continuity plan to trigger real-time event-to-action alerts and notifications. The value of integration has long been ignored and those early adopters who have embraced advanced integration have seen those benefits, the reduced risk, and cost savings integrations create.
Security convergence, security awareness and collaboration with stakeholder groups allow an organization to remain resilient against risks and threats. As threat actors become more sophisticated, a Physical Security program must have a holistic and proactive approach to these advanced risks and threats. Failure to properly identify risks, or perform an early risk analysis, can result in injury, financial loss, or reputational damage.
The Way Forward
Organizations must gain insight into the current state of their Physical Security program and fundamental questions must be asked:
- Is there a defined Physical Security program and mandate in place?
- Does the organization exhibit a meaningful level of awareness of existing physical measures?
- To understand the business drivers, are organizational leaders engaging with the Physical Security group when exploring new business initiatives?
- Are there sufficient technologies in place to prevent, detect and respond to Physical Security threats and breaches?
- Do you have defined KPIs and KRIs, to measure and monitor against, and identify risks and threats?
- Is the Physical Security program integrated with other stakeholder groups such as HR, finance, privacy, Business Continuity, Risk, and Crisis management?
- Are third parties reviewed to ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and internal or global/international standards?