With so many different definitions of corporate security out there, one of the most frequently used ones is that corporate security is the sum total of strategies implemented to identify and effectively mitigate or manage any occurrence or development that may threaten the survival of a company.
Fundamentally, it relates to protecting a company and finding the best solutions and approaches to avoid protection risks that could potentially threaten it.
Corporate security is one of the most important aspects of daily security. It covers the shielding of businesses, data, and people from all sorts of malicious attacks that endanger the very existence of systems worldwide, thereby ultimately imperiling people’s safety and their overall financial and social wellbeing.
Many people are remarkably unaware of corporate security, seemingly unable to distinguish it from other areas of the security industry.
The Benefits of Corporate Security
Every single person wants to feel safe and protected. Companies aren’t any different in this regard. It’s just that they have so much more on their plate, having to watch over a variety of segments within their ranks, including information flow and sensitive data proliferation.
Lately, companies have been increasingly exposed to risks that far exceed those they had to face just a decade ago. Back then, the only thing standing between external threats and internal safety was a bodyguard who physically stood there as security assurance.
As the world has grown more complex along with the measures companies need to take to be three steps ahead of the dangers looming over their day-to-day corporate security.
Some novel business practices, including offshoring, require corporations to manage at a distance and implement more rigorous security measures. Moreover, postulates of corporate social responsibility and corporate governance also force organizations to match their words with their actions while implementing operations.
All this necessitates the presence of corporate security strategies and measures.
Branches of the Security Industry
Like any other multi-billion-dollar industry, the security sector consists of niches, subcategories, and different layers – each with its’ own specific area of expertise. For new to the topic, the corporate security industry encompasses the following:
- Crisis Management
- Risk Assessment
- Crime Detection
- Fraud Deterrence
- Corporate Governance
- Information Security
- Personnel Security
- Crime Prevention
- Physical Security
- Investigations
- Business Continuity Planning
- Compliance and Ethics Programs
- Environment, safety, and health.
The vast majority of companies don’t implement measures from all of these niches and categories, but choose areas that specifically relate to them. Depending on how much a particular company spends on security, it can focus on one or more fields. Most corporations utilize various data security tools, such as encryption software and data backup.
For instance, a small retail store with five employees will have different security concerns than a 100-employee-strong company. Namely, the former would need to focus on employee theft and fraud. The latter should recruit a security manager and a corresponding team, perform awareness programs, and heavily invest in modern technology.
One thing’s for sure: Security threats will always persist, which is why it’s crucial to protect your company both online and offline. Notably, workers are at the forefront in this sense since they are safeguarding the company by being cautious, knowledgeable, and seasoned.
Employees and Corporate Security
So far, we considered the importance of employees being prudent in their daily actions. However, this in itself does not seem enough. Specifically, employees need to have the required training to protect their company when danger arises.
Here’s where executive protection agents skilled in operational mobility and office security enter the arena. They are essential factors in every company’s endeavors to secure its perimeters in the long run. Especially concerning the safety of its executives.
Additionally, extra challenges arose with introducing the BYOD – bring your own device, movement. Namely, many employees have mobile devices, such as smartphones, that they use for both business and personal purposes.
This practice places companies in a tough spot. On one hand, companies need to ensure the security of sensitive corporate data. At the same time, they need to give employees the freedom to access their personal information.
It seems somewhat unattainable at first, but it is doable with the right people and a dedicated department.
The Corporate Security Advisor needs to maintain a well-rounded set of skills. Within this domain, the focus of the Security Advisor often shifts with the direction of the business or company for whom they serve. No two assignments are exactly alike. And so, mastering the fundamentals of physical security, executive protection, journey management, and even intelligence, are critical to enabling the success of the business line.
— Adam Taylor, Global Security Operations Oil & Gas Expert
Having a Great Corporate Security Team
When clients and employees are confident that your company implements suitable security protocols, everything runs a lot smoother than it would without proper systems and reliable individuals.
Most clients and suppliers of corporate security services believe that the best companies concentrate on rewarding good performance instead of using the stick to foster excellent company culture.
Furthermore, security isn’t just the concern of a single person or team. A sound security strategy must be embedded in the company on multiple levels and across departments – but directed from the corporate security office. Perhaps a security council can be created involving different business units and bringing together unique ideas.
Likewise, creating and expanding your network beyond your company, in order to further discuss specific issues and adopt knowledge about new threat mitigation strategies, is also a must for your corporate security department’s continued success.
In Conclusion
It is always better to be safe than sorry.
And you can spare yourself from being sorry by implementing these straightforward steps in your corporate security strategy:
- Always be on the lookout for the latest and greatest security software.
- Nurture your employees by providing them with the right training, skills, and knowledge.
- Be cautious and curious about new developments in the corporate security sector.
- Your workers are your frontline soldiers and are not easily replaceable.
- Include other companies in your corporate security discussions.
Lastly, as alarming as it sounds, many companies still fail to introduce relevant strategies and measures. This causes them to greatly suffer from attacks against their personnel and corporate internal systems, resulting in millions of dollars in damage.
This could be easily avoided, or at least mitigated, if only companies become more aware of the issues lying at their very doorstep.