Introduction

Effective security is not determined by the amount of hardware installed on a property but by how well the entire security system functions together. Cameras, alarms, electric fences, and other equipment play an important role, yet they become far less effective when there is no communication, monitoring, or response structure in place. At Alwinco, our independent security risk assessments focus on identifying the practical weaknesses that criminals exploit, including the gaps between security equipment and human response. Through years of experience and real crime scene assessments, we have seen that many security failures occur not because the hardware did not work but because no one responded, no one was informed, or no action was taken. This article highlights the importance of communication within a security system and explains why security hardware alone is not enough to protect people, property, and businesses.

Security Risk Assessment Communication:

While security equipment is part of the solution, it is vital to understand that security hardware and software are NOT THE ENTIRE SOLUTION. Your security hardware should be able to communicate with you.

We recently conducted an independent security risk assessment for a shopping mall in Cape Town, identifying risks that standard assessments often overlook. This approach allows practical measures to be recommended, enhancing the overall safety and security of the property.

If you would like to learn more about our assessments or have specific topics you would like us to address, please email your suggestions to andre@alwinco.co.za. We will create and publish articles tailored to your interests on our website.

Hardware is only part of the solution

Security is not just the cameras, fences, alarms, and so on. These aspects form part of the security structure; however, it cannot function on its own. In school, we learned that a system consists of various components that work together to create a functioning system. The same applies to a security system. The equipment is a small, albeit important, part of security.

 

The biggest mistake

The biggest mistake people make is forgetting about the communication component in the security system. Security fails because there is no communication. The security system needs to be able to communicate with you in order for you to take the necessary action.

An alarm, for example, is a great asset IF it is managed correctly.

A while back, I was working at home when a house alarm went off. It was my neighbor’s alarm across the street. The alarm sounded for the first time at 08:30, and by the time I went to fetch my children from school at 14:00, the alarm was still going crazy. No responding units came to investigate; the homeowner was nowhere to be found.

Now I wonder: what was the use of this alarm, apart from driving me crazy? Read more on Are you in the driver’s seat when it comes to security?

Anything could have happened

Several scenarios could have unfolded. Someone may have left a window open, criminals could have broken in, attacked the person inside the house, or tested the alarm system to see who responds and how quickly.The sad part about this is that no one was notified. No one came to see what was going on. Besides, if an armed response unit came to inspect, they would not have been able to get onto the property because there is no way of accessing the gate, apart from climbing over the fence.

Criminals are smart

Criminals now know that no one responds to an alarm, and they also know that the homeowners don’t have a communicator on itThey may trigger the alarm repeatedly to test it or convince owners it’s faulty before striking. This is why criminals succeed. The alarm system is effective; trust me, it’s loud, but at the end of the day, all it did was provide the criminals information. Even with an open window, everyone in the neighborhood now knows no one responds.

What’s the use?

I ask again, what is the use? Yes, it might wake you at night and perhaps chase the criminals away for the first and maybe the second time. But, by the third time, they will know that no one is coming to help, and they will take advantage of the situation. The same applies to cameras and other security hardware and software. If it does not communicate with you and if you do not manage it, it’s there simply to make a noise and to look secure. Criminals see through this.

Written by André Mundell. Security Risk Assessment communication

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We conduct security risk assessments in key South African areas: Gauteng (including Garsfontein, Braamfontein, Noordwyk, Sunninghill, and Centurion), Pellissier, Bluff, and Observatory.

If we only knew.