During a risk assessment, the focus is on identifying opportunities for potential security breaches. The assessor considers the big picture, viewing security not only from the client’s perspective but also from the criminal’s viewpoint.
A security risk is created when the criminal’s desire and ability overlap with opportunity, leading to the risk of crime.
Desire and ability
When criminals possess the desire and ability to commit a crime, they only need an opportunity. There are numerous opportunities for criminal activity when people follow incorrect security advice from unreliable sources.
For decades, individuals and businesses have relied solely on security hardware to measure security, such as cameras, alarms, and guards, believing they are sufficient for security.
However, these measures alone do not guarantee crime prevention. During an independent security risk assessment, the assessor uses the following formula:
For a risk to be present, there must be a criminal who has the desire and ability to commit a crime. Thus, determining the threat. When an opportunity is present for a crime, the equation is multiplied. Even if a criminal has the desire and ability, without an opportunity, no crime can occur.
Next, let us talk about AW, which means client awareness. This means the client does not know about preventing crime, criminal awareness, or security awareness. When a crime occurs, it means the victim could not or had no control over the situation.
During a risk assessment, we teach the client how to remove the opportunity. When there’s no opportunity for a crime, it cannot occur. Remember, all parts of the equation must be present for a security risk and then crime to occur.
In a security risk assessment, we thoroughly explain everything to the client. This ensures the client has a better understanding of what needs to be done, whether it is for a home or a business.
We cannot change a criminal’s desire or ability; those values should have been taught from childhood. To get rid of the opportunity, the client needs security awareness and control. This can be obtained by having a security risk assessment done.
A thorough understanding.
The assessor conducting an independent security risk assessment possesses extensive experience in various aspects of crime, including crime scenes, interviews with suspects and victims, and knowledge of security hardware and control rooms. This expertise ensures a comprehensive assessment tailored to the client’s unique needs, including physical security.
A thorough assessment involves asking and answering numerous questions to uncover even the smallest risks. Depending on the size and complexity of the assessment, this process may take thirty days or more.
The assessor must also understand guarding practices, patrol routines, lighting, and security hardware optimization. While security systems are crucial, they may not provide sufficient protection in critical moments, such as during a break-in, if not utilized correctly.
With the independent risk assessor by your side, a better explanation and guidance on what to do in such an event will be given.
Unlike security providers, who prioritize selling their products, independent security risk assessors offer unbiased assessments. Security providers cannot objectively assess their own products, like a player acting as both player and referee in a game.
In-house security risk assessments
In-house security risk assessments are often flawed from the onset because the assessors are typically part of the organization they are assessing, which can create bias and conflicts of interest.
Additionally, familiarity with the environment can lead the assessors to overlook crucial details, as people tend to stop noticing things they see every day, such as a potential security risk. Furthermore, it can be difficult for an in-house assessor to assess their directors, who are the ones paying their salary.
Security companies risk assessment
Security companies that conduct their own risk assessments are also problematic. Conducting an assessment on themselves is akin to conducting an in-house assessment, which creates similar issues of bias and conflict of interest.
This can lead to important security risks being overlooked or downplayed, putting the company and its stakeholders at risk. By Andre Mundell.
In South Africa, our independent security consultants work in many cities, such as Pretoria, Johannesburg, Midrand, Sandton, Centurion, Bloemfontein, Durban, and Cape Town.