Kevin Ian Schmidt

I am often asked, “Why should my company hire you as an independent security consultant?” The most significant reason is if you know little to nothing about security, then you need to hire an experienced professional security consultant that has the experience and subject matter expertise required for the tasks at hand. Security consciousness is a necessity for modern business managers. With this in mind, the selection of the security consultant(s) should also take into account their knowledge of the issues and conditions that are particularly relevant to the security threats that may affect your organization. A solid track record proving knowledge in these areas of specialized interest provides a benchmark that can be helpful when evaluating the subject matter experience of the prospective consultant(s).

 WHY HIRE AN INDEPENDENT SECURITY CONSULTANT

The first thing we need to do is define security.

Webster’s dictionary defines security as:

• the state of being protected or safe from harm
• things done to make people or places safe

Concerning security as a profession there is not truly a “universally accepted definition.”

Security is a hybrid profession blending various skills, backgrounds, and preparation. Security professionals have varying perspectives, often because of the unique degree of specialization required in their current assignment. Security provides those methods, either active or passive, which serve to protect and preserve an environment that allows for the conduct of activities within a business or society without disruption. There is a lot more than just looking at your doors, windows and locks or alarm systems to figuring out what security measures are needed to protect your synagogue, school, institution, or agency.

The primary goal of an independent security consultant is to prevent loss of life by reviewing your liabilities on security issues and reducing or eliminating them. Planning is required since it is an approach that recommends identifying and stopping a problem before it occurs, reducing hazards in given situations, and of forecasting rather than reacting to circumstances.

Competent security consultants know what to look for when identifying security issues and know how to properly mitigate the conditions through cost effective reductions/eliminations. After careful evaluation, it may make sense to use a security consultant to get the best security/cost value proposition you can; think of the expense as an investment for the future.

Before you hire a security consultant, make sure you know how to vet them, tips here.

An Independent Security Consultant can help you with the following issues:

• Negligent Hiring/Retention
• Premises Liability
• Negligent Security
• Hiring Contract Security Services
• Physical Site Security Surveys
• Anti-Terrorism
• Fraud and Internal Thefts
• Disaster recovery
• Risk Analysis
• Crime Prevention

Along with so much more.