Industry-Specific Security Programs: Breaking the Mold

There are countless industries that utilize security officers to protect their employees, customers, assets and facilities. While the underlying reasons for contracting security might be similar, the nuances of vertical market-specific security programs couldn’t be more different. A security officer patrolling a commercial high rise has markedly different duties than one in a healthcare facility. College campuses have vastly different security needs than chemical plants. 

Your organization shouldn’t have to fit a security program mold – a security program should be molded to fit your organization. It is of critical importance that your security program be tailored to meet the specific demands of your industry and your facility:

• Approach – Look for a security provider that provides a customizable approach to building your security program.

• Expertise – Engaging a security provider with expertise in your specific industry means they will better understand the unique needs of your program. And that expertise should be supported by involvement in industry associations, boards and panels. 

• Training – Industry-specific training, both initial and ongoing, is critical to the success of your program. 

• Complementary services – A provider should offer appropriate services (e.g., integrated technology solutions, ambassador programs, etc.) that complement your needs and fit your culture. 

• Procedures – Providers should embrace your procedures and your industry’s best practices; not the other way around. 

• Regulations – Regulatory agencies and accrediting bodies vary by industry and a security provider must be knowledgeable about these agencies and standards to help you maintain compliance.

• Personnel – A quality security provider matches security officers to the type of environment to which they are best suited. Security programs should not be cookie-cutter, and neither should security officers. 

The bottom line is that your security challenges are unique and require thoughtful, tailored solutions. Whether a financial institution or a manufacturing site, your industry-specific needs should always be part of the foundation when building your security program. See our vendor checklist for developing a proactive security solution that fits seamlessly into your organization’s culture.  

What trends are emerging in your industry that could affect your organization’s security needs? 

  About the Author
  Scott Savoie is a Chief Administrative Officer at Allied Universal.