For – Managers, Supervisors, Security Personnel.

Whether you operate a large corporation or you are a sole trader operating from the back of a van or vehicle or a small home based business you will need to consider sound security practices.

Security procedures are what shape and tie an organisation together. From start to finish, these procedures will be of assistance in protecting your business assets and staff. You may not always notice these procedures in operation, but if you have a comprehensive awareness and they are thoroughly embedded in your company and they are up to date, you are well protected.

Good security procedures begin at your front door. The detail that you need will depend on the size of your business. These procedures will define the guidelines or rules as to who can enter, when, where, how, and under what authority. Security provides structure and ensure compliance with insurance.

I don’t usually guarantee anything when it comes to security, but I will guarantee you this…Without good and comprehensive guidelines, you will have a breach at sometime, and you will lose money.

For example, the small business owner who has a van or truck may have some simple rules in place;

• Lock the vehicle when it is unattended
• Lock the vehicle at a certain time each night
• Check the vehicle to see that no one is in your vehicle and is waiting for you
• Do not let anyone have access to the vehicle except the driver
• Place valuable items out of sight
• Conduct inventories on the contents at designated periods

A store owner may have more detailed security procedures:

• Store opening time
• Who holds the store keys/access cards/alarm codes?
• Chain of command and reporting process within the store
• Who can access certain areas?
• Who handles money and its storage?
• Banking procedures
• Fire and escape planning
• Hiring staff and security precautions
• Security system access and camera maintenance

A larger business may have more detailed plans:

• Building guidelines for access all hours
• After hours chain of command in emergency crisis situations
• VIP protection/visiting
• Security procedures for talking with the media
• Security procedures for bomb threat/terrorist attack
• Security guard command and control
• All staff members itemised in regard to their security access level

Every year many businesses will lose up to 10% of their revenue all because of poor security practices. This may sound a lot, however the larger your organisation is, the greater will be your vulnerability.

The main areas that security procedures need to cover are:

• Who can enter and exit? How this is done? Where? And at what times?
• Names of all permanent, casual and temporary staff, as well as all external contractors.
• Lock up and disarm procedures + Cash & Finance
• Emergency – for security breaches, fire, flood and computer system malfunctions.
• After hours security.
• Internal security – who goes where and when?
• Information security – protection of intellectual property.

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