Conducting Security Assessments

Security assessments: Conducting a security assessment can help you identify vulnerabilities in your facility and operations. A security assessment includes:

• Reviewing past incidents, threat assessments, and existing policy and procedures.
• Considering how risk factors in your own organization and in the surrounding community impact your security.
• Walking through the facility to identify physical vulnerabilities.
• Interviewing key personnel to assess effectiveness of procedures.
• Identifying existing resources and capabilities that can be used to address a vulnerability.
• Reporting the findings, including positive observations, vulnerabilities, and recommended corrective actions.

Standard approach: A standard assessment approach should be used. When planning the physical assessment, it is helpful to think in terms of layers of security:

• Layer 1: The property perimeter
• Layer 2: The outside property from the property line to the building
• Layer 3: The building exterior and interior
  

Operations: Assessing operations involves looking at how access control and visitor management measures are being put into practice.

Fostering a Secure and Safe Environment

People: People are your greatest resource. They are what make your security and safety measures work.

Environment: Analysis of past incidents suggests that the environment can be made more secure by:

• Heightening security awareness—making people aware of, and partners in, your security policies and procedures.
• Identifying warning signs—being alert to behaviors or remarks that may cause concern.
• Establishing procedures for reporting and investigating threats—developing policies on threat reporting and training for adults in how to properly respond to such information.
• Identifying and assessing potential threat indicators.

Threat assessment: The Secret Service, FBI, and others recommend a threat assessment process conducted by an interdisciplinary team of trained professionals that consists of evaluating a threat, reaching a conclusion regarding threat level, and determining an effective response.

Addressing Vulnerabilities

After identifying potential vulnerabilities, it is important to develop practical strategies for enhancing protective measures. Potential security measures include:

• Access controls: Controlling the access of vehicles and people to the grounds and building.
• Visitor management: Having a strategy for controlling and monitoring who comes into the building.
• Screening: Screening those who enter the building to eliminate hidden risks.
• Communications: Ensuring staff, volunteers, and occupants can receive instructions in case of an emergency.
• Law enforcement partnerships: Working closely with law enforcement to keep the facility safe.