SMSI Inc. uses the term “Commercial Facilities,” to describe buildings with common areas that are generally open to the public. It is the common areas that produce the lion’s share of security liability. SMSI’s security consultant team has direct experience in this arena.
Some of that experience has been derived from our retention as forensic security experts for premises liability lawsuits where the assertion of inadequate security has been made. Over the last 30+we have been retained for approximately 650 litigations, covering 40 states. This litigation experience has provided us with a great deal on insight regarding the components of an effective security program. It is important to note: Security is a situational discipline, meaning one size does not fit all. Every security program must be responsive to the ambient “threat environment.” That threat environment is comprised of both external and internal threat, in part dictated by a range of building usage factors.
The SMSI team is advocates of the application of CPTED (Crime Prevention through Environmental Design) principals. CPTED affords the opportunity for cost efficient remedies and contributes to security program synergy. Effective security programs do not exist in a vacuum or in a Policy & Procedure Manual gather dust on some bookshelf.
Our expert training experience tells us that the cost of reaction is from two to four times more costly than proaction. Many Commercial Security Programs fail to optimally involve their tenants in the in becoming part of the solution. Finally, good security is simply good business and adds value to income properties. It is also important to remember the security is an anticipatory proactive discipline.
In today’s economy profit margins are tight and consequently budgets are being squeezed, including security budgets. Therefore, our goal is to help our clients reasonably mitigate security breaches, and to do so as cost- efficiently as is possible.
Security programs that have simply evolved over a number of years are most likely, on one hand, costly and on the other hand, inefficient. The advantage of initiating a through security assessment is to establish a foundational basis and rationale on which to build on moving forward. It is our view that if done properly, an effective security assessment will generally have a five year shelf life. A SMSI Security Assessment will provide a rationale for effective physical security countermeasures, such as video surveillance, security personnel and access management systems. Aside for the obvious benefits of a secure property, a secure building provides a valued added benefit to prospective tenants. Secure facilities help to ensure higher percentages of occupancy. With today’s technology, the cost for security systems, including video surveillance, has actually gone down. In fact video technology has actually reduced the need of security manpower in some cases.
If you have not had a security assessment done by a qualified training consultant within the last two years, your facility is unduly exposed to the threat of criminal activity, workplace violence, and liability. In the wake of the assessment process SMSI is able to offer a number of Security Management Support services such as security awareness training, workplace violence prevention programs, security design and RFP development, and security vendor oversight.
If you are not sure where your facility stands, try taking The Commercial Security System Diagnostic Test. If you think Security Management Support (SMS) might be part of the solution, try taking the Security Management Support Diagnostic Test.
Call at (805) 241-3800 or email today and ask for a proposal by one of our training consultants.