Security Culture

A key element of addressing today’s threat environment is emulating practices that have had success.

“​Lessons Learned – Evidence-Based – Effective Collaboration”

PREVENT PROTECT PREPARE

Security culture is key element of addressing today’s threat environment is emulating practices that have had success. It is important to incorporate a holistic plan that spans the authority's requirements, that must be driven from the top with accountability and responsibility, will be effective operationally, and can be supported financially. Keeping a safe and secure environment for the traveling public and supply chain with a program that directly affects terrorism and other criminal activity and includes an inclusive approach to crisis management is essential. We recognize this is a broad and complex concept. Policing and security deterrence and enforcement activity is only one aspect of successful prevention.  

OPERATIONAL READINESS

Being prepared through prevention is the first line of defence. A holistic security strategy for a Port Protective Security Management System should fit across the domain and be integrated through the entire security system. Regardless of the critical infrastructure environment, the threat must be deemed essential. Police, security, and emergency management authorities must always be prepared. Evidence-based prevention, protection, and preparedness practices to mitigate the threat of terrorism, other serious crimes, and catastrophic events are essential.

PREPARDEDNESS

The forethought of what could happen and mitigation practices are essential. Adequate training is necessary, understanding scenarios that could play out based on lessons learned facts. Although this may seem obvious, history has shown that similar occurrences and studies learned from previous incidents have not been implemented when considering preparedness.  This includes weather, cyber, emergencies, and crisis management.  Think outside the box, plan for each type of occurance.

COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATIONS: Physical & Cyber

Technology must address both physical and cyber security to protect an authority!

From a physical side, we must support the human element, and security environments must adopt and deploy effective collaborative communication capabilities. Communication is often the Achilles’ heel of a crisis. We address this thorough lesson learned methods.

Cyber Security is a different issue; although it can have similar comparisons to physical security, it can range from a denial of services to infiltration into your systems. This can affect every aspect of how an environment is secured. Not addressing cyber security leaves a substantial gap in the overall security plan.

COMMUNICATION: Engagement & Collaboration
Cyber Collaboration: Team work

Environment security is obtained through collaborative communication processes; silo alternatives are ineffective. Threats to public safety and critical infrastructure continue to evolve. Recent examples of this include active shooters, drones and cyber-attacks. Those who oversee security in mass people environments need to be inclusive by having authority personnel, tenant staff, and the public infomed based on their need to know and those at risk. An authority must evolve its security practices based on current threats and security requirements.

Environment security does not stop at physical security any more.  Today in fact it relies heavily on the use if internet protocol (IP) and the threat may not be visible, apparent, or near the facility that is being threatened. 

Cyber security is not only for someone else. It has to begin with every person who touches a computing device, even your phone. Through education, software protection, risk management and collaboration we can in fact work effectively to avoid denial of services, major disruption, even loss of life.  And disruption does occur, experts working together can have several benefits to get back on track. It may seem like a ghost, but cannot be ignored.