So You Want to Be A Security Threat Assessor

As a Risk Assessor you need to be able to think like a criminal. This may sound strange on the face of it but there you have it. Fighting fire with fire. So to be successful in this career, this ability could be seen as a normal pre-requisite intrinsic to the reduction and or alleviation of your client’s business risks.

In this job the main function is to carry out threat assessments and to organise risk management within the given framework of the business– this way the subsequent evaluation of any inherent or possible security risks could be immediately addressed and managed, with the security problems in turn either being diminished or even resolved.

The method used usually involves a site inspection so that vulnerabilities can be identified and assessed. For example where is the site – it could be smack bang in the middle of drug dealing, dark bus interchange....who knows but every threat needs to be taken into account and any possible risk needs to be addressed; usually the threat assessor tries to think like a criminal in order to see any possible risks to the client and then lays the traps or just endeavors to close the gaps.

Reviewing older problems and assessing how matters were dealt with earlier is of prime importance – everyone needs the opportunity to learn from the past in order to re-address any risks in the future; particularly in the same client fields.

Risk Management has always been important but is now – since 9/11 - become more of a catch cry and highly relevant in today’s world.

If this area of work appeals to you then working in the field is the probably best method for you to get valuable experience in the industry. There are many areas where skills can be honed and you the applicant, can be trained in the many and varied facets of working in this valued and interesting industry. These could be itemised as follows:

• · Preparing the specifications and subsequent calling of security contracts for commercial buildings and the supply of guards.
• · working as a security guard.
• · Managing the in-house guarding requirements.
• · Working as a call out officer and I could tell some tales here!
• · Working as a project manager on security fit outs that are geared towards to the securing and compartmentalising of government premises
• · Preparing the Specifications and subsequent calling of fit out contracts for the supply of security upgrades.
• · Ensuring that government departments meet Homeland and /Or ASIO requirements as to what constitutes a secure building. Meeting the Security Standard if you will.
• ·Organising the re- keying of commercial buildings where required. This can be a very big and involved job particularly if the previous building system has been borrowed and moved from a number of previous buildings to be re-used into the one new building! With the result being that the brand new building starts off on its back foot with a totally bastardised system, without any master keying in place. And not only no master keying system but no adequate record keeping in place either except in the head of the fellow who organised this mess.
• ·Working with identification systems for the issue of identity cards to building users. Keeping the system up to date particularly where silly idiots input pictures of animals etc and issue them with id. Cards! Security is a serious business and there really is no room for morons.
• · Ensuring the safety of all building users via the installation of adequate lighting and cameras. Of course subsequent videos need to be stored for a reasonable amount of time prior to re-use.
• · Then there is the securing of lifts and floors and boom gates etc for out of hours users and restricted users.
• · Requesting Clearances and Police Checks are all a part of the security picture. And obviously carrying out checks on employees can reduce fraudulent behaviour as well as reducing the risks and threats that could come in on the boots of an employee.
• · Working as a security tradesman providing both labour and technical knowhow.
• · Written skills are a requirement in the security field and could also be a source of good income. For example a security consultant who has good writing skills could be contracted to write security policy for government departments.

Risk Management and Threat Assessment study courses plus Security Conferences and Courses can also help those in the field keep abreast of any new issues. While working in an expert security team will also help sharpen the skills of any new recruit .

To provide security and trades work to any large or not so large organisation, the security guards and their employers, plus of course the necessary technicians and tradesmen, all have to go through police checks, and in some cases go as far as to obtain clearances from the secret spooks. The better licensed and higher classified the contracted security technicians and tradesmen are, the more the employer will require their services and the more money they will earn.

The security industry has gone through many changes over recent years and as a result there are many more professional opportunities in this industry.

So what are the studies you need to undertake to become a Threat Assessor and Manager of Security Risk - A consultant needs a minimum of five years' experience and must also be employed in the security industry – as a licensed security guard or working in the capacity of Security Advisor.. For information phone your TAFE or University to find out what studies would personally suit you.

author: a.a.gallagher - April 13 2011

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