Planning for Business Continuity

From student protests to heavy snowfalls, IT breaches to the Olympics – organisations across the UK have had to quickly come to terms with the importance of having business continuity plans in place. James Kelly offers some advice on the security element of those plans.

With major events such as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games having impacted the UK throughout 2012, the importance of reviewing and updating business continuity plans
has become an item high on the agenda of many organisations. However, what facilities managers often fail to realise is that such plans should not sit alone, but form part of an integrated strategy that includes security, information management and business continuity. Certainly there are elements in all three that are unique to a single function, but the majority of policies and plans in one functional area will have an impact in another, if not in all three.Read it all here

Private Security: responding to changes and challenges

The private security industry recently faced its biggest and most public challenge ever. David Greer explores what that means for the sector.

It is unlikely that we could have imagined being in this position even ten years ago. Before the introduction of Security Industry Authority licensing in 2004, the private security industry was not generally held in high regard and its leaders would not have been at the heart of Olympic security planning. Licensing, together with initiatives like Project Griffin, has created greater trust between the police and the industry and we are now seeing some of the traditional police functions being transferred to the private sector. The summer of 2012 provided the opportunity for security businesses to demonstrate their capabilities to the world.

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Electronic vs Manned Security

By Alessia Vinerba, Communications Executive for the British Security Industry Association

The importance of certification

Whether buyer or supplier, third party certification makes an important contribution across all business sectors. Chris Pinder, Sales & Marketing Manager with the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) looks at the important role certification plays and outlines why a trend towards the integration of FM and security is providing interesting certification challenges

Managing your car parks the professional way

Effective management of a car park can be a minefield. Historically, the private parking industry has been a playground for cowboys, rogue operators and intimidating debt collectors but, in recent years, the British Parking Association has taken on responsibility for re-addressing that reputation with the formation of its Approved Operator Scheme. Patrick Troy outlines the benefits

Using the approved contractors scheme (ACS) to help choose a security provider - an inside view

The Approved Contractor Scheme and the complusory licensing of security officers offers many benefits for Facilities Managers.  Stuart Lowden, of Wilson James, takes us through some of the key points of how it works and the criteria of the assessment process.

Access Control: What's the best solution?

Accessibility and ease of circulation are central considerations in the management of any building, but how do we balance the need for efficient and convenient movement with the needs of security?  Making the right choice of access control system and supplier is the key to this question.  Mike Sussman explains.

Integrated business solutions

Jason Choy looks at the possibilities offered by the security industry’s latest technologies and considers how facilities managers can benefit.

Good security is good for everyone

It is important that government bodies, the police, the security industry and security users work in collaboration to help build a vibrant, professional and reliable private security industry. Jessica Clinkett says the SIA is leading the way.

Combining people and technology: added value in security

Finding the best way to protect people and property sometimes comes down to a choice between security personnel and technology, but many companies are gaining significant benefits by combining the two approaches, rather than choosing between them. David Dickinson explains. 

Maximising quality, minimising risk

Facilities managers can benefit from a voluntary accreditation scheme that helps make sure they have high-quality private security provision. Andy Drane explains how. 

RFID moves into the future

Gary Watkins, MD of Service Works Global, guides us through the possibilities presented by advancements in radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. 

Reactive maintenance: do you feel lucky?

Planning for reactive maintenance may sound like a contradiction but when it comes to physical security, failure to make contingency arrangements could leave you exposed, as Jimmy Durrance of J Durrance and Company explains. 

Access control – your life made simpler

Future access control systems, for physical or logical access, need to be flexible enough for today's multi-functional work environments while being able to control access to data of all levels of sensitivity. Companies need to adopt a comprehensive access control strategy that can utilise a variety of authentication methods.

Workplace security for the 21st century

The majority of today's enterprise security solutions are combinations of hardware and software that are now consolidating from disparate, stand-alone systems into a more holistic approach based on centralised intelligence and policy-based controls.

Flirting with disaster?

Facilities managers are well aware of the issues involved in maintaining the physical security of the properties entrusted to them: gates and locks, bolts and bars are basic parts of the job. Now they are being asked to respond to increasing commercial competition and greater physical threats by taking a role in securing the very existence of the businesses they serve.

Licensing is coming – and the security guarding industry will never be the same again

Professionals in the security guarding industry who are prepared for the licensing of security officers due to start in 2005 can look forward to the many positive changes that will occur in the industry as a consequence.

Procuring security in an FM context

Security is crucial for business continuity and the protection of business-critical information. But a smarter approach to procurement and management of security services can add real value and cost benefits to the end customer as well as the FM provider.

Are you protecting your assets properly?

Close to one million incidents of criminal damage, theft and burglary against non-residential properties are reported annually. Neil Walker explains how a little planning, foresight and implementation of the right physical security measures could deter many of these offences before they have the opportunity to take place.

The changing face of security guarding

The licensing of security officers will change the face of the industry in many ways. Guarding companies that wish to thrive in this new marketplace will have to adapt, moving away from labour supply to more rounded security solutions.