What is a security risk? What is a risk assessment exactly? Why should I invest in a security risk assessment? Who should think about getting one?
Security risk assessment is an important discussion to have with your independent risk consultant. These are the 4 questions we have been answering for the past 20 years, but in the same breath, we should ask:Why do people seek medical advice from doctors? What urges financial companies to undergo financial audits? Why do individuals go to specialists? Why would a contractor consult environmental specialists or engineers? The answer is straightforward: the need for expert guidance and advice. When you visit a doctor because you’re ill, you’re seeking their expertise to aid in your recovery. Similarly, developers rely on engineers for advice on matters like load-bearing capacities.
We recently conducted an independent security risk assessment for a hospital in Nelspruit, where we identified vulnerabilities that are often overlooked in standard assessments. Our independent approach enabled us to recommend practical measures to protect patients, staff, and visitors while improving the overall security of the facility.
If you would like to learn more about our assessments or have specific topics you would like us to address, please email your suggestions to andre@alwinco.co.za. We will create and publish articles on our website tailored to your interests.
A Risk Assessment report
serves as an audit for your security setup. It provides clients with vital information, including identification of risks, strategies for risk mitigation, and explanations behind those strategies. Allow me to share a true story, although a tragic one. A woman, accustomed to setting her alarm for 7 o’clock every morning to take her children to school, followed this routine for 12 years. However, on one fateful day, upon returning home, she unwittingly walked into a burglary in progress. Tragically, she lost her life that day, her throat slashed by the intruders.
You might wonder why
I’ve shared this disturbing story. It’s to emphasize the critical importance of Risk Assessments. Despite having an alarm system in place, which did activate, security’s reaction was dispatched. Sadly, she beat the reaction team by only one minute. In that brief window before security could arrive, she tragically lost her life. She fell victim to a critical oversight. Her security provider had not informed her about a vital device called a communicator.This device, connected to the alarm, similar to a phone, sends out ten to twenty alerts via SMS messages when the alarm is triggered. Had she possessed one, she might still be alive today. She, along with her neighbors, friends, and others, would have received an SMS alert about the break-in, advising her not to return home. Unfortunately, this option was never presented to her.
Here’s another story for you:
There’s a person living in a corner house. Their security provider gave them a standard alarm system. I advised them that this approach wouldn’t be very effective. Criminals tend to target the back of the house because the front and one side are well-lit due to streetlights, making them less risky. However, the back is darker and more secluded, making it a higher risk. Unfortunately, they didn’t heed my advice, and a serious crime occurred. The regular alarm system failed to alert in time. If they had listened and installed a small gate contractor on the left side of the house where the gate is, along with a flimsy fence, the outcome could have been different. Since the fence was unstable, criminals wouldn’t have attempted to climb it. Instead, they would have used the gate. By installing an R32.00 contactor on the gate, it would have triggered the alarm and turned on the lights at the back immediately. Tragically, their negligence resulted in a crime that could have been prevented with simple precautions.
These stories
Underscore the essence of a security risk assessment—to identify vulnerabilities and provide risk-specific solutions. However, it’s essential to clarify that a risk assessor’s role is purely advisory; they do not do installations or sales. This independence ensures that recommendations are solely focused on mitigating risks, not on promoting specific products or services. Every news report of a crime serves as a reminder that the individual’s security was not good enough. The absence of a thorough security risk assessment often leaves security risks unaddressed, resulting in preventable tragedies.
This brings us to a crucial point:
Individuals must take proactive steps to safeguard their homes, businesses, and communities. A security risk assessment isn’t merely about identifying risks; it’s about empowering individuals with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves effectively. People in South Africa often overlook the importance of seeking the right help for their security concerns. It’s like not going to a doctor when you’re sick or not asking a mechanic to fix your car’s engine when it’s broken. This is a common problem we face: not seeking the proper advice on solutions for our security issues. A security risk assessment is like a profound investigation into your security needs. The basic principles are the same whether it’s for a house, school, company, warehouse, or hospital, but some details may vary. For example, communication is key in any setting, but the way security communication works in a house might differ from how it works in a company or hospital.
Imagine this:
Your home is your sanctuary, but if your alarm goes off and alerts the security company while you’re away, you might not know there’s a problem until it’s too late. Or worse, you’re at home, and you see intruders on your camera breaking in. Suddenly, your safe haven becomes a death trap. This is a big reason why we’ve seen so much violence related to security over the years. After the alarm sounds, what do you do next? Especially at 2 in the morning when strangers are entering your home. And what about your children? Many people don’t talk to their kids about what to do in these situations, leaving them unprepared and scared. The children have absolutely no idea how the panic system in the house works. We are not supposed to talk about crime in front of children.
Come on, guys!!! We live in South Africa!!!
Crime and South Africa go together like braaivleis and pap or a vuvuzela and soccer. You can’t have South Africa without crime; partly we are at fault because we let crime happen. We can’t ignore the reality of crime in South Africa; it’s part of our daily lives. But we also can’t just give up and accept it. We need to take action to protect ourselves and our communities. But too often, people want security without taking responsibility for it. They want access control but do not want to be stopped at the gate. They want cameras, but they don’t want to actively monitor them. It’s like saying, “It’s not my problem,” even though they still live in South Africa, where crime is a constant concern.
There are different types of crimes we face.
“Inner crime” comes from those we know (like family or coworkers), and “outer crime” comes from strangers outside our circles. But the question remains: how do we fix it? The answer is simple: with a security risk assessment. Just like you go to a doctor when you’re sick or a financial auditor when you need financial advice, you should turn to a security risk assessor for guidance on how to protect yourself from crime. Unfortunately, many people turn to friends or family members who claim to know about security, but their advice doesn’t work. That’s why it’s crucial for everyone to get a security risk assessment from an independent risk assessor. The South African government’s security measures are lacking, even in places like hospitals and schools. It’s up to us to take control of our own security.
Remember,
Security systems are only effective if we take action when they alert us. We need to be proactive in protecting ourselves and our loved ones. And getting a security risk assessment is just the first step towards taking control and reducing our fear of crime. As soon as you control something, it means you are in the driver’s seat. This is only one percent of the reasons why you need a security risk assessment. Read more on a security discussion with your partner.
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Written by André Mundell, Alwinco’s Independent security advisor.
Strategic locations like Westdene, Umhlanga, Cape Town, Midrand, Sandton, Arcadia, and the Glen are included in our security risk assessment projects.