Into: Independent Security Risk Consultants.
I, André Mundell, want to share a story about security solutions.
That highlights the disparity between an independent security risk assessment and one conducted by a security provider.
Several years ago, we received a call from a new client facing a troubling pattern. Criminals had seized a guard on the premises, using his radio to locate and overpower the rest of the security team. This enabled them to carry out multiple thefts, resulting in significant asset losses. Despite changing security providers, the same scenario unfolded four more times. Although each provider claimed to have conducted a security risk assessment, their recommendations aligned closely with their own services and products rather than addressing the client’s specific needs.
We recently conducted an independent security risk assessment for a corporate office building in Cape Town, where we identified several risks that standard assessments often fail to detect. Our independent approach enabled us to recommend practical measures to protect employees, clients, and assets while strengthening the building’s overall security framework.
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.
Upon conducting our own assessment, we identified critical oversights:
Previous providers had neglected to consider effective lighting options.
Thermal products were disregarded despite the property’s dark surroundings, with some providers lacking even basic knowledge of thermal technology.
Based on the premises’ size and layout, we proposed the following:
Retaining Company A as the internal security provider.
Employing Company B, an external provider in plain clothes, due to the recurrent issue of guards being overpowered.
Following our recommendations, when criminals struck again, Company B, unbeknownst to Company A, swiftly alerted the authorities, leading to the apprehension of the perpetrators.
This incident underscores
Security providers cannot conduct unbiased risk assessments or recommend solutions beyond their own offerings. Employing independent security risk consultants and assessors is crucial to identifying and addressing security risks effectively.
Independent assessors, free from affiliations with security providers, offer tailored solutions based on genuine risks and client needs. Contrarily, security providers often prioritize promoting their services, compromising the objectivity of their assessments.
It is essential for corporate leaders and business owners to prioritize safeguarding their assets and personnel. Before accepting security proposals, thorough scrutiny is imperative. Independent assessments are crucial for making informed decisions because security providers are unable to offer impartial risk assessments due to their conflicts of interest. Read more the full article on real security solutions published in smart security solutions.
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Written by Andre Mundell, Alwinco’s Independent Risk Consultant.
Gauteng (Waterkloof, Johannesburg, Waterfall, Sandton, and Littleton), Bloemfontein, Pinetown, and Cape Town are just a few of the regions in South Africa that our independent security consultant covers.