An independent assessor’s guidelines, beliefs, foundation, and values.
The following points describe Alwinco’s standards, foundation, values, and guidelines that guide an Independent Security Risk Assessor through each Security Risk Assessment.
1-15
- An Independent Security Risk Assessor must be registered with PSIRA. “The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) is the governing body and regulatory authority for the private security industry. Anyone who wishes to work in security must be registered with PSIRA.”
- An Independent Security Risk Assessor is not a security company or any of its subsidiaries. They are a company that assesses security risks.
- A truly independent security risk assessor does not compete with those using free email addresses. An Independent Risk Assessor’s accreditation can be verified and justified at any time. Anyone can create a Gmail account in seconds. It takes years of hard work to establish a Security Risk Assessment Consultancy, and those who are proud of their achievements value the quality of their work.
- Always research (vet) an independent security risk assessor online (for example, “Alwinco” or “Andre Mundell”) to expand your knowledge of our work and offerings through articles, documents, and other relevant information.
- A Security Risk Assessment is also referred to as a security survey, threat analysis, risk identification, physical security audit, security inspection, or vulnerability assessment.
- An Independent Security Risk Assessor understands that the first step in solving a problem is to conduct an honest assessment.
- It is critical to understand that a Security Risk Assessment is not the same as risk management. How can risks be managed if they have not yet been identified?
- Beyond the paperwork, an Independent Security Risk Assessor understands the true purpose of a Risk Assessment: to protect not only the property but also the people who live or work there.
- A Security Risk Assessment is not only intended to protect you or your business from crime. Although that is an important part, it also protects your investment.
- An Independent Security Risk Assessor recognizes the impact crime can have on a person, business, or family. That is why security is at the heart of every Independent Assessor.
- Independent Security Risk Assessment consultancies are currently in short supply in South Africa.
- A project has only one assessor. Nobody sees things in exactly the same way. Having more than one assessor on the same project is like having two artists paint the same portrait, each with a different vision of how it should look.
- An Independent Security Risk Assessor always tells the truth about your security.
- An Independent Assessor takes pride in their Security Risk Assessment document, not only because of the information and detailed solutions it provides but also because of the value it adds to security structures and, ultimately, to people’s lives.
- Security is viewed from a different perspective, which sets an Independent Security Risk Assessor apart. It begins from the criminal’s point of view.
16-30
- An Independent Security Risk Assessor examines both the property and people’s behavior and routines. This is the most important perspective to consider.
- An Independent Security Risk Assessor stays true to the principles of the assessment, ensuring that they cover all bases should they ever be called to testify in court as an expert witness. Any deviation from these principles will discredit the Assessor as an Independent Consultant.
- A truly independent security risk assessor follows their own protocols and does not allow anyone to dictate how they conduct the assessment.
- Crime is real and affects everyone in some way.
- South African crime is severe. Evil is something else entirely. Those who are evil believe their actions are justified, no matter how violent. They act without conscience or concern for those they harm.
- A Security Risk Assessment has a simple scope: risk exists where threat and opportunity intersect. An Independent Security Risk Assessor always works within this scope.
- An Independent Security Risk Assessor communicates findings, solutions, and information clearly and simply to ensure that everyone involved understands the assessment. This is especially important when decisions and actions must be taken.
- Because an Independent Security Risk Assessor understands the real impact of crime, they always go the extra mile.
- Each project is funded independently by the consultancy. Funds from one project should never be used to start another. Every risk assessment project pays for itself. At Alwinco, we do not borrow funds from one project to finance another. This is explained in detail in our proposals.
- Once the assessment is completed, all related documentation should be cross-referenced.
- Any Independent Security Risk Assessment document is a living document; it never dies.
- A Security Risk Assessment must look beyond the present. It should also cater to the future. It is never a one-off solution. The assessment forms the foundation of your security, both now and in the future. A strong foundation ensures that everything built on it remains effective and lasting.
- An Independent Security Risk Assessor explores every possible avenue for solutions and often thinks outside the box to ensure each recommendation is site- and risk-specific.
- An Independent Security Risk Assessor values time. It cannot be bought back, so a true assessor never wastes anyone’s time.
- An Independent Assessor treats confidentiality with the utmost respect, in line with Article 37 of the Security Act. You should never break a confidentiality agreement.
31-45
- A Risk Assessment should inform, not instill fear. It should provide knowledge about crime, security, and risk to help people understand how to reduce risk and improve safety.
- The solutions provided in an assessment are tailored to your specific environment. The research behind them is what makes them effective.
- An Independent Risk Assessor does not conduct cosmetic assessments. The assessments are factual, practical, and focused on eliminating risks that could lead to crime.
- An Independent Risk Assessor does not assess smokescreens. The assessments are thorough and based on reality, not appearances.
- An Independent Assessor’s vocabulary does not include the word “compromise.” They do not cut corners. They always follow the full process and focus their efforts on identifying real risks.
- If a security risk is not addressed, it will not disappear, not overnight, and not overtime. Left alone, it will only grow worse.
- Independent Risk Assessors do not engage in price wars. They understand what it takes to produce a thorough assessment. The cost reflects the time, effort, and expertise required, including the work of agents, experts, and typists.
- The goal is never to focus on price alone, but people must still be paid. Each process has a cost, and when you cut the price, you cut processes, which affects the quality of the final assessment.
- A Security Risk Assessment is not the same as a Risk Management report, a Health & Safety report, or a Security Company’s sales report.
- A good Security Risk Assessor does not compare their processes to those of security companies. They understand that a security company cannot conduct a true Security Risk Assessment due to the nature of their business. They can only do product assessments, which are entirely different.
- If the same person is responsible for both security and health and safety in a business, there is a major risk. Security always loses because the officer prioritizes Health and Safety, as the law requires it.
- There are no shortcuts to the perfect security solution. It must begin with an Independent Security Risk Assessment.
- An Independent Security Risk Assessor’s work is not a witch-hunt. It is a search for the truth, nothing more, nothing less.
- It is not a Risk Assessor’s role to judge. They ask questions to gather information and understand processes.
- A Security Risk Assessment is never personal.
45-55
- The solutions provided in an assessment are risk-specific, practical, and properly researched to ensure they fit the identified risks.
- A Security Risk Assessment provides enough information for you to understand your risks, why they exist, what must be done to remove them, and how to do so.However, no matter how much information an assessor provides, if you don’t read the report or ask questions, it will remain just words on paper.
- On request, an Independent Security Risk Assessor can provide an assessment summary (priced separately). It’s important to understand that a summary is not a full assessment. It cannot replace the complete document or include all the details needed to make informed decisions. It is only a reference tool. The original Risk Assessment remains the primary source for recommendations and solutions.
- An Independent Security Risk Assessment document considers far more than just crime and security. It includes security awareness, daily safety habits, and other valuable insights.
- In the past 20 years, no property has been able to show me their Security Risk Assessment report. Many confuse it with the Occupational Health and Safety report, but these are two entirely different documents.
- If a client wastes our time, a 20% penalty fee will apply. This is the only penalty fee we charge.
- When Alwinco conducts a risk assessment, we follow the plan exactly as described in our proposal.
- Alwinco writes each risk assessment in a specific format that has proven effective over the past 20 years.
- If someone wants the report in a different format, it is the duty of their security manager or risk manager to change it. Our format exists for a reason, and we adhere to it.
- After reading the risk assessment, if you have any questions, please send them to Alwinco by email. We will respond to your question via email, and both the question and answer will form the next addendum to the risk assessment. This process also helps future readers understand the context of the questions and answers.
Written by André Mundell André Mundell serves as an independent risk consultant for Alwinco.
We provide security risk assessments for customers in Centurion, Bloemfontein, Durban North, Pretoria East, Constantia, and other Gauteng cities. These evaluations apply to residences, businesses, industrial estates, farms, and other sorts of properties.