The Catch 22 of Effective Security

I wrote before about my belief that most security professionals unfortunately focus too much on the reactive nature of security, rather than the proactive aspect of it (Check that blog post here).  Aside from the fact that the reactive part is more tangible (more on this soon), it is also without a doubt the “sexier” aspect of security.  After all, it is much more exciting to go in guns blazing and engage a threat than it is to prevent the threat to begin with.  Example: how many people took dignitary protection courses where the emphasis was on the firearms training?  That is obviously the wrong approach as the whole goal of a protective detail is to avoid threats to begin with (via proper advance work, counter surveillance initiatives, proper intelligence gathering, and adequate security posture).  If handguns come out during a security detail then we must assume that some big mistakes occurred leading to it.  Another example would be Active Shooter Response: police and first responders train heavily on how to respond to an active shooter/threat situation.  However, by the time they respond they are already behind the 8-ball and are fighting a losing battle.  Even if the shooter managed to shoot only one round, he (the shooter) has already won.  A better approach would be to not allow the shooter in to begin with.

Don’t get me wrong.  I am as much of a proponent of making sure that if you are in a position where you must engage a threat than you have to make sure you do not lose.  That is one fight that you MUST win and decisively so.  Be it addressing an active shooter or an potential assassin on your dignitary.  If forced to react skills must be sharp and effective.  But…it should be secondary to effective deterrence and detection skills and tactics.

During my career as a security consultant I found out though that being good doesn’t always pay off.  If performing your duties effectively, a security professional should mitigate risks to such a level that nothing happens.  Unfortunately that is often times interpreted by the organization or individual who hired you as a reason to not need you any more.  After all, nothing happened for a while, so your services are obviously no longer needed.  Their narrow sighted view of the picture prevents them from seeing that it is because of your efforts that nothing has happened.  If you do your job right nothing happens, and if something happens you must suck at your job.  Either way you lose.

Back to being tangible, or measurable variables now.  One can quantify and qualify hits on targets, or operationally hits on bad guys.  What one cannot quantify is all the catastrophes that were potentially averted by implementation of proper security measures.  How does one measure something that didn't happen?

Reality is that it doesn’t have to be this way.  As threats are becoming more apparent, global, and capture more of the public attention, it is becoming easier for security professionals, from Chief Security Officers to dignitary protection specialists, and even police administrators, to justify their existence and their value by contrasting their work with the cost of liability and damages associated with a potential threat.  In other words, by showing what a realistic and probable threat would cost the organization/individual, the security professional can better articulate the cost of his efforts (from salaries to implementation of security initiatives).  Nowadays, security professionals who effectively do their job, can justify a seat around the table at the C-suite, and increase value by demonstrating how much money their efforts are saving the organization.

Ultimately though the decision is one: a security professional must do what is right.  And the right thing to do is prevent and mitigate threats and risks to the best of their ability.  Failure to do so is not only a blemish on their reputation (and by association, that of other security professionals), but it may also cost lives and money, none of which is acceptable.   All we can do is be professionals and improve the way we present our value to those who hire us.

As always, stay safe and watch your six. 

BK Blankchtein

Masada Tactical Protective Services