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Aaron Steensma: New Year, New Security Strategy December 27, 2024 (0 comments)
Gunter, TX--The Christmas and Holiday season is coming to an end, and our focus turns to the excitement and possibilities of the new year ahead. Yet, before the ball drops in Times Square, we are given a moment to pause, reflect, and set resolutions for the year to come. During this time of silence, we envision meaningful goals leading to future success.
As part of an effective goal-setting process, it is essential to incorporate safeguards that protect and support the achievement of these objectives. The more committed we are to our success, the more intentional we become in establishing safeguards that ensure progress and resilience along the way. This principle applies to both personal and professional goal setting, making the New Year an opportune time to evaluate and define what security success should look like for your home and business in 2025.
To grow and thrive in the future, we must first acknowledge and learn from the past. This requires confronting the shortcomings of previous losses and gaining valuable insights from our own and others' errors. By adopting this proactive approach, we can establish realistic and actionable goals that are both meaningful and proven to drive change.
Starting with a simple, achievable goal is often the best way to build towards meaningful growth. The immediate sense of accomplishment serves as a “quick win” which builds confidence and creates momentum, further empowering us to tackle more challenging goals. A prime example of an easy yet impactful security measure is the development and training of an emergency action plan.
An emergency action plan is a written document outlining the best practices and step-by-step actions to take during an emergency. A familiar example is fire safety protocols: from a young age, we are trained to respond to fire alarms by dropping everything and evacuating immediately. This clear, rehearsed process promotes safety and ensures professionals can take over without obstruction.
The same principle applies to a security emergency action plan. A well-documented and regularly practiced security emergency action plan equips employees with the knowledge and skills to respond effectively, reducing the risk of emotional and physical harm. Such preparation helps employees resist the instinct to fight back—a response proven to be both dangerous and, in some cases, fatal. Instead, removing oneself from harm’s way remains the most effective and safest practice for survival.
Upon the creation and implementation of an emergency action plan, it is very important to remain current on strategies proven to be effective and avoid what is outdated. The reasoning for this is as Sir Isaac Newton's third law of motion states, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” This stands true for security. When one security measure is discovered by criminals, they react, modifying their behavior. A perfect example of this is the increased use of security cameras, which led to criminals more frequently covering their faces to conceal their identities.
Once a foundational security goal is achieved, continuing to develop and implement additional measures that can further enhance security. These can include both overt and covert strategies and systems.
Overt security measures are visible deterrents that signal a location is well-prepared and proactive in its security. Examples include installing license plate reading cameras at parking lot entrances, placing concrete bollards around a store to prevent vehicles from ramming into the building, or utilizing magnetic locking mechanisms on doors. These visible measures act as a strong deterrent, as they are security measures criminals look for when scouting potential targets.
Covert security measures, on the other hand, are discreet strategies that work behind the scenes. Examples include embedding tracking devices in jewelry display pedestals or applying clear security film over glass display cases to prevent case penetration. While not immediately apparent, these measures provide an additional layer of protection and allow for effective responses in the event of an incident.
By combining overt and covert security measures, businesses are well on their way to developing a comprehensive security strategy that not only deters criminal activity but also ensures preparedness and resilience in the face of potential threats. Furthermore, having a strong security strategy provides employees and customers confidence. A lackadaisical response to security measures only harms consumer confidence and provides the adversary the upper hand. Criminal incidents with large losses are proven to make customers hesitant and reluctant to hand over valued items like family heirloom jewelry, even for small corrective work.
As we end one year and start another, I recommend taking an honest look at your current security posture and identifying where there is room for growth. Although this can be a daunting task in the face of all the year-end activities, it is best to identify and correct any security vulnerabilities criminals will exploit as the world welcomes in 2025.
Aaron Steensma is the President of Fortified Castle Consulting and a retired Police Detective in the North Dallas/Fort Worth area who specialized in residential and commercial burglary, theft, and robbery investigations. Fortified Castle Consulting is a company dedicated to supporting individuals and organizations through the development and implementation of robust security strategies aimed at crime prevention and threat mitigation. Fortified Castle Consulting owns The Castle Vault, a 256-bit encrypted, SOC 2cybersecurity compliant Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform that allows users to safely store high-definition images and appraisals of valuable assets in a centralized online system. In the event of theft, natural disaster, or fire, users can easily download their stored data in PDF format and share it as needed. To reach Aaron, call (888) 344-2879 or email him at aaron@fortifiedcastleconsulting.com. For more information about Fortified Castle Consulting, please visit the website at www.fortifiedcastleconsulting.com.