Back to the Basics

Back to the Basics

Security is a continuous evolution of practices and procedures. The developments in technology and advancements in threats make security difficult at times. Although security from one location may look different from another location, there is a common goal applied to security measures. The common goal is protection.

To understand what your security measures are protecting, you must know what your assets are. Why are your assets important and to what degree of damage would the loss of these assets cause. Loss is not defined solely in monetary value, but also in life. Security practitioners are familiar with common assets that require protection. People will always be an asset however; the degree of damage the loss of people cause will differ from one location to another.

Structures are another common asset that requires protection. A basic question to ask regarding this asset is, can the mission continue in another location or structure? Alternatively, will the loss of your current location cause significant impacts in operations? Information systems are now inevitable in any business and are an important asset. With information systems, the physical loss is not as high as the loss of information on the information systems. Protection of this asset will obviously look different from those security measures protecting person or structures.

Why bring up the common knowledge of what assets are and how the loss of those assets can affect a business?

Because security requirements shift, creating an unacknowledged gap in basic security measures. The shift in requirements may be based on a new project or customer however; the security measures may be shifted or altered but they do not change. Evaluate all assets to determine the proper type of security. It is the security practitioner’s responsibility to address the assets and applicable security measures.

What security practitioners should focus on is getting back to the basics. Security practices and procedures have developed into an extensive list of “check the box” items that standard security measures have become an afterthought. Back to the basics consists of physical security, information security and staff security.

Physical security should focus on basic access requirements to facilities, information and information systems. Information security should focus on proper handling (including marking and destruction) and safeguarding of information. Staff security should focus on applicable clearances, reporting and access levels.

When security practitioners focus on the basics, day-to-day, their entire security program can be manageable. Back to the basics’ principles are lost when security practitioners lose focus and turn to a reactive mode. Reactive mode can occur for many reasons. One reason may be that the security practitioner is overwhelmed with the amount of work they have. A lack of organization skills may cause an overwhelming feeling. Another reason may be that the security practitioner lacks understanding or even experience in some or all of the security disciplines required for their position. What is important is that the security practitioner acknowledges they do not know everything and knows where to find the answers.

Operating in a reactive mode will never allow any security program to be effective. If a security practitioner finds himself or herself in this situation, they should take a moment to step back and reflect as to why they are in their current position. There could be a multitude of reasons why: lack in management support; lack of funding; or lack in expertise, to name a few. Identifying this cause is a great step towards identifying the best solution. In the end, a security practitioner should be honest with themselves in regards to their knowledge, expertise and capability in creating, implementing, and managing a security program.

About the Author

Dr. Megan Schulze has more than 20 years of experience with the Department of Defense. She obtained her Doctorate in Business Administration with a focus on Homeland Security Leadership and Policy. Schulze has created, implemented and managed multiple security disciplines.

Featured

  • Security Today Announces The Govies Government Security Award Winners for 2025

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 winners in The Govies Government Security Awards. The awards honor outstanding government security products in a variety of categories. Read Now

  • Survey: 60 Percent of Organizations Using AI in IT Infrastructure

    Netwrix, a cybersecurity provider focused on data and identity threats, today announced the release of its annual global 2025 Cybersecurity Trends Report based on a global survey of 2,150 IT and security professionals from 121 countries. It reveals that 60% of organizations are already using artificial intelligence (AI) in their IT infrastructure and 30% are considering implementing AI. Read Now

  • New Research Reveals Global Video Surveillance Industry Perspectives on AI

    Axis Communications, the global industry leader in video surveillance, has released its latest research report, ‘The State of AI in Video Surveillance,’ which explores global industry perspectives on the use of AI in the security industry and beyond. The report reveals current attitudes on AI technologies thanks to in-depth interviews with AI experts from Axis’ global network and a comprehensive survey of more than 5,800 respondents, including distributors, channel partners, and end customers across 68 countries. The resulting insights cover AI integration and the opportunities and challenges that exist with regard to security, safety, business intelligence, and operational efficiency. Read Now

  • SIA Urges Tariff Relief for Security Industry Products

    Today, the Security Industry Association has sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick requesting relief from tariffs for security industry products and asking that the Trump administration formulate a process that allows companies to apply for product-specific exemptions. The security industry is an important segment of the U.S. economy, contributing over $430 billion in total economic impact and supporting over 2.1 million jobs. Read Now

  • Report Shows Cybercriminals Continue Pivot to Stealthier Tactics

    IBM recently released the 2025 X-Force Threat Intelligence Index highlighting that cybercriminals continued to pivot to stealthier tactics, with lower-profile credential theft spiking, while ransomware attacks on enterprises declined. IBM X-Force observed an 84% increase in emails delivering infostealers in 2024 compared to the prior year, a method threat actors relied heavily on to scale identity attacks. Read Now

New Products

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.