Selecting Right Security Consultant

 Selecting of Right Security Consultant

To find the right person or organization for your project, check references, create a good request for proposal and learn whether or not they will be contracting out some of the work.

If you have ever considered using a security consultant and found yourself a bit confused by the topic, don’t feel alone. Finding the right consultant, one who will save you money and benefit your campus requires a little understanding. Here are some tips that should help clear up some of the confusion.

1. What is a security consultant?

A security consultant is an individual or group of individuals who have specialized knowledge in some facet of the security industry. A consultant should serve only the interest of his or her client. Persons who work with, for or receive compensation from a vendor, integrator or anyone else who may directly benefit from your project fall into a separate category.

Some vendors may offer to provide security planning free of charge. They may even do a competent and ethical job. The problem remains that in-house experts will always have conflicting priorities: 1. to maximize company profit, and 2. to save money and work solely in the interest of their client (the vendor or integrator). A true consultant works only in the interest of their client (the hospital, school or university) with no potential conflicts.

2. How do security consultants learn their trade?

Security consultants usually begin their career in one of the many disciplines in the security industry. They may start their careers as police officers, electronic engineers, installers, integrators or manufacturers. Individual work with MNCs last 10-12Yr can show appreciation letter from there customer. The list can be extensive. 

Knowing how and from where they developed their consulting career can be helpful in judging their compatibility with your project. The area where they began will often indicate the area(s) where they are most knowledgeable.

 
3. What activities are covered by security consultants?

One of the many difficulties in choosing the right consultant is that the field is incredibly broad. Security is made up of hundreds of individual disciplines, all of which must fit carefully together like pieces of a large jigsaw puzzle. Unfortunately, no one can be an expert in all of the related topics. Here is just a partial list of specialties: perimeter fences, exterior access control, workplace violence, emergency planning, security force management, security policy and procedure, training, video surveillance, logical access control, intrusion detection, systems integration, key management, door and window hardware, building design issues, crime prevention through environmental design. The list could keep right on going. 

Some projects can be handled by an individual, while others may require a team to ensure the proper depth of knowledge in each critical subject area.

 
4. Should I look for depth or breadth of knowledge in a consultant?

Some security consultants know a little about everything, others may know a great deal about a few things. Your needs will help you determine which is most important. 

Consultants with great breadth of knowledge are valuable in seeing the overall picture, identifying all of the puzzle pieces and figuring the best way to fit them together. Consultants with depth of knowledge may be better at providing specifications for specific electronic hardware that will best fit campus requirements and compatibility needs. Finding a specialist with relatively good general security knowledge can be a real plus.

The ASIS International management credential (CPP) was designed to help specialists gain a broad understanding of the other security disciplines that must fit with their specialty. Having a CPP is not a guarantee of competence, but it is a means for a specialist to broaden his or her understanding of overall security.

5. How can security consultants benefit my campus?

Security consultants can provide a variety of services that can be quite valuable. They can:

·        Provide an unbiased view of your security needs

·        Bring knowledge from solving problems in different environments

·        Save money by resolving problems with cost effective solutions

·        Bring a fresh pair of eyes to review campus problems

·        Provide recommendations that may have more credibility than experts from the campus security department offering the same thoughts and ideas

·        Assist in negotiating lower bids by knowing what the labor time and charges should be for individual tasks

·        Write comprehensive specifications that make it difficult for unscrupulous vendors to add charges during the construction period

·        Provide post construction services to ensure that all aspects of the job have been completed properly as detailed in the specifications

·        Help recruit and select a truly qualified vendor

·        Provide other assistance

Not all consultants offer these advantages, but they are all possible when the right consultant is selected.

 

6. Should a consultant specialize in one type of campus?

If, for example, you currently manage security for a hospital, should your consultant specialize only in hospitals? Too much emphasis on specificity is reasonable but may also serve to eliminate the strongest contenders. Hospitals, high rise buildings, university campuses and schools all have unique security requirements. It is beneficial to choose consultants who have worked with and understand these requirements. 

On the other hand, consultants who also have experience outside that specific client type of institution may bring a greater breadth of ideas and experience.

7. What should I know about my consultant?
There are many things you will need to know about your consultant before signing the contract, including:

    ·        Their reputation by talking directly to their clients
·        The types of projects they work on, particularly those with similar complexity to yours
·        He / She self is member of (Security part) ASIS, SIA etc. Also check OEM contacts how is.
·        The strengths of all team members who will be assigned to your project
·        That the team will be committed to your project.
·        If they have the breadth to understand your overall security needs, and where and how a specific countermeasure must fit within the overall security program
·        If they have the depth of knowledge to write detailed specifications that will avoid extra construction period charges
·        Whether or not they have the capacity to handle your project without unreasonable delays. Companies with too many existing projects can result in delays or shortcuts that result in cost overruns.
·        Whether the contractor has any direct relationship with or receives compensation from any product or service that might relate to your project
 

8. What should I know about outsourcing and partnerships?
Some consulting organizations rely on partnerships to complete their tasks. This can be normal and beneficial to your project. Consultants who lack the required depth of knowledge in some area of your project can reach out to another consulting organization that has the requisite skill set.

It is critical that all partnerships and outsourced work be given the same scrutiny as the primary contractor. You will need to know their reputation, talk to their clients and have all team members listed along with their background and expertise.

9. How can I learn about a consultant’s reputation?
There are several things that can help in selecting the right consulting firm:

·        Develop in-house security knowledge. The broader your understanding of security, security countermeasures and how they fit together, the better you will be at selecting the right consultant.
·        Talk directly to former clients. Determine how close their project is to the one you anticipate. Ask about problems with their overall performance, including unanticipated cost overruns and delays in their service delivery. Ask how satisfied they are with the final result.
·        Get detailed information on all individuals who will be assigned to your project alongwith appreciation letter from his customers.
·        Check the information are true or falls.

10. How do I improve my chances in finding the right consultant?

·        Construct a well written request for proposal (RFP)

·        Take all prospective members on a job walk at least two weeks prior to the submittal due date 

·        Give them a good feel for your needs, areas of concern and project details 

·        Allow a period for them to submit questions prior to the proposal due date. The questions they ask may hint at their expertise. Share questions and answers with all potential vendors.

·        Have all competing vendors give a presentation on their approach and areas of emphasis that they would use in handling your project. Ensure that all evaluators fully understand the details of the RFP. 

·        The RFP should include mandatory disclosure of any monetary or other link between the consultant and any vendor that may be considered for the proposed work

·        Look beyond the low bid to your confidence in the organization and its ability to deliver what you need.

Thanks to Mr. James L. Grayson, CPP is a senior security consultant for Summers for support.