When we think of corporate security, our first tendency is to think of the guards who patrol the facility at night, or the security personnel who work in the reception area. While each of these individuals has an important role to play, one cannot forget about the impact a corporate security manager can have on both security staff and the company at large. Indeed, a quality corporate security manager’s influence on culture and policy can make a significant difference for almost any company.
So what roles does a corporate security manager play?
Here’s a closer look at some of the top responsibilities of this important position.
Risk assessment & mitigation
One of the most important responsibilities of a corporate security manager is to assess and mitigate the potential threats faced by a company. These safety and security hazards could be wide ranging, from theft and vandalism to environmental disasters. Corporate security managers regularly evaluate the risks faced by their company, and use this information to find solutions that will mitigate the threat. When done right, risk assessment leads to quality mitigation strategies that can eliminate or reduce many potential hazards.
Guard training & management
A physical security presence is a must-have for many corporate offices, so it should come as no surprise that a corporate security manager is responsible for overseeing the guard staff. In this leadership role, a manager will train guards on key security practices that are specific to the needs of their facility.
They can also hire a specialized company that will take steps to ensure that guards are equipped with all needed equipment and following industry operational standards. Your guards will know how to respond appropriately to security incidents and take steps to minimize risk.
Naturally, if the staff is in-house, this supervisory role also requires that a corporate security supervisor take care of standard managerial tasks, such as conducting performance reviews, managing employee schedules, and overseeing the hiring process. For facilities that use a third party to supply security guards, a corporate security manager will work to develop quality relationships with guard providers and take actions to ensure that his company’s needs are met.
Policy enforcement
A corporate security manager’s influence goes well beyond his own team of guards — in reality, it should also have a direct impact on everyone in the company. In this regard, a corporate security manager informs other employees of updated security policies and should even provide trainings on how to respond to a dangerous situation (such as a building fire). The corporate security manager enforces safety and security policies, taking steps to ensure that all employees are on the same page.
Compliance
Another important task of a corporate security manager is to ensure that their facility is fully compliant with all applicable safety and security regulations. This includes both national and local standards, which may cover everything from data protection and privacy to fire planning and other safety regulations.
The corporate security manager must stay up to date on all such regulations that could impact the company and make sure that the facility is meeting these requirements. Failure to do so could result in regulatory fines and other penalties levied against the company by the government.
Looking forward
The best corporate security managers are never complacent. Rather, they are constantly researching the latest in security advancements and looking for ways to make their operations more efficient, while being aware of the financial repercussions. They remain up to date on new threats and opportunities so they can make necessary changes to policies and procedures.
Perhaps most importantly, they look for ways to integrate new security technologies into their workforce. This proactive approach ensures that a company is always at the cutting edge of corporate security, creating an environment that protects people, products, and the company as a whole.
