(TLP:CLEAR) UK National Protective Security Authority – Professionalizing Security

Summary: The UK’s National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) published a guidance report “Professionalizing Security,” which outlines how organizations can develop and maintain a professional, motivated, and attentive security guard force and closed-circuit television (CCTV) or video surveillance staff.

Analyst Note: The physical security threat landscape facing the water and wastewater sector today is increasingly complex, dynamic, and volatile; the sector is viewed as an attractive target by a wide range of threat actors. Given this heightened physical security threat, it’s critical for water and wastewater utilities to maintain a professional security guard force. A dedicated security guard force provides continuous monitoring, rapid response to physical security incidents, and a visible deterrent that reduces the likelihood of an incident occurring in the first place.

According to NPSA’s guidance document, “security officers can help to create a positive security culture and help to embed behavior change. They will often be the first point of contact that staff and visitors have when entering your premises and the way they behave and carry out their duties will set an example of how your organization priorities security.” Moreover, with opportunistic threat actors looking to exploit security gaps, a motivated, attentive and observant security staff in these roles can form a highly-effective deterrent presence and final line of defense where other interventions (e.g., electronic security access) have failed, the guidance notes.

In addition, NPSA’s guidance document provides recommendations for increasing the effectiveness of a utility’s CCTV staff. It emphasizes that the “human factor,” or the operator team, is often neglected but is equally as important in achieving the aims of the CCTV function. Lastly, the report links to a separate report, “Motivation Within the Security Industry guidance,” which was developed for security managers to provide practical guidance on workforce motivation in order to improve security effectiveness.

Original Source: https://www.npsa.gov.uk/specialised-guidance/hostile-reconnaissance/professionalising-security

Additional Reading:

• (TLP:CLEAR) UK National Protective Security Authority Releases Guidance on Fostering a Security Culture
• (TLP:CLEAR) UK National Protective Security Authority Releases Guidance on Perimeter Security – Security Fences and Gates

Related WaterISAC PIRs: 5