Viewing the world through a security lens for a safer community
While not everyone works in the security world, everyone can benefit from being more security-minded in everyday situations. Learning to look at the world through a security lens can help you ensure safety for what matters most: the people in your family and your community. The safety of our communities rests on all our shoulders, so training yourself to view the world through a security lens is a valuable endeavor. One of the early skills to learn is to be able to identify potential threats or vulnerabilities. You can’t protect yourself and your community until you understand what you are protecting yourself from.
Learn to Identify Security Threats
One of the keys to good security is being able to look at your business, home or property through the eyes of someone who may pose a threat. This begins with knowing your enemy, and that will vary depending on what you’re protecting. Is there a certain type of crime that is common in your area? Have your neighbors reported break-ins in the past? Are your employees often targeted by phishing attacks to their work accounts? Do your research and keep up to date with local news and laws being passed in your area. Join online neighborhood groups or access local crime reports to see if you can find answers to what danger you might be facing. Once you know that, you can begin to think like the threats and then combat them.
Think Like the Enemy
Once you’ve identified the type of threats you’re facing, you can begin to evaluate your business or home from their perspective. A great way to start is with taking a walk around your property and really look at the security features. Consider what areas the cameras cover, what people can see from the street and how much foot traffic there is. If you share a space with other businesses, learn what type of businesses they are and what type of clients they attract. Do the same walk at night so you can see if there are people hanging around late or if there are spaces that are poorly lit.
When you have your threat in mind, you can think through how they might exploit any vulnerabilities they see. If you have a back door with no gate, lighting or cameras, that could be a major weakness in your security that someone could easily take advantage of.
You need to also consider non-physical vulnerabilities. This could be as simple as making sure you have anti-virus software on your personal computer to protect yourself from malware. For a business, especially one where your employees do much of their work on computers, train your employees in how to spot and deal with phishing attacks.
Taking the steps to understand how threats may view your property can equip you to protect it. It’s always better to be proactive rather than reactive in security, so find the holes in your security and fix them before someone has the chance to exploit them.
Always Be Improving
Good security is not a one-and-done process; it’s ongoing. Threats are constantly changing and evolving, so your security needs to do the same. Make the walk around your property to check security a monthly event. Evaluate whether employees need further training on any security topics. If an incident does occur, like a break-in, that means you need to reevaluate the effectiveness of your current security measures.
As you practice seeing things with a security mindset, it will begin to become more naturally. Before you know it, your security skills will help make your community safer.
If you’re looking for a partner in your security journey, Adamo’s security system services are there for you. We can run a vulnerability assessment on your property and walk you through the best security options based on your unique needs. We currently serve San Diego County and central Texas, and we’re constantly expanding into new neighborhoods. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to find out when we’re serving your area, and to learn more about how to improve your security acumen.
