Security resolutions for the new year

Most of us make new resolutions for the New Year. I’m not ashamed to admit my favorite one is to lose weight. Of course, this resolution doesn’t officially start until Jan. 2nd. After all, who can resist all the food while watching a lifetime of parades and football games in a single day?

About two weeks later after a bowl of “Cherry Garcia” ice cream, well you know the rest of the story. Obviously some of us are better with resolutions than others!

Have you considered making security resolutions for 2010 - both in your professional business environment and personal life? Here are few resolutions that might be helpful.

Professional

Resolve to become more involved in the day-to-day security requirements of your facility, employees, tenants and visitors.

Resolve to become more aware of criminal activity in the surrounding areas of your property by developing a relationship with your local law enforcement agency in order to receive constant updates of crime statistics and trends.

Resolve to have your local law enforcement agency conduct a security survey of your property.

Resolve to require your existing security vendors (access control, CCTV, contract security, etc.) conduct a security survey of your property to determine if you can cost effectively integrate their services.

Resolve to conduct a key and access card inventory. When was the last time this was done?

Resolve to review your system maintenance contracts.

Resolve to review your property post orders if you use security officers to determine if they address your property requirements, have the proper contact names and numbers, last update, etc.

Resolve to review your property training requirements and if they are being maintained. Have risks and requirements changed that have not been reflected in the training? If all security officers are to be CPR, first aid and AED certified, are they?

Resolve to have a new lighting survey done for perimeter lights and parking garage lights, if appropriate.

Resolve to take advantage of law enforcement services or your vendors by providing crime prevention educational seminars for your employees and tenants.

Personal

Resolve to realistically address your current personal security program.

Resolve to review personal and home security with your family.

Resolve to have your local law enforcement agency conduct a security survey of your home.

Resolve to make sure all of your keys are accounted for.

Resolve to take those photos of your home, interior and contents.

Resolve to place those irreplaceable items in a UL-rated chest or in a safe deposit box.

Resolve to purchase a paper, credit card and disk shredder for disposal of items that could lend themselves to identity theft.

Resolve to be more aware of your surroundings while traveling in your vehicle.

Resolve to review the security of your doors, windows and other entry points to your home.

These are just a few resolutions that I suggest - but if we commit to them, we will notice more than just an improvement in our professional and personal security situations. They will definitely “harden the target” against potential criminal activity.

We wish you, your employees, tenants, visitors and your family a very Happy New Year - and a safe one, as well.

Mike Melhorn is a security expert with International Security Management Group in Tampa.