"The CSO's note book"

Recruitment of friendly forces = "Force Multipliers"

How to enhance your company's security with the help of non - security personnel:

1.       Make sure your security system makes sense (not only to you and the security personnel, but also to the rest of the employee force from top to bottom) – A sensible security system minimizes antagonistic attitudes from your vicinity.

2.       Always remember that security is not your companies' core business, just the means to keep personnel, customers and assets safe, and production running – As many security experts originate from security entities (where security is a principal product), they often tend to over-estimate their importance in a civil operation, hence creating unnecessary "bottle necks" and "over-kill" systems which make them unpopular with executives as well as employees and heavy on the budget.

3.       Do all in your power to convince management to apply the same recruitment standards of production employees, when selecting security personnel. Remind them that in many cases the first impression the firm makes on a client is delivered by a security man at the gate / reception – Well selected, trained and motivated security professionals will gain the respect and collaboration-willingness of the non security staff as well as customers.

4.       Make every effort that your security staff will act and feel as an integral part of the company (even if they are an outsource) – Security employees that identify with the company they serve in, are more motivated, and interact better with the organic work force, creating good grounds for collaboration. 

5.       Take the time to educate the non security personnel in matters of security threats through well prepared awareness programs and make sure they understand that you're acting in their personal best interest – People tend to cooperate when convinced that your actions are in their personal best interest.

6.       Be accessible, ready to help and emphatic to everyone's need – It’s a nag, but it pays off when you least expect it (tough acting, stuck-up and detached CSO's usually don’t get the extra hot tip…).

7.       If you have managed all the above, you have created a security friendly environment and the grounds for employee / security coexistence and collaboration.

Since security cannot be present everywhere at all times, harnessing the good will and collaboration of non security personnel widens the security blanket substantially. The additional pairs of eyes and ears contribute to the creation of a better security system and an aware, sensitized environment that deters the wrong-doers.