The Physical Security Survey: Wells Fargo & Company - Case Study Example

The Physical Security Survey: Wells Fargo & Company Unit Cover letter David Launce. Eastern Kentucky University, 26th June, 2014. To the Instructor, The Facility Security Survey, Eastern Kentucky University, United States. Dear Prof. Baggett, RE: PHYSICAL SECURITY SURVEY I am David Launce of registration number………Am one of your students undertaking your unit on the Physical Security Survey. I humbly remit this letter of mine to your attention, to inform of the successful completion of the Physical Security Survey report. Following your time-to time guidelines on the survey report I confidently present my report with utmost sincerity and industry towards making sure that the report gets beyond the threshold of a mere successful one but rather an excellent undertaking. The research has involved very extensive one-on-one interviews with the security personnel of the Wells Fargo & Company building. A further observations and analyses of the facility security systems were carried within the stipulated time. The building is deduced to be of effective security controls that are proper structured to provide reliable safety within the premise and its adjacent environs. The cases of few challenges on the security issues are further recommended for change and better ways are out into practice to apt the security level of the building to its optimal level. I pass my utmost gratitude to you towards the consistent guidance and directions and corrections you have provided unto me and other fellow colleagues with regard to this report. The success of this report couldn’t have been if it were not for you. Thanks prof. Yours faithfully, David Launce Purpose Essentials Physical Security Assessment is a holistic look into the general physical security of facilities, buildings, and locations. Secure State appraises all the physical security measures in place at locations that are in range. For instance, this survey report evaluates security guards, access control systems, CCTV cameras, security lighting, access badges, locks, fences and much more. The Physical Security Assessment is a non-invasive and a walkthrough assessment that is guided by the designated client’s security personnel throughout the on-site survey process. This involves a Physical Attack and Penetration that is an invasive assessment through which Secure State consultants endeavor to “break-in” to the facility or the site that is in scope. The Physical Security Assessment is harmonized perfectly when combined with a Penetration Test and Physical Attack. The basics of the physical security survey would be: Physical Security Assessments examine all the physical security measures of a location, building, or facility. Profiling Team members to at least gain years of experience in respect to conducting Physical Security Assessments for small and large companies. Profiling Team members identify the latest technology, the Physical Security controls and the best practices found in the Physical Security industry. Significance of Physical Security Assessment. The call for efficiency in the security systems of the facilities and other buildings within the country has become not just a mere requirement but also a priority of essence. It`s worth noting that a number of organizations do not evaluate their physical security controls which they have instituted at a location or a building (Moody & Mays, 2005). A number of these organizations tend to spend thousands of dollars on ensuring controls of their physical security, but at times they may not have them appropriately executed to meet the security best practices. SecureState determines how the controls can easily be circumvented (Moody & Mays, 2005). For instance, in a case where the alarms and the cameras are not put in their correct locations and there is a possibility of these security measures and controls being evaded. Secure State puts into place a detailed client guide mechanism to evaluate the available controls and the set technologies to a building, facility, company or institution in place for the physical security- which this survey report is based upon to give a reliable feedback on the security matters of the Wells Fargo & Company building. Scope We conducted our assessment at the Wells Fargo headquarters in San Francisco, United States, situated along the Montgomery Street for a period of about four months that started March 1, 2014 to June 26, 2014. We conducted a number of discussions with ITC security personnel and senior administrative, security guards, parking attendants, departmental personnel and building management representatives. We assessed the effectiveness of the day-to-day functioning of the building security in effect during our timer of the review period and tested several structured components of the system. During the review process, we limited our assessment on the parameters of the facility security system on the aspects of the building physical security, the building guard security and finally the building office security. The report is highly restrictive and very limited from the banking security measures on the aspects of ensuring safety of online banking among other banking transactions security measures. Facility/Building Background Site Description The Wells Fargo & Company headquarters building is located at 420 Montgomery Street, SW; San Francisco, U.S. The main entrance to the Wells Fargo & Company building is from Montgomery Street, the north wing of the building. The south wing of the building surfaces the Northwest Freeway, which is approximated to be 10-20 feet away. The eastern wing of the building is situated right next to a vacant lot used for urban parking. The vacant lot extends to 7th Street, SW. The west side of the building is disjointed from 5th Street, SW by a small grassy area. Within the buildings compound is the location of the executive staff office Towers- which accommodate about 254 fully en-suited offices and next to which there is the Public Conference Centre & Cafeteria. To the extreme corner of the Wells Fargo & Company building to its Southwest is the classic Banking Corporate Campus –that partly constitute banking services but for corporate customers for quick service and easier facilitation of transactions in a less congested platform. The Ambience of the compound as characterized with very cool breeze during the day a result of the planted papyrus and palm trees around the compound along with cool grass spread on the places not reserved for parking. Henry Well and William Fargo founded a financial services company in in 1852 that for decades has become a legendary fragment of the American West and a portion of thousands of various communities as well. This long lived heritage continues to constitute part of Wells Fargo’s identity today—in the company’s values, service, and with its highly deemed customers. The Wells Fargo & Company building was built, using glass and reinforced concrete. The building is comprised of nineteen floors of office space and at least five levels of an underground parking. Currently there are no physical barriers outside the building compound. The Wells Fargo & Company offices and departmental positioning occupies floors one through sixteen, with the seventeenth and the eighteenth floors comprised of commercial safes and stores. The bank carries its official banking service normal business hours which is from 8:45 am up to 5:15 pm (Monday through Friday). Findings The data gathered in this report for the review undertaken on the physical security survey of the Wells Fargo & Company was done through interviews, analyses and observations of security policies, among other reports that are relevant to our research as per the concerns of the security policies and procedures for security mitigation measures at the Wells Fargo Building headquarters in San Francisco, United States. A number of documents were examined as per to the review of the security measures of the building (Moody & Mays, 2005). These documents included: “Review of the Wells Fargo Information Security Program,” Report No. IG_78-98, dated September 30, 1998. The Wells Fargo 7 Company Directive 10033.1, “Office of the Management Services, Functions and Missions Statements,” dated July 3, 1989. The Wells Fargo Policies pertaining to the physical Security. The Wells Fargo & Company contracts with the security guards. The Wells Fargo & Company Rules of practice And Procedures. The Wells Fargo & Company policies with regard to the parking area and loading docks. The Wells Fargo & Company emergency occupant evaluation plan Wells Fargo & Company; Physical Security and Law Enforcement office "Physical Security Survey," dated June 27, 1994. Administrative Notice #ITC-N-5395, "Improved Physical Security at the U.S. International Trade Commission," dated February 24, 1998, and amended August 28, 2001. U.S. Justice Department, "Vulnerability Assessment of the Federal Facilities," May 28, 1995 The Wells Fargo & Company, Office of Physical Security and Law Enforcement "Physical Security Survey", dated April 30, 1995. a) Physical security The Physical Security is the portion of the security which is concerned with physical measures intended to safeguard personnel; in ensuring that there is prevention of unauthorized access to the facility, materials, installations, and documents. It further it involves safeguard against sabotage, damage, espionage and theft. Managing risk in the current dynamic corporate environment is basically a challenging issue to the management and the organization in question at large. Every organization works closely to bridge the gap by ensuring security measures are up to standards in protecting the building and other assets that is contained in the building. Wells Fargo being a banking facility is highly protected from intrusion, theft vandalism among other risk matters to ensure every part of the building is at its utmost level of security. The physical security measure of the Wells Fargo is put on watch from the different angles of the building to ensure effectiveness of the security controls. Exterior protection Perimeter Security Measures Perimeter protection is considered to be the first-line of protection in ensuring the physical security for this facility. The Wells Fargo & Company has put lockable gates, outside lighting, intrusion detectors, wall erection and also there is a guard force manning the perimeter security controls of the building. Interior Security Employee/Visitor Identification Employees at Wells Fargo & Company are required to wear a photo ID at every time as part of the building’s security program. This is as required by the Department of Justice. Visitors to the Wells Fargo & Company facility are required to display a photo ID of some sort and ensure he/she signs the log. They are then issued with a temporary visitor badge. The badge varies in color with respect to the day of the week. The visitor badge system experiences some weaknesses in that a number of visitors do not sign out and return their badges when leaving. Utilities The utility areas in this building are under the control of the building security operating personnel. These utilities areas are highly secured and require a key to access into them. The mechanisms are put such that it is impossible for outside access to utilities entering the building. b) Guard security A security guard is a security force that is appropriately equipped and trained who can be invaluable in upholding perimeter integrity. The Wells Fargo & Company recruits guards from the ranks of agency personnel or hires from a professional firm. In the case where the company uses agency personnel, concerns which deploy and train guards can offer some guidelines in formulating procedures and developing selection criteria-only to ensure that there is efficacy ion the facility security systems to put to task the personnel in observing the optimal level of safety of the building at all times of the day (Hume et al., 2010). The Wells Fargo & Company building is fitted with security guards from the private security and the professional firms for the internal and external security surveillance and vigilance. The company document entitled.” The Wells Fargo & Company contracts with the security guards,” clearly stipulate the system of hiring and contracting these security personnel with definitely illustrated terms of contract and status of partnership agreements. The current document contract of the company’s security system shows that the company has contracted about thirty seven for the interior and exterior security surveillance of the building. The security guards are put on contracts for about a maximum of eight months depending on the sensitivity of the area the security guard is in charge of. The eight month contract is due to logistics and the company’s security past experience with security guards. The company’s private security forces, especially if armed, are subjected to various regulations and laws. The Wells Fargo & Company legal counsel takes the task to define the scope of responsibility and duties of these individuals. Sufficient measures are put into place by the company’s security officials and the departments concerned in the case where the guards are to be armed, by ensuring that relevant firearms regulations and careful evaluation of the security missions. The execution orders and instructions given to security guards do reflect the policies of the company and are always concise and consistent. The company’s security department formulates the policies to be as specific as possible regarding duties, scope of responsibilities, and the limits of authority. If the guards are supposed to patrol the perimeter, there are set and prioritized various ways to boost their efforts and reassure the preferred standard of protection. For example, the guards are continuously tasked with checking-in at every specified points along the time of their patrol.in case where anyone is significantly late the company’s security department launches an investigation on the matter and amicable resolution is finally reached at. It is further structured that patrols might also report to a central command post at specific designated intervals. Another crucial area about the security controls of the building within whatever limits established, patrols are varied or rotated so that there is less prediction of their operations by any malicious units. Procedures of this kind have maintained both security and also the safety of the patrols for the protection of the building to the interest of the company. c) Office security This office security section addresses the stoppage of access through doors and windows that are not intended for entry. The Wells Fargo & Company personnel appreciate the fact that adequately secured windows and doors are especially important at times when the premise is not enclosed by a perimeter barrier. Doors Utility areas lock and key controls for the office doors, fire escapes, elevator shafts and cars, and other potential targets are put stringent. The building’s security and maintenance personnel have a thorough understanding of the hardware and system used, and the extent of security at each point. Doors that are not typically used for access are inspected regularly by the security personnel. There measure put into place by the security agents about the building that at any given point before installing locks of any kind, the doors are inspected with respect to their types and conditions which impact so much on the locking options. For example, doors of double type and having wooden frames require that double dead-bolt or long-throw locks. Appropriate professionals are engaged into the determination of the feasible procedures and apparatus. In the case where a particular office door of the building is locked using the conventional locks, all keys are controlled. Provisions are made for the use and issuance of the keys and their security when not in use. There is prohibition of the keys being removed from the premises so that no duplication of the keys that can happen. If the apparent threat so warrants, rolling metals doors ("riot doors") are installed at some particular or all the entrances. If the doors are electrically powered, the apparatus and circuitry will need to be secured. Windows The company in close work relation with its security agents has put several methods to protect glass windows, which are often the target for bombers. These include: the installation of grilles and bars, the replacement of ledges and sills with angled surfaces, and also replacing the glass with polycarbonate or the plate glass products. In dangerous circumstances, existing window openings are proposed to be sealed or bricked over, although this is reached after a very consultative undertaking since this can cause personnel and appearance problems. In particular cases, it may be practically or financially infeasible to modify all windows. In such cases, windows may be selected on the aspect of vulnerability for additional security measures (Hume et al., 2010). The security personnel also are scattered inside the building corridors are very strategic areas like the bank safes and the ATM’s for the safety of the customers undertaking their transactions in such areas. Further reinforcement by the police force in ensuring the security of the Wells Fargo & Company is put into place. The police have been reinforced into the security system of the building to optimize the levels of the security and give no loopholes to any form of insecurity within the banking building and its surrounding premises and facilities. Power systems The building of Wells Fargo & Company is supplied with electric energy that drives machine like the air conditioners, ATM machines, lighting systems, alarms among other electronics within the premises. The building is under efficient emergency power provided by a stand- by generator. Recommendations The issuance of the visitors security badges have not been such effective as some of the visitors finally fail to sign out and surrender the badge when leaving the premises. There is need for the securing agency to be more vigilant on the visitors to ensure that a security clearance at the time of departure by the visitors is done effectively and promptly. The development of emergency plans in the building premises have not been so much effective; one particular time the fire extinguishing gadget of the building’s third floor were relocated to unspecified location. This could result disaster at a time when the building could be under fire. Proper and timely check of the safety gadgets within the building’s premises should be regularly done and any necessary replacement be done on time. Due to the sensitivity of some areas in the building there should be limited access to such areas as only designated staffs can be allowed to access them. A block of keys to particular sections should not be given to all cleaning personnel. Conclusions Wells Fargo & Company has an effective building security program and control in place. This could possibly be due to the sensitivity of this building as a result of being a banking facility. However, some areas have been assessed that indicate deficiencies that need to be improved or require some level of modification. The United States Department of Justice report has minimum set security standards for Federal agencies and the facility departments. This security report survey has been on the foundation to identify any form of efficacy in the buildings security system and the assessment to enable effective with the security standards to enable optimal security condition and compliance within the building premises and the building’s surrounding. References Hume, J. B., Thacker, J. N., Wilson, R. M., Hume, J. B., & Hume, J. B. (2010). Wells, Fargo & Co. stagecoach and train robberies, 1870-1884: The corporate report of 1885 with additional facts about the crimes and their perpetrators. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland & Co. Moody, R., & Mays, V. (2005). Wells Fargo. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. Robertson, J. S. (1879). History of Wells, Fargo & co. and the pony express, San Francisco, Sept. 6, 1879. San Francisco? Read More