Response Strategies - Assignment Example

APS 210 – Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Writing Assignment #3 16th June Response Strategies Response Strategies are the various strategies that are used by security guards and personnel to combat the possible risk of security attacks. Various strategies have been devised and applied at certain places according to the potential of a security threat. These strategies include deterrence, denial, containment and finally recovery; all of which are aimed at maintaining proper security in low to high security risk areas.

Deterrence is a common type of response strategy used to combat security threats. It aims at deterring or dissuading a possible attack by portraying a high-level of security. This is done so as to encourage the idea that a security breech would be difficult to bring about. Deterrence is usually practiced in all private and government agencies where security personnel are required to be on their feet at all times, to conduct random patrols and to react effectively to any possible intrusions. In this way an impression of high security is created in order to deter a possible attack.

However, this method is only affective for low-level threats that are less motivated from the start, and may not be as effective against high-risk threats that are carefully maneuvered by the criminals. Denial Strategies are often used for the security of certain materials and equipments, for example, hazardous chemicals, nuclear weapons, explosives etc. Since use or release of these materials can put the common public at risk, a denial strategy is applied by which access to such material is prohibited.

In order to prevent any sort of breech, highly trained and armed security personnel are positioned so as to ensure timely reaction against any attack. Containment strategy is applied against theft of an asset. This strategy is usually practiced in places like banks and museums where valuable assets are in danger of being stolen. The practice of the containment strategy aims at confining and containing the criminal within the area before he is given a chance to escape with the stolen asset. In the possibility of a failure of this strategy, the Recovery Strategy is brought into use.

If the criminal has not been successfully detained or stopped in good time from stealing an asset and has escaped with it, attempt must then be made towards recovering the stolen asset. The security personnel must now direct its energy towards conducting investigations and tracking the stolen asset as well as keeping a close check on the movement and the possibilities of where the criminal may be found with the stolen asset. The most effective recovery response is where a back-up source has been kept, so that a temporary or probable permanent loss may not affect a business goal.

Also, some high value assets are protected by back-up plans in case of an unlikely or unfortunate event that they are stolen. These plans are devised in order to enter into precautionary agreements with the law enforcement agencies for the necessary actions that will be required to carry out in the case of a security breech. These response strategies also give rise to various response methods which include a delayed or immediate response according to the requirements of various situations and security threats.

According to the level of the threat, the required response is made to combat the threat most effectively. In certain situations it becomes necessary to dispatch unarmed security personnel for the purpose of hindering and or ending the security attack in a timely manner. However, dispatching unarmed personnel can only be effective provided that the security guards are in a large number and/or that they are equipped with certain equipments. In addition to this, their arrival at the scene of action also depends on how quickly the attack is detected, and the distance between their current position and their desired position.

Moreover, the unarmed guards must be properly trained to be able to efficiently react to the situation and to conduct the operation successfully. Training regarding the use of equipment such as handcuffs, pepper spray, batons etc. and approaching the adversaries, plus submitting proper reports and abiding by certain procedures is vital for the success of counteracting possible security attacks. Armed security guards are on the other hand trained to use deadly force if needed. They are placed at high-security sites and are trained to take the necessary action that the situation may require them to take.

Unarmed security personnel as opposed to armed security personnel would usually be dispatched either for low-risk threats like shop-lifting or where immediate action is required and there is risk of the adversaries escaping before the arrival of armed guards for example in the case of a burglary or robbery. Thus, the above explained response strategies, provided that they are properly carried out, ensure efficient maintenance of security. Guards and security personnel are trained to react in a timely manner to any security breech or threat so as to succeed in curbing any possible attacks and to maintain a secure environment in the best way possible for the well-being of the nation and its citizens.