Roles of Facility and Security Managers - Math Problem Example

Introduction The role of security has enhanced almost everywhere and in every field throughout the world, more so in the business arena. Every business and individual has become vulnerable in terms of risk factors. It may be noticed that facilities is the most important place of any business. Facilities are the place where most of the operations with regards to any business happens and has the staff and members to assist in the functions of the business. The facilities being the most important area of the business, keeping it secure too becomes quite mandatory. Among the latest times, the concept of facilities security has emerged and with a bang. When talking about securing facilities, it may be noticed that the role of the security manager and the facilities manager too comes into discussion. Both cannot function without the assistance from the other. In this paper, we will be elaborating on the integration, interaction and interdependencies of the security and the facility managers respectively, even as we also discuss the technologies employed by each of them. Role of a Facility Manager: The aftermath of the demolition of the twin towers has exposed the need of a robust facility management. With that, the role of a facility manager too becomes enhanced. Traditionally, a facility manager or FM is compounded to function in areas and fields spanning repair, maintenance, renovation, catering to the business needs, looking into the financial accounts and minimizing the money spent on the facility, while maximizing the coverage, handling the daily operations and providing each and every unit, operation and employee with a secure environment. Amongst the roles of a FM, staying abreast with the latest technologies in the field of security is also of utmost importance (Stadler, 2009). Technologies are especially important because when integrated with the infrastructure, these help enhance the facility area. The area of function for a facility manager is quite evolving. With the expansion of business operations, the role of the facility manager too expands. John Parkinson (2003) agrees that with the changing business and economic environment, the role of facility managers has become more challenging and demanding. Role of a Security manager: Just as the name suggests, the function of a security manager is to look after the security of the facilities of companies. In the security coverage, everything from business assets to business information and operations is included. There is a lot of trust put upon the security manager of a company. He is responsible for everything and requires looking after the security of everything that comes under the facilities of a business. The security manager is the one with knowledge on everything that goes within the facility first hand. His security guards are placed everywhere and the interactions that take place are reported to him (Kovacich & Halibozek, 2003). The importance of the role of the security officer or the Chief Security Officer (CSO) has become even more emphasized in the wake of the increase in terrorism and homicide cases. The Security plan and interweaving of the latest security technological innovations into the infrastructure of the facility becomes the responsibility of the Security Manager. The security officer is given the responsibility of taking decisions any time with regards to the security of the entire facility. The security officer is also liable of training and education the new entrees with regards to the security measures and policies of the company. Even as the security manager is given the entire responsibility of looking after the security of the facility, without the cooperation from the facility manager, the task would get quite difficult to perform. Therefore, the facility manager and the security manager would be required to work in conjunction with each other for the best results possible (todaysfacilitymanager.com, 2003). The integration, interaction, and interdependencies between facility manager and security manager: Looking at the requirements of the job profile, the facility managers have to work in conjunction with the security managers for the efficient working within the facility. For the same reasons, most of the facility managers, coming so closely in contact with the security managers turn to security management as well overtime. Not only does this enable them to multi-task for the company working as both, the facility manager and the security manager, it also helps in better administration within the facility for the company as well. Nevertheless, sources cite that when a facility manager also acts as a security manager, he is not able to give enough time to his other responsibilities as a facility manager and hence, it hampers the overall function. The reason for the same is that security management involves deep understanding of security systems, threat assessments, technologies and surveys, all of which is extremely complex. Therefore, the extra time that the understanding of these systems involves make a negative impact on the other duties of a facility manager such as maintenance etc. On the other hand, when facility managers take help of the actual security managers and professionals, they are able to devote ample time to each of the duty they have, even as they can get an understanding of the security systems in place or to be placed within the facility. The presence of security managers also ensures that they have complete knowledge of the latest technologies, strategies and the functions that involve the up keeping of security within a facility. Another sector where the cooperation of both the security manager and the facility manager is required is in the area of risk assessment. When planning for any security blueprint, the risk assessment makes for extremely important information. No security blueprint is successful without incorporating the assumptions of the pertaining risk factors. Amongst factors that may be palpable dangers to any facility, some of them are data loss, identity theft, terrorism (international or domestic) and so on. Even though events like these do not happen in general, the security blueprint will be based incorporating these elements. Then again, even as a facility manager requires the skill of a security manager, taking the same vice versa would also hold true. It is the facility manager who is in complete hold of the working throughout the facility. For any security system to function well, the knowledge from the facility manager would prove to be of keen importance. It may hence be deduced that the sharing between the security managers and facility managers is the best for the company and the security of the facility. In instilling security systems such as HVAC, CCTV surveillance, the coverage area etc, both the managers would be required to function together in cooperation (Arata, 1997). It may hence be deduced that the security manager and the facility manager both have to function together for the best results. What may differ is the amount of role that a facility manager plays in the security systems of the facility. Nevertheless, knowledge of the entire system of the facility becomes important for any facility manager for better implementation and working (Parkinson, 2008). The integration, interaction, and interdependencies of technologies used by the facility manager and security manager in high rise buildings: Even as knowledge and review make for an important aspect for the well being of any facility, the use and integration of the technologies, latest and with regards to security are also very important. One of the basic examples of the importance of latest technology for security is to stop hackers. Any time the security system faces a security breach (in case of hacking), the security alarm should go off, even as alternative security system should begin working towards canceling the breach and locating the place of breach. The same would not be liable to working if the risk assessment had not been proper, or even if it was, there was not proper technology used in order to nullify the eminent attack on the system’s security. As the days pass, the technologies are being excessively developed and hence staying abreast with the up coming technologies becomes very important for the maintenance of the security system of any facility. Even as new technologies are developing, some of the most common examples of the technologies used for security systems are mentioned below. Examples on security technologies used in the facilities:   Access control systems: One of the most commonly used technologies for controlling the outflow and inflow of human traffic within an organization, Access Control System has proved to be quite substantial in security system. This technology ensured that the company saved much on the costs such as labor, hard copy logos and so on. As Parkinson (2008) says, the advent of new technology has ensured that the companies get best result for minimum amounts. The use of these technologies mean the company has free eyes and ears working on its behalf. Visitor management systems: Visitor management systems can also be said to be a part of the Access Control Systems. Visitor management system means to scan and identify the identity of any visitor who comes visiting, even while registering the details. Therefore, this helps the company (facility manager) to keep an eye on the visitors and hence, identifying any imminent danger in the beginning. CCTV (closed circuit television) Another very commonly used technology for security purpose is the use if CCTV cameras. Close Circuit Television Cameras help in recording everything that occurs in the areas where they are placed. As the technology has advanced, the CCTV has also been given additional features such as face recognition, threat diagnosing, alarm connected cameras, IP based cameras and so on. Depending upon the use and requirement, these various features can be incorporated and made use of. CCTV help the facility manager and the security manager have complete video of the happenings within the facility and hence keep a check on any palpable threat. Fire protection systems: Another of the most widely used technologies is the fire protection system. Now made mandatory by several governments amongst tourism-based, scientific research centers and other businesses, the fire protection system has enabled the automation of smoke detection and inducing the working of the fire extinguishing functions. Not just that, other products under the same range include fire doors, fire walls, smoke proof towers, fire proof safes and so on (Fischer & Green, 2004). Conclusion It may be successfully concluded that with the dawn of technology, the tasks for companies and in turn facility managers and security managers has become easier. Most of the businesses now have automated security systems and the facility managers and the security managers have complete view of the facility without being in the concerned places. It may hence be established that even as the co-working of security manager and facility manager is important, the conjunction of the technologies used by each also becomes very important in thwarting an eminent danger or threat to the facility. References: Parkinson, J (2003). The Changing Role Of The Facility Executive . todaysfacilitymanager.com, , Stadler, A (2009). The facility manager manager role defined. Helium.com, , (2009). Facility Managers and Their Role In The Built Environment. Designare, 4(10), Kovacich, G.L. and Halibozek, E.P. (2003). The Manager's Handbook For Corporate Security: Establishing And Managing A Successful Assets Protection Program.: Butterworth-heinemann. Arata, M.J., Jr. (1997). If these walls could talk. (security systems for facilities). Highbeam research, , Parkinson, J.P. (2008). Do You Have A Security Blueprint?. Today’s Facility Manager Fischer, E., Halibozek, E., Green, G. (2008). Introduction to Security .: Elsevier Science.       Read More