What is Security?
Security is Dynamic:
Security is one of the fastest growing professional careers worldwide. A career in the security field provides a multitude of opportunities. These opportunities range from entry level security officer positions to investigators specializing in specific areas and managers and directors of security at major corporations and organizations around the world. The demand for heightened security is being increased by theft of information, workplace violence, terrorism and white collar crime.
Security is Growing
The security industry in the US is a $100 billion a year business and growing. Opportunities exist at all levels within the security industry. All businesses, no matter how small, have security concerns such as fraud, theft, computer hacking, economic espionage or workplace violence. All organizations need to protect themselves from activities that disrupt their normal operations. Each specialty within the security field has its own requirements and issues. Shoplifting continues to be a problem for retail
organizations, while hospitals face privacy rights issues, and hotels have to reconcile fire and safety regulations with security requirements. In addition, government and private industry have differing security needs. Individuals wishing to pursue a career in a security specialty field should become more knowledgeable of the latest trends, issues and concerns within that specialty.
Security is Diverse
In today's downsizing corporate world and changing environment, it is essential for students and individuals seeking career changes to be able to identify opportunities in the security marketplace. Women, minorities and physically challenged individuals are becoming valuable resources for organizations in need of security professionals.
Students seeking careers in security should pursue course work in security, computer science, electronics, business management, law, police science, personnel and information management. Information from various security specialties has been compiled to give you a better idea of the credentials and requirements for entering a particular industry. In addition to the entry level
information, demographics associated with security professionals in each industry, as well as desired
requirements for entering into a management position are provided.
Security is different than Law Enforcement
Law enforcement focuses on reaction to crime and the enforcement of public laws and ordinances. Security professionals, on the other hand, are more proactive and focus on identifying and preventing a problem before it occurs. In addition, security personnel are more likely to be involved in protecting assets and carrying out an organization's policies and procedures than in enforcing criminal statutes.
Physical Security -- focuses on the protection of
people, property and facilities through the use of security forces,
security systems and security procedures. Physical security personnel
oversee proprietary or contract uniformed security operations, identify
security system requirements, assess internal and external threats
to assets, and develop policies, plans, procedures and physical
safeguards to counter those threats. Physical security can include
the use of barriers, alarms, locks,
access control systems, protective lighting, closed circuit televisions, and other state-of-the-art security technology.
Information Security -- involves safeguarding sensitive information. Although information security has traditionally been associated with protection of US Government classified information, it can also include privacy data, proprietary information, contractual information, and intellectual property. Information security deals with issues such as who should access the data and how the data is stored, controlled, marked, disseminated and disposed of.
Personnel Security -- deals with ensuring the integrity and reliability of an organization's workforce. Personnel security encompasses background investigations, drug testing, and other pre-employment screening techniques, as well as adjudication of results and granting security clearances and other information access privileges.
Information Systems Security -- involves maintaining the confidentiality, reliability and availability of data created, stored, processed and/or transmitted via automated information systems. Information systems security personnel develop procedures and safeguards to protect against hackers and other unauthorized efforts to access data, viruses, and a number of other threats to information systems.
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