Safeguarding the Assets of an Organization

Question 1 

On the standard that will assist me in completing the vulnerability assessment needed for the course as well for my future career in security management, I will be able to make choices that will help me to manage security risks in a cost-effective manner while at the same time meeting the operational and strategic goals of my organization. I will have the capacity of identifying the different aspects of risk within the organization, particularly the detrimental and hazardous events that might result naturally, unintentionally, or intentionally. In this manner, I will have the ability of managing organizational assets and protecting them, which will assist securing its profitability, sustainability, as well as reputation. I will manage to secure the different organizational assets, including information, people, property, and the diverse intangibles based within the organization (ASIS International, 2012) . Here, it will be possible to safeguard assets by specifying organizational management systems that will incorporate the security of the institution and related functions into an efficient management system.

Based on my opinion, the five physical controls that I perceive as most significant in safeguarding the assets of an organization will revolve around safety, risk management, finance, compliance, and quality management. On the area of security, it is essential to establish a detailed risk management framework that has the capacity of identifying, analyzing, and assessing risks. Concerning management, the management should exercise commitment to Protection Policy and Physical Assets. Regarding finances, the designs, assets, and the implementation process should meet goals while considering the existing resources. For compliance, it would be critical to measure, monitor, and review the performance of the management system continuously. In the area of quality assurance, it would be crucial to integrate technologies, processes, individuals, and equipment in such a manner that they meet the required security objectives (ASIS International, 2009). These initiatives would offer sufficient safeguards to an organization.

Question 2 

The USSS needs to consider certain practical considerations regarding the design and the type of fence that surrounds the White House. The fence has recently experienced a frequency of ‘fence jumpers” thus the need for laying emphasis on certain key areas that would ensure that the fence has “anti-climb’ features, which would hinder the threat posed to the White House, especially the safety of the president. The height of the fence is a major area worth considering. The present one is significantly short to an extent that it has provided ‘fence jumpers’ with a means of getting access to the White House. The fence needs redesigning in such a manner that it eradicates horizontal bars while at the same time curving outward on the top end (Sands & Date, 2016) . In addition, it would be crucial to incorporate anti-climb spikes to restrict potential fence climbers in line with offering officers sufficient time of responding to a prospective threat. Additionally, it would be essential to consider replacing the fence around the whole 18-acre area as opposed to just the Pennsylvania Avenue, which has witnessed most incidents. Furthermore, efforts for upgrading the fence should also include additional security features, including sensors for detecting probable intruders trying to get across the fence (Hedgpeth, 2016) . These initiatives would ensure that the fence emerges stronger, taller, and sensitive to various forms of threats from intruders.

Costs should not be a major issue in this case since the safety of the President in paramount to the stability of the country. As such, all measure should be incorporated to ensure that the fence is meets the required standards and features that would hinder threat from reaching the White House. For these kinds of fences, they would survive public together with the National Capital Planning Commission. The reason for this is that security is of significant importance while it would facilitate in avoiding experiencing the costs that would result in the event of security threats, which might not be possible to control. 

References

ASIS International. (2009). Facilities physical security merasures: guideline. Washington, DC: American National Standards Institute, Inc.

ASIS International. (2012). Security Management Standard: Physical Asset Protection. Washington, DC: American National Standards Institute, Inc.

Hedgpeth, D. (2016). ‘Tougher, taller and stronger’ fence proposed for White House. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/new-tougher-taller-and-stronger-fence-proposed-for-the-white-house/2016/04/28/ffad7d22-0d40-11e6-bfa1-4efa856caf2a_story.html

Sands, G., & Date, J. (2016). White House fence re-design proposal unveiled by Secret Service and National Park Service. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/US/white-house-fence-design-proposal-unveiled-secret-service/story?id=38585939