Improve Security, Measure It And Save $7 In The Process

Feb 1, 2003 12:00 PM, Larry Anderson, Editor

“Every dollar spent on prevention and protection can save $7 in future losses in the event of a disaster.” That's how James Lee Witt, former FEMA director (during the Clinton years) and honorary chair of the Corporate Security Roundtable, opened the two-day conference this month in Phoenix. Sponsored by the Security Industry Association, the roundtable brought together suppliers, integrators, users and — ahem — editors to discuss technology and management topics.

Several of the conference sessions centered on how security professionals can communicate effectively with corporate management about the value of security and its contribution to the bottom line.

One session advocated the use of the so-called “Six Sigma” quality improvement technique to quantify the effectiveness of security efforts. Six Sigma is a methodology used to identify and evaluate what you do and to measure performance. It has been used since the 1980s in manufacturing environments, where statistical analysis paves the way for quality improvements.

An advantage of using Six Sigma to evaluate security efforts is that it requires the security department to “speak the same language” as company management. Rigorous data-gathering and statistical analysis may be anathema to busy security professionals, but the payback can be substantial, said Ken Wheatley, vice president of corporate security for Sony Electronics Inc., who added “You can improve what you can measure.” Furthermore, evaluating security using the same business metrics as the rest of the company relegates security to its proper role as integral to a company's success. “It's one possible tool,” said Wheatley — maybe not for everyone but worth a look, especially if Six Sigma is already part of a company's culture.

“You should evaluate and analyze current issues and develop long-term vision,” said Greg Blackwell, deputy director of worldwide security at Texas Instruments. It's one of the lessons learned by Texas Instruments security professionals as they undertook a global revamp of the company's electronic security systems. Blackwell also suggested that users should start with the installation of a small, simple “pilot project” as a way to demonstrate system effectiveness. From the pilot project, users should build their system from off-the-shelf components, standardize design elements, and be willing to change the system configuration as the company's business changes. And realize this up front: “It will always take longer and cost more than planned.”

But still seven times less, as Mr. Witt reminds us, than the possible future costs of doing nothing.

“!”

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