Open Doors in Your Company

Mar 1, 2007 12:00 PM

Every security leader should have an excellent working relationship with the most influential leaders in his or her company. Corporation risks are no longer the sole responsibility of the security group. Surprisingly, nearly every staff function in the organization is involved in what you may think is your domain. Thus, having a relationship with a staff member in other departments will enhance workplace interoperability and ensure a successful security plan. Here are some leaders you should go visit:

• Legal — The need for a relationship with the legal department is simple. Lawsuits, prosecutions, depositions, due diligence exams, security regulations and compliance uncover ample security issues to be addressed.

• Human Resources — Although you might consider it to be an adversary, the human resources department has responsibilities for issues for which security officials will need its cooperation, depending on how the company or agency is organized. Issues include pre-employment screenings, drug testing, workers' compensation fraud, benefits fraud and workplace violence issues.

• Audit and Compliance — Develop an effective working relationship with the company organization that handles business conduct, compliance and ethics. The hotline service it operates will be a source for investigations. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines have given this group significant exposure to boards of directors and executive management. Not being one of their “go-to” resources could diminish the security department's internal impact.

Other departments you should be familiar with are the controllers, finance and credit, research and development, corporate travel, facilities and building management, procurement and sourcing, transportation and logistics, meetings and events, aviation, maintenance and food services.

Can you name each group's top three security risks and describe your program to reduce those risks?

If not, it's time to start collaborating.

---

This article is presented in cooperation with the Security Executive Council. Visit https://www.csoexecutivecouncil.com for more information.

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2012 Penton Media Inc.

This month in Access Control

• Targeting The Customer
• Electronic Pedigrees
• One Hero Among Many
• Who? What? When? Where? Why?
• More from September's issue