Industrial security - January 2019

THERE IS a raft of security educational offerings ranging from certificated and diplomas through to Professional Doctorates. Many of these are very good, worth considering and can increase your security knowledge. There is a debate to be had as to what extent a pure academic qualification demonstrates to someone’s actual applicable security knowledge as applied to real world situations. This is where a professional certification can play a part. Wikipedia defines a certification as a third-party attestation of an individual's level of knowledge or proficiency in a certain industry or profession.

At The Security Event April 9 – 11 2019, ASIS UK will be running a programme to demonstrate the value of its PSP Certification. The Physical Security Professional (PSP) credential demonstrates your knowledge in physical security assessments, application, design, and integration of physical security systems, and implementation of security measures. It should be of interest to installers, integrators and manufacturers who are seeking to boost their professional standing by achieving a globally recognised security certification.

For those whose experience is more Security Management there is CPP. The Certified Protection Professional (CPP) is considered the “gold standard” certification for security management professionals and demonstrates your knowledge and competency in seven key domains of security. Globally recognised as the standard of excellence for security management professionals.

For those professionals in the Information Security space, (ISC²) have what is probably the premier cyber security certification CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional).

While other security certifications have historically focused on advancing the careers of seasoned professionals (you need nine years’ experience to qualify for CPP, the new ASIS APP (Associate Protection Professional) will be the industry’s first-ever credential designed to meet the needs of security practitioners with four years of related experience or less. With the addition of this fourth designation, the ASIS certification program now offers credentialing for all career levels in the field of security management.

The APP is also designed for those transitioning from another career especially the police and military. The APP not only shows employers and your peers that you possess a solid understanding of the exam’s four domains: security management fundamentals, business operations, risk management, and response management, it also lays the foundation for a successful career in security.

Mike Hurst CPP is vice chairman of the ASIS UK Chapter and a member of its European Advisory and Leadership and Management Practices Council. For more information, visit www.asis.org.uk