PROTECTIVE SECURITY
Protective Security Requirements Although the Protective Security Requirements (PSR) are designed for use by government agencies, FIRST Security’s Chief Operating Officer Steve Sullivan writes that they are just as relevant for the private sector. When I first came across the expression ‘protective security’, I found it a little curious. Given that the terms ‘protection’ and ‘security’ have a similar – almost interchangeable – meaning, why the need for the double-barrelled terminology?
Prior to joining FIRST Security as its Chief Operations Officer, Steve was General Manager – Regional Operations for Wilson Security, based in Melbourne. His 30 year security career has focussed on leading highly-respected security organisations to improved services, customer service and success.
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I settled upon a US Department of Defense definition, which described protective security as “the organised system of defensive measures instituted and maintained at all levels within an organisation with the aim of achieving and maintaining security.” The key to this definition is the word ‘defensive’. Protective security measures are specifically defensive in nature, designed to prevent a security breach altogether or otherwise to stop it in progress or minimise the damage. In New Zealand, the Government’s Protective Security Requirements (PSR) provides a framework for thinking about and implementing good protective security. Over in Australia, they use the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF), and there are similar frameworks in the UK, US and Canada. Although the PSR is a set of requirements that the Government has of its agencies, it’s also absolutely suitable to private sector organisations. For private companies that are suppliers to government or that are looking to become suppliers to government, I’d suggest that being compliant with the PSR is a very good idea.
August/September 2021
