3+ SAMPLE Security Management Proposal

What Is a Security Management Proposal?

Let’s tackle this whole concept one by one and from a company’s perspective. Security, from a company’s viewpoint, is the protection, safeguarding of a company’s assets. These assets range from the company’s employees or personnel, confidential data information, physical infrastructure, machineries, tools and equipment, documents, and the likes that basically run the whole operation of the company. Security management, according to an article in Management Media, is the identification of an organization’s assets (including people, buildings, machines, systems and information assets), followed by the development, documentation, and implementation of policies and procedures for protecting assets. Hence, a security management proposal is the bid to implement a security management plan in place, subject for approval from a specific level of authorities.

The security management, or security managers, aside from overseeing the protection of the company’s assets, their security measures also provide business continuity and contribute to the successful maintenance and upkeep of the company. The range of the job description security managers is broad. Some of these are keeping an inventory of the company’s assets; performing risk and threat assessment; maintaining and implementing security policies and procedures in place; protection against identity and data theft; prevention of fraud, terrorist, or external attacks; and protecting the physical infrastructure and workplace personnel. Security managers work hand in hand with the top management level of the company in preventing business disruption and losses. Overall, a good security management proposal serves as a business plan for implementing and maintaining these security measures in place.

Risks and Threats Areas Covered by Security Management

As we have mentioned, security management covers a broad and diverse range of areas that ensures protection and continuity of the whole business infrastructure operation. To be able to implement the protection and security in place is to be prepared for it, and part of being prepared is to identify what areas in an organization or a company are prone to security threat and risks. Below is the list of identified areas that are susceptible to threats and risks.

Physical Infrastructure: This is the actual building structure itself, the properties, and the workforce within it. The properties could be in the form of the computers, physical tools and equipment, machineries, vehicles, cabinets, rooms, utilities equipment, financial pieces such as cash, valuables and checks, files and printed documents, and other instruments that are used as part of the company’s operation. The workforce are the people from the top level management, or executives, down to the lowest rank employees. Potential threats or risks that could happen within a company’s physical infrastructure are hazardous and environmental threats such as fire, earthquakes, chemical hazards, and even terrorist attacks. Part of the measures developed by the security management to address such risks and threats is to enforce safety procedures in place. In case of fire, fire extinguishers, fire and smoke alarms, and sprinklers should be in place and well-functioning. All workforce personnel should know where the nearest fire exit is and should at least be trained in how to use a fire extinguisher. In case of an earthquake, they should be trained how to respond when an earthquake strikes such as the drop, cover and hold procedure. In case of terrorist attack, or to avoid suspicious characters from infiltrating the building, security measures such as thorough checking and frisking are implemented at the entrance and exit of the building. No weapons policy could also be enforced. Identification cards are meticulously checked and their security features are regularly updated. No ID card, no entry rule can also be applied.Workplace Health and Safety: Depending on the type of business, health and safety policy measures should always be enforced. This type of area overlaps with the security measures maintained for the physical infrastructure. Some action items could be in the use of proper gear and equipment. An example would be in a hospital or clinical setting. Medical personnel, as appropriate, are required to wear surgical face masks, PPE, medical gloves, et cetera. Policies in places could be ensuring that the equipment that used are standard grade, or have passed the standard quality control check. In a corporate setting, health and safety measures could be in the form of fire extinguishers, fire alarms, smoke detectors, sprinkler systems that are strategically-placed and have also passed standard quality checks. Another would be first aid kits. Another measure could be implementing a rule that ensures that any kind of life threatening tools or equipment are securely kept away. Turning off electricity and electrical appliances when not in use could be another measure. Proper ventilation and regular cleaning of air conditioners, vents, et cetera, could be another health and safety risk measure. The list is endless when it comes to protecting the workforce’s overall health and safety.Computer and Data Information: Since we are living in a world right now where every piece of information is converted to digital, computer and data information security safety is also an area that is covered by the security management. Of course, data information could also be in the form of printed documents. Any piece of information or data that contains details about a company’s operations and its personnel, whether collected, stored, or transmitted is covered by the security management protection plans. Security management makes sure that no unauthorized access and use of any company information, classified or not, shall be allowed. Some risks or threats connected to unauthorized access to information are fraud, identity theft, and other unethical and malicious practices that contribute to the company’s financial and management loss. Some of this information include employees’ profiles; correspondence such as postage mails, emails, filed documents, documents for signatures, phone calls, video conferences and the likes; organizational chart; and IT data information. Cyber security is enhanced by the security management through protecting computers used from unauthorized network disclosure of information through theft or damage done to the hardware or software. Any threats to cyber security could greatly impact business continuity and loss. Some security measures implemented to counter this kind of threat are through password encryption, regular update and maintenance of both hardware and software, and of course, preventing unauthorized access to physical areas where these data are stored, such as data server rooms.Strategy and Financial Risks: This type of risk involves the management, business, marketing, and financial planning strategies. This type of risk could impact the operation structure, supply chain, financial return of investment, as well as other stakeholders’ integrity. Depending on the type of business, it could be in the form of identity and company information theft, credit card fraud, and other illegal forms such as copying a company’s marketing, business and financial plans to gain personal benefits. Security management plans to mitigate this type of risk can be also password encryption, background check on personnel involved in the planning strategy, strengthening building integrity by locks and keys in place, securing the ingress and egress from the building of documents and equipment, et cetera.

How to Create a Security Management Proposal

A key to a secured organization is having a good security management plan in place. Similar to a business and marketing plan, a security management plan covers the whole architecture of the organization security system, from the action plans to be implemented, or the preventive measures, to policies and procedures that must be followed within the workplace to ensure success and continuity of the organization. Like all kinds of management plans, it has to go through approval at the appropriate management level. We have on our website several management proposal templates to choose from, and we also have ones specifically made for security management. But if you want to know more about how to manually create one, here are some of the general steps on how to make a security management proposal from scratch to secure approval for the organization’s security plans.

Step 1: Identify the Type of Business and Do Risk Assessment

First, produce a brief summary of the type of industry the company is involved in. Highlight what are the potential specific risks or threats that area of that organization or business will be exposed to. This is the part where you detail the existing or a potential problem or issue involving security that the management needs to give attention to. Explain the current situation the organization has. Like in an objective or mission statement, explain what are the possible reasons that might lead the organization to be exposed to such risks and threats, and what is the purpose for the security management proposal. Do a risk assessment. Classify the risks and threats as low, medium or high, depending on what will be the impact to the organization’s structure.

Step 2: Presenting Security Plans Proposal

This is where you list down the proposed security measures or plans. The plans should be specific, measurable, and achievable. For example, when you are addressing the security risk to data information, your proposed plan could be strengthening the integrity of password encryption, regular maintenance and update of software, et cetera. Identify the steps you need to take for password encryption security. For the workplace health and safety risk, if you wanted to propose additional protective equipment in place, identify what those equipment are, explain the need for those equipment, and where they will be placed so that they could easily be accessible. You could also do an update on security protocols regulation to be enforced on the workplace.

Step 3: Implementation and Evaluation Process

When planning for the implementation of the measures to be taken to address the risks, identify what are the requirements needed. Include the manpower, or the personnel who will be assigned on it, the timeline of the implementation, the tools and resources to be used, and the costs involved as well. Explain what are the required skills, techniques, or experience required by the personnel working on it. Describe what are the roles and responsibilities for each personnel. You can write down the implementation process in a chart flow form. Indicate as well what will be the possible damage control remedy to take. Stipulate what will be the communication process when security risks or threats arise, like who is in charge of the front line and the back end solution, and who are the authorities to immediately contact. What will be the first step resolution, second, and so on. Also, refer to existing protocols of workplace safety and make some updates if necessary. For the budget, be practical and realistic in making and presenting the costs or estimated expenses. Remember that you will be working on the company’s budget plan. Also identify what will be the evaluation and audit process in place. Create a workplace inspection checklist as a necessary safety measure as well.

Step 4: Approval Process

Once you have created the structure of your security management proposals, get it approved by your superiors or by the top level management. You need to have an expressed, signed approval in place to serve as your documentation that your security management proposal is a go. Considering that there will be a budget to be used, it has to be communicated to all different top management department levels involved, including the CEO or the owner of the company.

FAQs

What are the types of security risk handling options?

These are the risk avoidance, risk spreading, risk reduction, risk acceptance, and risk transfer. Risk avoidance is the act of not being involved in any activities that have a high probability of risk or threat result. Risk spreading is limiting the loss by apprehending the risk or threat when it happens at the onset before it spreads out and creates a greater damage or impact. Risk reduction, or risk mitigating, is decreasing the threat impact by hindering any opportunities for full perpetuation of the act of threat. Risk acceptance. Risk acceptance happens when an organization accepts the loss, or a potential loss, and acknowledges that it doesn’t warrant enough time and resources to be spent to resolve it. Risk transfer is transferring the responsibility of the risk from one organization, department, company to another. It can also be coined as an outsourcing of risk management responsibilities.

What are some of the security measures implemented in a company?

For the physical infrastructure, it could be in the form of security guards or security services at entrances and exits; access control to some off-limits rooms via identification cards or biometrics or keycard locks; security cameras; and alarm devices. For data information, it could be in the form of password encryption. For health and safety, it could be fire and smoke alarms, sprinklers, fire extinguishers, et cetera.

What is the importance of a Security Management Proposal?

First, it identifies the existing and potential risks and threats to an organization. Next, it describes the role and process of the security management in place. Another important factor is that the security management proposal presents tangible solutions to address those threats and risks. Also, it helps educate the organization and spread awareness on the importance of security for the organization’s operation and business continuity.

Risk and threats are inevitable to any organization, but it doesn’t mean that it cannot be managed, mitigated and remedied. It is the responsibility of the security management team to ensure the protection of the whole organization, so that the desired success in goals can be achieved. With all kinds of threats and risks involved, it is important to have a good security management plan in place. In order to do that, the security team needs to prepare a good security management proposal and make sure to get it approved by the concerned heads. Making a security management proposal shouldn’t be as hard or as intimidating to do. Download one of our templates now, and see how easy and convenient it is to create that good and effective security management proposal!